Category:Biomancy

Biomancy is fleshcrafting. The body is treated as a mailable substance both in terms of its anatomy and its physiology. A work of biomancy is not comparable to a prince turned into a frog with a bale polymorph or even a curse. Biomancy is not confined to creating small creatures of the animal type. And its results are usually irreversible, at least in the absence of further biomancy. A dispel magic spell will not help a prince fleshcrafted into a sentient doormat by a biomancer.

Biomancy engages in the redesign of body by means that may, in some cases, overlap superficially with the tradition of real-world science but that are ultimately and fundamentally alien to it. Biomancy is either a work of magic or psionics, typically, in combination with creation feat or of manifestatly supernatural abilities granted by the Dark Powers. Fleshcrafting through the use of real-world science, such as breeding or genetic engineering, is bio-engineering, not biomancy. Fleshcrafting through the use of real-world science that stretches or exceeds the limits of that science with the assistance of the Dark Powers is still bio-engineering. Dr. Victor Mordenheim and Dr. Frantisek Markov are creatures of the tradition of real-world science and are bio-engineers, not biomancers.

The Illithid of Bluetspur are the premier biomancers of the Land of Mists. Their creations include the Shattered Brethren, the Illithid Vampire, the Thrall Clasp, and Marcu Vasilis. Lyssa von Zarovich contributed, presumably as a necrologist, to the Illithid Vampire and so most probably has acquired at least a familiary with the principles of biomancy. Yagno Petrovna is a prolific biomancer, although it is doubtful that he recognises himself as such and it is probable that his narrowly focused work, steeped in theology, and of which he alone is capable, has contributed little to the field of biomancy, aside from scores of mongrelmen. Isolde is a biomancer, a "gift", after a fashion, of the Dark Powers that functions in terms of her ability loosen her hold over the Twisting with precision. Silessa proves to be a beneficary of this gift.

Two feats for the magical biomancer are provided in Appendix II of the Noctural Sea Gazetteer: Create Magical Beast and Create Aberration.