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Ferromancer — Description
Well, it is finally here. The entry we all knew was coming. Anyone who still breathes air at the time of this writing knew this entry was inevitable. Hell, this is the thing that started all this. This book, these entries, and the whole purge that is sweeping its way across the many kingdoms. Why the word "mana" is now said with the same fearful tone as "plague." Why the humming ones now hunt down unhinged mages, draining and cutting away the forbidden muscle. This is what caused it all. Those who rebel against the new rules and regulations turn to me and ask "why?" Why do I idly stand by and watch fellow magic users be hunted down and drained? Why I do not join the rebels and fight against the choking limitations that have been put on the academies and schools? Is it because I have been exempted from these rules? Is it because I secretly wish to reign in power over my fellow magic users? No. That is not why I let this all happen. You want to know why? Because we were so damn close to losing it all. The land, the kingdoms, the freaking world itself. It almost consumed us all, so yes, that is why I let these purges occur without a complaint. I even advocated for them! Mancers are a threat to us all, each one capable of unlimited destruction and carnage. Some are more dangerous than others, indeed, but that is no excuse. This is why these entries are written, this is why this tome is meant to be consumed by the public. To know what monstrosities dwell in the realms of magic. What horrible things writhe within our very necks, waiting for a moment of greed and pride to set them free. There is a reason these rules have been set, and why the old regulations are coming back even harsher than ever. We cannot let this happen again. We may not be able to control its birthing, like what comes from the fire, ice and water, but we can snuff them out before they reach that magnitude. There is a reason why Ferromancy has been forbidden for decades. We now just recently saw for ourselves what it can lead to. Look at our broken lands and shattered homes. Ferromancers show us what truly dwells within the realms of magic.

What is there even to say about Ferromancers? What else is there new to share? These are beings that can bend and control metal at will, regardless of its type or density. That is what they do when they start off, but it quickly spirals out of control. Other forms of Mancer Syndrome may be controlled or contained, certain precautions taken to prevent infection. Ferromancy is not like that. It is not like any others that we have ever seen. You can't control it, we can't control it. We don't even know where it comes from. All other Mancer Syndromes require someone to delve into those specific magics, or have some kind of obsession with that specific class. Hell, they all have to be able to wield magic for it to even work! Ferromancy doesn't work that way, though, and we have no clue why. Anyone can become a ferromancer, even if that person has no magical talent whatsoever. it just...happens. Some people may read into the forbidden art and become tainted, while others may just simply wake up one day with the power over metal. There is no rhyme or reason to it, and it is terrifying.

Once someone develops powers in ferromancy, it quickly spirals out of control. There is no way to slow the disease's progress, it just festers whether or not you have been using that specific class of spells. At first they obsess over metal, hoarding as much as they can. Then they start wearing it, creating armor that is often too heavy for them to physically carry. At this point they rely on their powers to move and function, as the armor is too cumbersome for physical movement. With this, ferromancers move in awkward, stiff movements, with heavy, clomping steps, like a person who has weights strapped to every limb. Then, the ferromancers begin to cut. Driven by some unknown cause, ferromancers while start to carve away their flesh and limbs, substituting them with iron and steel. Since they can move metal with ease, these replacement limbs are essentially upgrades. A ferromancer will hack and slash more and more away until they are left with bone and organ, using their powers to supply their bodies with the resources they need. Eventually, a ferromancer will be withered hunks of flesh, entombed in a solid suit of armor. This is still not enough for them, as they then begin to eat it. Ravenous, they will seek out any metal to devour, stuffing shards and ores into their metal mouths, melting it down in the burning furnace that has replaced their stomachs. Large metal objects will be melted in their hands, using heat and ferromancy to turn the sturdiest objects into pudding, which they then greedily suck down. Consumed metal will reform onto their bodies, causing them to grow bigger and bigger with each meal. Thicker shells will begin to form, sharp blades and spines will jut from their carapace and new metal limbs will sprout from their bodies. As they eat and grow, their bodies become so heavy, that they have a hard time moving with four limbs. So more limbs are constructed, new body segments are added, and the ferromancer continues to crawl through the kingdom, devouring all metal and shredding all life. In these advanced stages, ferromancers no longer appear human, but more of some obscene metal insect with random limbs and body parts, seeking for more food to stuff into its burning maw.

When they start to feed is when they are at their most dangerous, as they can quickly grow in size and strength with each meal. Their powers over metal will allow them to pull in food from distances away, sucking steel into their maws and orifices without lifting a finger. Whatever they cannot consume or control, they destroy. While their bodies quickly become covered in blade, claw and razor, their deadliest tool is their ferrofluid. Ferrofluid is named that because it appears to move and flow like silver liquid, but it can harden and sharpen like steel at a moments notice. This ferrofluid can be shaped and formed into any weapon, blade or object that can physically exist, usually resulting in strange combinations of weaponry. This can create quick spears that pierce shields then suddenly sprout more points to impale the blocking enemy. Tentacles that snare swords and then harden to yank away the weapon. Small prisons of flowing steel that can surround enemies and then shred them into piles of meat. They can move as fast as a serpent, and strike as hard as a troll. The only limitation of ferrofluid is that it must have some connection with the ferromancer's body in order to function. Ferrofluid cannot be launched like an arrow, or else it will liquefy the second it completely loses contact with its body. Ferrofluid also has a limited range. It appears that ferromancers have some field of magic that surrounds them, in which the ferrofluid can function in. Inside the field, the fluid can do anything. But outside the field, it falls apart. The size of this field varies with the stages of the ferromacer. Beginning or humanoid ferromancers have a radius of 10 to 15 feet. The more advanced stages can achieve almost 50 feet. At those stages, the ferrofluid is also used to help carry their bulk and snag quick, fleeing meals. Ferrofluid is difficult to make, so it requires large amounts of metal and power for the user to make even a cup of the stuff. The farther along the sickness, the more they have, and the more dangerous they are.

Fighting a ferromancer is not a pleasant thing, but it is something that has to be done. Ferromancers only seek more metal to consume, and nothing else. There is no end state for them, they will just eat and eat. Even as their bodies reach crushing, immovable weights, they will continue on. The most important thing, is that ferromancers should be killed before they can reach these large sizes. While they retain a humanoid shape and size, they can be dealt with by a sufficiently skill mage. Once they reach larger sizes, they become more difficult to take down. Do recall that the Scourge of Steel required over two dozen highly trained magic users, five Cryomancers and three Pyromancers to take it down. The process itself ended up killing almost half of us. So it is vital that it never gets out of control like that ever again. For taking on ferromancers, remove all traces of metal from your person and surroundings. If you have the slightest bit of metal on you, the ferromancer will have a distinct advantage. No matter how trivial it may seem. During our first attempts against the monstrosity, we had a few rookies in our ranks that made that mistake. One wizard had not taken off his wedding band, believing that it couldn't cause any harm. During the fight, the ferromancer used its control over metal to knock the man's hand as he was firing an ice spear, sending the missile directly into the throat of a nearby mage. It then tightened the ring around his finger, and used it to pull the wizard towards its burning maw. That was the day I saw a man's head get pulled into three bloody pieces, his twitching body sucked into a grinding, pulverizing mouth. Though primal in its behavior, ferromancers are not dumb when it comes to using metal in a fight. Another mage had forgotten he had a metal filling in one of his teeth. The filling yanked itself out of his jaw and was shot through his brain like an arrow. Helmets can crush down and pop skulls like grapes, swords can swing around and gut their wielders. Any bit of metal that is brought into battle will be used against you, so just don't do it. The next thing to worry about is their ferrofluid. It is lightening fast and capable of taking any shape. Figure out their range and keep out of it. That is another good rule in general: keep as far away from the ferromancer as you can. If they grab hold of you, you are dead. If the ferrofluid is locked onto you and you are in range, you need to get out of its field as soon as you can. No matter how fast you are in your moves and blocking, the ferrofluid will adapt and find ways to pierce your defenses. Walls of solid rock and shields of ice will slow it down, but it is very crafty. One of our clerics in our early attempts was butchered by this ungodly liquid. She had thrown up plenty of good defenses, but was not watching where she was standing. A small trickle of ferrofluid slithered its way to her feet and pierced her ankle. The liquid then surged its way through her veins and burst out of her chest in bloody iron spikes. The only real way to slow this fluid down is to freeze it solid when it is in a liquid state. The fluid will be stuck in that shape for a few seconds, as the ferromancer works to regain control, which can be a lifesaver in the heat of the battle. The best types of magic to use against ferromancers is ice and water. Their major weak point is their burning heart, which fuels the furnace within their bodies. If you can douse the flames or snuff them out, the ferromancer will die. The cold and water can also help in slowing it down and knocking it off balance. Fire can also be useful, but only for certain scenarios. If you cannot snuff out the heart, than trying to pierce it will work too. Using fire to melt a hole in their chests can leave their hearts vulnerable to attack. Just make sure you are not using an iron weapon to impale it. Control over fire can also help in warding off their flaming breath. Ferromancers can release a torrent of white hot flames from their orifices, which can vaporize flesh in an instant. Using fire control to push their breath away or redirect it can be crucial in protecting allies. In the early stages of ferromancy, a pyromancer can be helpful in weakening the monstrosity. Using their godly abilities, they can pull heat and flame away from the heart, causing the monster to falter and struggle. Once the ferromancer reaches a certain size, though, they have enough control over their inner body to prevent this method from working efficiently.

As I was writing this entry, and couldn't help but wonder on how I was going to end this. What could I say after reliving this horrible nightmare? Though I simply talked about their powers and ways, all I could think of was those chaotic times. The devastation, the horror of it. Whole towns and cities evacuated as the mountain sized abomination loomed on the glowing horizon. Seeing its burning aura light up the night sky, as it ripped through forests and fields. The faces of the people who fled, and the faces of those who fell. I could write about those who were lost in our efforts, but I feel there is not enough paper in the world to do them justice. So many lost in those battles, so many lives snuffed out, yet we cannot remember their names. How many are there? How many victims will remain nameless? How many sacrifices and losses were simply forgotten? I wish I knew, because that would at least give me some bit of certainty. It is strange to think that this is who I have become. My past self would never have believed it. A powerful sorcerer who once stood unchallenged, now writing books and waking up at night in cold sweats. A man so powerful that kings sought my aid, now locked away in the study as the magical world crumbles around me. A being who once stood on pillars of mana, now helping to send out the hunters who will knock them down. How I have changed. How the world has changed. I am not a religious man, but I do pray that this never happens again. Our world has survived this cataclysm, but barely so. I do not think we could do it a second time. I know that I cannot...

Cavarious Shaid

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The most terrible magic monster of them all! The ferromancer! And a good chunk of other stuff to go with it. By golly, my fun fantasy world sure is filled with death, destruction and disasters...