Necromancy is the power over the dead. Often considered evil or at the very least intruders on the sanctity of the dead, necromancers are generally detested wherever they go. Some morbid cultures honor necromancers and accord them an important place in society. A necromantic culture becomes very conservative, as the dead never change their ways.
The prime power of necromancers is the ability to summon and speak with the dead. But through conversations with the departed, they often learn other secrets, giving them a wide range of magical powers. Many necromancers command other spirits as well.
Examples and References
Fantasy Egyptians. Spirit mediums.
Limitations
Echoes
The spirits of the dead constantly haunt the necromancer, and cause minor poltergeist effects or manifest more or less harmlessly. This rarely bothers the necromancer himself, but can certainly spook passers-by. As the necromancer uses his magic and expands his power, these poltergeists get more power and become more substantial. This is why it is wise to deal respectfully with the dead.
Hocus Pocus
Necromancers use bones and mementoes of the dead, speak their names and even emulate their ceremonies in order to invoke their powers. They also often dress in the clothes of bygone eras and use archaic speech.
Common Schticks
- Death
- Divination
Summonables
Mostly spirits of the dead, but from these spirits the necromancer can learn to summon a host of other supernatural creatures.