Shapers, continued

Previously, I spoke of the more tangible aspects of shaping. Other elemental affinities exist, and there are shapers for them as well, unfortunately, identifying such shaping talents and finding viable outlets for such skills can be more challenging.

Air or Wind Shapers are often found in the riggings and on the decks of ships of the sea and flying craft. The talents of the best are capable of ensuring more favorable winds, and even in the case of calmed air, can help keep enough wind in the sail to maintain motion. Flying craft rely on shapers, their talents can help maintain pressure and lift in the envelope, as well as provide superior steering for what is otherwise an extremely fickle craft to pilot. Other trades and crafts can make use of such talents, but often, these skills go untrained and unnoticed, a smith or cook who's fires burn hotter (or with less need of bellows), a shop keeper who's store is remarkably dust free with a lack of cleaning, etc. Air shapers have been known to be able to smother people by withholding their breath.

The least talented Fire Shapers often become potters, glazers, smelters, smiths, cooks, or other trades that rely on fire, particularly if there is a need for those fires to burn either hot or with precision.  While all shaping has some martial application, fire shaping has the most to offer in such service, where shapers of considerable skill can raze buildings and set towns ablaze. Often, such shapers find peace-time roles on fire-brigades, capable of snuffing small fires entirely, and suppressing large blazes and allowing bucket brigades to dowse it quickly. Fire and Air shapers working in unison can create monumental fires, or choke them out entirely.

Water and fluid shaping are often very difficult to spot and harder to apply. While there is some naval application for influencing water flow, reducing drag on the hull, such shapers rarely gain the respect of the air shapers aboard. Water shapers are usually found in agrarian or medical roles, where their talents lend to healthy growth in plants and animals. Plant and Tree shapers usually have fluid affinities, although they are also attuned to the cellular structure in the trees and plants, and often have some affinity for anima as well.