#finally a post!

It is said that the reason mortals leave their bodies behind when they die is because the realm and powers of Ne’Aht are naturally destructive to the mortal body. Necromancy seems to prove this as true. Necromantic magics relate to death, manipulating dead bodies, inducing rot, causing pain, or drawing the very life out of living things. The very touch of necromantic magics will damage the mortal body if it is not protected properly.

Necromancy is generally split into a few more specific types; corruption magic, blood magic or sanguimancy, and mortumancy (corpse magic). In countries where summoning is less known or not practiced on its own, necromancers generally overlap into necromysticism. It may even become necromancers’ jobs to deal with troublesome spirits. In such places necromysticism is generally categorized as necromancy despite actually being a type of arcane magic. Additionally, since necromancers are already reviled in many areas, it’s not uncommon for them to have fewer qualms about dipping into other forbidden arts, such as demonic magic. This leads to many into incorrectly believing that these are also types of necromancy.

Corruption Magic

Corruption magic is the use of necromancy in its purest state. It is the name applied to any type of spell that causes pain, decay, or any other type of damage or destruction to a body, living or dead. In its simplest form, corruption magic is essentially just infusing something with necromantic magics for the purpose of destroying it. Much more refined spells exist, of course, to cause whatever specific effect the caster desires.

Some necromancers have even gone so far as to develop what are essentially magical diseases. These truly terrifying creations are luckily, hardly able to be self spreading. This practice, is of course, outlawed in all places due to its danger. Some of the most notorious necromancers in history are known for having managed to create such plagues. A few legends even feature Ne’Aht himself stepping in to end the misuse of his granted power.

Sanguimancy

Sanguimancy deals with the manipulation of the life force of living things. It is sometimes incorrectly thought that blood magic drains the very soul of the victim. However this would counteract the very nature of Ne’Aht’s powers, so it is important to remember that it does not effect the soul, but the body.

Sanguimancers can either drain the life force from others into themselves or use their own life force to help power spells. Blood magic is unique in that it is a blend of a type of ancient arcane magic and divine magic. True, ancient, blood magic is much more dangerous than the type tempered by Ne’Aht’s magic. Since the purely arcane version relies only on the life force of the provider it is very easy to overdraw and permanently hurt or kill oneself. Many instances of ancient spells using sanguimancy involved flat out human sacrifice to power spells.

Despite the name blood magic, blood is not always required. Blood is simply the easiest medium to draw a controlled amount of life from something, and therefor the most commonly used method. It is also possible to drain life without a medium, either through physical touch, or even, for very skilled necromancers, from short distances. This is much more difficult though, and it is harder to control the amount drawn. As such, if a sanguimancer is using their own life force to power a spell, blood is almost always used. Too great an overdraw could lead to a meeting with Ne’Aht in person.

Many sanguimancers end up devolving a taste for blood, as the simplest way to steal life from another is to directly drink their blood while using the correct magic. Some even go so far as to keep bottles of it around their residence for convenient access. They attest it will hold the spilt life for a short amount of time.

Mortumancy

Mortumacy may be the most unusual and most well known form of necromancy. When most people think of a necromancer they think of a dark spellcaster surrounded by undead minions. And this indeed is the main function of mortumancy, the creation of flesh and bone constructs made from corpses.

These creations go by various names; constructs, minions, thralls, and others. While they may appear alive, they are simply puppets held together and powered by necromantic magic and moved by the will of the necromancer who made them. They have a rudimentary “intelligence” in that they can remember and follow simple commands. The complexity with which a necromancer can control their constructs depends on their own level of skill and the number they are trying to control at once. If the necromancer is killed, loses consciousness, or otherwise loses contact with their creations they tend to either stop functioning all together or run amok with no orders to follow.

Constructs can either be built of both flesh and bone or bare bone by itself. Necromancers also may use other materials to help hold them together if they wish them to last longer. Though all constructs eventually break apart and cease to function due to the corrosive nature of necromantic magic. They generally last anywhere from hours to days depending on skill level. Spells to create constructs only work on dead bodies (hence corpse magic) though the body may be either human or animal.

Constructs can be made into practically any shape, as long as it will hold together. It is limited only by the imagination and knowledge of the necromancer. The magic used to construct these creations can even manipulate the very shape of the flesh and bone used to build them to an extent. Most necromancers have a few basic designs they are well practiced in that they can make on the fly if needed; such as when they are in the middle of a battle.

The peak of a mortumancer’s craft is a corpse golem. This is a semi-permanent construct that is usually built larger and more skillfully than normal constructs. It is usually infused with preservation spells to slow any rot and, if maintained properly, can last permanently. Besides the longevity the signature feature of a corpse golem is it’s greater connection with it’s master and greater ability to follow orders.

During construction the maker infuses the golem with a small bit of spiritual energy, a combination of the ambient energy that surrounds everything and a small piece of energy from their own soul. This creates the greater connection. It is important to note that, unless done improperly, this does not harm the necrmancer’s soul. Some people believe this infusion of spirit makes the golem actually intelligent and, in a strange way, alive. There is no proof to support this and most attribute the “intelligence” to a closer connection to their master’s mind.

Acceptance

Acceptance of necromancy varies from county to country or area to area. It is legal in most countries, though often still looked upon suspiciously or outright feared by the general populace. Where it is legal there are often regulations attached. Some countries may require a permit, while others require that one practices outside city limits to prevent the spread of diseases from corpses.

The already dead are sometimes available for legal use or necromancers may be given the bodies of condemned criminals. Other areas only allow practice on animals.

In some countries they use practicing necromancers in the army, such as Vangoth. This is considered terrifying or inhumane to some, but if anything it is certainly effective.

Health Effects

As noted before, necromantic magic both manipulates and degenerates the mortal body. Users of necromancy will inevitably be effected by it over time, becoming subject to strange changes and negative health problems. The speed of the effects is based on the magnitude of the use.

Common changes to the body include: - Changes in hair color - Changes in eye color - The development of claws and/or fangs

There are less than helpful side effects. The most common include:

Short term: - Tiredness from strain on body - Lack of appetite - Pale skin and sunken in appearance - General bad health such as less resistance to illnesses

Long term: - Necrosis, including a specific brand known as Lung Rot - Decline in vision or blindness - Frequent internal bleeding - General worsening health

The graveborn (those brought back from the dead by Ne’Aht) experience all the effects of necromancy, good and bad, much more rapidly. They have a much higher concentration of necromantic magic in their body than any necromancer.