Necromancer

Raise one dog from the dead, and suddenly everyone wants your head on a spear...Imperials. No sense of proportional response. It's not like I raised grandma to serve tea at the grand ball! Wouldn't work anyway... they can't pour and have it land in the cup.

— Haran Blacksoil, Necromancer

For as long as there have been mortals on Erisdaire, there have been people hoping to bring back the dead for various reasons. Only divine magic can truly restore someone to life who has passed on, and even then it is rarely employed. Arcane magic has tried, time and time again, to do it as well. A whole field of study was devoted to the 'art of the dead', necromancy - and those who specialize in this field are known as "necromancers". Despite what is commonly thought, most magic derived through this study is not simply about raising the dead. Most of it is about channeling energies which are specific to the realms of the dead, considered a 'fortunate byproduct of experimentation' by the pioneers of necromantic magic. Of course, the same energies can be employed to animate bodies of the deceased, though without the memories and often without the capacity for independent thought.

Thus, it has long been held by most cultures to be a grave taboo - pun not intended. Necromancers who utilize their magic as a means to defend against undead have suffered a great many indignities at the least, or been lynched at worst. For an arcanist, using any necromantic magic is a quick way to get an entire village nervous and frightened of them. Rhyliss Imperial citizens, of course, were already nervous about arcane magic to begin with and after a while began to target any arcanist who used it with the intent to drive them into breaking the law so they could be murdered. As a means of attempting to curtail this behavior, Emperor Elric Rhyliss submitted an Imperial Edict to ban any magical efforts to raise the dead within Imperial authority. Of course, there was one exception: on the Exalted Isle, the Twelve Orders were permitted to do so, and only in that location. In the years since the edict was passed, it has been amended twice to clarify smaller details and close an apparent loophole concerning "nonmagical revivication".

With all the cultural baggage, choosing to be a necromancer has been an unpopular choice for upstanding citizens of the Empire. With troublemakers being the primary examples, it seems there is very little chance of this field of study becoming less vilified.

Career

Qualifications

To become a necromancer takes a specific course of study in arcane spells and theories. However, many of the easier sources of study, such as books or mentors, are forbidden and illegal in a great many cultures. This leaves it difficult to even begin study without being subjected to unfortunate prejudices. One place to begin such studies is in the 'mystic East', though it is a slow process and can be frustrating as Zurithani arcansits are focused on the question of how to use the magic offensively and those in Myrisic are interested in the academic implications. Assuming an individual is not put off by the limitations, the first hurdle is to begin researching means of harnessing necromantic energies and focusing them into specific expressions. Of course, focusing their studies so fully causes significant trouble for trying to keep up a broader focus on magic.

Perception

Social Status

Corpses which walk are an abomination. That which is dead should remain so, in Uhrol's name.

— Commandments of Uhrol, Guardian of Souls

With the Empire outlawing the raising of dead, and most citizens being wary of similar power being used, a necromancer must always be cautious about showing off their power. Certainly, once they can raise legions of corpses to defend themselves, any necromancer can be harder to kill with a knife in the back. But that's why adventurers and the Legion receive notices of such behavior. Even those necromancers who have no intention of raising the dead often find themselves pariahs, hermits who pursue knowledge in their own ways.

However, should a necromancer live long enough and study their arts closely, they may be of assistance to those willing to call on them. Necromancers have some spells which allow them to simply speak to the dead, allowing them to glean knowledge which would otherwise be impossible to find. For such purposes, citizens may call upon them in a clandestine way, fearful of being discovered "allying with the unclean".

Alternative Names

Grave mage
Bonebinder

Type

Arcane