Elemental Survey

The science of elemental survey is fundamentally to observe the elements and their effects on various materials. While the world is observed in the macroscale, the elemental pieces may be considered the building blocks upon which everything is formed. While a building may have bricks for walls, wood for floors, glass for windows, and even thatch for a roof, so too is the composition of an object composed of elements.
At first, it was believed that there were four dominant elements: Fire, Water, Air, and Geo. Fire being abrasive, water being smooth, air being chaotic, and geo being firm. These elements are found in surplus, represented essentially when breaking down material and reforging materials. When a stone is broken, one might simply expect to find Geo, being that the stone is firm. However, the stone itself may simply be dominated by Geo, but on occasion will weep when broken or shimmer when struck. These are indications that the object is a combination of elements.
Then, the exceptional use of Tibikstones (otherwise known as caster stones, wayguides, or a crystal lens) revealed that there are, in fact, many different elements. These include what are called Time, representing the persistence of a thing; darkness, representing the ability of an object to reject transmutation; and holy, representing the ability of an object to mend. While the number of elements continues to climb, it is clear that there are persistent laws that govern behavior in the natural state.
Where, then, did the elements come from? Unfortunately, the science of elemental survey has failed to yield answers to this. It is known that there are elemental creatures that exist. This has been observed during intense incidents where thresholds are achieved. One such occurrence took place during an incidence at the Aer Astri skyforge. The intense heats required to reforge what has since been called a "fire elemental heart" may provoke the spontaneous apparition of a "fire elemental being". During this incident, the control systems failed to halt the advance of molten material and backup systems were unable to flood the chamber. At one moment, the "fire elemental heart" dissipated and the "fire elemental being" appeared. Thus, the nomenclature. It is believed that these are not, in fact, the remnants of previous "fire elemental beings", but the unique forging requires are commensurate with the requirements of the apparition of the creature. As much of the material of the rooms where this has occur became molten itself, it is unclear whether the "fire elemental heart" was destroy, consumed, or dispersed.
Similar incidents to a lesser degree which lead the claim that the "elemental hearts" are not required to summon such as creature are the creation of "air elemental beings". These creations were first found during the advent of cannonry. Cannons produce sudden bursts of pressure. From the mouth of these cannons, apart from the expelled material, appear screaming banshees that twist and turn. While their appearance is no long observed, it is also unclear whether these creatures spontaneous decay or drift away from the position of their creation.
Strangely enough, "Geo elemental beings" and "Water elemental beings" have few mentions. In fact, the few mentions of their appearances are given no more stake than a rumor or legend. It is wondered whether the ocean should itself manifest into a "Water elemental being" being a large gathering of water. Similarly, shouldn't a mountain transform into a "Geo elemental being". These have led some scholars to assume that the prospect of the "Elemental creatures" are not the result of a single abundance of a certain element, but rather the inclusion of alternative material necessary for such a creature. Furthermore, there has been no record of any of elemental creatures other than the original finding of the fundamental four.
The elemental surveyor must endeavor to explore the origins of the elements, the composition of elements essential to creation (leading to the study of alchemy), and the manipulation of elements to subtract from or add to materials. By doing these things, the scholar may refer to themselves as an elementalist. Separated specifically from those who use equations and incantations to excite these materials (still a misunderstood physiological phenomenon), elementalist are researchers first. They seek to understand the natural and stimulated behavior. As is clear, a wizard is strained by the provocation of materials. It is the goal of the elementalist to unburden the wizard and mechanize the process of wondrous physiological phenomena.
Thus elemental survey is the study and implementation of unique phenomena related to elemental parts. Various tools to perform this are stakes, scalpels, and Tibikstones. It is also necessary to include Guide Stones. Unlike Tibikstones which enhance and project exuded elemental forms, Guide Stones react to the presence of certain elements. While the reaction is subdued, the delicate tool may lead to precise measurements to ensure proper refinement.
Elemental surveyor techniques border on the essential and physical. While the sciences have been disregarded by the arcane students who manipulate materials through transmutation or other methods, the students of science believe that through the exact understanding of the internal properties extraordinary devices will be created.