-- nature of pyromancy as opposed to miracles and sorceries
As an art, pyromancy requires neither innate intelligence nor faith in the gods. Primarily, one is allowed to use and wield pyromancies through the possession of a pyromancy flame, which is an object that must be given to the user by someone else ( though there’s no evidence that it cannot be taken by force, either, however ).
Pyromancers come from a culture all their own, due to being ostracized for their craft. The Great Swamp is the only haven for this culture that we know of, since the destruction of Izalith, and this is presumably where all knowledge of pyromancy arts-- tomes, scrolls, et cetera-- have originated. They’re displayed as being lesser to clerics and sorcerers, perhaps due to evidence of more ritualistic practice of study, and preference for being close to nature.
-- relationship of student and teacher
Perhaps more than any other magical craft, pyromancy has an emphasis on the intimate exchange of knowledge and learning shared between master and student-- for without teachers, there can be no pupils, and without pupils, there can be no teachers. The pyromancy flame is granted from masters to their students, and they often learn side-by-side one another by a mutual exchange of perspectives, as opposed to a vessel being filled.
This indicates a deep respect for the act of seeking knowledge and of passing knowledge on, which falls in line with the idea of a ritual-revering society; the act of learning is just as important as the knowledge gained.
-- pyromancy uses compared to other magics
In spite of being referred to as primitive and heretical, the usages of pyromancy are at least as multi-faceted as those of miracles or sorceries, those being accentuating one’s weaponry, healing oneself, spreading attacks over a wide area, as well as defending oneself or taking the offensive. This range of usages seems to be indicative of its depth as an art. Rather, the development of different pyromancies for different uses speaks to the breadth and depth of the people who practice them.
The fundamentals of pyromancy have not changed, but have undergone countless iterations and branched out through development in order to encompass more needs. Rather than being set into a single traditional form, it’s likely that, if allowed to thrive, pyromancy would evolve with each no generation of masters, according to their needs at the time. Perhaps pyromancers are encouraged to develop their own pyromancies, based upon the foundations of the craft, instead of being told to adhere to strict lessons found in ancient epics or poems.
-- being a pyromancer as opposed to sorcerer or cleric
It could be said that being a pyromancer involves belonging to a culture, a kind of religion, and a school of thought, all in one. Sorcerers and clerics exist in addition to other careers, within whatever culture harbors them, as opposed to pyromancers, who all appear to have origins in a singular culture. Which is not to say one from outside the Great Swamp cannot learn pyromancy-- it appears that anyone willing to is able-- rather that pyromancers tend to have more than use their practice or religion in common with one another.
Perhaps this has to do with its roots in the natural world, which breeds a camaraderie with nature and the world around oneself, as the fuel for a pyromancer’s magic, instead of schooling or faith in the gods.
