With all the stories I've ever come across, whenever they mention Necromancers, they're usually the evil creepy guy raising the army of zombies and skeletons to conquer the world.
My question is, has there ever been a story (or what not) where necromancers were good? Or at least not seen as evil?
(I don't know cause I haven't read it, and can't ask my b/f as he's in the shower)
This is the Gail Martin series I couldn't think of.
i don't remember the authors name but there is a series in which the main character is a necromancer of sorts, the tittles of the two that i have are the Summoner and Blood King, and their also pretty good.
I don't really think that the practice itself has to carry with it some negative connotation. I would be more concerned with the underlying reason the magic is employed. A horde of raving zombies that saves a village from evil invaders isn't just a good deed, it's also awesome.
You guys are guys are great!
I was totally unaware of these examples but am glad that I wasn't the only one who was intending to use Necromancy as something other than evil.
Who says that army of zombies has to be bad. Perhpas they're just misunderstood! ;D
While the definition of the word is a good start, I think its important to remember there is a wider anthropological scope to the idea of necromancy.
In cognitive emergence, the realization that death is something that awaits us all is a pivotal concept in the path to sentience. Which means its possible, even probable, that most ancient and small-scale societies will have some form of necromancy as a reaction to that realization, so that some form of control, real or imaginary, may be exerted over death.
Navajo religion has a great deal that deals with the cleansing of spirits from homes, using the Ghost Way.
Greek myth has several stories where a hero journeys to Hades to bring someone back.
Chinese ancestor worship provide links between the living and the dead
Voodoo and Sanataria both have heavy necromantic elements to them
If you look at any supernatural religion, you'll find some element of necromancy. I would encourage anyone to look beyond the traditional Western concept, to say nothing of the D&D
Necroscope series: http://www.amazon.com/Necroscope-Brian-Lumley/dp/0812521374
While the series has actual Necromancers that are different from Necroscopes in the methods used, from a high level categorization it's the same thing.
I am currently in the middle of "world building" and was thinking of putting a spin on things by having the necromancers (and their zombies) actually be the good guys for the change.
Thanks all again for the information as you've certainly helped.
I like it. I think intention would probably play a big role too. A necromancer directing zombies to pull children out of a burning orphanage is a lot different than said necromancer directing zombies to terrorize a town.
A couple things you may want to consider: how will society meet necromancers? Are they common or does the average person have no idea they exist. will necromancers ever be met with prejudice? People might automatically assume they're evil (or good) based on their practices.
What kind of zombies will they raise? Do the undead minions retain any memories, skills, or personality from their former life? What about decomposition? Will the bodies degrade or will the magic halt decomposition?
But if they have some kind of will or memory that could make things more complicated. That could be really interesting and raise a lot of moral questions.
Are they limited to humans? It might be cool for said necromancer to ride an undead mount. Maybe made of all bones. There's an interesting fairy tale witch I read about that rode a headless horse. The necromancer could raise all kinds of animals for useful purposes. Can they build their own undead chimera by mixing and matching body parts from dead animals? (Try a google search for the Tupilek, a creature from Native American folklore. Pretty cool, and might offer some inspiration.)
That will come into play actually. As the necromancers have the ability to trap the souls of those who die (and who they kill) this will be dealt with in the world. I would say more but then that is part of the concept and I don't want to give too much of the idea away. But they would be able to "reanimate" their opponents if they wished. They cannot reanimate just anything or anyone. They can only reanimate something with a soul that they have captured.
I hadn't really thought of that as of yet. The only real sentient species on this world are humans who are broken into a bunch of different factions/beliefs/philosophies. I guess the animation of animals and other critters/beasts would actually be a good idea and would certainly add bulk and flavour to their side and their atmosphere. As for constructs, I'm not yet sure. I will take a look at this Tupilek that you suggested. But basically each faction has its own little "spin" to make them unique in that world.
So capturing souls is a requisite? Interesting. That definitely puts a spin on things. Are there willing subjects who pledge their souls to a necromancer after death?
Do the souls have to be recently released from their corporeal state or can souls be coaxed back from the dead years later?
If you did want to use animals/contructs, you could have it fit into your mythology by saying that every (or most) living creatures have a soul. A lot of cultures did believe that animals/plants had a spirit. It should fit into your concept if you wanted to use it.
i don't want this thread to die so i am bumping it.
so for those who do have necromancers (good or bad) what kind of abilities do you give them.