Necrotic Depression

The particular depression associated with this phenomenon leads to necromancers beginning to not just feel close to death in times of danger, but to feel it at all times. They feel a pull from the grave, as if Reaper is always behind them, pushing them to take drastic measures. Necromancers have a disproportionate suicide rate compared to other mages (even alchemists, who are often lonely and fated to tragedy, or bards, with a propensity towards pursuing their passion at the expense of their futures and families/friends), and this depression is closely tied to that statistic, as the constant feeling of death leads to suicidal thoughts and, often, actions.  

Firas Arthaid and Classification

For a long time, that depression was just considered part of the insanity mages may experience, but recently, some necromancers have been trying to change the official classification to recognize it as something called Necrotic Depression.   The leading figure involved in this is Firas Arthaid, the leading scholar in necromantic theory, who many call "Livor Mortis" due to his Blood Magic.   Arthaid traveled and worked with many necromancers, as well as practicing it himself, and he began noticing how often they would report having depressive and suicidal thoughts. According to his research as of a paper published in 779, titled "Rot of the Heart: Necrotic Depression in Grave Mages"  

"94% of mages practicing necromancy report depressive and suicidal thoughts. This can occur while performing a spell, immediately afterwards, or even hours later when they are resting. It is a cloud that hangs over the heads of necromancers from Evity to Grandstone and everywhere in between.

When interviewing these necromancers, I kept track of any language they used that denoted negative thoughts or intentions. While for some, these were more outward, with speech expressing intent to kill or harm, there were many more who used self-deprecating language, spoke of hopelessness or lack of pleasure, constant guilt or feelings of worthlessness, and difficulty making decisions.

I posit that this is more than a symptom of experiencing death in everyday life, but a phenomenon I call "Necrotic Depression". This depression is not average or ordinary, it persists, and it all stems from one source: necromancy. Therefore, it cannot be treated like other forms of depression, and it must be recognized as separate to be treated correctly.

Noticeably, those who do not experience these thoughts often have other mental effects. Insanity, violent outbursts, or even strange, random fits of joy and laughter have similarly been noted in those who practice necromancy. These symptoms can be found in some who do experience Necrotic Depression, but it is less likely for multiple conflicting conditions to result from the same action. While these conditions require their own studies, this will not delve into them much, and brings them up only to support the claim of Necrotic Depression as a serious and separate issue from other mental conditions and illnesses."

— Firas Arthaid, "Rot of the Heart: Necrotic Depression in Grave Mages"

  Necromancy is still forbidden in many cultures, and even those that don't forbid it outright don't appreciate humanizing and sympathizing with necromancers to the extent that Arthaid does (particularly, the Bortanni influence, as well as stronger Druidic traditions taking hold thanks to the rise of Lorzavur Exikmaan as the new leader of the Draconian villages, has prevented any of them but Evity from acknowledging this condition as anything more than hysteria).   The only organization of any notable reputation to spread Arthaid's word as fact, or at least as something that could be fact, is the Institute of Maya Zaman. Rishi Vasa, the current Chancelor of Ash, insisted that the Assembly of the Disassembled publish Arthaid's paper so the world could know the truth (and so that they could get a leg up on Exikmaan for once, as Exikmaan was an ancient and respected mage while Vasa is still considered something of an upstart).   Even with Vasa's support, this condition still hasn't come close to global recognition as anything more than a joke, equating necromancers with self-harming tendencies. Orcs, who laugh at most mages, have taken to carrying flags into battle that say:

Necromancers up front! We'll kill you like you want!

Dwarves, who look down on all mages, have taken extra steps to ban necromancy more than they already had, citing the villainous Thane Dorbo (a necromancer from the 400s) as an example of the public rejection to necromancy in Dwarven territory. On the Key of Beasts, Crocution rulers who already forbid all magical practices have instead encouraged mages to: "Practice necromancy and just kill yourself so we don't have to deal with you."   An official statement from the Lich Licvan, published by King Quothas Nerifir of Camor (since Licvan lingers in Camor Keep and forces the royal forces to listen to him), says:

"Necromancers want to die? If that was true, why have myself and others devoted our existence to prolonging such a miserable existence? Lichdom is proof that this Arthaid is nothing more than a suicidal fool projecting his own insecurities onto hardworking mages."

— Licvan

 

Symptoms

Necrotic Depression shares many symptoms with other forms of depression, though it is generally more active, as necromancers make use of the forces of the dead with their actions and thus live in the feeling of death and depression at all times.   Symptoms include:

• Extended periods of sadness
• Suicidal thoughts
• Anxiety
• Low self-esteem
• Loss of libido
• Memory loss
• Weight and appetite fluctuation
• Difficulty sleeping
• Necromantic dysfunction
• Emotional disconnect
• Lack of empathy
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Hearing voices

One may not experience all of these, but a combination of these symptoms is classified (by some) as Necrotic Depression when experienced by necromancers.  

Treatment

As of right now, no treatment has been discovered, with many professionals dismissing the idea of even looking into it. Only Firas Arthaid and necromancers in the Institute of Maya Zaman are working towards it, with no hope at the moment.