Treatise on Necromancy
Title: Treatise on Necromancy
Author: Phoenix
It is commonly believed that Necromancy has long been absent from the land. This is not true. Necromancy has merely been lost, in part, over time. This lost art, which deals with the manipulation of life forces, is viewed by many as evil. However, I believe that this is not true. Though Necromany bestows the power to create undead beings, this is only a facet of the art. The spell "Resurrection", to to many mages of ourland, is an example.
Resurrection can be viewed as good, or evil. It depends who it is cast upon. If a foul warrior, who has slain many, is raised, then that would be considered an evil act. On the other hand, the use of the spell could also grant a slain peasant, or noble warrior, life. Who would argue that this is not a benign act?
As in all magic, Necromancy is as evil as its user. However, there are some notable spheres within the art that can not be viewed as good. Notably, the animation of the Dead. Corpses are animated by the parted spirited of the body. If a mage used elemental or telekinetic powers to animate the corpse, the task would require constant concentration on Necromancer. So, to animate the dead, the wizard invokes a spell to call the soul from the underworld, and bind it in its shell. This is believed to be painful to the spirit. So much so, that the animating soul is usually driven insane. This torment can not be considered a good act, by any means. However, some powerful souls may retain both memories of their life, and some form of sanity.
Liches, for example, which are the animated remains of a wizard, are such a case. Even so, the transformation into an undead form usually leaves the wizard unbalanced. Thankfully, the spell used in the transformation to lichehood is lost to time. (It has been rediscovered in several forms over the years, but it has never been taught in recent times. The Liche Lethari and his sister are examples of this.) Of course, an interview with a Liche would aid my research greatly, as this is mostly conjecture. Of course, I can hardly see this happening!
Necromancy is returning to the land. Undead hordes are roaming the land, and the appearance of powerful Liches (known as Liche Lords) add their weight to this. Slowly, the art is being discovered once more, and if this is to be the shield that saves Sosaria, or the sword that destroys it, is up to the practitioners of the art, and is not dependent on the peasantry`s fears.
Anatome
