Feruchemy

Feruchemy is one of the three prime manifestations of Investiture on Scadrial. The natives of that world consider it one of the three Metallic Arts.

Lore & Background

Feruchemy is the only of the Metallic Arts that existed long before the Lord Ruler's Ascension. It is a genetic ability found in the ancient people of Terris, but now that most Terrismen are eunuchs because of the Lord Ruler's breeding programs, Feruchemists are now exceedingly rare.

A Feruchemist can use metals to store particular attributes in metal, somewhat like a battery. The larger the piece of metal is (and the closer it is to Allomantic purity), the more of that particular attribute can be stored. A Feruchemist can draw upon their metals in increased, compounded qualities, but the faster they do this, the lesser returns they receive. Only the Feruchemist who stored those attributes can draw upon them later, however.

Like Mistborn and Mistings, there are Feruchemists that can utilize one or all of the metals. The former are known as "Ferrings"

Terminology

A metalmind is what Feruchemists' call a piece of metal where they can store human attributes in. Each metalmind is named after the type of metal it is, for example: ironmind, pewtermind, coppermind, goldmind.

When a Feruchemist places something in the metal, it is known as storing. A Feruchemist's power comes from his or her own body, so if a Feruchemist was storing strength, that Feruchemist would must remain weak during that time. When a Feruchemist draws upon his or her metalminds, it is called tapping.

Feruchemical Properties of Metals

Iron

Iron stores Physical Weight. Storing weight does not store actual mass in your body--that remains the same. When a Feruchemist stores weight, they store the way gravity affects their body. Storing iron, then, can be used to lighten yourself, which can makes falls less harmful.

Steel

Steel stores Physical Speed. Tapping steel will allow the Feruchemist to move at amazing rates, while storing it will cause the Feruchemist to move more slowly.

Tin

Tin stores Senses. Tapping a tinmind gives the Feruchemist enhanced sensory perception. However, this will not allow the Feruchemist to see in the dark; rather, it enhances what eyesight/senses are already there. In addition, tapping tin will not make the mists more translucent, as an Allomancer burning tin would

Pewter

Pewter stores Physical Strength. Tapping a pewtermind will cause a Feruchemist's muscles to grow far larger than they would be normally, while storing Strength causes the Feruchemist to become weak and frail.

Zinc

Zinc stores Mental Speed. Tapping a zincmind will give the Feruchemist the ability to think much faster than a normal person, while the thoughts of a Feruchemist storing this quality will be thick and sluggish.

Brass

Brass stores Warmth. Tapping brass will make the Feruchemist feel warmer.

Copper

Copper stores Memories. When storing memories, the Feruchemist loses all recollection of that information he or she stored. Typically, Keepers (modern-day Feruchemists) would have many copperminds, keeping specific index copperminds to locate particular pieces of information.

Bronze

Bronze stores Wakefulness. Tapping bronze will enable the Feruchemist to stay awake longer.

Gold

Gold stores Health. Tapping a goldmind will rapidly heal wounds, but the expense of gold, combined with the difficulty of storing health, means that most Feruchemists do not have massive goldminds to tap from.

Atium

Atium stores Age. Storing age is usually a fairly useless endeavor: in order to be young for a time, a Feruchemist needs to stay older for a time. It can, however, be useful for disguising a Feruchemist's identity.