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[bjlong]

A Necromancer should be slightly mad, too, which would mean that he would claim forbidden items. People should get a bad thought if they see him around children, and tantruming dwarves should attack his stuff first, whenever possible.

[Ampersand]

The Necromancer should occasionally steal corpses from their tombs to create macabre artifacts or zombies. This would occur in the same way as a mood and be entirely beyond your control. He's just as likely to bring back a Zombie Baron that constantly mandates brains roasts, as he is the legendary champion in all his glory.

[SirHoneyBadger]

And if he does-even if he brings back the champion-there should be a very good chance that the rest of your dwarfs grab their picks and torches and do their best to string the blasphemous grave-robbin' bastard from the nearest stalactite, and return the beloved champion to his/her sarcophagus by whatever means necessary (burning and chopping into bits being a perfectly acceptible means).

[Ampersand]

If you want to challenge the Skeletal Dwarf Axelord, be my guest.

Edit: In any case, I think that there should be a values call that comes into play in how dwarves react to dark magic. If their primary gods Sphere is death, chaos, war, and Rainbows, I don't think they'd mind so much.

[SirHoneyBadger]

I think that in most circumstances, they'd mind a lot. I know I would mind, if somebody brought the firefighters that died in 9/11 back from the grave, as rotting skeletal things. I'm pretty sure my dad would mind, if his best friend who died in Vietnam got brought back from the grave as a flesh eating zombie.

There might be a few cases where a dwarf hero risen from the dead was accepted and welcome into your fortress, but I can't see it being a common thing at all-dwarfs seem to very much sanctify their dead, and they've got quite a lot of thematic impetus towards honoring heroes, last stands, heroic death, and peace in the afterlife.

Mostly, a revered dwarf that's gone to his final resting place, is going to be honored, with rest.

Besides, even if necromancers are nobles with high positions in the fortress, they're still nobles, and they're still necromancers, neither of which designation is nearly as likely to impress a given dwarf as a hero that worked and sacrificed their whole life in defending the fortress, including that dwarf's home, children, and livelihood.

And it wouldn't just be 1 dwarf taking up arms against the necromancer and his unholy abomination, it'd be all of them, every single one, down to the kids, so even if your skeletal axelord won...well, your vacant fortress would make a nice adventure-mode destination.

Maybe, very rarely, a fallen champion might be brought back to guard something that was incredibly important to the dwarf species as a whole, but that would require a bit more background than a necromancer's whim.

[Muz]

Hmm.. that sounds intresting. I'd love to see Necromancers grow increasingly insane, like in some of those games. Technically, a Necromancer would have increasing urge to create an artifact (an undead zombie, skeletal warrior, or even a bone golem). This urge will actually go up the more he creates until he is stopped from creating more and goes insane.

Up to a certain point of skill and experience, maybe after bringing back to life a champion or an undead dragon, the necromancer will try to turn himself into an undead.

And there should be a justice option to whether your fortress allow necromancy or exiles/hammers them.

[Ampersand]

There is another aspect to it though. In old editions of DnD, a noble elvish family patriarch or matriarch would become undead to protect the heirlooms of the family, as a sort of sacrifice. The problem is that the whole thing is rather circumstantial. The Necromancer who saves the fortress by bringing fallen champions from the grave is deserving of punishment?

Perhaps, with the addition of burrows a few arcs down the line, it's something that can be kept on the fringes of society. Something that most dwarves don't have to see or think about.

[Pilsu]

Callous necromancer nobles sounds more like a human thing

[Thnikkafan]

Perhaps there could be a seperate ethics code for necromancy. For example, the view of resurrecting a fallen warrior would be different if there was a siege or not. Other races would have seperate views on it. Elves would hate it, humans wouldn't care, and goblins would like it. Perhaps other factors, like religon, area, personal standards, and supplies. Maybe the leader could be "persuaded" to allow it, despite the fact that others wouldn't like it.

However, resurrection and necromancy wouldn't be cheap. For your average zombie, you would need  the corpse, thread/rope/an equivalent (if there are severed limbs), two magical gems, and a soul-powered totem. Souls may have to be bought or collected. An equivalent totem would be needed - one size catergory either way. Too little, and the body wouldn't keep itself up. Too much, and you wouldn't be able to contain itself. Frankenstien-type abominations made of sewn body parts would be allowed, perhaps requiring a magical  item sewn in. These would have a mix of powers, and could also have weapons sewn in, but people wouldn't like them as much as they would "like" a zombie.

[Tormy]

Ever heard about the Starshield Necro system? It's quite interesting.
Note #1: In this system, nearly all necromancy depends on the willpower attribute, and we gonna have that attribute in DF also.
Note #2: The system uses the willpower check method.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

In necromancy the concept of good and evil is absent. Or rather, it has no meaning for the magic. It is perfectly possible to use necromantic powers for good. It is just the view of outsiders that abhor the very thought of using the power of the soul for magic that causes necromancy to be synonymous with the blackest of evil throughout the greater galaxy. There is however a similar distinction in those regions where necromancy can be and is practiced. That between hallowed and un-hallowed. As there is necromancy to use the power contained within the soul there is an opposite ability to protect the souls from such tampering. In a great many souls this is done by priests who in specific rituals 'bless' a soul, or a corpse, or a grave, and thereby protect it against necromancy. Of course such blessings wear off as time passes and there are reversed rituals to shatter the blessing, turning previously hallowed into unhallowed ground. When encountering necromancy is a distinct possibility the vestis do well to investigate the means of obtaining a blessing in that particular part of the greater galaxy. Necromancers can deal swiftly with the unprepared.

Nearly all necromancy depends on the willpower attribute, and many of the permanent effects require constant rechecks of that attribute to continue (or resist) the effect. Fear and belief being integral parts of the necromantic powers allow only those of strong will to use and resist this magic.

Additional necromantic spells:

Ghoul herding

A mostly dead creature that can be called from the graves. It is fast and strong but difficult to control and only runs in packs. It eats meat and is violent but a coward, especially for fire.

To raise a ghoul the necromancer must find a cemetary that is no longer holy ground, or "walk" one to claim it. Performing sacrifices in a cemetry also helps. Only those who have in spilled blood can be raised as ghouls. This means that the graves of soldiers, murderers but also of butchers can be used to raise a ghouls. The effects of this spilled blood is spreading as the holiness of a grave fades over time. Casting the spell succesfully once binds a ghoul. To bind a second ghoul the spell must be cast successfully twice, and so on.

Raising a ghoul is easy, but controlling it is harder. The necromancer must make a willpower check against the size of the pack he wishes to control. If he fails then he must make another check. If she fails again then all the ghouls break free and can not be controlled again. Otherwise only the number of ghouls that the first check failed by escape control and return to their burroughs. Additionally ghouls require fresh meat daily, or be allowed to go hunting.

Zombie raising

Raising a zombie is similar to raising a ghoul, but other than that these are two entirely different beasts. A zombie is very very dead and nothing can trick anybody into believing otherwise, you see, and smell it. Zombies are incredibly strong, mindless and totally obedient. A zombie is raised, given an order and it will, assuming it understands the orders, obey it. Because it does not attempt to preserve itself it can give all its strength to whatever it does. And because it is already dead it does not matter if it tears tendons or breaks bones. It won't feel pain and even if it is chopped to pieces those will still attempt to obey the order that has been given to the zombie.

To raise a zombie the necromancer must find a grave. Unholy ground makes raising zombies easier but is no requirement. A circle round the grave must be walked by the necromancer, then traced with some fluid. Water is acceptable though blood allows for stronger or older zombies to be raised (especially if the necromancer is willing to spend her own blood). The later is necessary if the cemetry is recently blessed. After closing the circle the necromancer must link the grave, the dead and herself with an ointment and then offer a death. Usually a chicken or rabbit is killed. This is sufficient for the recently dead. For stronger, or older, zombies bigger deaths are needed. Killing more in one blow has a cumulative effect (killing 2 rabbits will allow 3 to 4 zombies to be raised). To raise really old zombies, a centure or more, it requires a human life to be ended.

Risen from the grave the zombie hungers for blood and will try to attack the necromancer, unless a willpower check is succesfully made. This will set the level of control over the zombie and allows the necromancer to give it an order. If it understands the order it will attempt to obey. (Intelligence is a function of age and strength of the zombie, and of the skill of the necromancer). After completing its order it will wait, unless the order was included to return afterwards. A new willpower check must be made to give it another order

Spectre raising

This is the third type of undead that can be raised. In many respects it is the easiest to do for a necromancer but it has a limited usefullness. In itself a spectre is nothing but a ghostly apparition without form or substance. People will experience a profound fear in its presence and the more sensitive can perhaps detect a dim light. In this form the spectre is nothing but a stronger version of the lingering ghosts that can be found in some graves. To create a true spectre the necromancer must imbue it with strength and substance. This does not chance the essential nature of it, but allows all to be aware of its presence. Then it is merely a matter of fear and belief that the spectre can harm its victim that gives the spectre the power to actually do so. The more mana the necromancer transfers into the spectre the greater its willpower. This mana requirement is cumulative (a willpower of 1 requires 1 mana, a willpower of 2 requires 2 more mana and so on). The necromancer must make a willpower check against the spectre even as she is transfering mana into it.

The spectre is, unlike other undead, not bodily and can only be raised from unholy graves that have a lingering soul or ghost in them. The spectre can not move out of the graveyard, and unless it has gained power over its victim it can't even move very far from its grave.

Wraith binding

An experienced and powerfull necromancer may attempt to create a wraith from a captive soul. This means supplying it with an etheral body so it is firmly bound to the world and can not leave it. Souls thus bound have an intense hatred for the necromancer who bound them but he will generally be unavailable for revenge. Instead wraith take out their anger on whatever living person they can get their claws on. They either destroy that unlucky soul, or more frequently attempt to turn it into a lesser wraith under their control.

Wraith creation is a dangerous business. The necromancer must catch the soul of an evil person at the moment of death. The captured soul is given extensive powers and will attempt to use them against the necromancer. If he is protected the intense hatred will be aimed at all the living. If the binding fails the soul will escape. If the person was not so evil then the necromancer will lose a lot of power and quite likely be serious or even critically hurt.

Lich binding

This is also a soul that is bound to the world, but this one is bound to some remains of its own mortal body, usually a skull or the ribcage. Anything that provides an enclosure of sorts. The Lich can not move but within its range it is a dangerous thing to encounter. It can either attempt to trap another soul in its place, so it can escape. Or it will destroy its victim to increase its power Ancient Lichs are very, very, dangerous and hiding a Lich somewhere is the necromantic equivalence of a landmine. Creating a Lich is relatively straightforward. It requires a soul and its corpse that has been almost completely decayed. A ritual that must be repeated six times then binds the soul to a part of the corpse. During this ritual the necromancer must make constant skill and willpower checks to prevent the soul from escaping, though he gets a +4 bonus for having bound the soul. Each pass of the ritual requires 3 successfull skill checks. Two consecutive fails will shatter the ritual and starting the ritual with a failure will cause the entire binding to fizzle. The amount of power released in the backlash depends on how badly the necromancer failed and how many rituals were completed. If the lich is successfully bound then it can not harm the necromancer who bound it but it will still attempt to. The bones, and the Lich contained in it can be brought by the necromancer to any place and burried there. The Lich will be unable to move and attack any living creature that comes within its range, though young Lichs may be content with small animals and let humans pass until they have increased in abilities. It is wise however not to count on that possibility.

Swamplight binding

The dead can be cursed to haunt unhallowed places, trying to trap other (living) victims to the same fate. Usually swamplights are found in places of decay, like ancient graveyards, ruins and swamps. The cursed souls manifest themselves as greenish dancing lights that mesmerise their victim and make it step into a deadly trap. The victim is then held captive while the body rots and after time another dancing light appears. Swamplights have no other weapon and are relatively harmless, though the traveller encountering them must make constant willpower checks to resist their lure. If she fails the victim will forget where she is going and be tempted to follow those pretty lights. She is spellbound but many things may snap her out of her trance and break the hold the swamplights have over their intended victim. Necromancers have long used the mesmerising powers of the swamplights to trap victims. It is possible to bind one of these souls to another object than their original home. A wand is often used, but when bound to such objects the swamplight quickly loses power, unless it is stored in a place similar to its original home.

Every moment all who can see a swamplight must make a willpower check. If they fail the become trapped by the swamplight's hypnotic powers and start to move towards a deadly trap nearby. Once trapped a victim can not break free by himself, though others may help. Anything that momentarily distracts the victim in fact will help him shake of the effect, though a -1 lingering affects penalty is applied to further willpower checks against Swamplights.

[SirHoneyBadger]

Arent elves cannibals in DF? DF Elves might love necromancy.

I just can't see dwarfs condoning it, though, and DF seems to make/ that case, rather than argue for it.

[madrain]

Except that I can totally see nobles mandating that fallen dwarven heros are called to service again, much like the dreadnoughts from Warhammer 40k.  The highest dwarven honor isn't some sissy elven rest, it's being called to the fight even after death!

[SirHoneyBadger]

Rest isn't for sissies, rest is for warriors and craftsdwarfs after their long lives of constant struggle. That's the whole reason dwarf bother to die, in the first place.

Elves live forever, what do they know?

[S_Verner]

I would rather have craftsmen who die come back to posess dorfs first.

And yeah, necromancers should be like mad scientists/junkers in Deadlands.

[Pilsu]

much like the dreadnoughts from Warhammer 40k

Hmm, I hope the diplomacy arc has some politics in it. It'd be fun to be able to have the Captain of the Guard lead the guard in a player instigated rebellion and have the civ secede from the kingdom (assuming it's ever worth appointing guards, such as guard posts being implemented). Wars would be fought and if you win, he declares himself emperor or whatever title of your choice

Bonus points for royal guard trying to put up a fight as the nobles are sentenced for hammering and personality traits determining whether they just give up immediately and/or join the rebels. Then again, the fort suddenly exploding in violence would be rather lame so there'd need to be real guard postings and nobles spending time in the appropriate lodgings that are then defended