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 Your Favorite Male Necromancer (In All Settings)

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Dennis Posted - 29 Aug 2011 : 11:39:01


Why males only? Before you even entertain the thought that I'm being sexist, know that I already started (not too long ago) a thread about female necromancers of note.

I noticed that Xar Zarath and I are not the only ones who are fascinated by or do like necromancers. So I thought this is a nice poll to have. I ask that you also state your reason/s for your choice, or lack thereof. It doesn't have to be because they are the most powerful or the most accomplished practitioner of the dreaded type of magic: necromancy. We like certain characters for various reasons. (Heck, Drizzt is hardly the most powerful mortal in Toril---Szass Tam could literally crush him by lifting just a finger---yet a lot of people have been adoring him for decades.) Some of the following necromancers might be unknown to you, or you only know by name. Hence, I'm providing a brief background of each---what novels did they appear in, their personalities, feats, etc. Some of them I copied/paraphrased from various sites, and others I made as I recalled them.

Needless to say, but I will say it nonetheless, be warned of spoilers.

Nagash - the Great Necromancer. He was the first Necromancer, and was arguably one of the most powerful Magic users of all time in the Warhammer world. He caused the destruction of the civilization of Nehekhara and brought about the creation of the Undead, notably creating the first 11 Vampires of which only 7 are known to the man of the present day, and also unintentionally raised the Tomb Kings from their rest. He is himself a Liche able to command the undead. Nagash was born two thousand years before the time of Sigmar in the mighty civilization known as Nehekhara. His father was King Khetep of the 3rd Dynasty, ruler of Khemri and all Nehekhara.

As a young man he joined the Mortuary Cult (a priesthood dedicated to the veneration of the dead and the magical prolonging of life) and became a leading figure in the cult. Nagash was ambitious, and despite rising to the rank of High Priest of Khemri, the cult's highest position, he coveted his father's throne. He once bound the Daughter of the Sun, Neferem, the covenant made flesh, whose spirit bound all the gods of Nehekhara. Using her as a weapon, he became practically invincible even to the gods themselves.

Nagash is the star in Mike Lee's Nagash Trilogy, one of the series in Warhammer's Time of Legends. [I'm still in chapters 5 of Book One, Nagash the Sorcerer. So to those who've read all three books, feel free to share your thoughts.]

Zayl - is a Necromancer from Richard A. Knaak's novels The Kingdom of Shadow and Moon of the Spider. He is a handsome man with a kind heart, sometimes too kind. He carries the undead skull of Humbart Wessel in his pouch for company and for aid in times of need, along with an ivory dagger crafted from Trag'Oul sealed to Zayl's soul. His right was burnt after an “accident” ----there's scarcely a sinew that clings to the bones. So as not to scare people who are already afraid of and repulsed by necromancers, he wears a glove to cover it. Many tend to underestimate him because of his appearance. One of his most interesting spells that have been revealed so far are a magnet-like force that sucks the elements, like lightning, and releases that captured power to his foe. Another is the “soul-stealer” that calls the shade of a recently deceased being and uses it to grab the soul of anyone alive that Zayl targets and sends that soul to the afterlife.

Rathma - He is described as having "too perfect features,” a trait present in all nephalem. His skin is a pale white and his hair is black. Rathma is a very calm and rational man. He is not cold or uncaring, but he rarely displays emotion and thus comes off as such. In addition to the powers necromancers possess such as raising and communicating with the dead, unleashing Teeth and Bone Spear among other things, he is also shown to have two other distinctive powers. This power might stem from his close ties toTrag'Oul. The second is his ability to read sensations of people, which is similar to reading thoughts. He appeared in Richard A. Knaak's Sin War Trilogy.

Svogthir - was the parun and guildmaster of the Golgari Swarm in the plane of Ravnica. He ruled his guild from before the signing of the Guildpact and remained in charge of it for thousands of years, surviving through his mastery of necromancy, which he used to become a lich lord. The only original part of his body was his head, which became indestructible. He appeared in Cory J. Herndon's Ravnica Cycle.

Sidi, aka Leso Varen – is a mad magician of terrible power and subtle craft. He almost toppled the government of the great Empire of Kesh and Kelewan's Empire of Tsuranuani. What truly makes Sidi terrifying is his resourcefulness. He doesn't rely only on his power. Despite his eminent madness, he knows damn well how to play his games. That's why even the great sorcerer Pug had a tremendously difficult time effacing him from Midkemia, and from the universe at large. Who would have thought he's mad enough to possess the Emperor of Kesh?!

He appeared in several novels by Raymond E. Feist, but he was most active in the Darkwar Saga. He's like Manshoon for having cleverly eluded death or complete destruction for so many times.

Karybdus – a powerful necromancer in Richard A. Knaak's Moon of the Spider. He wears an ensorcelled armor that is impervious to nearly everything. Like all people in his order, he is good in hiding his emotions behind a facade of calmness. The only time that he showed emotion was when the untrained sorceress Salene ruined his plan of ensuring the preservation of Balance in the world. His repertoire of spells would make even Szass Tam (slightly) envious. Unlike other necromancers, he could remain standing and only feel a little bit weakened even if he consistently uses so many spells---thanks to his self-made spell that allows him to steal the souls of other people.

Matris Drayke – He's the protagonist in Gail Z. Martin's Chronicles of the Necromancer. He (and he alone) once summoned hundreds of spirits to help him win a war against his brother. He's a compassionate and level-headed prince, and of course, good-looking. Being the grandson of the late Bava K'aa, the most powerful sorceress in the history of Winter Kingdoms, it comes with no surprise that in his blood runs strong, raw magic that has saved his life and his friends' countless times. He was trained by his grandmother at a very young age, but she made him forget all his training until the time came when he would need it. Unfortunately, that time was long after her death. So he was to figure it out alone how he could use his gift...until he learned of the Sisterhood of magic-users in a neighboring kingdom. With the Sisterhood's help, he was able to recall and relearn some of the things Bava K'aa taught him.

30   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
LordofBones Posted - 14 Jan 2016 : 10:29:29
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis

It's not the POWER of the necro, it's all their darn PETS that makes them so nasty!! I mean, why worry about that pesky adventuring group trying to kill you when you can just keep raising wave after wave of skellies and zombies to whittle them down? Tsk, Ayrik, you underestimate them....



I know that this topic is pretty much dead, but this is a particular pet peeve of mine.

90% of arcane necromancy is not about raising undead. It's a fiction perpetuated by both players and devs. When you go undead for arcane necromancy, you look for quality over quantity, like dragon and hydra skeletons, but arcane necromancy is mainly about SoD and debuffing. The 11th level necromancer can already oneshot dragons with a maximized shivering touch.

It's sort of like how novels and DMs have the idea of the iconic wizard throwing fireballs. Fireball is hilariously suboptimal, even for evokers, and most damage-dealing wizards tend to stick with the orb spells and the various rays.
Gurgle Gobblespit Posted - 05 Oct 2015 : 23:41:00
Moandor was one of the original Lich (necromancer) lords from HOMM, if I recall.
Artemas Entreri Posted - 05 Oct 2015 : 21:41:19
quote:
Originally posted by Thelonius

I think that, if I can choose from any existing setting I'd go for Sandro, from the Heroes of Might and Magic universe. Was the first one I saw the word Necromancer attached to so many years agoo, and I always saw him as the cliché lord of the undead, the black cloack and the skull face...
If I had to go for FR ones, I'd go for Xzar, was the first necromancer I met in the Realms, and loved the Stop touching me!!! comment. Too bad they killed him in Shadows of Amn



I just purchased the first 6 Xeen games from Gog. I love Sandro!
Mapolq Posted - 04 Dec 2013 : 17:16:03
Necroqysar Shoon VII is definitely one of my favourites, though there can be some debate whether he's male or female right now (as of the late 1300s anyhow).
Dennis Posted - 04 Dec 2013 : 14:01:20

What's the official class of Dyrr the lichdrow? Is he a necromancer or a generalist? In his battle with Gromph in Annihilation, he pretty much displayed a variety of spells (evocation, transfiguration, etc.). But then Szass also displayed mastery of the different schools of magic in his fight with the zulkirs, yet he is a necromancer (always has been). So what does this say about Dyrr?
Firestorm Posted - 18 Nov 2013 : 18:12:35
Based on Novels, Szass Tam was well fleshed out in the Haunted lands trilogy. The unique undead portrayed were fun and imaginative and he was a true mastermind.

Based on sourcebooks and tidbits dropped by Ed through the years, I was very fond of both Hodkamset, chosen of set and leader of the fangs of set, and of Qysar Shoon VII, who was ruler of the Shoon imperium.
Dennis Posted - 18 Nov 2013 : 13:56:35
quote:
Originally posted by Alruane

Sidi, aka Leso Varen
Some say his being a "necromancer" is arguable. Necromancy isn't really that well-defined in Midekemia. Heck, there are basically only two "major schools" of magic: lesser and greater--until Pug discovered such division is immaterial to someone who's learned to utilize both.

I don't even know where shamanism, illusion, galamancy, and conjuration belong to.
The Arcanamach Posted - 17 Nov 2013 : 23:25:43
I don't know of any of these necromancers (I will strive to remedy that) but I voted for Nagash simply because he seemed the most interesting. My reasons for liking any character stems from their particular story (especially when you see things like 'redeeming' qualities in evil beings or vice versa or get detailed information as to how/why they became the people they are) not because of how powerful they are.
Entromancer Posted - 17 Nov 2013 : 23:01:05
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach: They were a nice bit of brevity in an otherwise grim novel (Memories of Ice).


Corum Jhaelen Irsei: I'm not sure if he's considered a necromancer or not. He has a gauntlet that lets him summon the dead he's vanquished in combat to fight for him.

Kleitus: A necromancer from Weis's and Hickman's Death Gate Cycle. I remember being really impressed with him as a villain in Fire Sea.

Jarad, from the Ravnica novels by Cory Herndon was a goodly necromancer. Goodly in the sense of he went against the gross brutality of the Rakdos Cult. He wasn't one of those "lawful stupid" types who'd engage in a dry debate on the morals of necromancy.
Alruane Posted - 17 Nov 2013 : 22:10:38
Sidi, aka Leso Varen
Dennis Posted - 17 Oct 2011 : 05:08:32
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


I either forgot that part in LoD or missed it entirely. I wonder though, why were the trade enclaves not mentioned in The Haunted Lands Trilogy? Could it be that Richard was unaware of them? I can see the zulkirs who opposed Tam making use of such enclaves to gather more resources for their campaigns.



I doubt he would have forgotten about them... Most likely, either mention of them was cut out during the editing process, or their input simply wasn't enough to warrant mention.

I would not say the enclaves were not that important. The sheer amount of resources the zulkirs could have amassed for their campaigns against Szass Tam would have helped them tremendously. Given that almost each of them owned an enclave or two, the resources they could have gathered would have exceeded whatever Szass Tam managed to.
The Sage Posted - 17 Oct 2011 : 02:53:27
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


I either forgot that part in LoD or missed it entirely. I wonder though, why were the trade enclaves not mentioned in The Haunted Lands Trilogy? Could it be that Richard was unaware of them? I can see the zulkirs who opposed Tam making use of such enclaves to gather more resources for their campaigns.

I don't believe Richard would've forgotten something like that. My thought is that with so much to reveal of the state of post-Spellplague Thay, some of the more ingrained 3e aspects, had to be set aside for the time being. Perhaps if and when Thay is elaborated further upon through the DDI, we'll be told what became of the enclaves.
Wooly Rupert Posted - 16 Oct 2011 : 15:46:04
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


I either forgot that part in LoD or missed it entirely. I wonder though, why were the trade enclaves not mentioned in The Haunted Lands Trilogy? Could it be that Richard was unaware of them? I can see the zulkirs who opposed Tam making use of such enclaves to gather more resources for their campaigns.



I doubt he would have forgotten about them... Most likely, either mention of them was cut out during the editing process, or their input simply wasn't enough to warrant mention.
Dennis Posted - 16 Oct 2011 : 09:50:31

I either forgot that part in LoD or missed it entirely. I wonder though, why were the trade enclaves not mentioned in The Haunted Lands Trilogy? Could it be that Richard was unaware of them? I can see the zulkirs who opposed Tam making use of such enclaves to gather more resources for their campaigns.
The Sage Posted - 16 Oct 2011 : 09:39:04
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis


Szass Tam doesn't seem to care for the trade enclaves.
I wouldn't say that's entirely the case. Lords of Darkness notes that while Tam doesn't necessarily provide open support for the enclave initiative, he hasn't actively worked against the concept either. In fact, it's even noted that he sponsors one particular enclave [through an intermediary {likely to be a low-level Red Wizard beholden to the Zulkir}] in an effort to keep an eye on its operations and, also, to ensure an opening should he need to bring his considerable force to bear as a check on the power of the other enclaves and their sponsors.
Dennis Posted - 16 Oct 2011 : 09:17:34

Szass Tam doesn't seem to care for the trade enclaves. Though in the near future he may see their uses. A few magical items in exchange for a couple of slaves he can kill and animate as zombies. Doesn't sound bad, does it?
Xar Zarath Posted - 15 Oct 2011 : 14:03:27
Not to mention pushing trade enclaves onto other nations allowing him to acquire spells by purchasing them.
Ayrik Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 05:57:00
Even if Szass Tam has restricted spell options, he probably uses the same trick as every smart PC specialist wizard: he acquires or develops spells which can overlap or duplicate those effects he cannot use directly. Unlike most PCs, Szass has been around for a few centuries and he's installed himself into a position of preeminence over a strong school of wizards in a strong nation of wizards (and he's liched himself up) ... so he's probably managed to procure quite a versatile selection of spells.

I think that smart specialists would spend as much time researching spells in their specialty school as they would researching spells that can replace those that are "forbidden" to their specialty. A Zulkir would also be particularly interested in obtaining the spells created (or otherwise procured) by his apprentices, servitors, and magical underlings.
Xar Zarath Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 05:40:28
I think pertaining to Szass Tam and his ability to cast spells from different schools is a plot device by RLB if anything else. I mean he is a specialist wizard as well as a Red Wizard, effectively prohibiting three schools of magic, which ones thats up to a DM to houserule.

I mean he did cast illusion spells, like the one where in Undead, he gathered diviners and illusionists at the pier in Bezantur and crafted the shadow ships. Enchantment was also something he cast, the spells that chained the minds of his underlings for instance, as well as the use of the Death Moon Orb(if enchantment was a prohibited school, it means that he cant cast from it right?)

Personally a non-realms necromancer favourite of mine is Nagash, i mean there are many instances in the trilogy where his display of magic particularly necromancy is just jaw dropping, especially in the first book where he carves symbols onto the slave then slits his throat and drinks the slaves blood to gain magical vitality. If he had been born in Faerun i would say he would be a match for Szass Tam.
Dennis Posted - 13 Oct 2011 : 17:24:39
quote:
Originally posted by Xar Zarath

Wow I cannot believe it! A topic dedicated to necromancers!!! Are there any more topics, can anyone please post links to them??

Thanks Dennis for mentioning me, and I have to say my vote was for Aumvor. I mean come on, i think he is the only one who created a spell that allows liches to split their phylacteries! A more famous feat of magic(well actually two) is Alasklerbanbastos in BOTG where he transfers his soul into the bones of another dragon, i mean it may seem little but it is quite powerful, another being Jaxanaedegor using that orb to summon the dead and turn day into night.(BTW does that orb remind you of Arklem Greeth's orb in the Pirate King?)

Thanks again Dennis for the thread!(Necromancers of the Art FTW)

You're welcome.

If not for his hideous appearance, I might be inclined to vote for him. Even among the undead [archmages and lesser beings alike] looks matter.
Xar Zarath Posted - 13 Oct 2011 : 15:39:20
Wow I cannot believe it! A topic dedicated to necromancers!!! Are there any more topics, can anyone please post links to them??

Thanks Dennis for mentioning me, and I have to say my vote was for Aumvor. I mean come on, i think he is the only one who created a spell that allows liches to split their phylacteries! A more famous feat of magic(well actually two) is Alasklerbanbastos in BOTG where he transfers his soul into the bones of another dragon, i mean it may seem little but it is quite powerful, another being Jaxanaedegor using that orb to summon the dead and turn day into night.(BTW does that orb remind you of Arklem Greeth's orb in the Pirate King?)

Thanks again Dennis for the thread!(Necromancers of the Art FTW)
Dennis Posted - 09 Oct 2011 : 06:09:55

It's just like in real life. You can be a graduate of Psychology, Architecture, Aeronautics, and Medicine, yet you are "called" and known as a pilot because you choose to practice only what you learned from Aeronautics. An archmage is someone who has mastered all schools of magic, but he can be labeled/categorized to a specific school that he prefers to focus on. Consider Yaphyll. While we don't know if she's mastered all schools, we do know that she's not only an expert Diviner. That last spell she cast on Szass Tam which obliterated the first layer of his defenses is indicative of Evocation.
Ayrik Posted - 09 Oct 2011 : 05:53:19
Isn't complete mastery of all fundamental magics what defines an archmage? If so, I note that all archmagi could (accurately but imprecisely) be called necromancers, at least insofar as having achieved "specialist" mastery of necromantic magics.
Dennis Posted - 09 Oct 2011 : 04:24:33

The source books follow the novels. So the author, in most cases, can include and explain whatever he deems necessary to further his story's plot. Most often than not, authors incorporate long established lore to observe consistency [and perhaps also to avoid the fans' outbursts].
sleyvas Posted - 08 Oct 2011 : 16:05:16
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis

quote:
Originally posted by jordanz

Based on that classic battle in the Unholy book, one could argue that Szass Tam is as much as generalist s Vecna. I can't recall one necromatic spell used when he took on the Zulkirs in that last fight.

In fact, it was mentioned in Undead, which I'm currently re-reading, that Szass Tam is a master of all disciplines. Here are Dmitra Flass's words:

quote:

"You're right," [Dmitra] said, "that should suffice, but you don't know Szass Tam like I do. He's a genius, and a master of every school of wizardry. So can we really hide whole armies from him, or was that Rashemi griffon rider correct? Is this a feck­less plan?"


And given that no zulkir would dare fight him in a one on one battle, I say the other zulkirs would agree with Dmitra's estimation of the lich's power.



DAMN GOOD CATCH! However, if we go by this assumption that Dmitra was correct, then we have to basically go with he's not a member of the red wizard prestige class. Either that, or we have to adopt the idea that opposition schools are just harder to memorize like in PF rather than impossible like in the core books.
Ayrik Posted - 08 Oct 2011 : 00:34:16
Yappy was an adequately skilled diviner who could be impelled to serve Szass Tam's disposable purposes well enough.

I would suggest that Szass used Yappy in that instance - along with a dangerously toxic dose of some potent magically hallucinogenic substance - to gain access to the most cryptic and forbidden foreknowledge without any personal risk. Besides, Szass may have been unable to ingest a necessary spell component for the divination he needed cast, or may have simply been unwilling to render himself half-comatose, defenseless, and mentally debilitated during the casting. There's also a bit of an arrogance factor in his confident belief that he would be qualified to correctly interpret the divinations, and he certainly seems to derive some small pleasure in being able to inflict demonstrations of sadism, cruelty, dominance, and control.

I'm not sure I can agree with your assertions about Szass's magical capabilities, Dennis. His published stats, in at least three D&D editions, seem to methodically summarize his capabilities well enough. Anything more is the domain of fiction, fluff, creative license, or perceptual bias. I like the character of Szass Tam quite a lot, but there's no need to assert exaggerations upon his capabilities; he does quite well enough without them. Not really a point worth arguing over anyhow, so I'll concede the possibility of Szass being a multidisciplinary magical specialist.
Dennis Posted - 07 Oct 2011 : 17:41:59

I must rectify my previous comment about Szass Tam's capabilities. Yes, he is a master of every school of wizardry--- except Divination. Otherwise, he would not have needed and forced Yaphyll to foresee the battle at the Keep of Sorrow.
Artemas Entreri Posted - 07 Oct 2011 : 16:27:10
I need a bumper sticker that says: "Szass Tam for President: 2012!"
Dennis Posted - 07 Oct 2011 : 15:27:00
quote:
Originally posted by jordanz

Based on that classic battle in the Unholy book, one could argue that Szass Tam is as much as generalist s Vecna. I can't recall one necromatic spell used when he took on the Zulkirs in that last fight.

In fact, it was mentioned in Undead, which I'm currently re-reading, that Szass Tam is a master of all disciplines. Here are Dmitra Flass's words:

quote:

"You're right," [Dmitra] said, "that should suffice, but you don't know Szass Tam like I do. He's a genius, and a master of every school of wizardry. So can we really hide whole armies from him, or was that Rashemi griffon rider correct? Is this a feck­less plan?"


And given that no zulkir would dare fight him in a one on one battle, I say the other zulkirs would agree with Dmitra's estimation of the lich's power.
sleyvas Posted - 07 Oct 2011 : 15:15:44
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik

Conversely: Maligor, Zulkir of Alteration (until 1362DR), developed a spell, then an army, of darkenbeasts. The magic might technically be transmutation, but the effect is most decidedly necromantic. Perhaps he picked up a few levels of necromancer, much as Mythrellan acquired some levels as a shadowmage? I wouldn't be surprised if all the Zulkirs had a few multiclassed levels in other magics, hidden abilities kept secret from all other Red Wizards to be used as a secret weapon, defense, escape, counter, or versatility when absolutely needed. Even a single level in another magic class would allow access to an array of spells and items which were previously forbidden.

I still maintain that Szass Tam is in fact a (non-specialized) mage whose affinity for necromancy results from his being lichy, as described in the oldest Realmslore; he basically gains all the bonuses of a specialist without the drawbacks. Larloch, too, I suspect is a non-specialist who gains free necromancy - plus imagine how much extra necromancy he might gain from all his lich servitors. Perhaps the same even holds true for Vecna, although his divine immortality (and artifact status) effectively means that he is not necessarily constained by the same rules which apply to puny little mortal mages, so it's really impossible to say. I'm inclined to treat all three as unrestricted necromancers, insofar as needed for gaming purposes.

I think DMGR7: Complete Book of Necromancers offers the best definition: a necromancer (even in games/settings where no necromancer subclass exists) can be any mage who simply selects the majority of his spells and magic from the same lists which would be used by a necromancer. Kinda difficult to convincingly claim otherwise when 70% of your spell list involves death magics and such stuff, eh? Specialization is not required to cast the same spells just as proficiently as a specialist, and after a point it actually becomes more of a hindrance than a benefit because the bonuses become comparatively minor while the limitations remain quite significant.



As pertains to Tam in particular, the main question in my mind is has he ever cast any illusions or enchantments personally that we know of? There was a specific short story that dwelt on the fact he specifically couldn't cast illusions, and I don't recall him ever using any enchantments. Now, what his third class was (being a red wizard after all), that I'd be hard put to declare as I bet I've seen him in novels use invocation, conjuration, divination, transmutation, and of course necromancy. I'd be pretty convinced that he had to take the feats to recover his spell casting in the third school, except noone ever shows him doing it in their builds of him.
However, after reading the pathfinder rules, I'm definitely applying them to my games for the future with regards to school specialization.

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