Elemental Resonance

The oldest known human dreams are aspirations to control the very powers of the cosmos. Whether that was primitive cultures seeking to harness the power of fire for cooking and warmth or primitive religions wishing to understand the miracle of life in all its complexity, all humans have long desired to control the primal elements around them. This eons-long shared dream of humanity has forged a primal elemental aspect into every Fae. In fact, the eight ancient Fae kingdoms of Arcadia established the limits of their domains by the auspices of these eight primal elements: Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Light, Dark, Life and Death. Every Changeling who comes into the Prime Reality Realm manifests an affinity for one of these eight elements. This natural affinity may be grown and enhanced with constant practice and discipline without the aid of a mentor or tutor. If a changeling wishes to diversify their powers to gain access the powers of an additional element, they must first find a Changeling who resonates with that element to become their mentor.
As a changeling grows in their elemental powers, the traces of their element begin to shape both their appearance and their spell casting. For example, a simple illusion cast by an air-aligned changeling may evaporate in a crackle of electric sparks or a gust of wind when it is successfully disbelieved or dispelled. Or a Death-aligned Changeling may take on a gaunt death-like pallor, while objects begin to wither and decay in their presence.
One of the limitations to a changeling learning how to control every element involves the rule of opposites. Each element has its polar opposite (Air-Earth, Fire-Water, Light-Dark, Life-Death). Once a changeling has learned a power from one of these elements, the powers associated with the opposite element will forever be unlearnable. At the most, a changeling can learn powers from up to four elements. This rule of opposites also applies to the effectiveness of elemental spells. Beneficial spells cast on changelings affiliated with an opposite element are only 50% as effective (and sometimes fail to work at all), while detrimental spells aimed at harming a changeling of an opposite element are twice as harmful.
Each element has both a physical substance as well as a metaphorical essence. For example, the fire element is naturally associated with heat, flames, and combustion, but it is also associated metaphorically with emotions like anger and wrath. If an elemental power is cast as a Wyrd power, the physical manifestation of the element is most often produced. If the elemental power is cast as a chimerical power, often the metaphorical effect comes across as an emotional enchantment, or a stat buff/nerf.
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Element	Physical Manifestation	Emotional Metaphor	Stat Resonance	Opposite
Air	Wind, Lightning	Passion, Spontaneity	Dexterity	Earth
Earth	Minerals, Metal	Calm, Steadfastness	Stamina	Air
Fire	Flame, Heat	Anger, Aggression	Strength	Water
Water	Water, Ice	Serenity, Focus	Manipulation	Fire
Life	Health, Fertility	Love, Nurturing	Charisma	Death
Death	Entropy, Decay	Hatred, Destruction	Intelligence	Life
Light	Radiant Energy, Alertness	Courage, Honesty	Perception	Dark
Dark	Shadows, Stealth	Fear, Depression	Wits	Light