Element Number Five: Difference between revisions

Another common variation is for this to be some kind of mental, spiritual, or [[Pure Energy|energy]]-related [[Foil]] to the physical elements; [[The Power of Love]], [[Mind Control]], and [[Light'Em Up]] are all common choices. The above rules may still apply (especially if the hero or the villain are the ones using it), but non-omniscient powers are equally likely to be balanced as not. The [[Inverse Law of Complexity to Power]] often favors [['''Element Number Five]]''' since it doesn't always fit the same system as the rest.

In spite of the name, this trope can also be another number- the Chinese elemental system, for example, normally contains five elements (Earth, Fire, Water, Metal, and Wood), so in works based on that mythology this will be Element Number Six. This trope occurs naturally in the [[wikipedia:Aether (classical element)|Greek]], [[wikipedia:B%C3%B6nBön#Elements|Tibetan]], [[wikipedia:Classical element#Classical elements in Babylonia|Babylonian]] and [[wikipedia:Five elements (Japanese philosophy)|Japanese]] elemental systems, where Aether, Space, Sky and [[Power of the Void|Void]] fulfill the narrative role of this trope - note that these four are essentially the same thing.

** The ''society'' doesn't, at least no more so than our own (the characters were familiar with the idea in general terms-- ieterms—ie, they can recognize that the traditional elements are fire, earth, water and wind without being told). It's the ancient protector aliens and sect of monk-guardians they inspired who believe in the "superstition" because those metaphysical concepts are used to trigger a [[Big Bad]] slaying machine.

* One of the more interesting ideas of this was featured in a ''[[Shadowrun]]'' novel, where an Indian magical theorist worked out a different [[Element Number Five]] than the usual Chinese translation. Specifically, he found that while Fire, Earth, and Water matched up to their standard concepts, the literal translations for Wood and Metal were "Wood that burns" and "Metal that gleams" respectively. "Wood that burns" would be perhaps one of the only ways to visualize Air (as smoke), so perhaps it also wasn't the Metal ancient Chinese mages were referring to... but the gleam. Then he summons a Light elemental which he designates as a "Farohad," it incinerates him, and escapes, then begins making hit-and-run attacks on the Matrix (the futuristic, VR-based internet) to destroy all traces of itself. Unfortunately, since the scientist's project was called "The Lucifer Project," this ends up creating lots of collateral damage to places like churches, seminaries, and an unfortunate woman named Lucille Ferraro.