Steam Elementals - Scalding Water Strikes with a Vengeance

Elementals are among some of the oldest creatures in the many myths of our world, and the many worlds of fantasy RPGs. Beings made of great sheets of rock, swirling torrents of water, howling winds and searing flames.

In all my time Game Mastering RPGs, I've found that forms of these elementals, great and small, stick to just these singular elements in one being. There are a few exceptions. However most elementals are just air, earth, fire, or water. The energy which can animate the elements into a living being probably shouldn't stop at just one element. Why are there so few elemental hybrids in my favourite RPG system?

This is the second elemental hybrid I've covered, the first being the fusion of earth and water. I think continuing with water, before finding another element to flow into is the natural thing to do. Let's get steamy!

Steam Elementals

No this is not another name for your average PC gamer.

Steam elementals are unlikely beings, but found in places where waters flow and the intense heat of burning forests or the molten core of the earth is powerful. They take the form similar to a water elemental. Their bodies flow upwards in a vaguely humanoid shape with arms and legs. The water they're comprised of is usually a murky black of smoke that can't billow up and away.

A contradiction of cool water and roiling heat - Steamcore Weird by Justin Norman

When water, particularly the enchanted water that may yet spring to life as an elemental begins to evaporate, it doesn't always kill the water elemental. Much in the same way, a roaring, living fire doesn't cease when it's doused. Sometimes the heated water springs up and takes on life as scalding air.

True steam elementals are more akin to hot water, with roiling fire deep within. Truly immense flames, from stuff such as thermite and other devilish matter, can continue to burn underwater. It's this kind of material that fuels the hearts of steam elementals.

Water flowing near places of intense heat are the more common place to find steam elementals. This makes them abundant in volcanic region or immense geyser field. Players may also find them in places where fire occurs unexpectedly near natural flowing water. A cleansing fire in a forest may spawn a steam elemental.

Steam Elemental Stats generated with Homebrewery

By nature, steam is chaotic. It scalds and burns, but as it wanders, the sulphur and water in its form feeds and enriches the land it's near. As destructive as it may seem, the steam elemental may seem, it balances it just by living.

Into Hot Water

As with the delta elemental, the steam elemental is a very frequent and dangerous wandering monster. It's not inherently aggressive, but will stay aggressive if it needs to be.

Now we want to hear from you. How would steam elementals feature in your game? Would the hot water, sulphurous water have the intended effects on the world? Would they be aide and help, or an unexpected magical menace? Let us know in the comments below or on our Discord server.

Adam Ray contributes much for adventurers here on Apotheosis Studios. As co-founder of fantasticuniverses.com, he writes about card gaming and PC gaming to a corner of the internet he carved out himself. On Youtube, he can be found game mastering for No Ordinary Heroes, or editing the antics on The Hostile Atmosphere. Follow his Twitter @IzzetTinkerer.