“The Inferno speaks through us all.”
-- Kthalenje, Infernal Harbinger
Born of destruction, of heat, of magma, the fire scholar calls forth all the most offensive powers in the world. Wanton incineration is their bread and butter.
Introduction
Fire is among the oldest of the mystic arts, discovered first by the nefortu and the srryn. Blended with the ambition and curiosity of humanity, the three sparked the War of Fire, a conflict which reduced cities and forests to ash. In the following millennia, the emergence of the shuddeni brought new refinement to the sphere, and the incursion of fire devils introduced new applications of old concepts. Scholars of fire have brought an uneasy detente to Yithoul, stoked the forges of countless smiths, brought heat to great city-states, and laid waste to countless armies.
Minor scholars of the flame delve into all aspects of the sphere, learning both some of the empowering benedictions fire offers and a taste of its destruction. The major sphere focuses primarily on enhancing and refining the latter, producing most of the sphere’s mainstay attacks. Greater fire scholars gain unparalleled mastery of destruction, and can draw the flames unto themselves such that they might even bypass death itself.
Resonating with red, the magics of flame cannot be called upon by any of gold resonance. The primary patron of fire scholars is Bayyal, who is particularly favored by the nefortu; the aelin, on the other hand, may call upon Alil, while the shuddeni may be inclined to Arkhural. However, deific patronage is hardly required, as destroyers are as content to take one life as they are another.
Traits
Greater Paths
A scholar who takes fire as both major and minor sphere becomes a greater fire scholar (see greater spells), and later follows one of these paths:
Flameheart
A path for those who pursue the power of the fire devils, inspired and guided by the legendary abomination, Kyez-Ralin.
Undying Blaze
These magi seek the seeds of the War of Fire, invoking ancient powers which indiscriminately destroy the living.
Infernal Harbinger
Inspired by the shuddeni, these spellcasters use focused fire to torment and incinerate their enemies.
Mixed Spheres
A fire scholar who minors in another sphere gains some abilities that mix the two (see minor spells):
Fire/Water
A mage of these spheres gains mastery of thermics even as he blends creation and destruction to great effect.
Fire/Earth
A student of flame and stone learns to melt rock. These magi can wrap themselves in a shield of liquid stone and shape the ground into elementals of burning lava.
Fire/Air
The distracting magics of air pair naturally with the mesmerizing forces of fire. These magi conjure burning wisps that hang about them in combat and draw their foes' blows astray.
Fire/Void
An adept of these arts is greatly feared as a master of both havoc and damnation.
Fire/Spirit
Joining fire to spirit, these magi brand weapons with the flame of their own souls, and their fire burns with holy power. They can also lay a glyph on an ally that takes in the harm done to them and releases it as an explosion.