A Model for Change/Contents

	SPOILER ALERT!
	This article potentially reveals in-game secrets, spoilers, walkthroughs, or other information about necromancers not intended as general knowledge in-game.

A Model for Change

By Zandergast Shivermist, Scholar and Arcanist

Part 1: Introduction

Scholars of the mysteries of life and death have the unfortunate and mostly undeserved reputation as cruel and deranged. People hear of monsters like Jonathon Kigot and Lyras, individuals labeled as "necromancers" for their deeds. Storytellers and rumormongers often associate the actions of a few bad apples to groups which share similar skills. Scandalous information sells at a premium. In this instance, regular people skilled with arcane magic and with an interest in thanatology, by association, become labeled as necromancers.

For the purpose of this discourse, the term "necromancer" applies to an individual that uses arcane magic and thanatology to the detriment of society.

The majority of arcane magic users use their magic and knowledge for the benefit of society. Some call these individuals Philosophers of the Knife. Personally, I am a fond of the term "arcanist". Arcanists share the stigma of the necromancer because people are unable or unwilling to learn the differences between study, actions and intent. I posit that most arcanists are scholars, not power-mad warlocks intent on raising armies of undead to reap chaos and mayhem.

Arcane magic and thanatology are tools. We should be defined by our intent and how we use these tools, not by the tools themselves.

Part 2: A Simple Scholar

Contrary to popular belief, not every scholar of life and death is a monster created as a result of some soul-shattering childhood trauma.

Consider me, for example. I was born to skilled magic users and led a relatively normal, even privileged, upbringing. My father is a respected, if quirky, moon mage fascinated (some say obsessed) with magicks of all kinds. Mother was a gifted empath who sought to learn better ways to improve and extend the lives of others. From them I was taught to love learning for the sake of learning, not simply a means to an end.

As a young adult, I was not compelled by my parents to choose one profession over another. Instead, I was afforded the opportunity to experiment with several fields of interests -- none of which included raising a horde of undead or world domination.

I am proud to think that I have the best traits of each of my parents: a fascination for magic of all types, an affinity for life magic, a thriving love of learning, and a desire to extend the lives of others.

Not a very monstrous-sounding background, is it?

Part 3: A New Era of Research and Study

Growing up, I too was initially guilty of mischaracterizing all scholars of life and death as necromancers. I had heard the bardic tales and read the same misinformed literature as everyone else. However, as I matured, I began to practice what my parents taught me: to question everything and to make my own informed decisions.

I eventually recognized that the study of life, elemental, and lunar magic had been thoroughly and well documented, but not so with arcane magic. The lack of developed and mature theories of the practice of arcane magic inspired me to delve further. Unfortunately, primary sources of information were unavailable to me until Lyras broke through the Great Barrier.

"Know your enemy" is common adage in any conflict. One must know the motivations as well as offensive and defensive capabilities of an opponent in order to develop effective countermeasures. Lyras' abilities were frightening to observe, but more frightening was the fact we did not understand her powers or how to effectively counter them.

Dedicated analysis of Lyras' capabilities was a necessity of the war effort, but the formal magic guilds were ill-prepared to counter her powers due to lack a understanding of arcane magic. Like many of my fellow researchers, I was able to observe arcane magic in practice for the first time on the battlefield. The war with Lyras inspired a new era in research and study in arcane magic.

Part 4: An Argument for Further Study

During the war, I also observed the effects of abuses of power, both magical and mundane. The wounded gathered desperately in lines outside of triage tents, standing next to rows of bodies of the fallen. The courage and sacrifice of those gifted with empathy was tempered by the attitude of the wounded as the wounded demanded the empaths to sacrifice their own health and vitality for them. The constant pain and suffering of the empaths, and the occasional loss of an empath to over-healing, were perhaps the most overlooked tragedy of the war.

I also witnessed the occasional miracle of life being restored to the fallen by clerics of the faiths, but the Gods could not, or would not, bestow the blessing on all of the fallen. The ministrations of the clergy failed to mitigate the heartbreak of the deceased's family members.

These losses are all the more unfortunate since we may have been able to avoid them altogether if we, as a people, had invested into learning and expanding the capabilities of arcane magic and thanatology. What if we could learn to tap into the health and vitality of livestock or criminals to heal the grievously wounded? Wouldn't that be preferable to risking the lives of our empaths?

Such research may have reduced or eliminated the unfortunate losses described previously and helped us learn the strengths and weaknesses of Lyras. In order for the study of life and death to progress forward, the ignorance of the people that feeds the necromancer stigma must be addressed. People must become better informed.

Part 5: Actions and Words

The actions below can start the process to mitigate the necromancer stigma.

Make the Unfamiliar Familiar:

Engage in discourse and actions that show outsiders how similar arcanist powers are to other, more familiar, professions and guilds. For example, a ranger might use her abilities and magic to hunt a deer. The deer is then skinned and butchered for consumption. The ranger's actions are comparable to an arcanist hunting a deer and consuming part of the deer to repair the arcanist's injuries.

Police and Punish those that Abuse Their Abilities:

Arcane magic and thanatological abilities are not the only power subject to abuse. All power is subject to abuse. Common examples include both the noble that abuses the serfs on her estate and the merchant-baron who abuses the slave-like labors which produce the merchant's goods for sale. Moreover, the many of the sanctioned martially-focused guilds have well-documented histories of abusing the weak.

Less well-known is how bards and moon mages influence the flow of information for their own benefit to the detriment of others. Even empathic abilities are subject to abuse. Take Jomay's tendency to forcefully shift the age or gender of unwilling victims, or to maim them by melding parts of their body together as an example.

The potential abuse or misuse of arcane magic and thanatological abilities should not be justification for condemning all practitioners. Arcanists must be willing and able to openly challenge and punish necromancers. Many necromancers are very powerful beings. Arcanists must be allowed to study and grow their own powers. Only then can we successfully challenge necromancers and hold them accountable.

Part 6: Conclusion

What is in it for society to invest effort in distinguishing between necromancers and arcanists?

Allowing arcanists to openly practice their trade will create boons for society. Arcanist would be the best prepared to deal with necromancers. Further study of the breakthroughs of Consume Flesh and Siphon Vitality could eventually lead to the use of livestock, war captives, or the lower races as sources of healing for cultured society. Animating fallen warriors to battle our enemies can save the lives of our troops and allies. And what if we could find a means to prevent death altogether? The possibilities and benefit to society are only limited by our imagination.

If we make the unfamiliar familiar and effectively police necromancers, I am confident that within the next couple of centuries arcanists will be able to organize openly like the moon mages of past. Eventually, logic and reason will prevail over ignorance and fear. Until then, we must continue to work in anonymity. We must accept the personal costs and stigma now for the greater good of society in the future.

Until then, best regard.

Your servant,
Z. Shivermist, Scholar