Difference between revisions of "Feruchemy"
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Feruchemy came into existence contemporaneously with the other Metallic Arts, [[Allomancy]] and [[Hemalurgy]], as a result of the interactions between the planet [[Scadrial]] and its [[Shard]]s, [[Preservation]] and [[Ruin]].{{wob ref|5269}} Unlike Allomancy and Hemalurgy, which are each closely attuned with one of the Shards, Feruchemy is equally attuned to both and represents the balance between them. Feruchemy was also the only art in widespread use prior to the [[Ascension of the Lord Ruler]].{{epigraph ref|mb3|34}} The ability to use Feruchemy emerged among the [[Terris]] people, but, due to their insular nature and reluctance to interbreed, never spread to the general population of [[Classical Scadrial]].{{wob ref|5514}} Although Ferrings did exist during this time, they were extremely rare.{{wob ref|5514}} During this time, there was a holy order of Feruchemist scholars, known as the [[Worldbringers]], who served as teachers and bearers of knowledge throughout the world.{{book ref|mb2|30}} Not every Feruchemist was a member; however, many had much more mundane vocations, such as being herders or mountain guides.{{book ref|mb1|22}}
During the Ascension of the Lord Ruler, all living Feruchemists—with the notable exception of [[Kwaan]]—were transformed into [[mistwraith]]s by the Feruchemist [[Rashek]].{{epigraph ref|mb3|68}}{{wob ref|5764}} Rashek transformed himself into a Mistborn and claimed himself to be the [[Hero of Ages]]. He declared himself a god and launched a campaign to consolidate the world under his control. However, during his ascension, Rashek overlooked the recessive Feruchemical genes hidden in the Terris people, which can still allow new Feruchemists to be born. Therefore, Rashek instituted policies to heavily restrict the Terris people, which eventually grew into a breeding program designed to exterminate all genetic traces of Feruchemy. He did this specifically because he feared the prospect of the genes for Feruchemy intermixing with those of Allomancy and potentially creating a rival of comparable power to himself.{{book ref|mb1|epilogue}} Despite this, the Terris resistance worked tirelessly to thwart the efforts of Rashek in a variety of ways, primarily by tricking the breeders into including people with hidden Feruchemical talents, in order to ensure their continuation in the population. They also founded the [[Keeper]]s, an order of Feruchemists dedicated to finding and securing knowledge from before the Lord Ruler's rise to power.{{book ref|mb1|22}}{{book ref|mb2|30}}
Following the death of the Lord Ruler and the [[Collapse]] of the [[Final Empire]], the [[Synod]], who were the leaders of the Keepers and ''de facto'' ruling council of Terris, emerged from secrecy and the Keepers were dispatched across the Empire to teach the people about the knowledge they had preserved.{{book ref|mb2|7}} Unfortunately, this "victory" was relatively short-lived as about a year later, the [[Steel Inquisitor]]s, under the influence of Ruin, attacked and slaughtered the Synod as well as all but [[Sazed|one of the Keepers]], creating [[Hemalurgic]] spikes from them in the process to increase their own powers.{{book ref|mb2|56}}
== Mechanics ==
Feruchemy is an end-neutral manifestation of Investiture that allows the user to convert certain attributes into Investiture and store them in metal that they are in physical contact with, and to later retrieve them from the metal. Although it is generally inherited or obtained through Hemalurgy, there are other ways to become a Feruchemist,{{wob ref|12776}} involving the Scadrian [[God Metal]]s, [[atium]] and [[lerasium]].{{wob ref|14146}} As an end-neutral art, Investiture is not gained from an outside source (as it is in end-positive arts) and Investiture is not permanently lost (as it is in end-negative arts).{{book ref|mb4|part=ars}} Ordinarily, when a Feruchemist is tapping an attribute at the same rate it was stored, they are able to get out exactly what they put in, for example, if they store 50% of their strength for one hour they can tap that and be at 150% of their strength for one hour. However, if the Feruchemist taps at a greater rate, then some of the attribute is lost, to facilitate the compression of the Investiture. This means that a Feruchemist who stores 50% of their strength for one hour might only be able to stay at 200% for 25 minutes, rather than a full half
The type of metal determines what attribute can be stored within it. Pieces of metal that have been charged by Feruchemists are referred to as '''metalminds''' in general, or more specifically as the type of metal with an added "-mind" suffix. The act of charging, or Investing, a metalmind is referred to as '''storing''' and the act of retrieving the stored attribute is referred to as '''tapping'''.{{book ref|mb4|part=ars}}
A larger piece of metal will be able to store more of an attribute, but the scaling is not linear; there are certain thresholds of size where the amount of attribute that can be stored increases.{{wob ref|234}} If a metalmind is broken, the stored attribute will be split among the pieces.{{wob ref|4087}} This is because the power inside the metal acts like a gas acts inside a jar.{{wob ref|13238}} It is possible to store and tap using molten metal (setting aside the conventional hazards of touching molten metal) which would have some effect on the stored Investiture.{{wob ref|6217}} If the molten metal is mixed to form an alloy, however, the Investiture will become inaccessible, even if the alloy in question is Feruchemically viable. If the alloy is Feruchemically viable, a Feruchemist will not be able to store as much of an attribute as they could in an identically-sized metalmind: while the original Investiture is inaccessible, it does still take up "space" in the metalmind.{{wob ref|3969}}
Ordinarily, a Feruchemist's stores are keyed to their [[Identity]] and are inaccessible to another Feruchemist. However, other Feruchemists can sense the presence of the original Feruchemist's stores.{{book ref|mb1|epilogue}}
=== Savantism ===
Feruchemists who [[Compounding|Compound]] their metals for extended periods of time may be physiologically altered by the constant influx of power. Since Feruchemy doesn't draw from an external power, it is very difficult to become a [[savant]] from just using normal Feruchemy.{{wob ref|13463}} If the Feruchemist is able to Compound and draw power from an outside source they could become a savant much more easily.{{epigraph ref|mb3|32}}{{wob ref|13393}}
=== Feruchemical Properties of Metals ===
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