Element: Utae

Initiation

Utae is an uncommon and a physically intense element to manipulate. Understanding this element is understanding balance. People and animals that are utaephaelim can control the airflow around them. From a light gentle breeze all the way to a ravaging gust of air. While requiring a great amount of physical balance, trained utaephaelimn can enhance their balance further by the very element they control. Those that master this technique can easily do a number of acrobatic feats others would deem impossible, such as standing on one hand on a rocking canoe.
Physical balance as mentioned before is the most crucial part of controlling the air flow. As air flows so must the utaephaelimn flow with it, they essentially become one with the element. It does require a sense of inner peace, even animals that are instinctively bound by this element have been found to be more peaceful. That includes the carnivores, who more often then not hunt only when hungry. They have an atypical understanding off what life is, rarely found in other non-sapient creatures. A good example of this is that they've been recorded to allow younger life to live and even forgo a meal if it means sparing a nurturing mother. It should however be noted that there are exceptions to this norm and just because some members of a species are peaceful does not make every single one peaceful.

A good dancer doesn't have to be an utaephaelimn, but every competent utaephaelimn is a good dancer.

— Es'tan, martial grand master

Natural occurrences

Fauna

Animals that are utaephaelimni don't always know that they are. There are many winged animals in particular that utilize this element which gives them the extra lift they require to fly. They, however, do not have the extraordinary balance skills or peace of mind that other utaephaelimni have. This type of instinctive use of the element is found only in large winged animals. Other animals that can utilize utae to enhance their survival capabilities have to more actively practice their skills. Here are some examples and how these animals utilize their phaelimn skills.

• Uithgi: This thin primate can launch itself 5 meters into the air, it also uses this skill to jump between branches.
• Itaeq: This small watersnake jumps out of the water to prey on small birds, they can manipulate the wind to suddenly change their trajectory. The males use their utaephaelimn expertise to rise out of the water as much as they can and balance themselves as straight as possible to perform a mating ritual, a female that is interested will do the same and then coil around the male as they slowly decent back into the water.
• Aphwitang: Directly translated as 'swift tiger' is a large apex predator that not only uses its ability to control air to speed themselves up they will often throw their prey off balance while it tries to flee. Despite its size the aphwitang stays in constant motion while it fights; running, jumping or even wall running. As it does this gusts of wind will constantly hit their foe, this can create an opening for the tiger.

Environment

The element utae(air) can materialize itself, but always in combination with something else. Scholars have studied the floating rocks for centuries in an attempt to discover what allows them to levitate. These large rocks form a constant hazard for the people. It is now a common understanding that these floating debris are partially a manifestation from the element utae. The rock itself is nothing special what it allows to levitate however is a crystallized ore vein, this can be either aluminium or titanium, that through an unknown process fused with 'air'. This process has not yet been observed. The two biggest problems with studying this ore is that when extracted and exposed to air will remove the crystal structure leaving behind only the ore and some residue and until that happens has lift to it, if the piece is big enough can easily lift a man.
Wind stones are natural phenomena that influence the airflow around them, these are usually small quartz crystals. Not all quartz crystals are like this. The size of these special quartz determines the strength of the winds they create. These wind stones are also called sound stones because they can create drafts in caves or other rocky structures generating sound. There are two famous wind stones and culturally important landmarks. A massive one in a cave, which is taller then a man and because of the unique cave system, it creates a constant symphony of waning wind sounds that echo inside and outside the cave. The other is also fairly big and has been placed atop a hill surrounded by other smaller ones. The location is protected by Outlanders and the Venutae. Rumors around these wind stones vary from some saying it prevents hurricanes to others saying it causes them elsewhere, pilgrims and other travelers are only allowed access while supervised.

Societal applications

Occupations

Utaephaelimni are uncommon to find randomly. They can mostly be found in the entertainment world, dedicated martial arts training halls or monasteries. It's rare for people to be born talented and therefor must acquire their proficiency through training. The stereotype for utaephaelimni is that they're all jovial and peaceful while having a dexterous body. This is because the training requires them to have inner peace and undergo intense physical training.

• In the entertainment sector there are dedicated groups of utaephaelimni that train themselves as expert dancers or acrobats. Their shows are marvelous as they defy gravity with their coordinated high jumps and elegant wall running. Whether it's in a great amphitheater or the middle of a town, expert display of their skills always awe-inspire the crowd.
• The martial arts training halls that practice as utaephaelimni require constant dedication to their craft. Those that succeed and become masters are still required the same dedication to keep their skills sharp. They are fierce combatants that constantly try to outmaneuver their opponent while also breaking their guard with barrages of wind.
• There are some monasteries with trained utaephaelimni that focus their training more on the mental aspects of the element utae. Usually these monasteries practice multiple elemental disciplines, these monks will travel in pilgrimage from one monastery to the next, aiding those in need along the way. People say it's good fortune to see such a pilgrim and will often shelter them if they require it.

Technology

Many have attempted to develop a method of harnessing the levitating properties the floating rocks around the world have. Their are some minor successes with this difficult to utilize material that has allowed for wheel less carts. However they have their own merit of problems and are still to impractical for regular use. The most promising development is still transportation, a carved out stone trench that serves as a guide for a large floating stone slab. The main problems with it are stability and constantly bumping into the wall which can break the stone. The recent discovery of Al'irith glyphs looks like it could solve this. The stone slab would be moved by utumnphaelimn that would be on board.