Necrology - Arcana
Awaken zombie
The caster awakens up to magic level corpses within a radius of 10 meters. The zombies follow his command and stay alive for up to Power minutes.
One of the darkest forms of magic is necrology, the revival and alteration of dead beings. The spells of necrology range from reviving the dead to communicating with the dead. The necrologists who practice this type of magic are outlawed in large parts of Tirakan, although there are certain regions where necrology is at least partially tolerated. In Toran, for example, there has been the Necrolarium for many centuries, according to tradition the only necrological academy.
Origins of necrology
The origins of necrology lie in the phenomenon of death. Even in early, pre-shamanistic cultures, death was one of the main causes for the emergence of religion and magic. Since ancient times, this mystery has motivated and continues to motivate not only renowned necrologists, but also shamans, necromancers and, above all, black magicians. In shamanism, which knows no separation between black and white magic, all things are considered to be alive, including dead things. The necromancers can also communicate with the signatures of already deceased beings, which are popularly called spirits. The main difference, however, is that the other traditions, unlike necrology, respect spirits and especially death and do not want to manipulate them. It is the difference between asking and demanding that characterizes the different sides of this medallion.
Many people think that necrology is only about summoning the dead, shaping the undead, ghouls or even vampires. But this is only a means to an end. The real goal of necrology is the victory over death itself. A necrologist does not resign himself to the span he is given and there are already some secret techniques, i.e. rituals, which can extend this span, not to infinity, but at least to a long time. The known creations of necrology are therefore more for study purposes, even if they can be used practically as servants or will-less warriors. The "Great Work" of the only academy of necrology already mentioned, the Necrolarium, bears witness to this actual motivation. A well-known motto of necrology is "Death, oh living being, be forbidden to you!". For this reason, there are not only sinister fellows among the necrologists, but also some Magii who pursue this discipline for thoroughly humanistic reasons, even if they have their own ideas of morality and ethics.
Religious assessment of necrology
Priests of the Thzularn in particular are very divided when it comes to necrology. For some it is a discipline related to them, for others it is sacrilege, but this is more due to the fact that they consider the necrologists to be unwanted competition, as the dark priests would like to retain their monopoly over the dead and their influence. However, the servants of the "good" Titans and Gods are often extremely hostile to necrology, and apart from the government of Toran, which is a regional phenomenon, most churches work hand in hand to eradicate necrology. However, this endeavor is viewed with a weary smile by the Necrology, for as a well-known graduate and magister of the Necrolarium wrote, "Whoever wants to eradicate Necrology must first eradicate death. And so only necrology can triumph over itself.".
Legal situation of necrology
Necrology is illegal in all countries other than Toran. Those guilty of necrology can expect severe punishments. Necrologists are buried alive in Al Bah JiRa, drowned in Yavon, beheaded in Asgoran and crucified on a tree in Hadewald. In Meridian, this offense is punishable by life imprisonment with stricter conditions. In the earlier Yadosia, the death penalty was also pronounced, but there is no evidence for the later Yadosia of the Dark Ages as to whether prosecution takes place at all in cases of proven necrology. In all cases, a church ban is issued, even by the Thzularn priesthood.
Spells
Necrology - Blood
Path of bones
The caster decays to fine dust and can travel at 10 kilometers / hour in this form. Maximum he can keep in this form Power hours.
The caster has magic level wounds in this form, but can only be wounded by things that can harm a pile of bones.
Necrology - Blood
Dead signpost
If a corpse (animal corpses also count, as long as they are at least the size of a mouse) is buried in the ground within a Power*10 meter radius, the caster is allowed to ask magic level directional questions: "Which way is Meridian?" "The last rider to pass this ground, where did he ride?"
Necrology - Blood
Dead gaze
The caster places his thumb and forefinger in the eyes of the dead person and closes his eyes.
The caster looks backward from the time of death into the dead person's past. In doing so, he sees everything that the dead person saw out of his eyes. The images appear more blurred the further the gaze goes into the dead person's past. The caster sees at most the last Power days before death. The higher the magic level, the clearer the impressions.
Necrology - Blood
Creature of the Dead
The caster creates an undead hybrid being from different skeletons. The creature is capable of performing uncontrolled actions. It can wield weapons with a skill value of __Power*__2. The creature gains all the ability of the former creatures.
The creature remains magic level*2 combat rounds.
Necrology - Blood
Death sword
The caster creates a death sword out of thin air. The sword has piercing 1 and a damage potential of magic level dice in melee combat.
Each wound caused, the sword absorbs. For each wound absorbed, the sword gets one die of damage potential. If the absorbed wounds reach Power+1, the sword disintegrates and the spell ends.
Necrology - Blood
Death Scream
The caster lets out a cruel death cry, which makes all those present within a radius of 10 meters, who did not cover their ears, become incapacitated for magic level combat rounds.
Each victim makes a roll on his willPower. If it does not succeed according to the Power of the spell, the victim flees in panic.
Necrology - Blood
Dance of Death
Within power*3 meters of the caster, all dead rise from the ground, and are under the control of the caster. The dead are able to perform uncontrolled actions and remain alive for magic level hours.
Necrology - Blood
Summon skeletons
Power Skeletons rise from the ground, armed with bone swords (penetration 0). They can fight with the caster's skill. They have magic level possible wounds and stay for Power*3 combat rounds.
Necrology - Blood
Torment of the bones
The victim suffers incredible pain, believing his bones would burst.
If the victim fails a Willpower roll, the effect causes the victim to collapse on the ground, unable to act, for Power combat rounds. The minimum roll for this throw is increased by magic level.
Necrology - Blood
Breath of transience
All living plants within Power*3 meters perish under the caster's breath and weather into a dead, black mass. This also affects magically created plants.
Necrology - Blood
Bone whip
A bone whip about 3 meters long forms from the caster's arm, which can be wielded by the caster as a weapon. The range of the whip is 3 meters, it has a penetration of 0 and a damage potential of magic level dice.
The whip lasts up to Power*3 combat rounds.
Necrology - Blood
The wrath of bones
The caster throws bone splinters at enemies, summoning the wrath of the bones. The splinters deal Power+1 hits to all enemies in the cone, evenly distributed among magic level opponents.
Necrology - Mind
Secrets of the Dead
The caster kneels over a corpse or skeleton and begins to slowly cut it apart.
The caster learns a part of the dead person's knowledge with each piece he cuts. At the end of the ritual he has an impression of all the memories of the dead person. The process is an ordeal in the realm of the dead for the soul of the dead. The necrologist receives +magic level in the attribute corresponding to the highest of the dead for power hours.
Necrology - Mind
Bone shield
The necrologist throws a bone splinter to the ground and shouts "Protect me!".
Pieces of bone shoot out of the ground and surround the necrologist. Practically, they are equivalent to a protection of magic level+2 on the whole body. The bone shield is equivalent to a encumbrance of 2.
The bone shield lasts power combat rounds.
Necrology - Mind
Bone growth
The caster must kneel in the centre of the area to be enchanted and drill a bone splinter into the ground.
The caster creates an unnatural growth of bone that grows to full size within 25 minutes. Within a radius of max. power steps, a large growth of bones is created. The necrologist can climb walls with the help of the bone growth, or make it break open gaps in doors. The bone growth remains for magic level hours, after which it disintegrates into dust. The caster only gives the growth an approximate direction, he cannot control it.