A History of Magic: The History of Necromancy (D&D)

Contents

Previously: Eddies in Time and Space

While much time has been spent and ink spilled examining the moral and ethical implications of the “dark art,” little has been directed at the questions of its origins or true nature. Most understand necromancy to be exactly what it is named; the study of death and the dead. However, it appears that has not always been the case. While the formulae from this era are basic to all modern magic, necromantic manipulations trace back to those of the “inner path” most clearly.

As I found more evidence this made greater sense, though there are still large gaps in my understanding. The formulae that would develop into the practices of the inner path appear to have been the first used by these early magi, who had long perceived and used this “life energy,” at low levels. This manipulation of the energy within the magician themselves is what would ultimately give them their name. In fact, until the rise of the “outer path” to prominence, the “inner path” remained unnamed as it was simply the assumed form of power.

After the rise of the “outer path,” studies of the “inner path” remained mostly limited to initiations, initial lessons, and some minor magics of convenience. Eventually, however, a few of these magicians discovered that it was possible to manipulate this energy in creatures other than themselves, both living and dead. It is following this discovery that the inner path seems to have begun to be referred to as “necromancy,” as its practitioners found it easier and more ethical to work with the dead in their experiments than practice directly on other living creatures and vastly safer than attempting what they considered massive manipulations of their own life force. For comparison, it is worth noting that the energy levels in these manipulations were, at best, in line with modern cantrips and, perhaps, a first level ritual.

It would be generations before these first necromancers discovered how to use the life energy present in the material world as a channel back to the inner planes. Interestingly, the most transformative aspect of discovering this ability was not the increased power suddenly available to them. Because of the highly dangerous nature of negative energy and even uncontrolled positive energy these early necromancers had long since learned high levels of fine manipulation and control. (In fact, there are suggestions that the “discovery” of the energy planes was delayed through a winnowing self-selection until those with the greatest tendency towards that care did so, for exactly those reasons.) The immediate result of the discovery of the inner energy planes was a redefinition of the “life energy” these necromancers had been working with all along. Where they had thought that it was a single energy found throughout things living and dead for which the resonance changed, now they came to understand it as a balance of these competing forces.

Through the lens of our modern understanding it would be reasonable to assume that these necromancers clearly chose to work with negative rather than positive energy. However, that was manifestly not the case. As we well know, mages of any era are manifestly unwilling to sacrifice such a source of power. The study of these two energy sources continued in tandem, much as the study of the elements continues among evokers even today, then there is a gap in the record. I have discussed this gap with students of numerous disciplines and we have been unable to find an explanation. When the record resumes we find the practice of necromancy a shattered thing, its practitioners splintered and cast to the winds generations removed from the strongholds of their former heights.

I have come to find attempts to trace the development of necromancy from this point is a sad thing. Largely watching the debasement of a once great art in the search, largely, for power but occasionally also for a legacy that seems to have been wiped away. A few hold fast to the ancient understandings of their practice. However, they are a tiny minority and, due to prejudice, are largely as shunned as their more amoral counterparts.

Next: Necromancy Subschools and Selected Spells

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I did finally figure out where I got this indelible certainty that healing was necromancy; it was that way in AD&D. Aside from that, if necromancy is going to manipulate negative energy it makes more sense to pair the two than to split them up and make an entire school about death magic and then make the corresponding bits of life magic an appendage to some other school that could not possibly care less. Meanwhile, it also carves the necromancer some breathing room from being yet another example of black and white, “it’s evil, kill it!” Shading this player available option into something more grey and thus, to my eye, more interesting. Certainly something with a broader variety of options. Anyway, I figure I’ve banged my drum quite thoroughly on my “positive necromancers” thing already. Also, as a bit of worldbuilding I’d already done it did seem like a fun thing to include.

So, anyway, if you’re going to build a type of science the first thing you need is a way to “see” the things you’re working with. A microscope, a telescope, a dweomersco… err… detect magic spell. If you’re going to make technology from that, the next thing you need is an energy source; something on which to make whatever you’re building run… I’ll talk more about evocation later, but positive and negative energy seem equally viable as an energy source; biology vs mechanical energy is still raw power. So, here we go.