Petrifomancy

A subechelon of Terramancy, Petrifomancy is a submancy that is centered around the manipulation of the geological process known as **petrification**. A petrifomancer is someone who is able to harness their vitor in such a way that *they are able to manipulate matter that lies within the grey area between what is dead and what is dust*. Petrifomancy is poorly understood and there are multiple conflicting theories that attempt to explain its mechanism of function. Analysis of this submancy is further complicated by the fact that it is considered forbidden knowledge for several reasons. This mysterious submancy can only be practiced by *Master+ terramancers* who are fortunate enough to lay their eyes upon it. Petrifomancy requires continual physical contact with the target to cast. Petrifomancers also cannot petrify living or animated organisms under normal conditions- though the submancy’s maximum potential is ultimately unknown. Lastly, all petrifomancers risk being afflicted by the ***Golem’s Curse**.*

* *Petrifomancy* may only be learnt IRP as an IRP developed mancy, by its creator or those he spread it to.

### Example Spells

**Fossilize:** A petrifomancer may channel their vitor and use it to fossilize dead or inanimate organic matter in a matter of seconds or minutes, depending on the size of object that they are manipulating. The mancer must maintain physical contact with the object until the process is complete, otherwise the spell will be undone as quickly as it was cast. This spell is often used to combat the taboo arts, as necromancers and carnomancers cannot animate fossils. Attempting this spell on a living or animated organism will afflict the caster with the *Golem’s Curse. **For archmancers, attempting this spell on a real organism will result in a miscast, if failed.***

**Organify:** A petrifomancer may channel their vitor and use it to convert fossilized matter back into its original form. This process can take several minutes to several hours, depending on the size of the fossil. The mancer must maintain physical contact with the object until the process is complete, otherwise the spell will be undone as quickly as it was cast. The use of this spell is highly taboo and frowned upon, as it can be used to empower the taboo arts rather than stop them. Casting this spell on unfossilised material will afflict the caster with the *Golem’s Curse.*

**Disintegrate:** A petrifomancer may channel their vitor and use it to disintegrate fossilized objects or otherwise inanimate earthly constructs into dust. This process is very quick and is often used in conjunction with a fossilization spell. The mancer must maintain physical contact with the object until the process is complete, otherwise it will not work. Casting this spell on an animated stone construct will afflict the caster with the *Golem’s Curse* as well, successful or not. ***Archmancers can dispel stone golems directly with this, but can be miscast.***

**Stoneshift:** A petrifomancer may channel their vitor and use it to temporarily petrify themself into stone, remaining animated. This spell takes five OOC minutes to conjure, and interrupting it will cause a miscast. This spell will be good to last for an entire battle, but cannot be used more than once a day because of the excruciatingly painful 12 hour organifying period when the stone reverts back to flesh and bone on its own. A master can petrify their skin, but an archmancer can petrify their entire body. The petrifomancer cannot adjust their form/shape.

**Golem’s Curse [Passive]:** The Golem’s Curse is a side effect of miscasting with varying degrees of severity. There are three important symptoms of this curse. The first is that the victim’s body will harden and petrify inch by inch with every miscast starting with the limbs, torso, and finally head. This is painful, cannot be undone, and petrified tissue is nothing but deadweight unless controlled by earth-manipulating vitor. The second symptom is that the victim’s flesh and bone will disintegrate shortly after death, leaving behind only their petrified remains, if any.

The last symptom **(Needs Mod Approval)** is that if the *Golem’s Curse* directly causes the death of the victim, their entire body will immediately petrify. Interestingly, their soul matter will also fossilize- turning their incorporeal form into a soul gem. ***Anyone afflicted by this curse in-full, will experience a gradual loss of free will and sapience, until the victim is nothing more than a golem standing still, waiting for the orders of a master that does not exist.***