ferchemy Feruchemical dilution

[Entr0pic He/him]

so, i want to point something out. As of mistborn era 2, both Feruchemy and Allomancy have diluted to the point only ferrings and mistings appear. But i was confused by something, that being “why did feruchemy dilute so quickly compared to allomancy?”

So we know all modern allomancers get their abilities from noble lineages 

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minus wax

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i put there here on accident and i dont know how 2 delete them, so just ignore it 

 

 

And these lineages started ~1300 years from modern scadrail, so it took 1300 years for allomancy to dilute from 100% mistborn to 100% misting

now let’s take feruchemy. So we know that all modern feruchemists get their abilities from their Terris lineages. And we know that the Terris lineages were pure enough in the final empire that 100% of feruchemists were full feruchemists, but only 300 years later, thats changed to 100% ferrings

so what I’m getting at is why did it take 1300 years for allomancy to dilute to only mistings and why did feruchemy only 300 years to dilute to only ferrings? 

[Duxredux he/him]

Feruchemy was diluted because all full Feruchemists were hunted down and killed by Steel Inquisitors other than Sazed who Ascended. The genotype was there but not the phenotype. Any Feruchemist is rare after the Catacendre, particularly as this is the second time in a thousand years that all living Feruchemists were culled.

Beyond that, the interbreeding between Allomancers and Feruchemists somehow disrupted the Feruchemy sDNA and broke it unto the individual powers. Presumably this was a reason for the Terris isolationist policy.

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Travyl (paraphrased)

Why do the Twinborn in Alloy of Law have only one Feruchemical power, when all previous Feruchemists, in spite of breeding programs, could use all the metals? 

WetlanderNW (paraphrased)

Or were Ferrings always part of the system and we just didn't meet them in Mistborn?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

The Ferrings are a new development since Mistborn, as the Feruchemists have been interbreeding with the Allomancers. Basically, the Allomancy genes interfere with the Feruchemy genes, breaking it down and creating the limitations we see in Alloy of Law.

Footnote: Brandon's response was very enthusiastic. He noted how perceptive the question was, and obviously enjoyed the discussion. The reporter has expressed their regret at lack of an audio recording to share his enthusiasm.
Alloy of Law Seattle Signing (Nov. 11, 2011)

 

Edited February 21, 2025 by Duxredux

[Entr0pic He/him]

5 minutes ago, Duxredux said:

Feruchemy was diluted because all full Feruchemists were hunted down and killed by Steel Inquisitors other than Sazed who Ascended. The genotype was there but not the phenotype. Any Feruchemist is rare after the Catacendre, particularly as this is the second time in a thousand years that all living Feruchemsits were culled.

Beyond that, the interbreeding between Allomancers and Feruchemists somehow disrupted the Feruchemy sDNA and broke it unto the individual powers. Presumably this was a reason for the Terris isolationist policy.

 

Ah, this makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up. here, i offer you this cookie in thanks 

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[Treamayne]

15 minutes ago, Entr0pic said:

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i put there here on accident and i dont know how 2 delete them, so just ignore it 

 

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Hope that helps