The Necromantic Enclave
Necromancers are a curious lot in our modern world. Their enclave is...not controversial, but a taboo topic in many cultures. The reason for this, I believe, is that, unlike the enclave to which I belong (that of the druids) which focuses on life and the preservation of nature -- both things that are quite well loved by the common folk -- the necromantic's enclave focus is, necessarily, on death. Death and the afterlife can be a difficult topic for many of us, as we often do not like to think of our own death, or the death of a family member. Moreover, we are generally uncomfortable with the concept of a mindless zombie roaming our world, tainting nature with unholy undeath.
However, the necromancers of this enclave are considered to be necessary by the king of Nörn, and has been respected as an enclave for many, many years. In our day, they are primarily responsible for containing undead outbreaks, hunting down illegal necromancers, and studying death, the afterlife, and communication with the dead (a complicated subject in itself). Due to their strange status in the public eye, necromantic encampments are often located in desolate locations, away from the eyes of the relatively sensitive citizenry of the world.
I have only travelled to one outpost of the necromantic enclave, for the writing of this section no less. The life there was...interesting. I admit, I had thought that all of these necromancers must be a morbid and dark sort of people, but they appear to me, mostly, as any other sort of magic student. They were lively, excited and passionate in their work, and they excelled at their studies. Though I think the research they do is unnatural, they are quite competent and honest in their work. Those spirits they commune with are certainly less tortured than I had personally imagined, and those undead that they raise seem rather complacent with their existence.
Structure
Similarly to my own enclave, the necromancers have a strict hierarchy (though I should say the names are far less creative than ours!) of researchers which I shall detail here.
Acolyte: An acolyte of this order is a novice. They have no specialization and are undergoing general training. During this grueling training they will study incredibly hard -- only approximately half of acolytes will ever advance past this rank. They must demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of death and the natural laws that govern it. Acolytes will learn how to reach out across the arcane rift separating each plane from the others. Acolytes are the most numerous of the enclave, and are often used for menial tasks that are low-skill enough for them to do, such as readying components for low-level spells, cleaning and grooming bodies to be raised, ensuring that all test subjects are accounted for and of sound mind, and filling out the proper documents to record the daily activities of the researchers.
Tier I Researcher: Just above acolytes are the first tier of researchers. These are those who managed to demonstrate mastery of the base skills of a talented necromancer. They are permitted to conduct minor research under the guidance of a Purger. Tier I Researchers are not permitted to raise any dead. They may commune with spirits, and study natural forms of rot and disease. A tier I researcher is expected to contribute significant research progress in order to become a tier II researcher. Furthermore, they must demonstrate perfect knowledge of the rules and regulations on the enclave from the Pact of Nörn to ensure that they will not break any laws once they are elevated to the next tier.
Tier II Researcher: Tier II researchers perform some of the most advanced research that the enclave performs. They may raise dead, commune with spirits, study more dangerous diseases and forms of decay than tier I researchers, and will often study the transition of the spirit to the next plane (this research is very contentious as it requires an actual death). Tier II researchers are expected to follow rigorous standards, and must document each and every experiment to the letter (this is often done by observing acolytes). It is these researchers who produce the bulk of the academic material output by the enclave, and they are the most closely monitored by the agents of the Nurnen king.
Purger: Purgers are the elite task force of the Necromantic Enclave. It is they who are sent to quell undead infestations, demonic or otherwise. They will contain any rogue experiments and act as the internal police for the necromancers. Most importantly, they hunt down any rogue necromancers encountered in Ultor. To become a Purger, the prospective soldier must have been a tier II researcher for at least 10 years, and they must show excellent physical fitness and intelligence. Only the very best can become a part of the Purger ranks, and they are a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Many a lich has been destroyed by these soldiers.
Necromancer: A "true" necromancer is only he who has devoted nearly his whole life (if he is human, anyway) to studying necromancy. Only these esteemed masters are allowed to create their own diseases and forms of decay to study them. They are also the only ones allowed to study daemonology. Topics that are forbidden to nearly all others are opened before the eyes of the necromancer. They may study how to become a lich, which dark lords roam the planes, how to contact them, and how to summon demons and devils. The dangerous knowledge that these men and women are allowed to absorb is the main reason that they are so closely monitored by the Purgers and king of Nörn. Should one of these ever go rogue and not get caught...we should all fear the night.
The enclave is led by a council of true necromancers, who select one among them to be the representative to the Nurnen king. This council is responsible for deciding what research directives are okay to continue, and which are too dangerous to be permitted. They also decide the threat level of any otherworldly or undead incursions that crop up (essentially they decide what is worthy of the attention of the Purgers). As I have previously mentioned, these leaders are closely monitored by the Purgers and the king of Nörn's agents. Defections have, in the past, resulted in great catastrophe (one cannot help but remember the undead swarm raised by Jezzk the Insane), and so the enclave and its observers seek to prevent any more catastrophic defections.
Acolyte: An acolyte of this order is a novice. They have no specialization and are undergoing general training. During this grueling training they will study incredibly hard -- only approximately half of acolytes will ever advance past this rank. They must demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of death and the natural laws that govern it. Acolytes will learn how to reach out across the arcane rift separating each plane from the others. Acolytes are the most numerous of the enclave, and are often used for menial tasks that are low-skill enough for them to do, such as readying components for low-level spells, cleaning and grooming bodies to be raised, ensuring that all test subjects are accounted for and of sound mind, and filling out the proper documents to record the daily activities of the researchers.
Tier I Researcher: Just above acolytes are the first tier of researchers. These are those who managed to demonstrate mastery of the base skills of a talented necromancer. They are permitted to conduct minor research under the guidance of a Purger. Tier I Researchers are not permitted to raise any dead. They may commune with spirits, and study natural forms of rot and disease. A tier I researcher is expected to contribute significant research progress in order to become a tier II researcher. Furthermore, they must demonstrate perfect knowledge of the rules and regulations on the enclave from the Pact of Nörn to ensure that they will not break any laws once they are elevated to the next tier.
Tier II Researcher: Tier II researchers perform some of the most advanced research that the enclave performs. They may raise dead, commune with spirits, study more dangerous diseases and forms of decay than tier I researchers, and will often study the transition of the spirit to the next plane (this research is very contentious as it requires an actual death). Tier II researchers are expected to follow rigorous standards, and must document each and every experiment to the letter (this is often done by observing acolytes). It is these researchers who produce the bulk of the academic material output by the enclave, and they are the most closely monitored by the agents of the Nurnen king.
Purger: Purgers are the elite task force of the Necromantic Enclave. It is they who are sent to quell undead infestations, demonic or otherwise. They will contain any rogue experiments and act as the internal police for the necromancers. Most importantly, they hunt down any rogue necromancers encountered in Ultor. To become a Purger, the prospective soldier must have been a tier II researcher for at least 10 years, and they must show excellent physical fitness and intelligence. Only the very best can become a part of the Purger ranks, and they are a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Many a lich has been destroyed by these soldiers.
Necromancer: A "true" necromancer is only he who has devoted nearly his whole life (if he is human, anyway) to studying necromancy. Only these esteemed masters are allowed to create their own diseases and forms of decay to study them. They are also the only ones allowed to study daemonology. Topics that are forbidden to nearly all others are opened before the eyes of the necromancer. They may study how to become a lich, which dark lords roam the planes, how to contact them, and how to summon demons and devils. The dangerous knowledge that these men and women are allowed to absorb is the main reason that they are so closely monitored by the Purgers and king of Nörn. Should one of these ever go rogue and not get caught...we should all fear the night.
The enclave is led by a council of true necromancers, who select one among them to be the representative to the Nurnen king. This council is responsible for deciding what research directives are okay to continue, and which are too dangerous to be permitted. They also decide the threat level of any otherworldly or undead incursions that crop up (essentially they decide what is worthy of the attention of the Purgers). As I have previously mentioned, these leaders are closely monitored by the Purgers and the king of Nörn's agents. Defections have, in the past, resulted in great catastrophe (one cannot help but remember the undead swarm raised by Jezzk the Insane), and so the enclave and its observers seek to prevent any more catastrophic defections.
History
The history of the Enclave is, like so many of the large enclaves, is rooted in mystery. The general historical consensus appears to be that the Necromantic Enclave was founded around 80 AC (though some scholars consider the true date to be closer to 150 AC) as a small group of powerful magi, possibly leftover Morlu who had not yet died, dedicated to containing the multitude of daemonic and outworlder invasions that defined the chaotic times immediately in the aftermath of the Morlu Cataclysm.
Experts are divided on whether or not the Enclave (or the early version of it) was responsible for it, but as the Enclave expanded and grew across Galzhür, the rate of daemonic invasions appears to have decreased. In any case, the Enclave became very popular with the towns and villages that dotted the continent. It was one of the only widely known organizations of its time, and many scholars liken being a part of it to being a part of a continental militia -- like being a defender of the world that has somehow transcended beyond the petty squabbling of local rulers to attain a higher purpose. Indeed, it is the popularity of this group that brought it to the attention of my people (the elves, for those of you unfamiliar with my works) once we began sea voyages beyond our home islands. Through the complex shipping lanes of our ancient world, word of the Enclave spread and it began to gain membership in every corner of our world.
Over time, the ancient reputation of the order diminished and was forgotten, regardless of their responsibility for the disappearance of the outworlder incursions. They began to be feared and even demonized in some cultures as devil worshippers and necrophiliacs. The necromantic arts were outlawed in many, many kingdoms across the world by 500 AC, and the bans would not be lifted until the early 9th century. Thus, you can see, the reputation that the necromancers enjoy today is fairly new. They are still often a taboo topic, and many people still fear them, but they have begun to be more accepted as guardians of this world rather than seeking its destruction. The arts are now seen as a necessary evil, and it is widely believed that those who engage in studies of necromancy and otherworldy arts will, in due time, become corrupted and fall from the light of the divinities.
To understand death is to understand life.
Founding Date
circa 80 AC
Type
Consortium, Research
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