(07-09-2015, 03:45 PM)Goodfellow Wrote: My question is, do all elementals actually require Hearers to communicate with mortals or can an elemental manifest itself willfully enough to speak directly to mortals without an intermediary?
As best we know, yes. The PC can understand when an Elemental speaks to them (Oha-Sok from 1.0 WHM questilne) because A) CNJ questline establishes you as a Hearer and B) you have the Echo. In all other instances of Elementals appearing to mankind, an intermediary is required. Whether this be a Hearer or Moogle.
Dendrological Duties Wrote:Soileine: Elementals abound in the Twelveswood around Gridania. Unto them falls the task of protecting the forest. And unto us falls the task of protecting them. To that end, we have laid the Hedge - a magical barrier formed by our order and the Elementals that serves to turn away outside evils. Those who would breach it invite our vengeance. We are the conjurers - intermediaries of nature and man. Our place is between Gridanians and the Elementals. The majority of our citizenry are deaf to the forest's whispers. Yet all feel the presence of the Elementals, as surely as they feel hot and cold.
Waldew Wrote:Waldew: Listen, adventurer, to the rustling leaves, the flowing rivers- to the very pulse of this land. We conjurers of Stillglade Fane interpret these whispers of the Elementals and convey them to the people of Gridania.
Why is it that Elementals cannot speak to us through other means? I think there's a Heavensward Quest which answers this the best:
Lost in the Lifestream Wrote:Kan-E-Senna: In requesting the Elementals' assistance, you must needs be aware of one difficulty - a difficulty born of the fundamental difference between man and elemental. In perceiving the world around him, man relies upon senses such as sight and sound. For the sake of convenience, he gives names to such things as are near or dear to him. Being formed of pure aether, however, such concepts are foreign to the elmentals. Instead, they perceive by observing the ebb and flow of the energies of life. So profound a division cannot be bridged with simple discourse. The Elementals' voices stir not the air, and thus reach not our ears, while our words are but wind to them. Though we seers can commune with them through feelings, naught that we can impart will serve to aid them...
(07-09-2015, 03:45 PM)Goodfellow Wrote: we know that elementals exist all over the world, but they're the most vocal and...er...active(?) in the Shroud.
As for this bit, yes, Elementals exist all over the world. Every tree, every stream, rock, etc. The reason the Elementals have such a "vocal" presence in the Black Shroud is that they have the protection of the Hedge, a magical barrier which wards out dangers. By breaking or passing through this barrier, you begin accruing Woodsin, a palpable aggravation to the flora and fauna of the Twelveswood. Enough Woodsin will drive nearby beasts mad and cause them to try to "silence" your Woodsin. (This is slightly different from "Greenwrath" which is when you commit a wrong so grievous it awakens an Elemental to deal with the threat. These Greenwrath-worthy events are usually acts in violation of the Pact of Gelmorra.
Hope this helps! ^^
