Necromancy

Opposing school - White Magic

Feign death.

The mage can cast this necromantic spell in order to make a living person appear to be dead. To anyone examining the ‘body’ it will seem like an ordinary dead body, this spell works on all sorts of races but the subject of the spell must be either willing or incapacitated and unable to resist.  The only way to detect that there is magic at work is by casting a detect magic spell or possessing an object which allows you to detect magic.

Material component- Necromantic symbols and glyphs. (Minor spell)

The mage must spend at least five minutes performing this spell using necromantic devices, symbols and components. The spell lasts for and hour or until dispelled.

Hold undead.

The Mage casts this spell in order to halt undead and hold them in place. This spell works on all undead dependent upon the skill of the mage. Unlike the cleric spell of the same nature the mage must concentrate on the undead and not perform any other actions whilst the spell is active otherwise the magic is broken and the undead being held will walk free. The mage may try to hold more than one undead at a time but they may or may not succeed depending on the type of undead and the mages efforts. The spell takes moments to cast and is performed with verbal and material components of the mages choice.

Material component- A focus (Wizards staff for example) (Minor spell for lesser undead Major for Greater Undead)

(in order for the spell to work you must make it clear to the undead who you are trying to hold via in character communication (verbal/body language/gestures/use of a material component etc) and holding the focus up high in both hands. The undead will react accordingly for instance several zombies or one skeletal lord may be held by one mage where as another may only be able to hold one zombie and not able to hold a skeletal lord at all, the result depends on the effort made by the player, the circumstances of the encounter and the reaction of the crew)

Vampiric touch

The mage must touch the other person in order to steal some of their life force draining it from the opponent to themselves, healing the mage of 1 point of damage or in the case of a fully fit mage an extra hit. You may only have one extra hit at a time and it lasts for one hour or till it is lost in combat.

Material component- Lay on hands (Minor spell)

Laying of the hands upon the target and chanting a litany of verbals ending in  “I take your life force” so that the opponent knows they have taken damage. Only one hit point may be drained but that can make the difference between life and death.

Animate dead

A long ritual must be performed in order to animate dead, the sort and number of undead animated is totally random. The mage must spend at least one hour setting up and performing the ritual how they see fit. The undead will last for perhaps as little as half an hour or even up to a day depending on the ritual, or until slaughtered in battle. The Mage only has control of these undead and the rest of an adventuring party should be wary that the dead may turn at any time. It’s a risky ritual but desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures!

Material component- A rituals, incenses, symbols, etc (Major spell)

To perform the animate dead spell you must inform a ref and they will talk you through anything you need to know, they will also then be able to organise the dead you have animated from the monster crew.

Command Undead

With strong commands a Necromancer can, with luck, command a single undead to do one simple command, such as turn on its fellows or return to the grave.

Material component- Bones (Minor spell)

Material components are crumbled and let fall to the ground in a line in front of the target and the mage must verbalise the spell to their opponent with a loud clap and a gesture to the recipient with a litany of verbals describing their worsening state, While you are speaking to the target the spell is in effect (in order that they can react correctly, for example - You are growing weaker and weaker, your minds purpose is mine to command and you will obey your new master, etc)

Question the damned

With strong commands a Necromancer can, with luck, command a single undead to answer truthfully three questions. The undead must answer truth but often leave out important details if it can.

Material component- Ash (Minor spell)

Material components are crumbled and let fall to the ground in a line in front of the target and the mage must verbalise the spell to their opponent with a loud clap and a gesture to the recipient with a litany of verbals describing their worsening state, While you are speaking to the target the spell is in effect (in order that they can react correctly, for example - Your minds purpose is mine to command and you will answer your new master, etc)

Fuse Bone

The spell is instant and the opponent will be affected as if the bones have fused solidly together making the targeted limb rigid and useless. Can only be removed by dispelling the curse and then powerful healing to restore the limb. With some manipulations this spell can also be employed to make bone weapons.

Material component-Two pieces of clay (Major spell)

Material components are held one in each hand and smashed together and gesturing to the target with the vocals ending  “I Turn your ‘left arm’ to clay“(in order that they can react correctly)  The effected limb must drop what ever it is holding if an arm or drop to the floor if a leg. In either case the limb is useless until healed.

Death’s chill

A spell that sends the spirits of the dead racing through the target and blasting their soul with the cold of death, rendering them momentarily shocked and stunned. Some creatures are affected by this more than others but in all cases; the experience will leave terrible scars on the mind of the target and plague them with terrible dreams and night terrors.

Material component- Bone dust (white powder) (Major spell)

Gesturing at the target and throwing the dust at their feet calling on the dead to rise up with the vocals  ending in “I call Death’s chill to your soul”. The target suffers terrible pain and must drop to their knees in anguish for a slow count of 30, the recipient is then in fear of the caster.

Example of Epic spell rituals can be to raise a small contingent of zombies for a task or to resurrect a fallen comrade back from the lands of the dead.