With the collapse of the world controlling First Age technology caused by the disappearence of the Solar Exalted and the continuing wars of the Shogunate worship of gods and elementals has made a huge resurgence as the elemental energy has no longer been dominated by the Solars' geomantic engineering leaving the elementals redundant. Now they are in control again and have power, not just over their elements but over people. People who were originally made to empower the Primordials by worshipping them and now free to worship the elementals and gods on who their survival depends.
   Entering one of the five elements is a bit like entering a sanctum. It is the elemental's natural domain and is never easy to enter. Whether it's standing on a wind-swept snowy peak, crawling through a tunnel under a mountain or sailing across a river no one travels and elemental's domain if hey are angered. A boat only floats if the water elementals allow it to. Setting out on the water or entering into it is a religious transition they are entering a different world controlled by unseen beings. Since the collapse of the First Age people have become very spiritual and very primitive. Instead of the wonders of the Celestial Exalted they have been required to call on spirits for mystical aid; not all of them call on gods or elementals...