Ousiikai - the Crystal of Waters ([u:zi:kaI])

Ousiikai is one of the Six Elemental Crystals and is used to read, understand and influence the behaviour of waters in various forms. As is true for almost all the Elemental Crystals, it has the power for defence and attack, for kindly provision and devastating destruction. At 553AFD, the Guardian Mage of Ousiikai is Polarnis.

The Meaning of the Name

This is worth clarifying for this Crystal, namely to prevent accidental mistranslation into Common Tongue:

• Ousii [u:zi] - Waters
• Kai: [kaI] - must be translated from qai, a probable Ancient Foyiitùn form of qal, associated with rocks or stones. See the Chronicler's Note on Sénaqaii - The Elemental Crystals to avoid confusion with modern Foyiitùn, where kai is translated as "what".

However, it was also common to hear it refered to as the "Crystal of Water" even by Circle Mages. Given their arts relied on the intention of the mind almost as much as the pronunciation of words, there is no lost understanding utilising the singular form.

Chronicler's Note: Successive Guardian Mages have likely retained the Foyiitùn name partly for tradition and partly for obfuscation. After all, a stone called "what water?" sounds more like a conundrum than an object of power.

Plural Waters

The fact that Ousii is rendered in its plural form, gives a hint that it can influence not simply one particular body or type of water, but multiple.
The plural is also important when coupled with the singular word qai/kai. It is one stone that impacts many waters. This can be seen in contrast to Ousiqalii, or "ice stones" used during the transportation of fresh produce or meat. The same word can also be employed in place of "Ice Shards", lesser mage-stones. But there is only one true Ousiikai.

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Discovery of Ousiikai

Background

While magecraft was not wholly embraced by Qal'ath even prior to the First Destruction, some sorcerers were tolerated due to their ability to Bind and heal.

However, those that were not healers became scorned following the appearance of the Aevyormii (or Auskàlii) at the field of battle. Seeing the destructive potential of incantations and mystical weapons caused many Qalathian communities to force out any known practitioners of the mystical (and, by definition, Elemental) arts. This took place long before the Realm's leaders announced an effective ban on its use, unless they became an Authorised Mage - a licensed, but highly-monitored sorcerer.

For the avoidance of confusion, the "Elemental Arts" existed long before the first Crystal Circle was formed.
(See Elemental Mage)

Date and Manner

This backdrop affects (and effected) the discovery of Ousiikai more than the other Elemental Crystals. Either through community persecution, or in fear of the Authorities, many mages fled the Realm - some even thought to have escaped beyond the boundary of the Erdàn Savànii.

While most seems to have escaped on foot (or horseback), a few set sail on the Grànousii-an-Ormàszil Ocean on owned or abandoned Slùpe, or the equivalent at the time.
At some point on the journey to wherever they believed their destination was, one boat arrived at the island of Ghrrysz, which now lies within Qal'ath's territorial waters. There it stopped for a time and, it appears, a few decided to try and make the island their home.
It is thought that, sometime between 2 and 5 AFD, an Elemental Mage discovered Ousiikai where the cliffs of Ghrrysz meet the Grànousii-an-Ormàszil.

Chronicler's Note:
I feel I must stress here that there are conflicting stories, narratives or "records" relating to the fate of the Slùpe in question. Some claim it ran aground, others that they were drawn to the island by forces unknown and still others that the Péki-Aszii, who live on the seabed, somehow guided the ship to the island.
For this reason, I have simply stated that the ship stopped for a time at Ghrrysz, as I can find no consistency anywhere. Such is the burden of the researcher of long-past events.

Joining the Other Crystals

Scraps of records recovered since Carnael II decided to utilise the island - some from parchment, others from stone etchings, point to a careful study of the gem, which in turn led to an improvement in the lives of those who had stayed, in the form of water which was both pure to drink, yet fertile for crops.
But it was not to last. The unnamed mage (as all the original Elemental Crystal bearers are) also reports of being physically pulled by the Crystal to the water's edge on multiple occasions. While they initially feared for their life, they eventually realised it was not trying to kill them. On the contrary, when they had nearly fallen into the ocean from a great height, the Crystal seemed to pull them back again. Taking this all into consideration, they record an "urge" to travel in the direct they were being pulled and had to depart from the small Ghrryszian community.
That compulsion ultimately led the mage to meet the other original holders of the Elemental Crystals.

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Importance

In the event that the Crystal of Waters is the first of the Elemental Crystals you are researching, it is worth noting that, for the Circle and for balance all of the Six Elemental Crystals are of vital importance.
That said, the reasons this is so differ due to how Nature functions.

Water Is Life

"Vyt-ousét" in Foyiitùn, is a mantra that is further reaching than the mystical arts. Scientists acknowledge this when developing potions, naturists when cultivating new species of plantlife, and military commanders when seizing territory. Qal'ath's original founders may not have known the saying, but they knew the territory they wanted by how rich in water it was.
Thus, as vital as water is to physical life, so Ousiikai is required by the Circle for the insight it brings and the fact that it touches on many (but not all) other elements.

Permeation

Permeation refers to the fact that water can, and often does, flow through areas dominated by some of the other elements. Through soil and rock (Erdé), disregarding the day and night (Ormà), either strengthened by the Wind or (again) disregarding it to continue on its path (Aevyen). Ousii can obscure the sky with water-sheets, clouds or mist (Ethkiel). The only Element it cannot permeate is Fyr. See below.

Healing & Refreshment

While all Circle Mages could perform healing incantations - and wordless healing too - Ousii did this differently. It worked best in tandem with other mages because it excelled at

• Poison removal
• Stemming bleeding
• Wound cleansing

and the like. Certain spells also brought "refreshment", as though a spring had welled up inside a person. This brought rest to the restless, energy to the fatigued and calm to the stressed. A squad containing an Ousii-aligned Mage could battle for longer than anticipated, so long as the "Refreshment" effect was active.

Affecting Other Elements

The context of these descriptions assumes either an Elemental Mage against a natural disturbance, or a battle against an Elemental Mage. There are no known or recorded events of Crystal Circle Mages fighting each other - much less with the Sénaqaii.

• Erdé
  Ousii is very strong against weaker Erdé incantations (using physical or mystical Erdé creations). In protracted battles, assuming a balance of Wills (see Battle of Wills) and mental reserves, Ousii will weaken Erdé as waters erode rocks in nature.
  
  It is the strongest against Erdé if combined with Aevyen in the form of Ice.
  
  
• Orma
  Ousii reflects Light - therefore could be used to counter an attempt to abuse the Crystal of Light (if that Crystal's own defences failed), but when used with Ormàkai, "Rivers of Light" could be used to illuminate dark passageways or even enemy strongholds.
  
  
• Ethkiel
  As clouds can hide the Sky, Ousii can be used to obscure a caster of Ethkiel (a form of Ousiikyl) to cut them off from a battle or to reduce the accuracy of Sky-based attacks. The Sky Mage will usually require some Aevyen attunement or an ally in that Element, to remove the barrier.

Affected By Other Elements

• Aevyen
  can redirect Ousii, which could be dangerous in a combat scenario. This redirection could impact people, creatures or structures nearby. And, while unlikely, were an Aevyen Mage significantly more powerful than the Ousii Mage, then the Water spell could be turned against its conjurer.
  
  
• Erdé
  Is restrained by Erdékai to prevent flooding.
  
  
• Ormà and Ethkiel
  It can only reflect or refract Ormà and Ethkiel. So, while it could not (alone) push back against an unnatural light or an Anarchic Sky (yes, such things have been recorded, but here is not the place to discuss those), it can repel the attacks. Thus a battle strategy may involve those who can attack being shielded by Ousiikai - one of the niche cases where Waters are, in fact, the best physical defence.
  
  
• Ethkiel: As rain falls from the sky, so too does Ethkiel repel Ousii, especially if combined with Aevyen.

Fyr

Its greatest "head on" challenge is against Fyr. For, while water may extinguish flames, flames may also reduce waters to vapour.

Natural Flames
If the struggle is against natural flames, then this is commonly far simpler. There is no Battle of Wills. Indeed, if the mage believes there is no battle, then one manifests, a hidden or distant power must be assumed.
Assuming natural, then the scale of the flames, the number of allies the Elemental Mage (or holder of Ousiikai) has supporting them and the focus of said mage will determine the outcome. However, the mage must remember they are finite and fallible. To be consumed by Fire is to embrace death. Wisdom - and above all, logic, must be employed even in times of great distress.

Unnatural Flames
If the Guardian Mage of Ousiikai faces a Fyr-aligned Elemental Mage then the situation is no different to any other encounter - except both are more wary of the destructive potential of the other. As noted, retreating is preferable.
If retreat is not possible - or has not been made possible - then the whole encounter may be resolved in one singular Battle of Wills as both will be forced to employ either their most powerful attacks or their most powerful defences. In the latter case, it will be resolved in two Battles of Wills.

Chronicler's Warning
I wish to paraphrase what I read from various manuscripts and condense them down to this:
Make no mistake. A Fyr Mage and an Ousii Mage against each other is a danger to one or both of their lives, regardless of the incantations they use. For this reason, retreat is wise even for the attacking Mage, until allies or a different strategy can be found.

The loss of an Ousii-aligned Mage, who can provide instant refreshment and often healing to allies would be deemed critical and could lead to defeat. The loss of a Fyr-aligned Mage may not present a physical danger to the army to whom they belong, but would cause a significant drop in morale.

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Special Abilities and Incantations

It is not my intention here to document battle-cry incantations. However, it is worth noting that Ousiikai had either unique, or uniquely-potent versions of a few spells. These are:

Ous-àjai/Àjous - Provision of Water

Being linked to Ousii, it was not only sensitive as to where water was present, but also to where water was needed. However to the Guardian Mage of Ousiikai it could conjure sufficient water to quench thirst in times of need.
It could be used alongside either the Crystal of Erdé or Erdé incantations to draw water from a new-found source. The reason Erdé's cooperation was important was to speed up the erosion of the ground between the source and the surface - and to draw it upwards.

Ous-àjai Limitations

Polarnis, being often absent from the Crystal Circle was also known for his poor planning. Thus he sometimes had to draw water from Ousiikai. But the emphasis on how it functions hinges on the word "need". He, and Guardians before him, noted that the Crystal provided sufficient nourishment to sufficiently revive the Mage so they could reach a naturally-occurring source of water.

Ousiikyl - The Shield of Water

Sometimes referred to as the "Shield of Waves" due to the way that the water flowed and tumbled around the shield. The shape of the shield depended on the will of the Mage, however commonly it was in the form of an Orb, with the Mage and nearby allies within it.

Chronicler's Note:
"Ousiikyl, or Kylous(ii) should be used sparingly, or not at all. Should your opponent, or worse, an enemy army, contain just one Aevyen-capable Sorcerer, the Ousii Mage's life (and that of any others within the orb) would almost certainly be forefeit. Natural water can be turned to Ice and, therefore, conjured water becomes mystical ice, cutting off the air supply." (Polarnis' journal, recovered in 554AFD, 1NE)
That's a risk I hadn't foreseen when embarking on this research. Should it look likely that Ousiikyl would be needed, taking a Fyr-aligned Mage, or ideally, the Guardian Mage of Fyrkai seems like the only rational approach.

Physical Defences

This water shield provided a fast-moving torrent capable of repelling lighter physical items (and weapons), natural fire (to a certain point) and smaller creatures and people.
It being naturally wet, that water could be blown over advancing enemies, or to make the ground under them unstable. Of course, the same could apply to the casting Ousii mage, if they did not concentrate on maintaining all the conjured water within the shield.

Mystical Defences

Ousiikyl provides protection against Erdé-based incantations, not just physical projectiles. And, dependent on the Battle of Wills, could quench Fyr-based attacks, and repel Ethkiel and Ormà.

Pékousyri-ajai

Pékousyri-ajai was what one may call a "personal convenience" spell. To clarify, that does not infer abuse of Elemental magecraft, just that being part of Nature involves both blessing it and enjoying its blessings.
Pékousyri-ajai conjured an orb of droplets around the conjuring mage. Commonly this was done above the ground, such that in levitation, the mage was closed in underneath as well as round about. Furthermore, it was completely dry inside.

Why would a mage use this spell?

• It also created an invisible "sound barrier", granting the mage silence within from which to meditate, write or simply exist.
• To remain cool on a hot day or to slow dehydration in desert conditions.
• As a barrier against (naturally-occuring) Elements for a small group of people or smaller structures. This even means, the orb could repel natural rain. While Pékousyri-ajai is usually for "personal convenience", Polarnis has demonstrated that it can be the start of a sequence of incantations when handling a water-based danger.

While this is not true for many Elements, Ousii can repel Ousii. To explain in simple terms, take two magnetic chunks of metal. Instead of letting them pull together, turn one around and try to join them. There are two possible outcomes:

1. The magnets push each other away,
2. One spins around and they join up.

In the same way, Ousii can push back Ousii, but must do cautiously to avoid a "spin" and magnify the problem.

The larger the orb required, the deeper the meditation demanded of the Ousiikai Mage.

“Impressive, Polarnis. Any chance of one as big as the Crystal Tower?” he asked.
“Not without me being in a permanent trance, no.” Polarnis replied, forcing a smile.

"Wrenched", Dag Drey

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Ousiikai

While the header's background is AI generated, then edited by me, the Crystal was created digitally but by hand (I painted it in Krita from scratch), also by me.

Ghrrysz

Qal'ath Ikà Doon Region Map

Open full size

My "core" region, which includes Qal'ath, The Forest of Doon and The Verdant Hills - Bevérohii. These areas are the focus of book one of The Chronicles of Qal'ath.

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Foyiitùn Name

Ousiikai

Alternative Names

Kai'ous, The Crystal of Water(s)

Discovery

The Isle of Ghrrysz

Guardian

Polarnis

Current Weapon Attachment

Polarnis' Silver Bracelet

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Unique Incantations

Ousiikyl

Water Shield incantation. Can take the forms of: dome, orb or even war-shield shape.

Ous-àjai/Àj'ous

If spoken to the Crystal: Causes droplets of water to fall from the Crystal to quench the Guardian Mage's thirst

If spoken to other water: draws water towards the Guardian Mage (may also be used for the discovery of springs).

Pékousyri-ajai

Create a "bubble" of fine water droplets around the Mage and/or anything nearby, that has a sound barrier and is dry inside.

Item type

Magical

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