Sacred Necromancy

What is Sacred Necromancy?

Sacred necromancers study necromantic arts for reasons that are nigh-universally considered virtuous and pure. Sacred necromancers are expected to be capable of enacting fertility rites, healing spells, and Gnarlen conversions. In theomes which particularly respect necromancers, more of the necromantic arts may be considered sacred, but those three basic arts are the core of sacred necromancy which are almost universally recognized.

While necromancy has the infamous side effect of eventually inflicting undeath on its practitioners even when used in this pure way, Sacred Necromancers usually try to use their necromantic arts lightly enough that they stay alive, something that can be done with great delicacy for a very long time, evading the decaying side effects of necromantic spellcasting. Should a sacred necromancers suffer a necromantic death despite this attempt to be gentle, they tend to wear permanently sealed and blessed attire rather than exposing undeath to others. Alternatively, they may seek gnarlen conversion, for while gnarlen may only become second-rate necromancers and most necromancers lose skill permanently if they become a gnarlen, there is no longer a need to be especially worrisome and delicate should such a conversion be sought. Gnarlen cannot die by necromancy, so believe most people in the setting.

Some gnarlen become sacred necromancers. This exerts their necromantic potential to the limit, but it is seen as particularly fine in their society, since gnarlen conversion can then be performed for gnarlen, by gnarlen. This also permits damage to the otherwise nearly unhealing gnarlen bodies to be treated by reperforming the necessary conversion to transfer gnarlen to new bodies.

Type

Religious