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Description
EARTH BENDING

This is my Geological representation of Earth bending and it’s various sub-types.

The Earth symbol represents the earth’s crust and mantle.
Lava represents the magma under the earth.
And Metal represents the core of the earth.
Sand and Crystal are variations on the surface.
And Glass (which will eventually be drawn above the volcano) represents obsidian and man-made glass.

Higher forms of earth bending (such as Lava and Metal) take skill and talent to achieve. I believe that they also rely on an ability to draw deeper from the Earth’s energies. Typical earth is close to the surface, while magma and metal are usually located lower down. The earth’s core is made of metal, and could be a great power source if a bender could connect with it.

Earth: Generally, bendable earth must be solid, inorganic, rock or soil.

Alternate forms:

Sand: Sand Bending is bending earth in a granular form. Although not difficult to bend, it requires a more fluid style. Sand bending also refers to bending dirt or soil.

Crystal: Is bending earth in a pronounced crystalline structure. The harder and stronger the structure is, the more resistant it is to being bended. This is why gemstones and diamonds are extremely hard to bend. (See Mohs Hardness Scale)

Higher Forms of Earth Bending:

Only about 1% of earth benders have the ability to achieve a higher form. This comes from a combination of natural talent, skill, training, and genetics. I also believe that higher forms of earth bending rely on a deeper connection to the earth and the magma and metal inside it.

Metal: Metal bending is the ability for earth benders to bend metal, a purer form of earth. It is limited by how resistant the metal is to manipulation. Metals that are more dense or pure (chemically inert) are more difficult or impossible to bend (such as gold and platinum). Metals or alloys that are extremely hard or strong are also extremely hard to bend (such as titanium).

Lava: The power to control liquid rock and to melt earth into liquid rock. Originally only the Avatar could do this by combining Fire and Earth Bending. I believe lava benders can connect with the magma under the earth to help power their bending. I also think earth bending descendants of fire benders are more likely to have this ability.

Glass: Glass bending is a sub class of Lava Bending, rather than sand bending. Most earth benders cannot bend glass because of its amorphous structure.

Thoughts on Earth Bending

Earth Bending, like all other bending, cannot be treated like typical super-powers because of its deeply spiritual nature. Bending requires a spiritual connection to the source element, and the will and skill to use it. The spiritual source in Earth Bending is the earth itself.

Origins of Earth Bending

The first Earth benders were the Badger moles. The Badger moles connected themselves to the earth as a way to interact with their environment. This connection gave them the ability to Seismically Sense the world around them. With their new “sight” the Badger moles could impose their will on the earth around them, learning how to shape it to their will.

The Seismic Sense is a catalyst to earth bending. I believe the first earth benders learned in the same way. First connecting to the Earth, “seeing” through the earth, and then imposing their will on the earth.

Once you are an earth bender you must connect to the earth you wish to bend. This is why most earth benders are limited to the earth they can see or sense. This also explains why some earth benders cannot bend in a metal cage. The metal cuts off their connection. Through seismic sense Toph Beifong was able to connect with the metal and thus created metal bending.

Earth is the element of substance and stability. Stability resists change, so a general rule in earth bending is that the more a substance resists change the harder it is to bend. This applies to earth, metal and crystal. Metal is harder to bend than earth because it resists change more than earth does.

Description
EARTH BENDING

This is my Geological representation of Earth bending and it’s various sub-types.

The Earth symbol represents the earth’s crust and mantle.
Lava represents the magma under the earth.
And Metal represents the core of the earth.
Sand and Crystal are variations on the surface.
And Glass (which will eventually be drawn above the volcano) represents obsidian and man-made glass.

Higher forms of earth bending (such as Lava and Metal) take skill and talent to achieve. I believe that they also rely on an ability to draw deeper from the Earth’s energies. Typical earth is close to the surface, while magma and metal are usually located lower down. The earth’s core is made of metal, and could be a great power source if a bender could connect with it.

Earth: Generally, bendable earth must be solid, inorganic, rock or soil.

Alternate forms:

Sand: Sand Bending is bending earth in a granular form. Although not difficult to bend, it requires a more fluid style. Sand bending also refers to bending dirt or soil.

Crystal: Is bending earth in a pronounced crystalline structure. The harder and stronger the structure is, the more resistant it is to being bended. This is why gemstones and diamonds are extremely hard to bend. (See Mohs Hardness Scale)

Higher Forms of Earth Bending:

Only about 1% of earth benders have the ability to achieve a higher form. This comes from a combination of natural talent, skill, training, and genetics. I also believe that higher forms of earth bending rely on a deeper connection to the earth and the magma and metal inside it.

Metal: Metal bending is the ability for earth benders to bend metal, a purer form of earth. It is limited by how resistant the metal is to manipulation. Metals that are more dense or pure (chemically inert) are more difficult or impossible to bend (such as gold and platinum). Metals or alloys that are extremely hard or strong are also extremely hard to bend (such as titanium).

Lava: The power to control liquid rock and to melt earth into liquid rock. Originally only the Avatar could do this by combining Fire and Earth Bending. I believe lava benders can connect with the magma under the earth to help power their bending. I also think earth bending descendants of fire benders are more likely to have this ability.

Glass: Glass bending is a sub class of Lava Bending, rather than sand bending. Most earth benders cannot bend glass because of its amorphous structure.

Thoughts on Earth Bending

Earth Bending, like all other bending, cannot be treated like typical super-powers because of its deeply spiritual nature. Bending requires a spiritual connection to the source element, and the will and skill to use it. The spiritual source in Earth Bending is the earth itself.

Origins of Earth Bending

The first Earth benders were the Badger moles. The Badger moles connected themselves to the earth as a way to interact with their environment. This connection gave them the ability to Seismically Sense the world around them. With their new “sight” the Badger moles could impose their will on the earth around them, learning how to shape it to their will.

The Seismic Sense is a catalyst to earth bending. I believe the first earth benders learned in the same way. First connecting to the Earth, “seeing” through the earth, and then imposing their will on the earth.

Once you are an earth bender you must connect to the earth you wish to bend. This is why most earth benders are limited to the earth they can see or sense. This also explains why some earth benders cannot bend in a metal cage. The metal cuts off their connection. Through seismic sense Toph Beifong was able to connect with the metal and thus created metal bending.

Earth is the element of substance and stability. Stability resists change, so a general rule in earth bending is that the more a substance resists change the harder it is to bend. This applies to earth, metal and crystal. Metal is harder to bend than earth because it resists change more than earth does.