#Spectral Necromancer

[koyoriin]

[FFXIV RE: 01] two of my favourite dungeon boss fanart pieces i've done; forgiven obscenity, and spectral necromancer!

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[46cmawayfromyou]

The Spectral Necromancer

Please do not use my art without permission

[cosmicseashanty]

There was a Twitter trend back before Patch 5.3 came out, of drawing your WoL in the Spectral Necromancer's outfit... I was not immune.

[laurasimonsdaughter]

Consider: depressed necromancers forced to go on mental health walks by their creations

"Get up, go outside."

It was like being ordered around by a chill running down his spine. He gave a blind, swatting wave into the space around him. "Piss off."

"Ha! You sure must be regretting studying resurrections instead of banishments, hm?" the ghostly voice echoed at the edge of his hearing. "I have aaall the time in the world."

It was absolutely killing him that turning off his hearing aids didn't work against ghosts. He opened his eyes, staring blankly up at the by now familiar shape floating above him. The look in the spectral eyes was infuriatingly soft.

"Come on. One little walk. And I won't give you any grief about your meal choices tonight."

"It's still light out," he gritted, too tired to even raise his voice. "And you can't make me."

The shining eyes narrowed. "Not yet I can't, but I'll learn. And I bet I'll be able to start chucking bottles of vitamin D at your head long before I'm strong enough to move your sorry ass."

"I did you a favour, you wanted this. And this is the thanks I get?"

Somehow the chill turned warm for a second while the ghost smiled with his whole face. "Yeah. I'm paying it forward."

He pulled the couch pillow over his head. "Go haunt somewhere else."

"Or, you could leave and go for a-"

"Fine, I'll go for a damn walk."

The ghostly laughter followed him all the way to the door and for a second it felt like the grey sludge gave way—

He paused with his hand on the key in the lock. "...are you coming or what?"

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

Mastering the Art of Necromancy in Your Fantasy Novel

Hello fellow writers and conjurers of fantastical worlds,

In the tapestry of fantasy literature, few elements hold the allure and enigmatic charm of necromancy. The art of communing with the spirits of the departed, wielding the powers of death and undeath, and delving into the mysteries of the afterlife conjures a rich and eerie tapestry that captivates readers and writers alike. In this comprehensive guide, I shall help you embark on an odyssey into the realm of necromancy, unraveling its nuances, and harnessing its potent essence to enrich the worlds and characters within your fantasy novel.

Embracing the Essence of Necromancy

Necromancy is a mystical strand woven into the very fabric of fantasy literature, offering writers a gateway to explore themes of mortality, forbidden knowledge, and the uncharted territories beyond death. The art of necromancy beckons us to navigate the delicate balance between life and death, weaving a narrative tapestry that shimmers with eerie allure and spine-tingling intrigue.

Understanding the Arcane Threads of Necromancy

1. Unraveling the Nature of Necromantic Magic:

Necromancy encompasses a vast array of mystical practices, ranging from communing with spirits and animating the dead to harnessing the energies of the afterlife. Understanding the scope of necromantic magic is crucial when integrating it into your fantasy world.

2. Delving into Ethical Quandaries:

The art of necromancy often delves into moral ambiguity and ethical quandaries. As a writer, explore the complex interplay between wielding power over life and death, and the consequences it imposes on both wielder and world.

3. Crafting Necromantic Characters:

Characters draped in the shroud of necromancy carry an undeniably enigmatic allure. Whether they are enigmatic necromancers, vengeful revenants, or tormented spirits, imbue them with layers of depth, conflict, and the allure of forbidden knowledge.

4. Cultivating the Atmosphere of the Necromantic World:

Infuse your narrative with an eerie and otherworldly ambiance that resonates with the essence of necromancy. From desolate graveyards to spectral realms, let the setting itself exude an aura of haunting allure and metaphysical mystery.

5. Unraveling the Consequences:

The tendrils of necromantic magic often carry unforeseen consequences. Delve into the ripple effects of wielding such potent powers, shaping the fate of both the user and the world they inhabit.

Enchanting Your Narrative with Necromantic Flourishes

1. Rich Lore and Mythos:

Weave an intricate tapestry of lore and mythos surrounding necromancy, invoking ancient rituals, mysterious tomes, and the whispers of spirits to deepen the mystique of this arcane art.

2. Enigmatic Rituals and Spells:

Craft spells and rituals that exude an otherworldly aura, invoking the presence of specters and the echoes of forgotten souls to imbue your narrative with the esoteric essence of necromantic magic.

3. Ethereal Companions and Servants:

Bring forth spectral allies, reanimated guardians, and enigmatic spectral entities that serve as both catalysts and enigmas within the narrative.

4. Narrative Pivots and Twists:

Infuse your story with unforeseen twists and narrative pivots that stem from the tendrils of necromantic magic, shaping the destiny of characters and worlds with its potent influence.

Mastering the Art of Responsible Representation

1. Portraying the Nuances of Necromancy:

Embrace the multifaceted nature of necromancy, delving into its allure and peril, and steering clear of reductionistic portrayals that fail to capture the complexity of this enigmatic art.

2. Navigating Sensitive Themes:

Acknowledge the sensitive themes surrounding necromancy, portraying its enigmatic allure while respecting the boundaries of respectful representation and narrative integrity.

Navigating Ethical Quandaries and Moral Ambiguity

1. Delving into the Temptation and Consequences:

Illuminating the temptations and consequences inherent in wielding necromantic powers, delving into the moral turbulence and ethical crossroads that define the narrative and its characters.

2. Shaping Characters' Moral Journeys:

Embrace the moral odysseys of characters enmeshed in the tendrils of necromancy, illuminating their struggles, choices, and the transformative impact of their interactions with the enigmatic art.

Embracing the Mystique of Necromancy

The enigmatic tapestry of necromancy holds the potent key to unraveling the mysteries of death, whispered secrets of the afterlife, and the spellbinding allure of enigmatic power. Embrace its allure, wield its essence responsibly, and watch as your narrative flourishes with a haunting, spine-tingling allure that captivates readers far and wide.

Warm regards and unwavering encouragement on your enigmatic odyssey, Ren T.

[kaykebitez]

Arcane Arousals (Rolan x F!Reader)

Rating: Explicit Category: F/M Pairing: Rolan/Tav; Rolan/Female Reader Status: Complete Chapters: 1 Word Count: 6,838

Tags:

POV Second Person, Unnamed Tav (Baldur's Gate), Wizard Tav (Baldur's Gate), Location: Sorcerous Sundries (Baldur's Gate), Female Tav (Baldur's Gate), Tav is Not Described (Baldur's Gate), Banter, Mutual Pining, Teasing, Inappropriate Use of Telekinesis, Vaginal Sex, Clothed Sex, Desperation, Sloppy Makeouts, reader is a shit, Wizard Banter, You Tease Rolan Until He Snaps, Feral Rolan, But Still Kinda Submissive, Shameless Smut

Summary:

You're an accomplished wizard and in the wake of the Netherbrain's defeat, the hero of Baldur's Gate. In the aftermath of the mindflayer invasion, you move into Ramazith's Tower with Rolan, technically taking on the role of his 'apprentice', even though you have several years of teaching experience under your belt at Blackstaff, pre-tadpole. Rolan is insufferable, prickly, and very obviously into you, but he hasn't made a single move towards you, and it's starting to drive you just as crazy as his ego is.

So, one day, after taking verbal potshots at each other that wind up with Rolan giving a demonstration of a new spell he's learned... you decide to test his concentration. By any means necessary.

You also want to see just how far you can push the bratty wizard until he snaps.

AKA: You (Tav) tease Rolan until he can't take it anymore and you fuck on the floor. That's it. That's the fic.

READ ON AO3

Snippet Below the Cut

“Rolan, for the last time, Spectres & Spectral Weave Incantations belongs in the Evocation section, not in the Necromancy section,” you chide, plucking the tome from the dusty shelf in Ramazith’s library to pass off to one of several mage hands that float animatedly around the room. The noonday sun streams in the stained-glass windows, and sorting books would be a wonderful, relaxing way to spend an afternoon up here, if it weren’t for the insufferably prickly tiefling wizard insistent on mucking up your carefully-curated organization strategy.

Rolan whips his head around from where he was rifling through books on a different shelf, letting out an irritated huff through his nose. “By Vivri Arevi? The necromancer?” he says, the emphasis on the last word reminding you much of how one would speak to a small child. The tone has your hackles raising already, but more than annoyance is the overwhelming desire to put this pompous arse in his place.

“Just because the author was a necromancer doesn’t mean all of her writings are classified as Necromancy,” you say, directing the mage hand to shelve the book in its proper place across the way, watching as Rolan’s honey-gold eyes follow the hand with annoyance. “Honestly, have you even read the thing? You’d know within the first few pages it’s clearly an Evocation text.”

“I don’t know what kind of time you think I have these days,” Rolan says with a scoff. “But between running the shop and re-organizing this disaster Lorroakan left, there’s little time left in the day to pour over obscure texts.”

“Obscure?” You snort, stepping down from the ladder you’ve been perched on to place your feet on the floor. “That’s a second-year text for students at Blackstaff. I think I could recite the prologue forwards and backwards. Honestly, Rolan, as talented as you are you’re remarkably under-read.”

It’s a cheap shot, sure, and Rolan’s tail thrashes as he glares at you. But after everything you’ve been through together, this kind of bantering is normal for the two of you, and you flash him a teasing grin, even if the gleam in your eyes is a little mean.

“Is that any way to speak to your master, Tav?” he shoots back at you, all sharp teeth and smug satisfaction. Oh. You’re playing ball today, alright.

As the de-facto ‘master’ of the tower, that makes you his apprentice. Although it’s more of an in-joke between the two of you rather than a true master-apprentice relationship. You taught at Blackstaff Academy before you were forcibly abducted by mindflayers and infected with a tadpole. Your abilities zapped, you were forced to save Faerun with little more than a first-year’s spell knowledge, and unfortunately, the full scope of your talents haven’t returned in the wake of the netherbrain’s defeat. You couldn’t very well go back to your old life as an instructor at your level, so you stayed in Baldur’s Gate, Rolan graciously offering you a place to stay at the tower in return for saving his and his siblings’ hides multiple times over.

 And so, on paper, you’re technically his apprentice, but it’s in name only. While your spellcasting abilities took a hit thanks to the tadpole, your knowledge certainly didn’t. Considering Rolan is entirely self-taught, you find yourself often teaching him things, when he’s not getting on your nerves or you’re not riling him up, that is. In fact, you’ve both grown as wizards in the last two months of working together, you in power and him in knowledge. It’s been an enjoyable working relationship, to say the least, and his company isn’t bad, either. You almost rather like living at the tower with him and his siblings; it’s less lonely than your solitary teacher’s dormitory back at Blackstaff, that’s for sure.

You eat dinner with him most nights, talking about all things arcane until your food’s gone cold and you’ve both sunk nearly a full bottle of wine. When Rolan isn’t trying to posture, isn’t trying to be the ‘best wizard in the realms’, he’s almost rather charming. You could even consider the two of you close friends.

But that doesn’t mean that Rolan, the bastard, won’t rub in your face that he’s your ‘master’ at any chance he gets.

Which is why it’s now become your hobby to knock this young brat down a few pegs each day.

It’s simply the natural order of things.

[dirty-bosmer]

Spacious bedroom for 1! Prefurnished, 10 minute walk to Anvil docks, 1500 septims a month!!!

Room for let in our gorgeous, pond-side Anvil manor. Has a private entrance through the basement, which is so far underground you'll be practically in your own zipcode (you're welcome to use the basement for personal storage, but we can't take responsibility for anything that goes missing from the crates). Door is keyless entry, unlocked via sigil. Very large and very quiet! Perfect for studious young mages. Preferably no necromancers as the previous occupant was a lich, and he left quite a mess. Soured us on the undead, sorry!

In the interest of full disclosure, we did find some ghosts in there upon moving in, but we've successfully exorcised the spirits so they shouldn't pester you anymore. We tried sweeping out the spectral mist, but it's quite stubborn. If that bothers you or you’re allergic, we're willing to shave a couple hundred drakes off the rent!

[lady-quen]

Aight here goes ✨️Nothing✨️ aka the probably horribly unbalanced Mael fanspec. Keeping the necromancer green theme for the icons! Also credit to @soulbeastdragon for letting me use their post dividers as a base for my own divider 🫡

This miiiight get reworked several times *coughs* I did say I was doing it just for fun as someone who sucks severely at mmos, but if someone wants to give feedback also for fun go ahead ^^. Most details such as skill range, uptime, cd, and boon/condi amount missing for aforementioned reasons.

The spec would likely make good use of power and healing power builds and be good for cc and burst DPS or group healing. Keep in mind I'm not trying to come up with a balanced spec that fills specific gameplay niches the class is missing, but rather a spec purely for lore reasons.

Diabolist

"Devour death itself, and rise."

"The Diabolist has become closely acquaintanced with death, and chained themself to a demonic source of energy. Utilize the Diabolist Shroud to greatly enhance your equipped weapon skills, at the cost of taking constant damage."

Diabolists excel in burst damage and crowd control and gain access to Alysidomancy skills, creating spectral portals to draw on hellish chains to immobilize themselves for health and life force generation, or immobilize and pull foes for a quick kill. They also gain access to an offhand shield which provides boon stealing and pulling capabilities.

Skills and Traits under readmore.

Skills

Shield skills:

4: Putrid Aegis: assume a shielded stance, stealing boons for each time struck. 4s, vulnerable to cc

5: Hell's Gate: manifest a spectral portal upon the shield's surface, pulling and chilling the target. -> Hell's Breach: shield bash the target, inflicting daze and stealing a boon.

Profession skill:

Alysidomancy: use of demonic chains (short cast animation plays, can be cast while moving)

Slot skills:

Heal: Chains of Suppression: Immobilize yourself and gain stability and protection. Sacrifice life force to heal (chargable skill)

Utility:

Chains of Invitation: Open a spectral portal and use chains to pull out a shade*. (Can stack with normal shade. This version does not gain access to Haunt, but generates additional life force)

*similar to the Shambling Horror, the shade model is slightly altered, with a subtle blue fire effect instead of the green haze.

Chains of Esurience: Pull up to three enemies towards you, transfer a condition to each, and inflict chill. Generate life force and gain regeneration.

Chains of Terror: Stunbreak. Launch yourself towards the target and inflict fear.

Chains of Inevitability: Immobilize an enemy, corrupt a boon and gain might and fury.

Elite: Chains of Perdition: Immobilize and lift up to 5 enemies around you with demonic hooks, inflicting damage and gaining life force for each second spent suspended up to a max of 4. (Cancelable via stunbreak.) Gain 10s of might, fury and quickness. Bonus chance to trigger unique voiceline ("Let me hear you beg!")

Profession mechanic: Diabolist Shroud: Diabolists forgo Shroud-specifc skills in favor of greatly enhanced damage on currently equipped weapons. Life force does not act as a second health bar; Ticks down slower than usual but ticks down health as well.

Visuals: Diabolist Shroud spawns a fanged portal upon your chest, and every glow effect on the character turns blue. The Shroud's eyes are wide and circular. Character model and weapons gain a shifting, smoky shader.

Audio: loud chain rattling noises in Diabolist Shroud and when using Alysidomancies.

Traits:

Minor Proficiency: You can now wield shields.

Minor Adept: Faustian Bargain: Death Shroud becomes Diabolist Shroud, granting powerful offense at the cost of forgoing Shroud-specific skills and losing health over time. Gain access to Alysidomancies.

Major Adept:

1 - Self-Flagellation: Self-immobilize inflicts bleeding, but generates additional life force.

2 - Death's Gambit: Deal increased strike damage (15%) when below 50% HP.

3 - Squalid Symbiosis: Chains of Suppression now launch phantom links to nearby allies, sharing the amount healed. Reduced recharge on shield skills. Shield boon steal now shares boons with linked allies.

Minor Master: Hellhound's Ambush: Entering Diabolist Shroud grants 5 seconds of swiftness and stability.

Major Master:

1 - Fatal Hypothermia: chilling a foe additionally inflicts slow. (2s?)

2 - Malleus Maleficarum: Immobilizing foes grants might and inflicts burning.

3 - Feeding Frenzy: Using skill 5 in Diabolist Shroud additionally grants quickness and regeneration. (5 s?)

Minor Grandmaster: Terminal Lucidity: Gain health and protection when entering Diabolist Shroud. (Reasonably small heal)

Major Grandmaster:

1 - Sell Your Soul: 10% of vitality is converted to power and healing power. 10% of toughness is converted to ferocity and precision.

2 - Evergaol: immobilize effects on foes last longer. (2s) Immobilized foes take increased damage (20%?)

3 - Pandaemonium: Chains of Invitation additionally summons a second shade. Gain regeneration when both shades are active.

Associated Items:

Diabolist's Shield

Shorn Salvation (ascended shield)

Diabolist's Shackles (gauntlets)

Superior Rune of the Diabolist (power + healing power)

[incorrect-mtg]

A little bit of wish fulfillment

In one version of the story, Liliana Vess chooses to take a final stand against the dragon that holds her life in his hands and Gideon pays the price, taking on her punishment so she can deal a final blow to Nicol Bolas.

But shift the battlefield slightly, and everything changes.

Eager to see the Scourge of Skalla defeated, Vivien Reid charges into battle more aggressively, her projections tearing a path through Bolas' army until she is close enough to see the woman she'd tried to kill earlier that very day throwing her life away to spite her master.

All Liliana wants is to be free.

All Gideon wants is for everyone to be safe.

Vivien? She just wants a dragon to be very much dead.

Their interests align beautifully and, after assessing the situation, Vivien unleashes all she has in Bolas' direction.

Even a Godlike Elder Dragon might struggle to concentrate on enforcing a contract when pierced by a divine spear, attacked by undead gods and then dealing with a magical rhino slamming directly into his face. The greatwurm that follows only serves as a bigger distraction.

Vivien might have preferred to be the sole cause of Bolas' defeat, of course, but avenging Skalla is more important than the way it is done. Her arms are a blur as a menagerie, the combined fauna of an entire plane, charges forward to buy Liliana as much time as she needs.

And then... It is done. Bontu bites through Bolas' neck alongside the spectral beasts looking for their own pound of flesh, a final distraction that allows Oketra's magic to dive into his chest. As his planeswalker spark leaves his body, the Dragon-God dissolves as though a dream.

All combat stop, Bolas' lazotep army crumbling without any commands to follow. In the sudden silence, Jace Beleren — freshly done helping Ugin deceive everyone — surveys the battlefield until his gaze meets Gideon's, the hieromancer kneeling next to an unconscious Liliana.

The necromancer is alive, but the damage all over her body — letter shaped burns that match her contract — still mean she's in critical condition. As Gideon carefully picks her up, Jace establishes a mind link with him.

"I'll take care of her" he sends through.

And then he's gone.

As they realize the battle is over, people all around start cheering. Some just drop down to their knees. Many planeswalkers just leave altogether.

Jace just takes a deep breath.

His duty now is to help with clean up and to make sure nobody decides to go hunting for his friends.

[ttrpg-smash-pass-vs]

On the left are Yagnoloths, the cunning but slothful contract-making noble class of the yugoloths. 10-15 ft (3-4.5 m), telepathic, can shock or drain life with its touch, teleport, and can use magic to turn invisible or try to magically manipulate you with mental suggestions. I wonder if they actually wear thier ledgers like that, or they just had to come up with SOME way of censoring. What, couldn't use the angle or the giant arm like other editions?

On the right, behold the legendary Skull Lord! Person sized, but with the ability to summon 5 skeletons at a time, teleport, summon a spectral hand, cause supernatural fear, and enhance all skeletons around it with regeneration and better reflexes and such. Personality wise, these are three fused necromancers who all maintain thier own personalities. Usually very ambitious ones, warlords and ambassadors and and such.

[dualumina]

A Quick Full Guide for getting Gold in

Lowland Shore: Harvest Shore Salmon Run!

~~~

Update! So it's been brought to our attention that the race event, has a significantly longer timer to achieve gold than the adventure does, assuming you show up right before the race starts.

It's possible this is a bug, so it might be patched out in the coming future. It's also possible that Anet will change the gold requirements to be less strict (we've never heard of this happening before, but who knows.)

Either way, at the time of editing this (September 7th 2024) the below guide still applies for the adventure!

Further update: The latest GW2 update actually added extra time to qualify for Gold, so you may not need all the expensive gear to achieve it. If you're still struggling, pre-booning will still offer a decent headstart, even if some class traits might not work in fish form.

Best of luck out there, fellow salmon! 🐟

Before even starting the race, you'll need the right stuff to have a chance of succeeding.

Equipment:

Get at least 1 or 2 of Bowl of Orrian Truffle and Meat Stew

Equip 6 Superior Runes of Speed

Equip a Relic of Speed

Build:

There are several things you'll want on your build to make your life as painless as possible.

Adrenaline Regeneration

Vigor Source

Movement Speed Increase

Pre-Race Boons

The main boons you want to give yourself are Swiftness, Vigor, Quickness/Alacrity, and Superspeed. Other boons may or may not be necessary depending on your class.

As you may have noticed, this is all stuff available on an Engineer (Mechanist with Tools and Alchemy trait lines). Because that's the class we decided to first try this race on.

Thankfully we're feeling generous, so here are the best builds for all other 8 classes. Usually there's only a few critical things you need in each case, so if something isn't specified, just pick whatever.

Mesmer:

Dueling > Mental Gymnastics Chronomancer > Time Marches On Signet of Inspiration, Well of Action, Time Warp Focus (Temporal Curtain)

Elementalist:

Water > Soothing Disruption Air > Zephyr's Speed > One With Air Weaver > Woven Stride Ether Renewal, Unravel (Water), Cleansing Fire, Signet of Air Staff (Air > Windborne Speed)

Necromancer:

Blood Magic > Banshee's Wail Soul Reaping > Speed of Shadows > Eternal Life Harbinger > Twisted Medicine > Deathly Haste Spectral Recall, Signet of the Locust, Elixir of Anguish Warhorn (Locust Swarm)

Revenant:

Retribution > Enduring Recovery > Unwavering Avoidance Invocation > Rapid Flow Herald > Core Value > Draconic Echo Legendary Dragon Stance (activate and consume all skills, starting with Facet of Chaos)

Guardian:

Honor > Vigorous Precision > Purity of Body Virtues > Absolute Resolve > Power of the Virtuous Firebrand > Archivist of Whispers > Swift Scholar > Stalwart Speed > Loremaster Mantra of Potence, Advance!, Signet of Mercy, Feel My Wrath! Tome of Resolve (Chapter 3)

Warrior:

Defence > Last Stand Discipline > Warrior's Sprint > Doubled Standards Bladesworn > Swift As the Wind Combat Stimulant, Signet of Stamina, Banner of Tactics, Frenzy, Signet of Rage Warhorn

Ranger:

Wilderness Survival > Natural Vigor Skirmishing > Tail Wind > Primal Reflexes Soulbeast > Live Fast > Essence of Speed > Leader of the Pack Water Spirit, Signet of the Hunt, Quickening Zephyr, Griffon Stance, Strength of the Pact! Warhorn (Call of the Wild)

Thief:

Acrobatics > Expeditious Dodger > Feline Grace Daredevil > Physical Supremacy > Unhindered Combatant Haste, Signet of Shadows

(Thief is weirdly low on options it seems)

Okay and of course Engineer was already covered earlier

Race:

So you've got your gear, your build, and now onto the race itself. First off, here's what you need to know about your skills that aren't obvious at a glance.

Dash!

This skill works noticeably differently depending on where you're located. When you're in deep water, the skill works just fine. On land, it's similar enough to not worth mentioning. But if you're on the water's surface, to the point that your skills aren't listed, for the love of every god don't use the dash! You will get no benefit except wasting your stamina.

If you don't see your skills just don't press 'em!

Flop!

Flop is the most versatile skill at your disposal, and has drastically different effects for different situations. If you're in deep water, then using flop will yeet you to the water's surface. This can be handy for needing to get up to checkpoints in shallower water quickly. If you're already at the water's surface, then you'll go straight up... usually. This race is a bit finicky at times. If you're on flat land, you'll also go straight up. Thankfully it's pretty consistent. However if you're on an upwards slope, or close enough to one, then you will go up it at record speed.

A prime flop location

Glub

Glub :3

Now go out there and get glubbin'!

[entering--hyperspace]

For Leo: 9, 14, 22 and 23 👀

9. Are they also a healer/medic? What can they do if someone is hurt and needs assistance? Can they heal themselves? Do they have a plan for when they're injured?

I'm sure Leo knows basic Medical knowledge but in terms of magic noooot so much, He can like, in dire circumstances, feed someone his own life energy to keep them stable for a while. In terms of healing himself his reaper shroud can sustain him on ambient spectral magic but its very temporary as well.

14. Is there any particular quirk to their magic? Is there something they can't do with their magic that others usually can? Is there something they can do particularly well?

Leo is particularly good at communing with spirits! It is not common that a Necromancer is able to hear the ambient chatter of the deceased as well as he can, or even feel the low spectral energy they give off in the first place. His empathy and love for them travels around so he has a very symbiotic relationship where he is able to be empowered by spirits in a consensual give and take, after spending years helping them and managing to ease troubled ones so that they may finally move on. His reaper’s shroud is also unique but we’ll talk about that soon, next question, in fact!

22. What trait lines/specializations

Necromancer Reaper!

Leo primarily uses spectral energy as a necromancer, and is powered through a symbiotic relationship with spirits. His shroud is something that he canonically has, But the lore for its acquisition is a little bit of my own making!

In the personal story Leo went to investigate the Cathedral of Silence While the Pact Commander went to investigate the Map From Romke. He did so alone.

After communing with the seventh reaper and defeating the keeper of the shrine, Leo begs for any way, any power he could either Share or gain that would help in the battle against Zhaitan. The Reaper saw Leo's dedication, care, and love for spirits, he proposed a bargain: a pact with him would grant him access to the mists itself through a fusion of the Avatar and Leo himself, if only temporarily. It can heal him by soaking the ambient spectral magic that surrounds the area, grant him a deeper connection to the dead, and greatly empower him, at the cost of Leo becoming a protector of the Cathedral whenever he dies instead of naturally moving on in the cycle. This was a very big deal for Leo as he greatly upholds the natural cycle and wishes it for himself, but took the pact anyway, as any power that would save lives by ending threats such as Zhaitan was worth it even if it cost him something he held dear.

23. What utility skills do they tend to use? Is there any they can't use for lore reasons?

Leo primarily uses Spectral utility skills! And while there aren’t any he technically can’t use, there are some he avoids out of principle but I’ll answer that more in depth in a future ask!

Before we get into it, let me use this as an excuse to share what I consider Spectral magic to be as it ties in to why he does and doesn't use other forms of magic!

Spectral energy is described as an "Otherworldly" or "Ancient" form of energy, which had me decide that it is, of course, related to the mists. In fact, it IS the mists, at least, another variant of it.

Think of the mists' energy as a state of matter. Revenants can use/channel the mists in its most pure state and through the connection to their legends. Necromancers however (once attuned to the ambient form of this energy found in places with portals or otherwise entries where the mists leak into this world) can turn that energy into something more tangible, which is "Spectral." If the mists is water, revenants are able to Use that water directly, But Necromancers must turn the water into Ice to wield it, which is how you're able to have things like Spectral claws, spectral armor, Spectral weapons.

Spectral energy does exist "everywhere." Spectral energy can be attributed to spirits, ghosts, life itself. (Another reason I went with the idea that its related to the mists as the mists are the origin of all things.) But there may be places where its less apparent (Ascalon would be drenched in it, for example.) which could dampen a necromancer's well, but depending on experience they can find ways to draw spectral energy from things around them which can be exceptionally dangerous (similarly to blood benders in avatar drawing water from the plants but also killing them in the process.) Or they could have items which have already soaked so much of that energy they don't need to take such measures.

Now that’s been said, Leo has always had a unique affinity with spirits due to growing up in Ascalon and having a lot of emotions about the ghosts being trapped in an endless groundhog day unable to move on. Studying Necromancy and having access to a spectral-rich land like Ascalon meant he was able to attune to it from the get go, it was the most ready/powerful source of energy which meant he gained a lot of experience from it rather quickly. Spectral energy also just allows him to have a closer connection to spirits which is why he prefers it.

[moocha-muses]

"Yeah, we can totally talk about magic! Owl Creek's, like, a real haven for that kind of stuff. Lock was the real expert, because he's our mentor's son, and he just graduated, but Dylan's still around - he's Malia's uncle? but he's, like, twenty - and he's a necromancer and a spiritualist, which is so cool-"

"Wow-"

"He actually helped me enchant these glasses? I mean, I'm wearing them mostly for style but they also help me see spectral energy patterns!"

[jadegretz]

Sophitia: The Graceful Gladiator by Jade Gretz

The ancient ruins of the once-glorious Temple of the Sun stood shrouded in darkness, the remnants of its marble walls now cracked and overrun with creeping vines and moss. The moon hung low in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the landscape, and the wind whispered through the broken pillars, carrying with it the faint, haunting echoes of the past. In the distance, a thick fog rolled in, its tendrils curling around the base of the temple like a spectral serpent.

Sophitia Alexandra, the revered warrior of the sacred flame, stood at the entrance, her heart pounding with a mixture of dread and determination. Her golden armor, though battered and worn from countless battles, still shimmered with a faint divine light. The sword of the goddess, its blade etched with ancient runes, hung by her side, ready to strike down any foe that dared to challenge her.

The sorcerer, once a scholar of dark arts, had long since succumbed to the curse of the undead, his soul now bound to the very essence of the temple. His name was Malakar, and his malevolent presence had risen from the depths of the abyss, intent on raising an army of the damned to plunge the world into eternal darkness. Sophitia’s mission was clear: to stop him, to break the curse, and to save the souls trapped within the necromancer’s grasp.

As she stepped into the temple’s cavernous hall, the air grew colder, the flicker of torchlight casting long, dancing shadows across the stone floor. Her footsteps echoed through the empty halls, each step a testament to her resolve. The silence was deafening, broken only by the distant, mournful moan of the wind. She could feel the weight of the sorcerer’s gaze upon her, his dark magic seeping through the very walls, taunting her with the promise of unspeakable horrors.

Suddenly, the ground beneath her feet trembled, and a low, guttural chant began to fill the air. The walls of the temple seemed to breathe, the stones shifting and groaning as if alive. Sophitia tightened her grip on her sword, the blade’s glow intensifying with a surge of divine energy. She knew that she was not …(see the rest of the story at deviantart.com/jadegretzAI). For more supergirl, chun li, batgirl, tifa, lara croft, wonder woman, rogue and much more, please visit my page at www.deviantart.com/jadegretzai - Thanks for your support :)

[paeliae-occasionally]

The Death Realms

So in my world there are 2 different death realms, Schaeres’s realm, also known as the unwaking dawn (tamir’sul) in runic, and the true death realm.

Tamir’Sul

Schaeres (sh-eye-ress) is the goddess of unnatural death, so she takes souls who have defied death e.g. the undead and people who don’t death when it is their time. These souls are trapped in this realm forever, or until Schaeres decides to destroy their souls.

She also takes all souls that are killed before their time, these souls just wait here until they were meant to have died, then they pass on to the true death realm.

The realm is made up of 3 main parts

1.Schaeres’s domain, which is a large marble temple/castle building where Schaeres resides most of the time to watch over the realm. This is also the home of other lesser death gods, like Losemene, the goddess of drowning and the water based dead.

2.The gardens, this is the place where honoured souls go in Schaeres’s realm. For example Rin is in the gardens, because Schaeres honoured him after he was murdered. It looks like it sounds, giant rows of exotic and beautiful plants that grow constantly without season.

3.The wastes, also known as the mists by some. This is where souls are sent to wait, either waiting to pass to the true death realm, or waiting to be killed by Schaeres. It looks like an endless field of spectral crops that is eternally shrouded in mist. There have been many escape attempts, but to this day there is no record of success other than Xaeren.

Xaeren

Schaeres is related to the plot because of her conflicts with Xaeren. Xaeren is the first mortal runic since Rin and he invented the majority of modern runes. His parents were necromancers who tried to free souls from Tamir’sul, so Schaeres killed them. Since this happened he had pledged to undermine and eventually kill Schaeres. This is difficult as she is immortal.

Xaeren discovers a method to basically blackmail Schaeres into not killing him while he tries to kill her. He uses the rune he was named after, Xaeren to remove creatures souls from their forms and banish them to Schaeres’s realm. This means there are a whole bunch of souls in her realm that are not dead, so if Xaeren dies, his banishment fails and all of the souls return to their dead bodies and cause problems.

It is Schaeres’s job to prevent these problems so she has to get Xaeren to end the binding without killing him so the souls stay where he put them. Xaeren is a petty guy so he frequently sends souls with messages for Schaeres, to essentially taunt her that she can’t kill him and he can kill her.

There is more conflict here but it is not relevant to the death realms.

The True Death

The true death is ruled by the god of death, who is nameless as far as mortals know. The gods know him as Olsaan, which means the end in Illeri.

The death realm claims all mortal souls that died naturally or at the correct time and death was there to escort them across the planes.

Death’s realm is peaceful and amorphous so it blends the expectation of the viewer and provides comfort to them. The only common thread through everyone’s perception is a strong current in front of them pulling them forward. The most common interpretations describe it as a vast shoreline with silvery water onto black sand with strong currents pulling you under. Others see a great wind pushing them or see fields they run through to a horison.

This current will clear your memory then send you back into a new life. Souls that don’t want to return can remain in the current until they reach the soul-extinguishing true death.

Some souls that are unworthy of another life, but will not choose true death are escorted down the current by Tae’etsu escorts who take them through the true death, as they are not living this does not affect them. Necromancers call them the shadows.  (A Tae’etsu is a creature made of energy with no soul)

-Fendra don’t go to the death dimension as they have no soul. When their body dies, they just die. 

-The Tiel’Drysar are a race of mainly elvish heritage who discover specific talismans that allow them to undergo rebirth without forgetting. The Elder drysar make a deal with death that they will use it wisely and will not share the knowledge of how to create the talismans.

There is a specific sect of the tiel’Drysar that measures and limit the power of necromancers so they don’t disturb the natural balance. They are called the Mistwalkers.

If you have reached here, thank you for listening to my rambling! <3

[devilzukin7-johnny-cage]

"These spirits can get inside her body to possess her too and when it happens, she is seen in her spectral form, which may vary, but generally turns into the form that is just like her but way taller, opens her mouth inhumanly and has deformed body, having extremely long neck, arms and legs."

(Inspired by Yōkais in general.) Text taken from my bio :D

So, another reference for explaining more about Araceli's spectral/yōkai form :D I did some little doodles as fun too XD

To give some context, Araceli is from the Netherrealm, biological daughter of an human and an oni even though she was adopted by Bo' Rai Cho and raised on Earthrealm without even knowing her origins in a beginning. She has invocation powers since her mother was a Necromancer, but she still doesn't know how to use them fully and is learning to control them thanks to the help of the monks, having to be very careful because these spirits can sometimes possess her body, turning her into her spectral form. This rarely happens, only when she uses her powers too much and is getting too weak, but to discover this made her have dark thoughts about her own self, to think that she doesn't belong to Earthrealm, to be afraid of hurting her beloved ones. Sometimes she doesn't even recognize herself in the mirror.

Character:

Araceli Cage (MK OC)

Mortal Kombat (c) Netherrealm Studios / WB / Midway before