Aurelimancy
Aurelimancy was a type of metal-manipulating magic similar to Ferromancy, but specific to the substance of gold.
Aurelimancy was an excessively rare magic because it was inherently self-harming, and not particularly powerful--in the usual context of magic.
Powers #
While aurelimancy was a manipulative magic, it also possessed transmutative and summoning properties.
Aurelimancers could wield gold with similar arcane dexterity and finesse to magnet-mages. However, the softer material of gold meant that it was often ineffective as a weapon. As a whole, aurelimancy was a poor choice for a combat mage, but it could serve as an improvisational combat magic when molten gold was splashed onto enemies.
The true worth and power of aurelimancy was its ability to conjure gold. Aurelimancers could create gold from thin air, which would appear in molten form initially. However, this incredible feat of magic came at a terrible price--the gradual transmutation of the aurelimancer's body into gold.
Even if used sparingly, aurelimantically conjuring gold would cause scarring throughout the body by transmuting random swathes of tissue into gold. Larger portions of gold led to larger swathes. Aurelimancers that practiced their craft with restraint and care still suffered greatly--while the gold that their body transformed into was elemental and non-toxic, lesions and irritation caused by pieces of gold were extremely uncomfortable. The loss of function of organ tissue could also prove to be at best, annoying, and at worst, fatal.
In extreme cases, aurelimancers could have fingers, bones, or entire limbs transmuted into gold. To prevent chrysopoeian digits or limbs from tearing off of the body, some aurelimancers opted to have these things fastened to their body and displayed as an opulent prosthetic.
It should be noted that even cursory forays into aurelimancy could be fatal. A simple, minute conjuration of gold could result in the goldification of a vital organ, like the heart or brain, leading to instant death.
Historical Events #
Royal Aurelimancers #
Aurelimancers were rare as individual, independent mages. During times before the Arcane Hand, most kingdoms had an aurelimancer or two employed to create large amounts of gold to fuel their projects. Such mages were treated poorly and expendable, looked upon like a tool or machine for the regent rather than a person.
The Gilding of 259 #
Imperator Hyperius committed a terrible atrocity by forcing a hundred Cloudwellers to learn aurelimancy specifically to provide enough material for the construction and gilding of Hyperius' Palace. These mages (or at least the ones that survived training) were forced into this arcane labour under the pain of death of their families. While the Arcane Hand attempted to interfere with this cruel mistreatment of mages, Hyperius' inquisitors proved to be an impenetrable wall against the most dramatic and would-be effective moves made by the Hand. Unable to do much else, the Arcane Hand ended their operations against Hyperius, wanting to avoiding taking a definitively political stance by appearing to aid the rebel movement growing in the Cloudlands. ^df5764