Continuing with the About Elementals blog series, here's a bit more info on water form and what makes it so cool. Be sure to check out More About Elementals: Fire Form if you missed it last month!

Appearance
Elementals in water form take on an aquatic set of colors, including shades of royal blue and aquamarine. Although many Elementals are blue in their normal forms, water form blue tends to be much deeper and darker, like the ocean depths.

In water form, the skin of an elemental appears noticeably more scaly. Some Elementals are covered head-to-toe in a bubble-like pattern of rings.  The feathered crest that runs along the spine is rounded and can be either bright green or blue, giving it the appearance of either splashed water or kelp.

Abilities
In water form, an Elemental can control small amounts of relatively pure water. Often, this controlled water is held in place as an orb between an Elemental's hands. Water form Elementals have the same control over ice, snow, and steam that they do for liquid water. 

A single Elemental can typically only control a gallon or two of water at a time, although some elders are said to be able to control significantly more. As a group, Elementals can chain their powers. In one legend, hundreds of Elementals gathered at the edge of a mighty river and managed to reverse its flow for several minutes.

When in water form, an Elemental is granted amplified swimming powers and the ability to stay submerged without air for considerably longer than in normal form. While swimming, some Elementals have learned how to displace the water around their heads in order to create an air bubble for breathing assistance.

Limitations
Elementals cannot create water from nothing; the water must already exist in order to be manipulated. Unless there is visible mist or steam present, an Elemental cannot pull moisture straight from the air.

The lower the purity of the water, the more difficult it is to control. Elementals cannot control water that is deeply saturated with salt and/or organic compounds, like sea water or blood. Although an Elemental can control snow or ice, they are not granted any sort of resistance or immunity to it in water form and therefore must take caution not to freeze when working in cold conditions. 

Usage
Elementals generally use their aquatic forms for transporting water from one place to another, or for catching fish. Groups of Elementals have been known to build makeshift fish ladders from suspended water in order to help salmon and other species move upstream. 

Water form is often used side by side with fire form to quench flames, including forest fires. In a village, water Elementals often stand as "spotters" near campfires or fire starters with an orb of water at the ready in case the flames start to spread.

Kings, chieftains, or other important Elementals are often granted an escort of water Elementals whose sole job is to manipulate rain and other precipitation so that it does not fall onto the leader. This is also a common practice in parades, funerals, processionals, and general courtesy... especially on dates. 

In recreation, water form is often used to play a form of "hot potato" in which an orb of water must be thrown from one individual and caught by another without breaking the surface tension. It can be tricky to catch a water orb mid-air, meaning the loser typically winds up soaked. Additionally, water form is the chosen form of Elementals for snowman building and snowball fights.

The site already has a dedicated section all about Elementals, but I thought it might be fun to periodically delve a little deeper into the world of these creatures and how they live. Occasionally I'll post detail-heavy mini articles to the blog that expands on various Elemental concepts a bit, and the first mini article is all about fire form!

Appearance
When an Elemental changes into fire form, they lose the blue, green, or purple coloration of normal form and instead take on shades of orange, yellow, or red. Much like normal form, the exact color of fire form varies by individual. In this form, the body is often banded with tiger-like stripes and the hands and feet are typically gray or coal-colored.

The flame-like crest that runs from the head to the tail is actually not made of flame. Instead, the Elemental's normal feathers simply take on a striking, flame-like appearance. 

Abilities
In this form, an Elemental can generate a spark by snapping his/her fingers. He/she can use this spark to start a fire if the conditions are right and can control the movement of the resulting flame. Elementals can control any type of fire, even ones that they do not start. When working together, chains of Elementals can control even large infernos. 

Part of a fire Elemental's control is the ability to shrink and snuff out an existing flame by bringing it to an area where it has no fuel to keep burning. This can be useful to prevent property damage or to quench a fire that is becoming difficult to control.

Limitations
As with any fire starter, the spark of an Elemental is most effective in dry kindling or other flammable materials. Fires are nearly impossible to start in damp environments or outside during a downpour. Elementals are taught to be wary, since flames are somewhat unpredictable by nature and can often grow too large for a single individual (or even a group) to control. An Elemental cannot sustain a fire on his/her own; the fire must have fuel and oxygen in order to keep burning. Elementals in fire form do not have control over very hot/molten substances such as lava, but they do have control over any ensuing flames.

Although Elementals in fire form do gain some level of protection from heat, they are not immune to fire and therefore must take the same care as any other creature not to be overtaken by it.

Usage
Elementals most often use fire form not to start fires, but to bring existing flames under control. Large Elemental communities have been known to prevent the spread of forest fires and occasionally even conquer them by surrounding them and burning them out of fuel.

Water and air forms are often used in conjunction with fire form. Elementals in air form can create wind to direct the fire toward or away from a target, and water form Elementals can supply H2O to douse a fire with in an emergency.

Fire form is used in the day to day life of Elemental communities as well. It is used to start and sustain campfires, and also to play a popular Elemental sport called "fire ball."