Pyromancer

    When non-magic users think of Mancers, the first image that comes to mind will either be a Necromancer or a Pyromancer. Both of these types of Mancers are better known in the public eye due to their aggressive behavior and destructive tendencies. The fact that they wield powers that are well known and widely feared also adds to their infamy. Some may think that raising the dead is a more frightening notion than someone who shoots fireballs, but they have clearly never seen a true Pyromancer in action. Entire villages consumed in a sea of fire, or forests turned to ash as the Pyromancer hunts ruthlessly for fuel. Even worse is when Pyromancers and Cryomancers collide, sparking a ruthless battle that can destroy entire cities as the two clash. These tendencies have made Pyromancers a widely feared beast of magic, despite them not being all that common. It is rare for someone to make it to the final stages of Pryomancy, mainly because the whole field of study is based on fire and explosive forces, which usually eliminate a good chunk of rookies.

    Compared to other areas of magic, Pyromancy is one that has limited uses in non-violent matters. Cryomancy can be used to help preserve goods and food, while Hydromancy has been used to help with fishing or safe passage through treacherous waters. Pyromancy boils down to lighting things on fire, which anyone with a piece of flint and some dried twigs can do. It is true that Pyromancers can create large amounts of heat, but that can easily be replicated with a couple of fireplaces. The only places where Pyromancy can be used outside the battlefield is in forges, where they use the fire and heat to precisely shape the metal. It should be noted that they do not use their powers on the iron, but the flames that surround it. If they did pour their mana into the metal itself, that would be Ferromancy, and that is an unforgivable sin. The products that come out of a Pyromancer’s forge are quite bizarre compared to other blacksmiths. The weapons and tools are often quite oddly shaped and have an strange sheen to their surfaces. The only other place that I have heard Pyromancy being used in a constructive manner is in a bakery. The use of their powers in that department did not change the world or revolutionize the field of baking, but it was said that their puff pastries were absolutely divine.

    As should be obvious, the real use of Pyromancy is on the battlefield, frying armored foes and burning through wooden gates. Masters of the flame can take on entire platoons of soldiers, raining fire from the sky and setting siege weapons ablaze. Despite this, mages who wish to start in the field of Pyromancy will usually begin with basic fire starting and using their powers to ignite weapons or projectiles. As they progress, they will begin firing their own blazing projectiles and using basic firewalls to steer the enemy forces. It should be warned that Pyromancy is a very volatile field of study, and only later stage Pyromancers gain their immunity to flame. In that sense, many would-be Pyromancers often end up burning themselves so bad that they quit their studies, or they just wind up as sizzling piles of ash. In some cases, some of them might get really experimental with explosive-based spells and wind up as chunks splattered across a stone wall. Those who do survive and master the flame will slowly start to become one with the fire. They will gain immunity to fire, able to walk through open flame without worry, and their bodies will constantly churn out heat. When magic teaching academies hit the winter season, many classrooms will suddenly be relocated near the Pyromancy labs. Late stage Pyromancers will seem to lose the ability to sweat, and are never bothered by any kind of heat. Their thirst for water will dramatically decrease and all food they eat must be piping hot. Bring a frozen treat to a late stage Pyromancer and they will spit in your face, which is worse than it sounds because their saliva is probably boiling at that point.         

      Like many Mancers, most fire-based mages will stop at this point. They will be careful not to fully infect their natural mana and take steps to prevent Mancer Syndrome. In some cases though, there are the few who take that final step and let themselves be consumed by the flame. Those who reach this accursed stage will have fully devoted themselves to fire. They will be obsessed with flame and heat, never being in a place without a fire blazing nearby. They will shy away from cold places and seek out warmer climates. They will simply start fires because they can, igniting anything nearby for their own amusement. Care for personal property or safety will be gone, as they are willing to burn anything down to appease their destructive appetite. This love for arson and flame is what will send them on the downward spiral, as they exhaust their natural mana by summoning flame. This will quickly infect their bodies with the element, which only furthers their deterioration. At last they will reach a point where they will ignite the final flame. They will turn to their beloved fire and allow it to fully consume them.

      The transformation of a fire mage to a full blown Pyromancer is a horrifying one to watch. Their immunity to fire will seemingly disappear, but in truth, they are actually overwriting it with their own life force. Their body will burst into flame, skin burning and peeling, metal melting and hair burned to ash in a single moment. What liquids and organs they had will boil away, as their inner cavities are filled with a roaring inferno. Searing coal-like growths can form on the limbs and skin, the cracks oozing with liquid fire. When the final transformation is complete, what is left of a Pyromancer is a burned husk of humanity, filled with the hunger of a wild fire.

     When a true Pyromancer is formed, they can go down two different routes: slow burn or fast burn. Despite what people think when someone brings up Pyromancers, not all of these fire-fused beings are raging arsonists. This is because all Pyromancers are ruled by the same hunger that drives the flame. All fire needs fuel. The more fuel, the hotter the flame, but when the fuel runs out, the fire will die. This is the main drive behind all Pyromancers, the hunt for the fuel to keep their internal flame burning. They will feast upon any flammable material in order to satiate their burning hunger. Coal and wood will be fed into their stomachs or mouths, adding to their internal supply that allows their fire to keep burning longer. Not all fires, though, burn the same. That is what sets the slow burn and fast burn Pyromancers apart. Slow burners are like pieces of charcoal, burning low and long, while fast burners are like brush fires, burning hot but short. Each of them have their own ways of keeping their fires alight.

     Slow burning Pyromancers are the type that do not follow the hotheaded, raging behavior that many believe in. These Pyromancers have retained some semblance of humanity and rational thought. They are aware that a fire that burns twice as hot will burn out twice as fast. So with that knowledge, they keep their internal fire burning low. They will find ways to make their fuel last as long as possible and keep their energy use efficient. They will seek out hot places, like volcanoes and hot springs, so that they don’t need to waste as much energy to keep themselves warm. They will not wreathe themselves with bright flames or do any of the flashy things fast burning Pyromancers do. They do not waste their fuel and energy on such needless shock and awe. Instead their bodies act more like an oven, their flame burning low and constant. They will stockpile coal and lumber for when they need to refuel, and will often live a much slower, calmer lifestyle. Slow burners do not start fires needlessly or act overly aggressive. They do what they need to survive, and nothing more. If you anger a slow burning Pyromancer, they will simply light you on fire and call it good. No need for wasteful dramatics. Slow burners are the longest lasting of the two Pyromancers, but they are capable of becoming fast burners if they are desperate or if the last remnants of their humanity finally burn away.

      Fast burning Pyromancers are the ones that people think of first. They are extremely aggressive, constantly covered in flames and always leaving a path of destruction behind them. Their bodies are practically exploding with fire, and they will immediately burn down anything that gets in their way. Their spells and attacks are much more violent and powerful compared to a slow burner, but it comes at a cost. Fast burning Pyromancers can easily eat through their inner fuel supply in a matter of hours. While slow burners can go on for days without food, fast burners need a constantly supply in order to keep alight. Wood, coal, rubble, ash or practically anything else will be shoveled into their maws in order to keep ablaze. Their rage will drive them into hunger, which will make their anger burn all the hotter. Fast burning Pyromancers are trapped in a deadly cycle, constantly eating to feed their aggressive nature, but never able to slow down in order to calm their flames. In the end, fast burning Pyromancers will either be struck down or will burn out. With their energy spent and their food sources depleted, their inner fire will slowly die and they will crumble to ash.

      It is this need for fuel that should be the sole focus of those who wish to combat Pyromancers. A fire needs fuel to burn, and if that is gone, so are they. Luring Pyromancers into areas without fuel sources will be critical in outlasting them in battle. An important move to make, though a risky one, is to make sure the Pyromancer becomes a fast burner. One should incite them into a blaze so that they burn through their energy and fuel even faster. Unfortunately this makes them more powerful and dangerous, but the key to fighting a Pyromancer is time. Pyromancers are much like hourglasses, the sands constantly spilling away. To win against them, you need to make their sand run out. The best way to do it is make their sand drain away faster and to prevent them from adding more sand to the glass. Removing fuel sources is a must, even if you have to burn them yourself. Fighting them with ice and water will help push back their flames and further exhaust them. Forcing them to expend energy to melt through spells or protect themselves from attacks will help hasten the fight. Protecting yourself with fire-resistant runes and equipment is an obvious piece of advice. A less obvious one is using air and wind to fight them. This is an extremely difficult strategy, but I have seen it been done before. It requires large amounts of planning and vast quantities of mana, but if you are well prepared you can try to suck all air away from the Pyromancer. Like I said, it is extremely difficult, but it is a guaranteed kill no matter how much fuel they have. Forcing them into a vacuum will immediately snuff out their flame and give you an instant victory. Another good strategy is to get the assistance of golems or even demons (if you can somehow convince them to help). These fire-resistant allies will be able to take a large brunt of hits from the Pyromancer, while also able to help pin them down. Having a golem simply grabbing hold of a Pyromancer and never letting go is a lot more helpful than one would think. Demons can be helpful, as they are fully immune to fire, but I would not recommend dealing with those brutes. They would not be harmed by anything the Pyromancer has to offer and their most skilled fire-users could overpower a Pyromancer any day, but they should not be trusted. They are a fire-loving race that focuses most of their religion around fire, so I doubt they would be keen in snuffing out a living flame.  

     Before I end this entry, I must admit that not all Pyromancers are monsters. Those that are slow burners can still be somewhat human and are not openly hostile to the outside world. They are very few, but they do exist. It was Pyromancers like these that aided in bringing down the Scourge of Steel, and to that the whole world owes them for it. Like I said, there are not many of them out there, but there are a few good apples in the bunch. I just don’t recommend trying to shake hands with them.

Cavarious Shaid

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another Mancer down! Pyromancy was probably the hardest when coming up with an interesting look or take. Guy covered in fire just didn't seem interesting enough, so I went for a more horrific look.