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Amber Elemental — Description

If enough materials and magic is present, an elemental can be born. This is often done on purpose, with magic users channeling their powers into a specific element to create a familiar, but such entities can be made with no master. Magic is a bizarre and lasting energy, never truly vanishing after being used or spent. Residue remains, though it is often such a minuscule amount that most would never notice. If massive spells or rituals are performed, then it is quite possible to saturate the surrounding environment with this lingering presence. This aura that remains can wind up fueling a variety of events, including the birth of an elemental. This can also happen if a potent mana source is lost and left to the wilds, where the elements can slowly build up around it as it leaks out this precious energy. There is also no denying natural sources of this magic, as it seems to spring up in specific locations or species. This too could make an elemental, one that would be viewed as some guardian of nature, built from the very earth itself to protect it. Regardless, the ways to make one of these entities are many, and the different kinds of them are also countless. If there is an element in enough quantities, there is a chance it may be given life and purpose. In this case, if there is enough sap collected and contained, then an amber elemental can be formed.

Amber elementals are almost exclusively made by dryads, as they are the ones with such a ready supply of sap. So many communities live within abundant forests and around countless trees. Sap is already an important material for them, with it being used in food, repair, sealing, bolstering tools and weapons, preservation, jewelry and more. Even dryad money is made from sap, minted into amber coins with intricate designs. The species has found ways to safely harvest this stuff from their trees, ensuring a steady, but renewable, flow. With its many uses and copious amounts, there was no doubt that eventually an elemental may be created from it. Making one requires a great amount of sap, but also resin soaked wood and bark. Due to the nature of this plant goop, the elemental requires support structures to prevent it from being a mere blob. A bark encrusted shell is constructed, and then the sap is poured in this wooden armor. A ritual is performed and life is then given to this sticky entity.

What forms they take is up to the creator, as it is dictated by the shell they build for it. Some go for more humanoid frames, others try for animal-like features, and some go for a more amorphous look. They can walk, slither or float about on sap bubbles filled with gas. Their purpose is to assist their maker and the community they were born into. In many cases, they are simply a walking sap dispenser, using the magic within them to keep it fresh and sticky so that is always ready to use when needed. For towns that do not have access to an abundance of sap, these amber elementals may be created and sent to them instead of going through the trouble of trying to haul barrels of the stuff. To make up for handing this stuff out, amber elementals can draw more sap from other plants, slowly replenishing their stock.

Amber elementals aren't just made to spread sap around, as they do have a special trick. Their goopy bodies are capable of swallowing other beings, completely submerging them in sap. In any other scenario, this would cause the victim to asphyxiate in the thick gunk, but these elementals are different. Their sap is magic infused, and they are capable of controlling how fast it solidifies. What they do is pull the specific target into their bodies and then quickly "freeze" the sap around them to lock them into a type of stasis. In this state, the being within is unaffected by lack of air, food or water, instead put into a very deep sleep. As long as the elemental is functioning properly, it will keep them safe in this hibernation until it is time to wake them up. When the moment comes, the whole solid chunk of amber is ejected from the body and cracked open, releasing the being trapped inside. Those who emerge tend to react like they were just roused from a deep sleep, but side effects may vary depending how long they were in the amber. If it is only hours, then it is just like waking up. If they were sealed inside for days, then they will experience blurred vision, a foggy mind and weak limbs as their body tries to reorient itself to the living world. There should be no scenario where someone is contained in an elemental for weeks, but it does sadly happen. In this case, those who were released came out blind and unable to walk, practically still in a coma state. It is said that they required days to recover, and rehabilitation was needed for them to return to normal.

Now the question usually emerges on why dryads would ever need an amber elemental to do such a thing. What purpose is there for this stasis? The main use for this technique was developed during war times, when grievous injury was a common occurrence. At times, one would be wounded in such way that recovery was possible but the window of time was very short. If there were healers immediately on the scene, then they could be saved, but that is not how the battlefield works. The time it would take to retrieve them and haul them to safety would doom them, as they bleed out before help can arrive. Amber elementals could swoop in and swallow these victims, essentially freezing their timer to prevent the injuries from taking their toll. They could then be taken to the healers at their leisure, kept in the safety of stasis until there was enough time, resources and staff to tend to them. The wounded would then be released and the doctors would immediately get to work. While it saw its use on the battlefield, it is still useful today. Whenever horrible accidents occur, a nearby elemental can be called in to perform the same maneuver on the unfortunate victim and then carry them off to a healer. In rare scenarios, amber elementals have even been used as a mode of transportation for individuals too old or weak to travel on their own. When a sacred elder of incredible age is called upon in a faraway village, their ancient roots cannot complete this journey. Even loading them onto a bumpy carriage can be taxing for them. Instead, they could be taken into one of these elementals, who will complete the trek for them. It is just a long nap, and then they arrive at their destination.

This stasis ability born of sticky sap hasn't just been used for lifesaving purposes, as it can provide another service. Others have found that it is a great system for catching criminals and transporting prisoners, as they are pretty much living cages. On their own, these elementals have the perfect design for snaring foes. When in pursuit, then can throw gobs of sap or spray streams of the gunk on escapees, slowing their movements and making it harder to run. Opponents will find their limbs bogged down by the sap, as it glues their hands shut, obscures their vision and weighs them down. Fighting back is pretty much impossible with regular weapons, as there are no vitals to strike and blades are coated in thick plant goo. Stabbing or hitting them is just a guaranteed way to lose your weapon. Once the target is sufficiently slowed, they are consumed and entombed in amber, now ready to be taken away. Some use this to transport dangerous criminals, while wars have seen it as a valuable way to take important enemies alive. In crueler communities, some use it as a punishment itself, keeping the accused trapped inside for long periods of time. There they can be left in stasis for however long their captors deem it necessary, with the occasional parading around town so all can see their shame. This method of use is condemned by many dryad communities, but that sadly isn't enough to make such practices extinct. Of course, there are even worse scenarios where the victim is never released, and horrid individuals use this amber to create gruesome trophies.

It should be noted that amber elementals are among the few elementals that have an expiration date. It seems that they cannot forever maintain their form and control their sap. As the weeks roll by, their resin coated frames begin to deteriorate and their sap bodies slowly bubble and swell. Their bodies begin to leak and crack, giving way to sappy pustules. Hardened nodes of amber form and fall out, as their lose control over their forms. In the late stage of an amber elementals life, they are reduced to crawling globs with various limbs and bark pieces emerging from their bodies. Eventually it will all run out, and they collapse into a lifeless pile of sap. The magic and control has reached its limit. If there are any hibernating individuals inside during these final days, it is advised to harden their amber shell and remove them from the elemental. As long is the amber isn't cracked open, they will remain asleep and safe. Though this elemental may have "died," all is not lost. Those reaching these end times are often accompanied by their masters and friends, who know the moment is imminent. When they fall apart, their companions are quick to save what sap that they can, which can be used to create a new elemental. Though this one will not be the same as the last, some folks swear that you will find lingering memories within these new ones. Much like many things in dryad culture, these elementals will know rebirth.