The Istarel ~ creatures made from one of the four core elements: fire, water, air, and earth. They take on roughly humanoid forms and can be either male or female. The Istarel wield a blade made from their element.

The M'Istarel ~ a "secondary" level of elementals made from smoke {~fire}, ice {~water}, mist {~air}, and dust {~earth}. Again, they take on roughly humanoid forms. The M'Istarel wield a whip made from their element and are considered less powerful {or dangerous} than the Istarel. They are more plentiful than the Istarel in the world of Eeria.

Both the Istarel and the M'Istarel are intelligent and use one language to communicate.

The Istarel and M'Istarel have a single jewel set in their throats. If the jewel is captured by a human, he/she can control that (M)Istarel. {Control: the creature follows the master's implicit desires when the master is not holding the jewel, and obeys the explicit desires when the master is actually holding the jewel.}

An Istarel or M'Istarel can be killed {technically, returned to nothing} by crushing their jewel.

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What questions do you have about these creatures? Please be specific so I can know how to fine-tune them!

Do you have any suggestions for change or improvement?

Ooh I love this idea Dawn!

So can the M'Istarel die as well if the Jewel is crushed?

So I'm taking it they can be good and evil, depending on the Master who holds the Jewel?

Thanks, Lady Elanor!

And yes, the M'Istarel can be killed by crushing their jewel too. Only difference is it's much easier to get the jewel from a M'Istarel, partly because they're so much more vaporous than an Istarel {except for ice}.

*hm...* Good question. In my WIP, the fire-Istarels and smoke-M'Istarels are almost all controlled by evil power(s). So both Istarels and M'Istarels can be controlled by evil, yes. However, when you hold a (M)Istarel captive, it follows your desires, implicit and explicit. Because your desires are often mixed and shifting, they are unpredictable and could be disastrous to use. So usually only evil power(s) are willing to chance destruction and use them. Occasionally greedy humans try to control them, but those cases are usually messy and straightened out shortly (especially since humans aren't usually powerful enough to overwhelm Istarels).

Hope that makes things clearer!

** Oh, and I forgot to add:

What would you do if you were surrounded by seven fire-Istarels that {somehow} want you dead? And the only weapon you have is a dagger, though you prefer a bow?

So, for instance, what would happen if you smashed an ice M'istarel, but didn't take the jewel? What do they do when they have no one controlling them? What if you succeeded in taking the gem, but gave it back? Would the (M)Istarel become friend with you, or try and kill you?

Hmm, in that scenario, I would first try and talk with them, if that is possible, and if not, I would drop my dagger to show I didn't want to harm them and hope they didn't obliterate me.

I'd do what Griffin said with the addition of some serious praying.

Ooh, great questions! Let me see... if you didn't take the jewel, they would not be destroyed, so they'd re-form, same as if you'd only "cut off" a certain portion. However, they can also be "shattered" by clashing them with their opposite element - fire v. water, earth v. air, smoke v. ice, dust v. mist. In the latter case, if their jewel survives, they will re-form around the jewel after exactly one year.

If no one is controlling them, they tend to attach themselves to one object in nature, usually something with a connection to their element, and guard it from harm.

If you succeed in taking their gem, but gave it back, they would be bound by their code to spare your life for as long as they endure.




Good ideas there, guys... Speech could be useful, since the M'Istarel understand the common tongue. For the Istarel, though, you'd still be in trouble. In the event that they were actually out to kill you... I think prayer might be a mighty fine idea .

Would they protect you, or just not kill you?

The Istarel would protect you when you're nearby or come to your aid if you call their name {which is engraved on their jewel}. However, the M'Istarel would just not kill you.

*goes out to find an Istarel*

What kind would you "pick"?

*goes out to hunt Ice M'Istarel*

I want a fire Istarel!

I'd go with water myself - fire a close second

I prefer ice. Water would be second though.