Lesson: The White Necromancer

[Ophelia Harrington]

The White Necromancer

Written by Tesarik One

The Cycle of Life

Although many necromancers are foul, twisted individuals obsessed with evil and death, a few embrace the knowledge that true necromancy involves manipulating the powers of life as well as death and undeath. These enlightened few are known as white necromancers. A white necromancer is an arcane spellcaster who studies the mysterious connection between life and death and focuses on life. You cannot be evil inclined to walk this path.

A white necromancer does not walk the paths of evil as dark necromancers do (white necromancers refer to evil necromancers as "dark" necromancy). Instead, they honor the dead and seek to aid allies with their power as well as his own. They have a deeply profound understanding of life’s eternal cycle, which also makes them potent healers in addition to being a powerful spellcaster. They often use their power over undead to destroy them. 

White necromancy primarily deals with life aspect, grey necromancy deals with death, and dark necromancy deals with undeath. Grey necromancers focus on necromancy that kills their targets, it is dark necromancers that focus on bringing the dead to unlife again. 

ASSIGNMENT ONE : Necromancy traditionally is all about death and undeath, but a white necromancer sees it differently, as a cycle. Explain in your own words why something that deals with death can also be about life, and healing? 

Using Evil Necromancy

White necromancers are extremely reluctant to cast evil necromancy spells, and spells with the evil type altogether. But they are not strictly forbidden from doing so, however, and may occasionally cast such spells if they feel the need is sufficiently justified. When a white necromancer casts an evil necromancy spell, it takes twice as much energy for them to cast and is very wearing on them emotionally and physically

ASSIGNMENT TWO : Think of some traditionally evil necromancy spells, and why a white necromancer might find the need to cast them. Describe three evil necromancy spells and give the justification that a white necromancer might have to use them just as they are, without changing them in any way.

White Necromancer's Abilities

As with any type of mage, they have certain abilities that assist them in their life as a spellcaster. They learn very early to cast spells without any need of materials, and they are careful and studious studies of the subjects of death, burial practices, the undead, and the afterlife. They also learn a great deal about healing. A white necromancer knows a little about all of these subjects but often choose one to truly excel in knowledge. White necromancers also have the ability in many cases to resurrect the dead through use of healing and positive energy manipulation. Like a priest, they are able to turn undead back to dead bodies. 

Here are a few other abilities:

Life Bond : A white necromancer may create a bond between himself and another living creature. This power has a range of 90 feet. Multiple bonds may be formed, depending on the power of the mage. When a bonded creature takes damage, the white necromancer instantly heals them, but they take the damage upon themselves.

Life Sight : A white necromancer gains blindsight that allows them to detect only living creatures and undead creatures. The sight also tells him whether a creature is living or undead. Constructs and other creatures that are neither living nor undead cannot be seen with this ability.

ASSIGNMENT THREE : In OH, white necromancers do not automatically gain these skills. They must be written as spells, per our OH rules, or taken from the current skill list. Looking through our offered skills, choose three skills that would fit for a white necromancer to take in our world.

Creating Undead

When white necromancers create undead, they do not arise as evil. Mindless undead are neutrally aligned, while intelligent undead match the alignment of the white necromancer. 

They do not gain a specific "control" over the undead, but they may ask the undead to provide some service or otherwise assist the white necromancer. Diplomacy can be used if needed, with mindless undead needing very little to get them to do tasks and intelligent friendly undead more difficult to convince. The white necromancer must treat the undead with honor and respect at all times, and in many cases agree to release the undead once the service is completed. Intelligent undead may agree to follow the white necromancer for prolonged periods of time, although it will expect to be treated as an honored and respected companion, perhaps even making requests of its own at times.

ASSIGNMENT FOUR : What are some things that an intelligent undead companion could do for a white necromancer? What about mindless neutral undead? How are some ways that a white necromancer could show respect and honor to an undead companion?

Spells of the White Necromancer

A white necromancer has a bevy of spells that he can choose from, but here are several that most white necromancers have in their spellbooks.

Voice of the Grave: A middle-leveled white necromancer can speak with the dead. (Effect)

Grasp of the Dead: A higher level white necromancer can summon a swarm of skeletal arms to burst from the ground to rip and tear at his foes. (AoE Hold or Dual - Dmg/Hold)

Ghost Walk: A higher level white necromancer can become incorporeal and invisible. (Evade, Effect)

Positive Energy Ray: Instead of a negative energy ray, a white necromancer will use positive energy. (Attack Undead, Healing)

Bone Swarm: A mass of animated bones appears and attacks foes as directed, dealing damage. Each round you could direct them to a new target. (Attack through Combat)

Dance of the Dead: You imbue normal humanoid remains with temporary mobility and a bit of your life essence. Each animated skeleton or corpse attacks the target or performs simple tasks. (Summon)

Wall of Bones: This spell creates a solid wall of interlocking, strong bones, in any orientation as long as it is anchored somewhere. It can be used as a defense for you, and for your companions. (Defense or Defense AoE)

ASSIGNMENT FIVE : Pick three of the following necromancy spells and tell me how a white necromancer would change these to be of use to him. Feel free to write them according to our OH spell writing rules. For example, "Vampiric Touch" could be turned into "Healing Touch" and the white necromancer could use that spell to draw the wounds out of a target into himself, and then heal it.

Cause Fear

Contagion 

Command Undead

Protection from Good

Curse Water

Inflict Wounds

Circle of Death

Create Undead