1. The elements of the material world are fire, earth, water and air. Of these, fire is distinct. It does not exist in nature, passive, as the others do, but must be brought forth temporarily through a convocation of agreeable circumstances. When it comes, it is a bright, hot, dancing thing of passionate energy, bursting into our world, its power and its lifespan both limited only by its food.

2. The flame eternal, the white-hot wind which devastates as it enkindles, is no different.

3. It is easy to invoke fire. You will find it eager to heed your call and consume your offering. It will leap joyfully to the stars and pull at the reins until they threaten to snap off in your hand. You must be hard as diamond to contain it.

4. Flame wants to exist. It will not resent you for restricting it, because it is a blind, idiot thing, but it will constantly seek to exceed its boundaries, killing and consuming.

5. Therefore, two words alone make pyromancy possible, one lesser and one greater. The lesser word is “yes”. The greater, “no”.

6. It is very easy to get those two mixed up.

7. The flame is neither your ally nor your friend. It is a witless, singularly motivated force blind to all but its nature. I have heard others liken the first flame to love, but these are without exception lazy, idiot poets who have never taken a burning brand to the face.

8. Fire, even sorcerous, cannot exist without fuel. Those who claim otherwise are simply ignorant of the prices being paid beyond their understanding.

9. An end in fire is clean and final, and lacking in complication, and to be desired.

10. That said, burning to death is to all observations a horrible way to die and I do not recommend it.

11. Flame has no purpose, only process. Modify yourself similarly.

12. Burn and the world burns with you.