callofcthulhu Necromancy in Call of Cthulhu

[NecroNerd]

Hello there, I was wondering when it comes to Call of Cthulhu whether necromancy - I.e. raising dead to have as minions - is included in the overall rule book.

Thanks,

NecroNerd

[nclarke]

There's Create Zombie in the Keeper's book but the corpse continues to rot and needs replacement at regular intervals.

[Insanity]

There is a Resurrection Spell, but it is more of an alchemical process than a spell, and certainly not what one would expect if used to D&D.

[NecroNerd]

13 hours ago, Insanity said:

There is a Resurrection Spell, but it is more of an alchemical process than a spell, and certainly not what one would expect if used to D&D.

I've never played D&D in my life ?. But I like skeletons so...

[nclarke]

There is no animate skeleton spell  in CoC although there's nothing to stop you from making one up. Plenty of other D100 systems have something you can cannibalise.

[Darius West]

In fact there are multiple spells for creating zombies in Call of C'thulhu.  Black Binding features a Z tha claws its way out of a grave and involves a potion containing at least one illegal ingredient.  Bind Soul can create a form of zombification as it leaves an empty body that a sorceror might be able to pilot about with the right spells.  Compel Flesh turns an unwilling victim into an obedient robot (or allows a bound soul body to be controlled).  Create Zombi (voodoo) the classic Wade Davis real life zombie.  Create Zombie involves a blood transfer and an animating smooch, so you had better be into all things necro, not just the "mancy".  Eyes of the Zombie is another "pilot corpse" spell.  Gray Binding creates an uncontrolled Zombie, which is always a great idea.  Soul Extraction (voodoo) very much like Bind Soul except that it is a voodoo variant that involves putting a soul in a clay pot a la the horror movie The Serpent and the Rainbow (links to the book of the same name are tenuous at best).  

There were also the spells Create Corpse Dust which created a dust barrier that zombies can't cross.  

7th Ed actually devotes pages 243-245 to discussions of various Create Z spells.

Again, nothing dealing with the creation of animate skeletons, but it is feasible that a completely rotted zombie with the correct animation spell and intact or improvised tendons could remain animate.  Perhaps they are powered by invisible spectral muscles that only the gifted or truly cursed can see?

Edited March 20, 2017 by Darius West

[theWoozle]

I'm creating a book of necromancy for an upcoming convention one-shot. The above info is really usefull but four years out of date as of this writing. Wondering if there's anything new to consider? The Grand Grimoire of Magic is providing lots of interesting ideas.

Also, any insights of creating a book out of human flesh? 

Edited September 8, 2021 by theWoozle

[Ejlertson]

On 9/8/2021 at 5:10 PM, theWoozle said:

 

Also, any insights of creating a book out of human flesh? 

I can, hypothetically, answer questions about that.

[AlHazred]

On 9/8/2021 at 11:10 AM, theWoozle said:

Also, any insights of creating a book out of human flesh? 

*looks around furtively*

Why, are you a cop? If you're a cop, you have to say so...