Necromancy

Reviled, outlawed, and feared through much of Imbria, necromancy is a controversial form of magic that relies on the power of death, sacrifice, and the energy of the spirit realm.
Necromancy is thought to provide one a connection to Na'arin's Realm, or the underworld and is primarily associated with Necromancy, the only country to embrace and revere this magic.

Uses / Benefits

Necromancy is particularly useful offensively. These spells are hard-hitting, difficult to counter, and the effects can last quite a long time without the correct intervention.

Limitations

Many of the more powerful spells require more prep time than other magic. Necromancy is also dangerous for the caster and others. It can drain the caster's vitality and release malevolent spirits.

Types of Necromancy

As with all magic classifications, there is some overlap with other magic types. Some forms of necromancy, like the use of sigils, do rely on blood. Necromancers often utilize blood from a sacrifice as opposed to a living donor, but not always.
Other magic types might be used alongside necromancy.
There are a few distinct types of necromancy, or subcategories into which necromantic spells fall. Some casters may excel in one area over the others.

by hcraven

The current model of classifying necromantic spells is imperfect, as there is often overlap and debate in this area, and some spells can arguably be categorized into one or more subcategories.
Generally, these can be broadly identified as follows:

Communing = talking to the dead

Siphoning = absorbing power from someone

Death spells = offensive spells that cause harm or reduce vitality

Communing

The most basic and least destructive form of necromancy is communciation with the spirits of the dead. This is key for all necromancers but is also practiced more widely.
Some people argue whether or not simple communication with the spirit realm should be classified as necromancy, as there is a spiritual aspect to it as well, and it is a major aspect of ancestral magic.

Practical applications:

Information gathering

Pulling power from the spirit realm, or Na'arin's Realm

Summoning, commanding, or binding wraiths & other spirits

Animating golems (typically requires cooperation of the spirits)

Reanimating corpses (illegal)

Siphoning

Siphoning spells are designed to drain energy from a target, generally, to boost the magic or life energy of the necromancer. This can involve siphoning small amounts or entirely.
The Lifestone Ritual involves the siphoning of a creature's or person's life energy and magic energy into a lifestone which will store that power for later use.

Death

This includes a wide range of offensive spells, not all of which result immediately or directly in death. These spells do tend to target a creature's life energy and/or cause great harm to vitality, but can also include physical attacks like necromantic decay.
This can also include spells that reduce/harm a witch's ability to use or access their magic.

Classification

Sacrificial

Related Deity

Na'arin, Necromancer God of the Underworld

Related Reading

The Fight for a Necromancer Nation

A Necromancer's Rite of Passage

I visit the necropolis as often as I can. It restores the magic.

— Low-level necromancer

Major Product

Laws and Attitudes in various countries

Be not tempted by the false promises of necromancy nor blood magic. It is a terrible power that will corrupt even the gentlest and purest of souls.

— Divine Teachings of Torva, Goddess of Light

Cultural attitudes surrounding necromancy vary greatly in each country of Imbria, as do the laws vary from one nation to the next.

All forms of necromancy are strictly outlawed in Salaris and Torverath. This includes even communing with spirits of the dead and the use of Lifestones in spellcasting. These countries believe necromancy to be a corrupting magic that leads people away from Torva's guiding light, and they seek to stamp out all forms of it.
Other countries allow some aspects, though not all, while others have only some limitations on the practice.

Necros

Necros is the only country in Wennovi where necromancy is not only legal but celebrated and prefered. Communication with spirits is revered, and the energy released upon death is a valued resource.
Necromancy practice and teachings are overseen by the Temple of Na'arin and the royal Office of Necromancy, and powerful necromancers enjoy positions of influence and power.

Eldahi

The Eldahi practice ancestral magic, wherein they draw magic from their ancestral lands and the spirit plane. Communing with their ancestors is extremely important to them. Additionally, the Eldahi practice collective magic, which relies on consensual siphoning of power.
Torvae monks have decried these practices as necromancy, despite the Eldahi protesting the classification.

Rhovan and Mantalos

Neither Rhovan nor Mantalos specifically outlaw absolutely all forms of necromancy. In fact, Rhovan has very few laws regulating magic use, apart from prohibition of murder and bodily harm against others.
However, in these countries, necromancy is not deemed socially acceptable, and there is very little interest, apart from the few Dabblers that may exist.

Perception versus Reality

Many people cringe away from even the thought of necromancy, a word which conjurs images of rotten corpses, death, and putrification. Some associate it with corruption and evil, unwilling to consider what responsible necromancy might look like.
Others refuse to even consider the merit of such magic.

How Necros hasn't collapsed by now is beyond me. Maybe necromancy isn't as powerful as we thought.

— Salarian

While necromancy is celebrated in Necros, there are strict rules governing the expression of the magic. These laws aim to protect against crimes, and they even determine when and how remains can be used. The Temple of Na'arin conducts ceremonies for collecting ingredients, as Necros greatly honors their dead, and desecration of a burial site in Necros is a high crime.

Perception	Reality
Lawlessness & anarchy	Strict laws governing use of necromancy
Unsafe society where only the strongest magic-users survive	Again, strict laws and understanding a society & economy require all types of people
High crime rates and magic addiction numbers	Similar (and sometimes lower) rates as other nations
Rampant human sacrifice	Only legally conducted when approved by the Temple of Na'arin and as execution - see Lifestone Ritual
All nomas and low-level witches living in constant fear Society would fear and hate necromancers and never embrace their god	Most Necrosi are proud of their country's necromancers. Necrosi necromancers are highly revered, and nomas attend Temple worship and participate in coming of age rites and pilgrimages to the Underground Necropolis - see Into the Necropolis
Reanimated corpses roaming around and desecrated remains	As per the teachings of Na'arin, Necros honors its dead and the spirits of Na'arin's Realm. Reanimation and desecration are high crimes.
Contacting spirits is dangerous and corrupts. It is a gateway to more nefarious necromancy	Communing with those in Na'arin's realm or with the Eldahi Ancestors, for most, is a religious experience. More intense forms of necromancy are nearly unheard of in Eldahi, despite frequent communing with the spirits.

While crimes do happen and people do terrible things, the countries that permit some necromancy do still have laws and do still seek to maintain a safe and functioning society. Necromancers who break these laws, who go too far in their pursuit of magic expression and/or power, are investigated and prosecuted when caught.