Foregone Fables Dust Guide - Lightning

Ever since humans have evolved in the world, they looked into the sky in awe. Knowing nothing of it, or their own origins, the humans believed that the sky is the home of the deities that created them. To these humans, weather was an indication of the gods' mood; a clear blue sky meant the gods were calm, while grey clouds and rain meant they were angry, usually at the humans. But when the gods were beyond angry, when they intended to kill, they've brought their mighty hammer, the lightning, to smite the foolish mortals.

But as the humans grew in knowledge and power, they have learned about the true nature of many of those things. Once in particular, they learned the divine lance they've feared was nothing more than supercharged plasma created from immense electric pressure. As they grew further, and created magic, it didn't take them long to create a type of Dust that replicates this delicate physical process, taking the power of lightning from the gods and making it their own.

Lightning Dust, or more accurately Electric Dust, is equally common as both solid and liquid. Batches of the Dust itself are not as common as Water or Air Dust, but are still widespread in most of the world. In the past, the primary use of Electric Dust was for powering machinery, but this usage has been reduced, both to the Thunder Dust's relative inefficiency, and the greater focus on Power Dust.

Electric Dust, when naturally triggered, releases powerful currents of electricity and thunderous sonic booms depending on the amount of dust. The blast is usually omnidirectional when not controlled, and can power machines, but is also dangerous to organic lifeforms, as the blast can cause electrocution, incapacitation, paralysis and blindness. Larger volumes of this Dust can generate actual lightning and plasma.

Infusing Thunder Dust into one's own flesh causes a sharp increase in strength and speed, and also give the user the ability to channel its power directly from their body. Normally it comes in the form of electricity enmating from their muscles, that can become a deadly aura at close range, and can extend to empower one's punches with electricity and create shockwaves of electricity by slamming the ground or turn screams into powerful shockwaves of thunder. The user can even fire electric bolts from the tips of their fingers, but like many types of Dust, it is perilous and can electrocute the user.

Using Lightning Dust with weapons is not as versatile as other types of Dust, but is quite powerful. Normal uses can be to power a melee weapon with electricity, or firing bolts of electricity from the sky or from weapons that can chain between, shock and electrocute targets, as well as firing shockwaves, needles, rings, beams and pillars of concentrated lightning. It can also be used to generate solid electric orbs that can vaporize humans. With mastery, the electric charge can create explosions or beams and be shaped into forms such as symbols, fists, weapons, or animals like birds, hounds, wolves, dragons or monsters, that themselves can change form. In conjunction with Mist Dust, Lightning Dust can be used to create all-out thunderstorms, or tendrils of lightning that can move targets. Lightning Dust can also be used to create an avatar of electricity around the user, or to heal cardiac arrests and strokes with limited efficiency.

Despite the great lengths humanity has walked, and partially because of the great lengths it was pushed back since, their perception of lightning and the Dust producing it has been generally remained the same. Today as in ancient days, people see lightning as the hammer of a raging god, but now instead of smiting the humans, the imaginary god now sends its weapon to protect them. Though a more accurate description would be that where the humans grab the mighty weapon from the hand of a god, and use it to slay them. In their arrogance, humans of this era believe that not only the gods are on their side, but that they created mankind as the pinnacle of creation, bearing the duty to rule over everything else in the world. Even with the immense knowledge they gained over their humble ancestors, they never have been more wrong.