Lore:Necromancy

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The term Necromancy is defined as the art of communicating with the dead to predict the future, but in Oblivion this is extended to include the study and the act of raising the dead. The most prominent practitioners of Necromancy in Oblivion belong to the Order of the Black Worm, a cult that involves the fanatical followers of the powerful wizard Mannimarco who aid him through forging black soul gems for his ultimate cause: the destruction of the Mages Guild. This is done by waiting for the cooperation of the stars to shine their light on the unholy necromantic altars, then placing an empty Grand Soul Gem into said altars and casting a Soul Trap spell on it. This is the only way (short of finding them) to obtain the necromantic Black Soul Gems, capable of trapping the souls of men and mer at their passing into the next realm.

[edit] History

Because of Necromancy's immoral practices, the current Arch-Mage Hannibal Traven has banned it from the guild and excommunicates anyone who openly practices it. Though that is not the only reason: legend has it that many years ago, before the founding of the Mages Guild proper when there were only very scattered universities of magic, the first Arch-Mage Galerion the Mystic and Mannimarco were once students together. No one knows how they grew to be rivals but we do know that—over time—they did, culminating in a battle between the two. Despite Galerion's victory in the battle, Mannimarco bound his spirit to the living world so that after he regained his strength and his number of followers, he would then rise again as the King of Worms. Upon rising, he would challenge the Arch-Mage for control of the Mages Guild and the power granted therewith, bringing us to the predicament the Mages Guild is in today.

More information on the background of Mannimarco and necromancy can be found here.