For those wondering what this might be, its part of an out of character/in character thing I'm doing to illustrate some different ways of playing/portraying Necromancers, the first few parts are linked below.
Necromancy Primer part 5: The Master/Mistress of Shrouds.
The Master/Mistress of Shrouds is what we may understand as a spiritualist or clairvoyant and uses Necromancy to pierce the veils between life and the after life, something they refer to as "the Shroud" and "the other side". They routinely speak with the dead and collect all manner of information. They can appear quite distant and sometimes seem to be focusing on things behind the person they are talking too. They will often claim to see the ghosts and spirits of the dead or hear the voices of someone talking to them from "the other side" and attempt to pass on messages from the dead or try to extract information or confessions from the living, and help the restless spirits find peace.
Those that master the shroud are often from Charlatan or Acolyte backgrounds, using their powers to either help people come to terms with tragic events or using their abilities to fleece them for everything they have. All have some skill with Arcana and Religion and use this knowledge to create elaborate rituals and séances and not surprisingly, can often possess a certain charisma which draws people to them like moths to a flame.
They rely on spells such as Speak with Dead and Contact Other Plane and many have researched their own spells that mimic commonly available ones but with some minor variances such as Shadow Form (a reflavoured invisibility), Ghost Flight (fly), Ghost Form (Etherealness), Minor Ghostly Image (Minor Illusion but only used to create shadow or ghost like images and make eerie sounds like chains rattling), Summon Shadow (Animate Dead that summons a single Shadow instead of Zombies or Skeletons) and Summon Ghostly Image (Silent Image). Most develop their spell casting to be quite ritualistic in style, using material components even when the spell does not commonly demand their use.
The Master/Mistress of Shrouds advances in any way they choose, seeking out skills, spells and abilities that aid in their information gathering, some remain solely Wizardly in their search, while those with more sinister intent may take up work with Rogues and Thieves guilds to help in their subterfuge and duping of people during their "séances" or to aid in ransacking tombs for information. Some form bonds with spirits from the other side and develop a strange teacher/student relationship.
The range of equipment they can be found using ranges from tribal style dress and using wicked style ceremonial dagger and pouches of components as they dance around a fire to contact the other side, or they may look more like a noble, dressed well and using a crystal ball spell focus to speak with the dead and walking with a cane (which hides a dagger in case the locals get a bit unruly) and everything in between.
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* Need a character idea? Search for "Rob76's Unused" in the Story and Lore section.
For those wondering what this might be, its part of an out of character/in character thing I'm doing to illustrate some different ways of playing/portraying Necromancers, the first few parts are linked below.
Pt 1: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/class-forums/wizard/45953-a-primer-for-those-thinking-of-taking-up
pt 2: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/class-forums/wizard/47660-necromancy-primer-pt2-introduction-to-the-curse
pt 3: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/class-forums/wizard/48560-necromancy-primer-pt3-introduction-to-the-doctors
pt 4: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/class-forums/wizard/48896-necromancy-primer-part-4-a-study-of-two-of-the
Right, on to part 5.....
Necromancy Primer part 5: The Master/Mistress of Shrouds.
The Master/Mistress of Shrouds is what we may understand as a spiritualist or clairvoyant and uses Necromancy to pierce the veils between life and the after life, something they refer to as "the Shroud" and "the other side". They routinely speak with the dead and collect all manner of information. They can appear quite distant and sometimes seem to be focusing on things behind the person they are talking too. They will often claim to see the ghosts and spirits of the dead or hear the voices of someone talking to them from "the other side" and attempt to pass on messages from the dead or try to extract information or confessions from the living, and help the restless spirits find peace.
Those that master the shroud are often from Charlatan or Acolyte backgrounds, using their powers to either help people come to terms with tragic events or using their abilities to fleece them for everything they have. All have some skill with Arcana and Religion and use this knowledge to create elaborate rituals and séances and not surprisingly, can often possess a certain charisma which draws people to them like moths to a flame.
They rely on spells such as Speak with Dead and Contact Other Plane and many have researched their own spells that mimic commonly available ones but with some minor variances such as Shadow Form (a reflavoured invisibility), Ghost Flight (fly), Ghost Form (Etherealness), Minor Ghostly Image (Minor Illusion but only used to create shadow or ghost like images and make eerie sounds like chains rattling), Summon Shadow (Animate Dead that summons a single Shadow instead of Zombies or Skeletons) and Summon Ghostly Image (Silent Image). Most develop their spell casting to be quite ritualistic in style, using material components even when the spell does not commonly demand their use.
The Master/Mistress of Shrouds advances in any way they choose, seeking out skills, spells and abilities that aid in their information gathering, some remain solely Wizardly in their search, while those with more sinister intent may take up work with Rogues and Thieves guilds to help in their subterfuge and duping of people during their "séances" or to aid in ransacking tombs for information. Some form bonds with spirits from the other side and develop a strange teacher/student relationship.
The range of equipment they can be found using ranges from tribal style dress and using wicked style ceremonial dagger and pouches of components as they dance around a fire to contact the other side, or they may look more like a noble, dressed well and using a crystal ball spell focus to speak with the dead and walking with a cane (which hides a dagger in case the locals get a bit unruly) and everything in between.