Why is necromancy illegal? And then, why is Tiras the exception?
How can I get a signed copy of Kings or Pawns / Heroes or Thieves?
What is difference about Kings or Pawns now vs. the first draft?
Is Saebellus evil?
That’s a complicated answer and also one of the primary themes in Heroes or Thieves: the ambiguity of evil. To answer this would be to belittle Saebellus as a character. I do believe that there is a moral right and wrong, but to say so swiftly that an individual is good or evil… well, once again, hence the theme.
You tell me: what do you think?
What sort of magic exists in the world?
You name it, it probably exists. All forms of magic boil down to one of two sources of power: the soul or the body. If you would rather have this explained in-book, Heroes or Thieves does this. If you want to read about it now, it goes as such:
Soul magic includes such forms of magic as necromancy and the far lesser known Helmaster (named after the Hel’vari.) Both magics originate from the caster’s soul. Necromancy is always inherent at birth, but a Helmaster can develop from a mage or necromancer. Where necromancy deals with elements of death, darkness, and decay, necromancers are limited to the control of their own soul and that of the dead. Helmasters, however, go a step further and have the ability not only to control those elements of death but also the souls of the living.
Soul magic strength is dependent on the strength of the individual’s soul (aka, self-awareness and self-control).
Magic of the body includes such magics as healing, pyromancy, cyromancy, and the common mage. This magic is also present at birth. Most forms of magic can be learned by “the common mage,” though there are those whose magical composition makes them more likely to excel in certain forms and fail at others. For example, there are races, such as the Darivalians, who excel in particular areas of magic (cyromancy) and struggle to so much as cast a minor spell in anything else.
Magic of the body is dependent on the natural talents of the caster as well as the magical training—the more natural talent and excellent training, the better the mage. Like the muscles of well-trained athlete vs. a lazy man on bed rest, hard work makes all the difference.
Why is necromancy illegal? And then, why is Tiras the exception?
Necromancy takes from the gods what belongs to the gods: souls. An inexperienced, wicked, or risk-taking necromancer might steal the souls of the dead and then destroy said souls by abuse or in magical conflict. A soul that remains outside of the realm of the gods, Emal’drathar, too long is also prone to loss of self and thus loss of its eternal existance.
Tiras used only the souls of the wicked—gleaned specifically from the clutches of evil gods such as Ishkav—to cast his spells. Such souls are considered, by the gods of light and justice, to to have forfeited their right to an easy passage to Emal’drathar. Acts of service by these evil souls are considered payment for the horrible crimes those men committed in their lifetimes. However, selecting such souls—usually found in the last Gates of the Dead—requires exceptional power and risk. Tiras was the first and one of the last known necromancers to do so.
How can I get a signed copy of Kings or Pawns / Heroes or Thieves?
Either through our website store or by stopping by our booth at one of the events I will be attending.
What is difference about Kings or Pawns now vs. the first draft?
Oh man. Don’t get me started! The first draft wasn’t even a shadow to what the book is now. XD The original Kings or Pawns had Jerah, for one (if you’ve read Heroes or Thieves, you know who this is.) Jikun also had less screen time. The Navon prison plot didn’t exist. There was no time spent in Darival. There were no attacks from the Beast on Jikun’s army or the temple. (Actually, the Beast wasn’t Saebellus’ at all! It was the assassin controlled by the council.) And no Jikun poetry.
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