Ironlance
Better to wear the scars of your shame than to be forever lost to our foe.The technique of ironlancing is a cruel but effective method of ensuring one's safety from the twisted hands of the fey. The practice began across the central reaches of Valathe and subsequently became known throughout scholarly societies across the world for its barbaric nature.
Preparations by Hanhula (via Midjourney)
In summary, to ironlance someone is to repeatedly lance their skin with piercing implements made of iron. The repetitive motions cause small fragments of the iron to break off and remain in the victim's body.
When done with cold iron, to which the fey are universally weak, it does steadily build up a level of resistance to fey enchantments, at the cost of agonising pain, skin marred with scars and odd marks, and a lingering note of anguish that permanently affects the victim.
Though not commonly practiced in the modern day, it can still be found in use in desperate areas that have limited access to better means of protection, or in areas where it has been integrated into ritual. Certain parts of Vuorenmaa, particularly in their deeper forests, practice ironlancing from childhood as part of a series of rites to defend their children from the horrors of the woods.
The pain is nothing to them. Not compared to the fey.
Discovery & Spread
Some things are more ancient than writings will say. Listen to the stories, instead.It isn't known when exactly ironlancing came into being. Like many old folk remedies, it hails from a time when writing was uncommon even in the largest settlements, which themselves were not particularly big in comparison to the metropolises of today.
Like so many of those ancient arts, it has travelled through whisper and word to many corners of the world - cradled in the arms of refugees fleeing war in the tumultuous east of Valathe, carried like a song by the wise among the river-faring Arriusi, and hidden under the warm silks of the Yamashic.
It has, however, been rediscovered many a time, occasionally in formal research settings. The idea of circulating cold iron around the bloodstream became popular in some alchemist circles for a time in the early 5200s, leading to a number of issues with magnetic substances for a time thereafter and to occasional cases of iron poisoning.
Recently, in the 5600s, there have been advances in studies with other forms of metal in manners similar to ironlancing. Though a mortal cannot easily take on the properties of adamantine, there have been advances made with forms of iron, zinc, and magnesium infused with aspects of other elements to provide minor health benefits. It is possible that further study will reveal new protections in this manner!
Lancemark by Hanhula (via Midjourney)
Utility
They are not the innocent beauties you think they are. Do not trust the fey.The fey are often thought of as pretty fairies and pixies, as helpful as they are mischievous. These little fluttering visions of magic are only one small facet of the many species of fey that exist, and should not be underestimated regardless of that fact. Fey morality functions on a wholly different level to that of mortals, and the First World's inhabitants cannot die like mortals can.
Impenetrable by Hanhula (via Midjourney)
This makes the fey horrendously dangerous. Ancient and deadly, often intent on stalking or kidnapping for entertainment or worse, they lurk across Istralar in search of mortal prey.
Virtually every culture has tales warning against the fey, such as the central Valathean tale "Do Not Go Into The Forest Alone", usually tailored to the fey that stalk in that region. Iskaldhan cultures, for instance, deal with the cruelty of winter fey more than any other continent.
Yet all fey have the same weakness: cold iron. Though difficult to mine, cold iron remains one of the most effective methods of warding off enemy fey while also countering attacks from some demons, many of whom are conflated with the fey in less educated areas.
Even if normal iron is all that can be found, it still may present some benefit against the fey. Perhaps the effect is placebo, but the hope is there.
Mechanical Details
Ironlancing is effectively a constant poison effect with beneficial side effects. It can be cured with any ability that cures poisoning, which some fey may know and take advantage of. +2 trait bonus on saving throws against the spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities of fey; -2 to all Charisma-based skill checks.
Childseeker by Hanhula (via Midjourney)
*anxiously taks iron supplements* This is quite a terrifying method of trying to keep the fae away, but I think the fae are even more terrifying.
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