Ritual to become a dread necromancer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ritual to become a dread necromancer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Slad Chaos
08-11-07, 05:42 PM Hello, is it possible for a wizard to become a dread necromancer if the Deadening ritual that requires the sacrifice of three virgins who have dedicated their lives to a god of Evil. The virgins are killed in an elaborate ceremony involving numerous ritual implements and highly complex incantations. In the end, the bodies of the virgins are sprinkled with the blood of a freshly slain black unicorn. They are taken to a cemetery dedicated to a god of light and interred, desecrating the burial grounds.

Do this function or not if the character is chaotic neutral and don't want make an wholly evil act ?

If a character is a wizard, these wizard levels exchanged in dread necromancers level ?
For the score necesseray for the spells, are there modifications between the Intelligence and Charisma score ?

How did a black unicorn create ?

Thanks for your future answer.
Slad Chaos
08-12-07, 08:28 AM Nobody to answer me ?
Faraer
08-12-07, 07:20 PM I suggest you post in the appropriate forum (http://forums.gleemax.com/forumdisplay.php?f=17) and specify which optional book you're asking about.
godbeepit
08-12-07, 11:11 PM Actually, I believe this might be the correct forum as The Deadening Ritual is FR-specific.

To the OP, I believe that the ritual does in fact need to be sacrifices devoted to a good deity simply because of the evil nature of the class. Heroes of Horror specifically notes that even though any single dread necromancer may harbor some vague notions of using his power for good the class itself requires many evil acts and as such no dread necromancer can have a good alignment. So I would rule that this act is one of the many noted as evil for the purpose of the alignment restriction. In fact, Heroes of Horror states that no good-aligned deities of death would even harbor dread necromancers. And I can easily see that as no good deity would take the offering.

On another note, sacrificing itself (no matter who the sacrifice) is an evil act. Not intending to spark any heated debate, but both the Book of Vile Darkness and Book of Exalted Deeds seem to be in agreement. I can't really see any good god being all too pleased with somebody being slaughtered in his name on his altar. They tend to be a tad bit more on the innocent side.
Slad Chaos
08-13-07, 04:17 AM You didn't understand my question.

This ritual didn't dedicate to a deity.

It is a ritual to desecrate a ground of a good deity, not an offering.
godbeepit
08-13-07, 04:12 PM Oh, well, in that case... I'd say it's possible. I don't know why somebody is attempting to not commit an evil act but still desecrate the burial grounds of a good deity. I personally see the Deadening as a profane ritual that could, if the DM wants you to, be considered an act of such evil proportions as to leave a lasting imprint on the location at which it was performed. There really aren't official rulings in books, especially since this was published in a web enhancement, so it really should just be left up to DM discretion. The Deadening doesn't really have many other details.
Slad Chaos
08-13-07, 05:03 PM And for my other questions ?
godbeepit
08-13-07, 05:33 PM Well, as I said it hasn't been filled out in complete detail yet. So...

1) I would say that whether the wizard levels can be traded out would be solely up to your DM's mercy. I can't see a DM forcing you to lose your wizard levels, but whether you can or not by choice is a matter of taste.

2) The dread necromancer would probably be played out exactly as it is. As such, Intelligence would have no impact upon his spellcasting.

3) I know the black unicorn was statted out in detail somewhere but I can't remember what book. Probably Monster Manual 2 if any, but that'd just be my first guess. It should have details on how it's created.

Just remember, when the books don't specify it only gives the DM room to interpret and create.
EytanBernstein
08-21-07, 12:47 AM Just remember, when the books don't specify it only gives the DM room to interpret and create.

That's exactly how I see it. The ritual is not really a rules element. It is more of a plot point. If a sorcerer with a lot of necromancy wanted to convert her levels to dread necromancer, I'd allow her to use the ritual. You could also use the retraining rules of the PHB2 in conjunction with the ritual. Otherwise, I think it's best to leave it up to the DM.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Slad Chaos 08-11-07, 05:42 PM	Hello, is it possible for a wizard to become a dread necromancer if the Deadening ritual that requires the sacrifice of three virgins who have dedicated their lives to a god of Evil. The virgins are killed in an elaborate ceremony involving numerous ritual implements and highly complex incantations. In the end, the bodies of the virgins are sprinkled with the blood of a freshly slain black unicorn. They are taken to a cemetery dedicated to a god of light and interred, desecrating the burial grounds. Do this function or not if the character is chaotic neutral and don't want make an wholly evil act ? If a character is a wizard, these wizard levels exchanged in dread necromancers level ? For the score necesseray for the spells, are there modifications between the Intelligence and Charisma score ? How did a black unicorn create ? Thanks for your future answer.
Slad Chaos 08-12-07, 08:28 AM	Nobody to answer me ?
Faraer 08-12-07, 07:20 PM	I suggest you post in the appropriate forum (http://forums.gleemax.com/forumdisplay.php?f=17) and specify which optional book you're asking about.
godbeepit 08-12-07, 11:11 PM	Actually, I believe this might be the correct forum as The Deadening Ritual is FR-specific. To the OP, I believe that the ritual does in fact need to be sacrifices devoted to a good deity simply because of the evil nature of the class. Heroes of Horror specifically notes that even though any single dread necromancer may harbor some vague notions of using his power for good the class itself requires many evil acts and as such no dread necromancer can have a good alignment. So I would rule that this act is one of the many noted as evil for the purpose of the alignment restriction. In fact, Heroes of Horror states that no good-aligned deities of death would even harbor dread necromancers. And I can easily see that as no good deity would take the offering. On another note, sacrificing itself (no matter who the sacrifice) is an evil act. Not intending to spark any heated debate, but both the Book of Vile Darkness and Book of Exalted Deeds seem to be in agreement. I can't really see any good god being all too pleased with somebody being slaughtered in his name on his altar. They tend to be a tad bit more on the innocent side.
Slad Chaos 08-13-07, 04:17 AM	You didn't understand my question. This ritual didn't dedicate to a deity. It is a ritual to desecrate a ground of a good deity, not an offering.
godbeepit 08-13-07, 04:12 PM	Oh, well, in that case... I'd say it's possible. I don't know why somebody is attempting to not commit an evil act but still desecrate the burial grounds of a good deity. I personally see the Deadening as a profane ritual that could, if the DM wants you to, be considered an act of such evil proportions as to leave a lasting imprint on the location at which it was performed. There really aren't official rulings in books, especially since this was published in a web enhancement, so it really should just be left up to DM discretion. The Deadening doesn't really have many other details.
Slad Chaos 08-13-07, 05:03 PM	And for my other questions ?
godbeepit 08-13-07, 05:33 PM	Well, as I said it hasn't been filled out in complete detail yet. So... 1) I would say that whether the wizard levels can be traded out would be solely up to your DM's mercy. I can't see a DM forcing you to lose your wizard levels, but whether you can or not by choice is a matter of taste. 2) The dread necromancer would probably be played out exactly as it is. As such, Intelligence would have no impact upon his spellcasting. 3) I know the black unicorn was statted out in detail somewhere but I can't remember what book. Probably Monster Manual 2 if any, but that'd just be my first guess. It should have details on how it's created. Just remember, when the books don't specify it only gives the DM room to interpret and create.
EytanBernstein 08-21-07, 12:47 AM	Just remember, when the books don't specify it only gives the DM room to interpret and create. That's exactly how I see it. The ritual is not really a rules element. It is more of a plot point. If a sorcerer with a lot of necromancy wanted to convert her levels to dread necromancer, I'd allow her to use the ritual. You could also use the retraining rules of the PHB2 in conjunction with the ritual. Otherwise, I think it's best to leave it up to the DM.