Necromancer

Written by elean0rarose

T

here is both the real meaning of the term "necromancy", which is much more limited than some expect, as well as the popular usage of the word.

Necromancy originally and officially started as a term for those who divined the future or secrets with the aid of the dead. This typically looked like the necromancer extending their consciousness partially into the Otherworld in order to commune with spirits, or briefly pulling a spirit out of their afterlife and shoving them back into their corpse to make them talk.

Nowadays, the term necromancy denotes both this practice as well as forms of bringing corpses to life, which is another misunderstood area. Resurrection proper denotes someone being permanently brought back to life, something that requires both their body (which is hopefully not too decayed) as well as a necromancer who is a devotee of Erishgal (god of life and death). This is because the god closely guards their Otherworld and will only work with those who have a strong relationship with them and can be trusted to reason and bargain on their behalf. The resurrection process itself is brutal, requiring the one requesting it to painfully give over some years of their own life for it to happen.

However, many now call the animation of corpses resurrection, too. This is actually a misnomer. Animated corpses only operate with the will of the mage involved. They have no sentience, no soul, no personality of their own. As such, they are not resurrected but merely automatons and tools operated by a skilled mage for however long they can maintain the casting.

People may call someone a necromancer based on them performing any of these types of magic, and to be fair, most necromancers do dabble in different forms of magic should they have the innate aptitude to do so. However, a pact and devotion to Erishgal is a serious undertaking, and the process of resurrection involves a serious bargain, so this is a service that is much harder to obtain (and much more expensive, too, given the specialisation involved).

Because of the rarity of necromancy in comparison to other magics, caused in large part by stigma and misunderstanding, those who practice the profession are typically wanderers. This is both to escape persecution and also because the demand for their work means they will travel far and wide to perform their deeds—but only for those with the funds to purchase them.

Career

Qualifications

There is no qualification to be a necromancer per se. One must, of course, have the natural born aptitude to perform this magic as it is dispensed by Drig (god of magic and the mind) at birth.

It is usually studied under a mentor, but as it is a practice that is frequently frowned down upon, some will study in secret themselves using books or trial and error.

In order to practice resurrection proper, one must be devoted to Erishgal (god of life and death). A pact is made to spread the word of the god, commune regularly, offer sacrifices, and perform other deeds in their honour. Once the relationship is properly formed, the god at their own discretion will allow the mage to perform this hallowed deed.
More recently, the Brumell Academy in Whitshok, a university dedicated to magical and mundane pursuits, has begun to research the subject further and there are hopes that soon there will be a specialist course in the subject.

Career Progression

Progression in necromancy comes naturally through practice and potential mentorship, as well as the possibility to have the pact with Erishgal that greatly aids the necromancer in their magical pursuits. There are no ranks involved due to the nature of the profession, meaning that nobody works for an overarching body and that there is currently no guild for necromancers specifically to dish these out, either.

Payment & Reimbursement

The payment for necromancy differs between practitioners. Some will price gouge desperate families in order for them to communicate one last time with their lost relatives. Others offer a sliding scale of payments so that those on lower incomes can still procure their services. Typically, though, it is a well-paying profession due to the rarity of practitioners.

The only exception is resurrection. Due to the highly specialised nature of this—not many people at all can perform the rite—the cost is extortionate, meaning it is limited typically only to nobility and rich merchants.

Other Benefits

Unfortunately there is little benefit to being a necromancer in society, except perhaps aid from Erishgal for devotees who petition their god. Some necromancers do obtain a degree of fame if they are particularly talented, as the noble courts and merchant circuits often go through phases of intrigue in the practice. Whether or not this attention is a good thing, however, is often up for debate. They may also sometimes be brought into armies for the reanimation of corpses to serve as weapons. This brings the ability to have a more stable income as well as free board and meals.

Perception

Purpose

The role allows members of society to speak to the dead. While necromancers may sell it as a way to have a final goodbye with a loved one, in truth it is usually done to settle disputes about wills and estates. Necromancers may also reach into the Otherworld with their consciousness to divine the future or find out hidden knowledge. This can be useful for a great many things, including locating treasure and espionage.

Resurrection proper is naturally used to bring someone back to life. This is typically done in cases of love because the price, both monetarily and physically, is high.

Reanimation of corpses is done for a great many reasons. Often they are automatons to carry out certain duties, although this can't be sustained for long because they are dependent on the will of the necromancer to operate. These undead automatons can be used in areas such as construction, but the most common application is marshal, creating frontline troops who are ultimately expendable.

Social Status

There is a stigma attached to necromancy. Superstition sees it as a dangerous profession, and many find it rather macabre to spend all that time around the dead. There is a common (unfounded) notion, too, that being devoted to Erishgal in this particular manner is asking for trouble.

That said, high society goes through phases of being enthralled by the practice. Private parties are used in which the necromancer will communicate messages to the party goers. Nobles and merchants will procure services to settle disputes and satisfy curiosity. But this trend is abandoned as quickly as it comes around, and necromancy again picks up its reputation for being strange and grizzly.

Demographics

Necromancers come from all sorts of backgrounds—typically humanoid or orcish, but there have been dragon mages of this kind—but all run the risk of having to leave their lives behind and fall into the stigma of the profession, no matter how high their standing was before becoming a necromancer.

No one really knows how many people have necromantic abilities but they appear to be rare. It is rarer still to then devote oneself to Erishgal in their role as god of death.

History

The profession has held fast to its practices in terms of mechanics because there are "only so many ways you can boil an egg", as the saying goes. However, it has played roles in a great many conflicts in terms of creating undead warriors to act as shock troops. This could be seen in both the War of Exiling (between orcish and humanoids) and the War of the Surface and the Deep (between Dwarfesbörg and the surface world). There have also been times where it has famously resulted in disputes being settled by consulting dead nobility, as well as folk tales of tragic deaths (usually of apparently perfect virgin maidens) being reversed by resurrection.

Operations

Tools

• Dalmatian jasper (white with black dots represents the central idea of the role death plays in life)
• Snowflake obsidian (the same logic as above)
• Black and white candles
• Deadly nightshade (offering for Erishgal)
• Secret herbs used for purification and consecration (recipe varies between traditions)
• Necromantic grimoires, such as Life & Death Entwined

Workplace

Necromancers travel all over Olrion, from the freezing Arigik Mountains to the south, to the deserts and jungles of the north. Fortunately enough, because of the nature of the magic, it can be completed anywhere.

Provided Services

• Divination through the mage's consciousness entering into the Otherworld
• Communion with Erishgal to petition for wisdom (only offered by those devoted to the god)
• Temporary revival of the dead
• Animation of corpses
• Resurrection proper

Dangers & Hazards

Despite the common conception that necromancy is dangerous, it isn't particularly so for the practitioner. Indeed, working with the elements, such as by creating fireballs, creates much more risk even though it is more socially accepted. The risks to necromancers instead come from unhappy clients and the superstitions of the common people who might then form a mob to chase the necromancer out of town (or worse).

by Ahmed Adly

Alternative Names

Death Scryers (outdated), Resurrectors (outdated), Reanimators (outdated)

Type

Arcane

Demand

Secretly higher than expected, despite being a luxury

Legality

The profession is currently decriminalised, meaning it is neither legal nor illegal, across Olrion. There have been historic outlawing of the profession in certain areas, but these laws tend to be struck down each time the nobility get a fancy for the practice again.