True Elementals: overview

True elementals are huge, intelligent beings of immense power. Long ago they were worshipped as demi-gods, and they have kept a fierce pride. Only practitioners of elemental magic can summon them, and although a summons compels them to serve, they may refuse if they are shown less respect than they once enjoyed. They never serve for more than an hour and will not stoop to trivial or degrading jobs.

A summoned true elemental can be asked either to teach one spell or to perform one service, such as using one of its special powers a single time. Each casts any spell tied to its element at 20th level. The earth elemental moves through earth and stone at 500 feet a minute and can turn rock to mud in a block 100 feet on each side; the air elemental flies and commands wind and weather across a 1,000-foot radius; the fire elemental kindles or quenches fires over a 100-foot radius up to 100 feet away, burning everything in that area for 2-12 damage a minute; and the water elemental can raise a whirlpool able to capsize any ship, or a tidal wave dealing 20d6 damage. In a fight an earth elemental pounds with its fists for 3-24 or hurls boulders for 3-36 at up to 200 feet, an air elemental batters foes as a whirlwind for 3-24, a water elemental strikes twice a round with its trident for 1-12 + 15 each, and a fire elemental's touch burns for 3-24.