Necromancer
A mage who specializes in animating the remains of the dead through the use of magic. Contrary to common belief, Necromancers can raise the corpses of both those of the mortal races and animals. The resulting Undead creature will do the mage's bidding without question if they have a mock soul, though those with their own soul still intact may refuse to serve the Necromancer.
Career
Qualifications
Study the basics of this school of magic, memorize the spell to summon a low-level Undead like a Will-O-Wisp, and summon it for the first time.
Career Progression
Necromancers usually attain status amongst their own through the amount of Undead that they can command at one time: this is a way to tell how skilled the mage is. The bigger a Necromancer's horde, the more they are to be feared and respected.
Other Benefits
Eventually cheating death... at a price.
Perception
Purpose
In the context of civilian life, Necromancers often give magic researchers insight about the end of one's life. This is especially true for the Necromancers who have already turned into Liches upon their death. It's also not uncommon to see them do work on the side as undertakers to earn money for their living expenses. Some also do exorcist work, and offer insight on matters relating Undead in the wilderness.
In context of militairy, the Necromancer often bolsters the numbers of the army by raising the enemy's dead and reanimating the corpses of their allies.
Social Status
The occupation of Necromancer is sometimes frowned upon, as they are surrounded by death for most of their day.
History
Necromancy used to be illegal, as it was often used for unsavory business like ruling over a certain area or terrorizing innocent people. However, it gradually saw common use for good causes, like allowing families who couldn't reach their relative in time to say goodbye to do so after the relative's death. These forms became legalized after a few years.
Operations
Tools
Staves are the most common weapons, though Necromancers can also use maces, shortswords, and rapiers. Though a good number of them prefer a darker appearance, this is not by any means mandatory. A Necromancer with a full pastel-shaded wardrobe is not out of the question.
Materials
A Necromancer commonly wears necklaces, rings, or other jewellery made from bones (human or animal). This helps them channel their variation of magic better.
They commonly carry books containing all Necromancy spells known to man: Expect to see three books. There are four parts of the series in total, but the manuscript for fourth part was long-lost. A Necromancer also carries embalming tools, and a sewing kit in case an Undead loses an important limb. Writing supplies are amongst the absolute basics: many make noteson their books, but they also carry it take notes on their own findings should they make an important breakthrough.
Workplace
Most Necromancers practice their craft in cold, dimly-lit places to preserve their supply of corpses as long as possible without embalming it. Basements, morgues, and caves are amongst their all-time favorites. They often light their place of work with candles, as magic-powered lights are too powerful and may speed up the decomposition process.
Provided Services
A person can visit a Necromancer in order to ask them to temporarily animate the remains of a lost family member so the person can say goodbye. They also translate for the Undead if they try and convey a message to the living: the Common Undead language sounds like deathly groans to anyone but a Necromancer. The mage often provides undertaker and gravedigger services, and can act as a middleman for those professions.
Necromancers who take ethics lightly may also offer services to those who want to get rid of a body with no questions asked.
Dangers & Hazards
In many spells, the Necromancer can get attacked by the Undead they are trying to raise of they cast it wrong. Negotiating with Vampires can also massively backfire on them, which is required as a Necromancer can never fully control a Vampire.
Alternative Names
Deathmonger (derogatory)
Type
Arcane
Demand
In magical research fields, the insight of a Necromancer is often sought in situations like a large group of roving Undead. They are also called upon in situations where the death of important figures or mass death are a risk.
Legality
The uses of Necromancy that don't involve crimes in the vein of murder and grave robbery to aqcuire fresh bodies are legal. Most countries provide the Necromancers with the bodies of those sentenced to death from time to time, though these mostly are in a bad state. This leaves a lot of Necromancers who want to stay reasonably ethical to plunder unmarked graves in the wilderness.
Other Associated professions
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments