Roleplaying Necromancy

[Niq]

So here's my problem, i have an Orismer, who specialises in 2H and HA with the backup of block, the problem arises because i envision him being an honourable warrior, but i am very interested in him evolving into a "death/dread" knight.

I do not want him to be evil with it though, that is just his battle field persona and off of the battle field he is still an honourable Orc who upholds the teachings of Malacath. i have already thought a little of his back story and he has served in the legions, so prehaps he could of had a mentor in Conjuration.

I guess the question is - is it possible to roleplay a Necromancer who is'nt evil?

 

[DrunkenMage]

Good and evil are points of view, you can be a Necromancer and it doesn't make you evil. You're not planning world domination? Steal the souls of all innocents and sell them to Soul Cairn? Feast on those you can't reanimate to gain their power?

Many would of called Tiber Septim an evil Warlord bent on world domination, conquering those who did not submit to his will. Yet now they call him a Hero God and worship him, even have a rebellion in his name.

Necromancy is 'legal' in Skyrim, it is a tool and tools are meant to be used. It isn't a banned art since the Mages Guild disbanded, though probably not something to boast about.

 

[Niq]

Thanks DrunkenMage, i see your points.

What i was also trying to get at - Necromancy is not seen as honourable to all warriors, i would guess. but my char is first and foremost a Heavy Armored imperial Orc tank, who will occasionally use Necromancy to raise the dead he has just slaughtered to fight for his cause, but i know Necromancy is frowned upon by the vast majority...

I am going to have to come up with a little more backstory to get this around my conscience!

Doeas ANYONE play a Necromancer who is not evil? or considered "honourable" ?

 

[Jaeger]

Your little girl died in an accident. An honorable Orc comes by and raises her. A couple minutes later she turns to dust. What say you, grieving father? Break out the dust buster and put her ashes into an urn?

And how is necromancy legal in Skyrim? Not according to the conjuration expert at Winterhold.

 

[DrunkenMage]

Your little girl died in an accident. An honorable Orc comes by and raises her. A couple minutes later she turns to dust. What say you, grieving father? Break out the dust buster and put her ashes into an urn?

And how is necromancy legal in Skyrim? Not according to the conjuration expert at Winterhold.

He says it isn't banned, he supports Necromancy. It was banned by the Mages Guild which has ceased to exist since early in the Fourth Era. The Synod and College of Whispers have taken their place. The ban no longer exists, it isn't liked very much but technically it is legal. The College of Whispers supports Necromancy and Conjuration, the Synod doesn't.

It was never really illegal, only in Morrowind was it illegal by law. The Mages Guild simply banned the practice within their numbers and excommunicates anyone who openly practiced it.

'In Cyrodiil, a few Necromancers who have served the Empire are given the corpses of criminals and traitors to use legally.'

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Corpse_Preparation (This is a book within Morrowind only, interesting read still)

Here is a Necromancy page, don't know what it means but interesting none the less, seen in Oblivion.

 

[Niq]

Your little girl died in an accident. An honorable Orc comes by and raises her. A couple minutes later she turns to dust. What say you, grieving father? Break out the dust buster and put her ashes into an urn?.

- Sorry i thought i did mention -

my char is first and foremost a Heavy Armored imperial Orc tank, who will occasionally use Necromancy to raise the dead he has just slaughtered to fight for his cause

- So therefore i wont be raising any little Zombie girls... My Charecter will know the limitations of Necromancy and will use it as a weapon, not to console the bereaved.

He says it isn't banned, he supports Necromancy. It was banned by the Mages Guild which has ceased to exist since early in the Fourth Era. The Synod and College of Whispers have taken their place. The ban no longer exists, it isn't liked very much but technically it is legal. The College of Whispers supports Necromancy and Conjuration, the Synod doesn't.

- So it isnt illegal... just a grey area... i can work with that! thanks.

 

[DrunkenMage]

- Sorry i thought i did mention -

- So therefore i wont be raising any little Zombie girls... My Charecter will know the limitations of Necromancy and will use it as a weapon, not to console the bereaved.



- So it isnt illegal... just a grey area... i can work with that! thanks.

Read up again, it's only illegal in Morrowind. No grey area, by Imperial law it's acceptable since it deals with mainly the dead, not the living. Necromancy is a kind of science, the Empire gives bodies if you served in them well.

 

[Niq]

Read up again, it's only illegal in Morrowind. No grey area, by Imperial law it's acceptable since it deals with mainly the dead, not the living. Necromancy is a kind of science, the Empire gives bodies if you served in them well.

Thanks DrunkenMage, i am glad its legal, seems i am hoping for my Orc to be a law abiding legionnaire.
I was talking more from a moral standing when i said grey area.

 

[DrunkenMage]

Thanks DrunkenMage, i am glad its legal, seems i am hoping for my Orc to be a law abiding legionnaire.
I was talking more from a moral standing when i said grey area.

Well if you ever wanted to make a Necromancer, you got some good back notes.

Moral standing I suppose you can simply reason, you only use it on those who try to kill you or even ones that don't fight fair or cower. Being an Orc you would hate weakness shown by your foe, so in a sense they are unworthy of a 'Good death' as the Orcs go by. So if you honor those who fought with courage and strength and despise those with weakness, technically by Orc customs that is honorable.

 

[Niq]

Well if you ever wanted to make a Necromancer, you got some good back notes.

Moral standing I suppose you can simply reason, you only use it on those who try to kill you or even ones that don't fight fair or cower. Being an Orc you would hate weakness shown by your foe, so in a sense they are unworthy of a 'Good death' as the Orcs go by. So if you honor those who fought with courage and strength and despise those with weakness, technically by Orc customs that is honorable.

Thanks, i think you've nailed it. I'm going to use that justification, i think you're spot on the Septims Lore Wise too.

 

[The Wanderer]

When i Rolled a Necromancer, He was i guess balanced... If you consider re animating fallen friends and foes to fight by your side evil then conjuration may not be for you. I used to keep a bunch of thralls lying around when i wanted to change up ha. Good luck to you. I wouldn't Consider Simple Necromancy evil, Just maybe don't go around conjuring up Dremora Lords and such.

 

[Niq]

Yea thats the angle i am going with. My Orc is a proud and honourable warrior he is only going use his "gift" to resurrect fallen enemies that he does not consider worthy of a good death, ie ones that do not fight fairly or are cowards. If i ever came up against someone that could challange his skills, they will be left alone out of respect after their eventual death.

On the Dremora lord front, i am also questioning whether or not that would be classed as evil, as i could put a divine intervention spin on them... as in the great lord Malacath sends his aid in his champions time of need....

 

[Alissa DeWitt]

Anita Blake is a 'good' necromancer. So yes, it's possible. It's just how you play it.

 

[Daelon DuLac]

Thanks DrunkenMage, i see your points.

What i was also trying to get at - Necromancy is not seen as honourable to all warriors, i would guess. but my char is first and foremost a Heavy Armored imperial Orc tank, who will occasionally use Necromancy to raise the dead he has just slaughtered to fight for his cause, but i know Necromancy is frowned upon by the vast majority...

I am going to have to come up with a little more backstory to get this around my conscience!

Doeas ANYONE play a Necromancer who is not evil? or considered "honourable" ?

While not strictly a Necromancer, I do consider myself an honorable warrior as do you (don't steal or kill the innocent, but woe to the evil or to anyone that attacks me). I often use scrolls and a couple of raise the dead spells when in battle just to even the odds.

I think of Necromancy as a tool. It is actually rather useful against Necromancers themselves. Raising their own dead to fight for me seems to really freak them out. Of course it's only a game so I'm probably reading too much in to it...

 

[Niq]

Anita Blake is a 'good' necromancer. So yes, it's possible. It's just how you play it.

I have actually read that series, it is quite good.

 

[DrunkenMage]

While not strictly a Necromancer, I do consider myself an honorable warrior as do you (don't steal or kill the innocent, but woe to the evil or to anyone that attacks me). I often use scrolls and a couple of raise the dead spells when in battle just to even the odds.

I think of Necromancy as a tool. It is actually rather useful against Necromancers themselves. Raising their own dead to fight for me seems to really freak them out. Of course it's only a game so I'm probably reading too much in to it...

Oh my Necromancer isn't exactly honorable. I steal people's souls and eat those I can't raise with dead thrall, when going into battle I go with an undead army that is highly destructive, from the use of the ritual stone and aetherial crown. Giants, draugr, bandits, hunters, necromancers/other mages, vampires, stormcloaks, imperials, bears, wolves, saber cats, spiders. I then cast call to arms and rally, which with the master of the mind perk works on undead, this with fortify illusion potions, necromage from restoration and being a Vampire Lord makes your undead army deadly effective. None can oppose your army, not even dragons. With the added bonus of Necromage, being a Vampire and fortify illusion potion, your force gets a huge benefit from the illusion spells.

 

[Niq]

Oh my Necromancer isn't exactly honorable. I steal people's souls and eat those I can't raise with dead thrall, when going into battle I go with an undead army that is highly destructive, from the use of the ritual stone and aetherial crown. Giants, draugr, bandits, hunters, necromancers/other mages, vampires, stormcloaks, imperials, bears, wolves, saber cats, spiders. I then cast call to arms and rally, which with the master of the mind perk works on undead, this with fortify illusion potions, necromage from restoration and being a Vampire Lord makes your undead army deadly effective. None can oppose your army, not even dragons. With the added bonus of Necromage, being a Vampire and fortify illusion potion, your force gets a huge benefit from the illusion spells.

- I dont want to be running into you on a dark night then... not for a couple more levels any ways

Aswell as raising the dead of the my fallen enemies that i did not see worthy of a good death, i am also toying with the idea of the Bound Battle axe as i am an orc Berserker who uses two handed as my main damage output.

My question is, how do you write in this ability into a backstory?

 

[DrunkenMage]

- I dont want to be running into you on a dark night then... not for a couple more levels any ways

Aswell as raising the dead of the my fallen enemies that i did not see worthy of a good death, i am also toying with the idea of the Bound Battle axe as i am an orc Berserker who uses two handed as my main damage output.

My question is, how do you write in this ability into a backstory?

Doesn't matter too much on level, having an army of say ten, with the added bonus of the illusion, the master level spell granting them 25 points in health, one handed, two handed, marksman and stamina for 10 minutes. Then you add in illusion spells are 100% stronger or even higher, with the bonus from Necromage and being a Vampire and using a 50% stronger illusion spells potion (You can even find 100% illusion strength potions in loot) Then you add in rally and courage, since it stacks, you can triple the bonus health of your army.


Hm, Orcs are very proud smiths so they tend to make their weapons... I suppose you could say he was an Orc shaman or something? You can make up whatever you want, it becomes grey area when dealing with honor by the sword and using magic as your weapon.

 

[Niq]

Hm, Orcs are very proud smiths so they tend to make their weapons... I suppose you could say he was an Orc shaman or something? You can make up whatever you want, it becomes grey area when dealing with honor by the sword and using magic as your weapon.

Yea you're right, i'll stick with the huge Hammer! plus he will be smithing his own Orcish armour

 

[Psiberzerker]

The trick from a role-playing perspective is to create an Alternate Morality (I reject your Morality, and substitute my own!) in which things like Cannibalism, and Necromancy are not unethical, and may be seen as an honor. Malakath is a Daedric prince, essentually a Devil just like Mehrunes Dagon, and Boethea, but patron of the Outcast, and Betrayed. Vengance would probably be all right in His book, so one way to lampshade it is by retconning that certain people, and factions are outside this Morality. It's the Elves' fault, they cast us out, hunted us, and turned the other peoples against us, so they don't deserve mercy.

HE also respects Strength, and expects his followers/Heralds to live by this concept. This is Honor in Orismer society, just as the Catholics decry Suicide as Sin, while the Shinto codify it into the society including the situations where it is Mandatory to save face, and maintain the honor of the ancestors.

In some cultures, Cannibalism may be an Honor, reserved for kinsmen so they can live on in some way with their progeny, and also honored Enemies to take some of their strength. Likewise, Necromancy (In a fantasy setting) may locally be seen as an Honor reserved for the high class (Possibly a holdover from before the Orismer split from the Aldmer?) to make them immortal. Of course, if you have the ability, body, and need for some spare hands, the lesser temporary resurrection can also be useful, but such a society would differentiate between mindless Zombies, and the High Revenants who can think, interact, and even rule, indefinitely.

Necromancy is not generally associated with Malakath, nor Orisinium, however, which can be explained by being from a splinter faction, or sub-sect of Orcs, or mixed race believers. Perhaps you're from Vvardenfeld, or High Rock (Both places with some Orcish immigrants, but a whole lot of Necromancy.) Something like an Arkay Death Cult, once led by a powerful Necromancer, Lich King, or Master Vampire. Everyone else might consider you Evil (If they ever heard of you, did I mention it's probably a Secret Society?) but you were raised on this, as well as all the Rationales, and secondhand delusions from the charismatic leader.