“Before time, there was Darkness. But Light was drawn to it, and so began their endless dance…”
– The Scroll of the First Flicker
The Primal Forces are the fundamental energies from which all creation flows. They are not gods, nor spirits, nor sentient in any mortal way — but they move, pull, and manifest through the world and through those attuned to them.
Some are ancient, predating even time and matter. Others only emerged when thought, emotion, and civilization touched the world.
The Primal Forces are not good or evil.
They simply are — neutral, immutable, vast. Some mortals assign morality to them through cultural lenses, but the forces themselves care nothing for mortal concepts.
The Song of First Light
(as recorded in the Elder Leaves)
In shadowed halls before all things,
The Darkness slept on silent wings.
Then Light was stirred by ancient need,
To touch the void, to spark, to seed.
Their meeting cracked the endless night—
A bloom of stars, a blaze of might.
From Light and Depth, the Earth was drawn,
The first to wake, the first to yawn.
And where Earth kissed the shining flame,
Came Water, Air, and Fire untamed.
These four entwined in Nature’s womb,
And Life arose to break the gloom.
But every bloom must one day rest—
And Death was born to tend the blessed.
Then minds took shape with tongue and breath,
To question love, to honor death.
And thus was Truth, with piercing sight—
And Trickery, its veiled twin night.
Light – The Brilliance of Truth and Hope
Light is clarity. It reveals. It heals. It burns away shadow and guides the lost. Those attuned to Light walk as beacons—champions of justice, hope, and renewal. But even Light can blind, and its harsh glare shows all… even what we’d rather keep hidden.
“To walk in Light is to stand where all may see you—and still choose to rise.”
Darkness – The Veil of Secrets and Shadow
Darkness is concealment. It is the hush of midnight and the whisper behind the curtain. Not inherently evil, it guards mysteries, protects the vulnerable, and holds ancient truths too vast for the sun. But tread carefully—Darkness listens as much as it hides.
“Shadow is not the enemy of Light—it is its twin.”
Fire – The Flame of Passion and Destruction
Fire is hunger. It devours, transforms, and drives the spirit. Affinity with Fire marks one as fierce, volatile, or visionary. It is the force of revolution, forge, and fury—but it can as easily consume as it can illuminate.
“Fire gives warmth or death. You choose what burns.”
Water – The Current of Adaptation and Emotion
Water flows. It yields and yet wears down stone. It is memory, intuition, and deep emotion. Those attuned to Water are changemakers—flexible, empathetic, and enduring. But still waters run deep, and floods are merciless.
“To flow is not to surrender. It is to become unstoppable.”
Air – The Wind of Freedom and Thought
Air is motion, mind, and mischief. It dances between moments, carrying ideas and change. Affinity with Air grants agility of body and spirit, but flighty winds can turn to storms without warning.
“Air does not ask permission. It simply moves.”
Earth – The Root of Strength and Memory
Earth is the foundation—steady, slow, enduring. It holds the bones of the old world and the seeds of the new. Those tied to Earth are resilient, grounded, and hard to sway. But even mountains can break when pushed too far.
“To endure is to remain when all else falls.”
Life – The Pulse of Growth and Vitality
Life is creation. It sprouts, heals, and multiplies. To walk with Life is to nurture and protect—but also to change. For Life feeds on Death, and no bloom is eternal. Those attuned to Life feel the heartbeat of the world itself.
“Life is not gentle. It is relentless.”
Death – The Stillness of Ending and Renewal
Death is the great equalizer—not destruction, but transformation. It clears, closes, and prepares the way for what comes next. Affinity with Death brings clarity, detachment, and power over endings… but it demands respect.
“To wield Death is to become its witness—and its servant.”
Trickery – The Mask of Wit and Illusion
Trickery is not deception for cruelty’s sake—it is the clever hand, the unexpected turn, the twist that topples tyrants and wakes the sleeping mind. It thrives in jest, riddles, and cunning rebellion. Those attuned to Trickery see the world not as it is, but as it could be—with just the right nudge.
But beware: even the clever can fall for their own tricks.
“Laughter is a weapon. So is surprise.”
Truth – The Flame of Clarity and Conviction
Truth cuts like glass—beautiful, dangerous, and never dull. It binds oaths, breaks illusions, and lays bare what others fear to see. Those aligned with Truth often walk hard paths, for honesty is rarely welcomed by the powerful or the proud.
But truth has a gravity all its own, and those who wield it become immovable.
“To speak Truth is to invite the storm. But the storm clears the sky.”
Nature – The Harmony of All Living Forces
Nature is not one force—it is the song composed by many. Life, Death, Earth, Water, and Air weave together into its endless rhythm. To walk with Nature is to feel the wild pulse of the world in your bones—to adapt, endure, and protect the balance of all things.
Nature does not favor good or evil—it favors equilibrium. And when the balance is broken, it acts.
“You are not outside Nature. You are part of its story.”
All peoples — elves, dwarves, gnomes, draconians, and humans — can sometimes birth individuals with natural affinities to these primal forces.
- Connections can be:
- Innate (born with it)
- Earned (through trials, rituals, or exposure to potent locations)
- Found (through relics or intense devotion)
- Examples:
- The Draconian Sunseer Kaessa Brightscale draws her sightless power from Light.
- The Dwarven Stonepriests channel Earth in their rites of forging.
- Wilderkin Druids walk with the voices of Nature in their dreams.
Philosophical Views Across Cultures
- Elves: Nature is the center; all others are ripples upon it.
- Dwarves: Earth and Fire are sacred, but Truth is the forge of honor.
- Gnomes: Trickery and Water are tools of joy and cleverness.
- Draconians: Light is divine; Darkness is to be endured, not embraced.
- Humans: All forces are gifts — or temptations. They walk the thin line between them all.
The Core Dualities (Opposing Forces)
Every Primal Force has an Opposing Force. Together they form a cycle, a tension, or a balance — never still, always turning.
| Force | Opposing Force | Description |
| Light | Darkness | Illumination vs. Obscurity. Neither can exist without the other. |
| Earth | Air | Stability vs. Freedom. The grounded vs. the shifting. |
| Fire | Water | Passion and destruction vs. flow and adaptability. |
| Life | Death | Growth and change vs. release and entropy. |
| Truth | Trickery | Clarity vs. Deception. Honesty vs. manipulation. |
| Nature | Fire | Nature is not directly opposed to any force, but Fire is the most oppositional. |
Some mystics claim Nature is not a force, but the child of all others — an ever-changing reflection of their balance.