MISTBORN Magic Question

[MsFish]

Anything with an "A" might be confusing, since one of the systems is already called Allomancy.  But I haven't read the book, so maybe not.  

[The Jade Knight]

I would think "Feromancy" would look better than Ferro-, personally.

However, that said:

I am opposed to -mancy because, traditionally, "-mancy" was always used only where divination was involved.  Bibliomancy, divination from books, Necromancy, divination through the dead, etc.  Necromancy has come to have an extended meaning in Fantasy, but my own (Warsword/Elavae) brand of Necromancy harks back to the original meaning some.

So, being a weird philologist like I am, I prefer keeping the specific meaning intact.


I think Auronomy looks cool.

[Oldie Black Witch]

I have to admit that hemalurgy didn't evoke blood imagery to me. Mistborn was so focused on allomancy that the hema- reminded me of hematite, which has a metallic sheen. And the fact that Sazed used metal bracelets and rings seemed to enforce that.

Ferromancy bothers me. Something about the shape of the word, or the fact that fer is a word that almost anyone who has ever studied chemistry would recognize, and it's still metal based . . .

Perhaps something using the Greek word for iron: sideros? Or blood: phlebe or psuche?

Sideromancy. Siderolurgy. Flebomancy. Siderology.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

the first word I think of when I see "hemalurgy" is "hematology" which is blood stuff.

Sideros isn't doing it for me. I'm sticking with exomancy, being a descriptivist, the origin of the word is much less important to me than the current dominant usage.

[JP Dogberry]

If you channel Serial Killers, can you call it Mansonmancy?

[Oldie Black Witch]

I'm with JadeKnight. I think I could live with Feromancy if it only had the one "r."

[stacer]

I think that's okay, but it conjures up pictures of "feral" for some reason.

[EUOL]

I just want to say thanks to everyone who has helped me with this one.  

Ones I particularly liked:

Auronomy was VERY cool sounding.  However, I'm worried about having two 'A' words for the magic.  (Still debating this one.)

Ferramy also had me for a time.  The only problem is that I really want something that has the same 'feel' as the other two magic systems.  This doesn't quite resonate right.  

Sangrimancy is also very cool sounding.  The only problem is that I don't really need another 'blood' related magic system.  Skar--I stored this one away for potential use in another world.  

However, I think Jade has really had the best suggestion on the thread.  Dropping the second 'R' from the Ferr prefix makes it work a lot better with things. And, to avoid the 'feral' reference Stacer noticed, I think using the original Latin 'u' with the 'Fer' gets us a better word.

So, the current winner:

Feruchemy.  It isn't actually the coolest sounding word on the thread--I think that's a tie between Auronomy and Sangrimancy.  However, Feruchemy 'Fits' better with Allomancy and Hemalurgy.  The three have a kind of internal resonance, and give the right feel.

Thanks all!



Now, another task.  These three are all active arts--something done, rather than simply a study.  I'd like, however, a good name for the blanket term for the study of all three magic systems.  A name for the system of the world, rather than the specific magical applications of this system.

All three systems use metal in different ways, and all three draw power for the user from different places.  Any clever ideas?  (Initial thoughts for me include using 'ology.'  However, I'm not opposed to something longer, like I used in DRAGONSTEEL.  (Realmatic Theory, for those of you who haven't read it.))

[stacer]

I like Feruchemy. That's good.

[MsFish]

I've always liked the word Metallurgy, cause I think it sounds cool.  It has a real world meaning though, so maybe not...

Maybe if you modified it...or put something in front of it...

*Fish thinks maybe she should start writing again, because then she could come up with neat stuff like this and use it

[The Jade Knight]

I think Feruchemy is really ugly-looking.  But it lacks -mancy, so I vote for it.  =þ

You could call it something like Metallic Gnosis or something.

[Mistress of Darkness]

But it sounds cool. Or at least how I pronouce it does.

Fer oo cha me

[Archon]

For your later question, I like the idea of something that begins with "The Tutelage of..." Such as:
The Tutelage of the Mine(s) or
The Tutelage of the Rock

If you still want something with ology:
Adamantology
Aenology
Condrology
Durology
Edurology
(All of these stems are Latin for hard in some way)
Or, you could go with one of each. Have the official name something that starts with "Tutelage of the..." and then have it commonly referred to as an "ology"

[GorgonlaVacaTremendo]

intraferology--something along the lines of "The Study of carrying within"

Intractology/Intratractology--something along the lines of "The Study of pulling from within"

Androtheodynology/Atheodynology--something along the lines of "The Study of Men with God's Strength/Power"

Endopossology/Endodynology -- ..."Study of the Power Inside"

Dynoferology -- ..."The Study of Carrying Power Within"