Feuermann (Fire Man) is a spectral manifestation. He may be a glowing skeleton, a man on fire from within or a flame. Feuermänner (Fire Men) appear about the size of a person, differentiating them from Irrlichter or errant lights such as will o' the wisp.
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Like the Irrwurz plant, the bright little Irrlichter, fairy lights or orbs can lead a person astray. Spirit lights appear in almost every culture. They can guide a person to treasure or certain doom. Sometimes they guard a gravesite.
A person who sees the lights should avoid them. Like Fairy Ring magic, Irrlichter can induce a trance or hypnotic state as they lead the victim over a cliff, or round and round in circles of madness. Greedy people fall dead with exhaustion chasing the hope of riches.
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Feuermann can appear as a person of lead, wearing a cape of lead which blazes fire beneath. Metal and fire are both demonic traits. Another description is of a charred burned man inside a pillar of fire. He can also appear half charred and half burning.
He may be headless, or carrying his head, especially if he is a revenant of the headless horseman variety. He may have long scrawny legs and a hollow back. Sometimes Feuermann appears as a charred or invisible shape with one or two eyes.
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He may have a single eye or two fiery orbs in a shadow of darkness. Sometimes he carries a lantern, or smokes a sparking pipe. He might also be seen as a fiery plowman with blazing horse and plow.
He can assume shapes such as a circle or pyramid, a sheaf of wheat, a ball of fire, a snake or a wheel. Feuermänner can fly above the canopies of trees and spray whirls of sparks. The Feuermann may be alone or accompanied by others of his kin.
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In folklore Feuermänner are among the Wiedergänger or restless Undead, tormented spirits neither dead nor alive. Feuermann shares this distinction with the werewolf of Germany and the Nachzehrer, or German vampire, who wants to devour its family.
A person usually becomes Feuermann by living an evil life or doing bad deeds without remorse. One particular type of Feuermann is Grenzfrevler, or boundary violator who has moved a marker stone with evil intent. The Undead spirit must forever haunt the boundary.
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Other possible identities of Feuermann include a church member who stole money from the collection, or a murderer by fire-setting or arson. He may be a traitor, double murderer or unrepentant executed criminal; or victim of suicide, murder or violent death.
Feuermänner come out late evening or at night. They appear in fields, field borders, meadows and swamps, similar to the smaller Irrlichter. Both Irrlichter and Feuermann are thought to appear before an impending fire or natural disaster.
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In Silesia, the Feuermann or Feuerpuppe (fire mannikin) is a type of Kinderschreck (child fright) in the grain field. Der feuriger Fischer or fiery fisherman haunts Lake Constance and is said to walk on the water surface to taunt fishers.
Despite his fierce appearance the Feuermann is usually harmless to humans. He might light the way or do a good deed for a person in exchange for a blessing, if he's working off his mortal evils.
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If he lights the way it's unlucky to speak, and one should enter the house backward. He's thought to come in if given an invitation to dinner. He will burn away cobwebs and let people light pipes on his flame.
Though he may be helpful he can also be vengeful, especially if betrayed or tricked by a human. Feuermann may deliberately lead a person astray. As Aufhocker he might jump on a person's back and become progressively heavier.
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Feuermann may appear if summoned, for the chance of doing good if he's a revenant. He hates disrespect, for instance whistling to call him, or not giving a promised reward. He can quickly turn violent.
He will slap faces, push people and set fires, even destroy an entire household. Just as with Headless Horsemen the touch of the Feuermann can cause a person to sicken and die. An object such as a stick can be held out for Feuermann to touch if he's done a good deed.
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The stick will show a black burn mark where Feuermann touches it. After midnight, Feuermann becomes mischievous and shoots glowing fireballs at passersby.
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