# Energybending

The oldest art. Predates the four elements. Manipulates life energy directly
rather than external matter.

## Philosophy

Energybending operates on spiritual equilibrium. The core rule: "to bend
another's energy, your own spirit must be unbendable, or you will be
corrupted and destroyed."

Success depends entirely on inner spiritual integrity and mental clarity -
not physical skill, not martial technique, not practice. You either have the
spiritual foundation or you don't, and if you don't, the attempt destroys you.

This makes energybending fundamentally different from the four elemental arts.
Those reward training, technique, and physical discipline. Energybending
rewards the quality of your soul.

## How It Works

Unlike the elemental arts, which channel chi outward to interact with
external matter, energybending channels chi inward and against another
being's chi directly. The practitioner's energy meets the target's energy,
and the stronger spirit prevails.

If the practitioner's spirit is stronger: the target's energy bends to
their will.

If the target's spirit is stronger: the practitioner's energy is corrupted
and they are destroyed.

There is no middle ground and no recovery from failure.

## Capabilities

### Granting Bending

The original use. Bestowing elemental bending abilities on non-benders.
The ancient lion turtles used this to equip humans for survival - granting
an element before a hunt, then withdrawing it upon return.

### Removing Bending

Permanently severing a person's connection to their element. The target
loses all bending ability unless another energybender restores it. This
is effectively a spiritual amputation.

### Restoring Bending

Reversing bending removal. Reconnecting the severed spiritual pathway.
Requires the same spiritual integrity as removal.

### Spirit Energy Manipulation

Shaping and redirecting spiritual energy in metaphysical spaces. Advanced
practitioners can interact with pure energy constructs and redirect
spiritual attacks.

### Astral Projection

Projecting consciousness as a visible energy form. The projected self can
interact and communicate but lacks physical substance. Represents mastery
of the separation between spirit and body.

## Requirements

- Spiritual integrity that is absolute and unwavering
- Mental clarity under extreme pressure
- The practitioner's "true mind" and "true heart" must be tested and proven
- No emotional turmoil, doubt, or internal conflict during the act

## Dangers

- Failed attempts corrupt and destroy the practitioner
- During the act, the target's energy actively fights back
- Even successful attempts are spiritually taxing
- The power to grant/remove bending carries enormous moral weight

## Rarity

Extraordinarily rare throughout history. While theoretically accessible to
anyone with sufficient spiritual development, the requirements are so
demanding that practitioners are vanishingly uncommon. Most people who could
learn it never develop the spiritual foundation necessary.

## Design Notes

Energybending maps naturally to an endgame/prestige system rather than a
primary combat art. It has no martial techniques, no fighting style, no
offensive/defensive toolkit. Its power is administrative - granting, removing,
restoring abilities. In a game context it's more like a class ability or
rare unlock than a combat system.

The spiritual integrity requirement could gate access: a karma/alignment
system, a reputation threshold, or a quest chain that tests character rather
than combat skill.
