Necromancer Identity Crisis

[Toadpipe]

When I created a Necromancer, I read that they are the masters of death and decay. The description said that Necromancers use dark arcane magic to summon forth undead servants.

I am posting this in History and Lore in the hopes that someone can explain to me why the Necromancer mythical weapon applies Servant of Vazaelle--the pet appearance is that of a drachnid queen--and not an undead servant.

Please note, this is not a complaint or a call for a change; rather, I am trying to understand the lore behind this choice so that I can enjoy the role-playing aspects of the Necromancer class. I expected the apex pet to be a powerful undead servant. My current pet is the level 75 drachnid. And for lack of a better term, playing with this pet does not seem very Necromantic

Any insight would be appreciated.

[Cusashorn]

Because the developers decided a Dark Elf Spider goes just as well with the mastery over undead just as much as a skeleton. It's just an artistic decision that isn't explained.

[betatester7]

Vazaelle Kaleine · The Mad

Vazaelle Kaleine- (Vah-zayl Kuh-leen) Pronounciation

An Erudite by heritage, Vazaelle lived among those who were ousted from Erudin for necromancy. During her lifetime, she was a dedicated devout Cazicite, though a combination of religious zeal and prophetic visions stripped from her any semblance of sanity. Lifted up by her deity and given her own domain, the power of her madness shaped it into the semblance of old Paineel after its destruction. From her realm, Vazaelle occasionally foresees an event in the future of some unsuspecting Norrathian citizen, whose life will change drastically when that event occurs. Depending on the severity of Vazaelle's mental state during the vision, that poor individual will know some degree of madness for the rest of their days, suffering from the touch of Vazaelle the Mad. 

Vazaelle is the former goddess of madness and was an erudite practitioner of necromancy. Her existence is now in the form of the item Vazaelle the Mad, the Necromancer epic weapon.

Also I think the horse in the Invite a friend program (RaF) gives you a horse related to Vazaelle

[Toadpipe]

Thank you betatest7 for that information. Very interesting.

And Cusahorn, thanks for your point. It may be an artistic decision, but I still struggle with the concept of a necromancer summoning a Dark Elf Spider.

Does anyone know if there is any connection between Vazaelle Kaleine and Drachnids?

I am just not quite getting the character concept now. You are not raising an undead servant so are you coercing spiders to do your will? Do necromancer trap the spider and force it to do their bidding? I understand raising skeletons and zombies and undead, I do not understand a "Dark Elf Spider" being summoned from who knows where for who knows why

There may be no answer to this, but it is plaguing me--pun intended.

[kelvmor]

Toadpipe wrote:

Thank you betatest7 for that information. Very interesting.

And Cusahorn, thanks for your point. It may be an artistic decision, but I still struggle with the concept of a necromancer summoning a Dark Elf Spider.

Does anyone know if there is any connection between Vazaelle Kaleine and Drachnids?

I am just not quite getting the character concept now. You are not raising an undead servant so are you coercing spiders to do your will? Do necromancer trap the spider and force it to do their bidding? I understand raising skeletons and zombies and undead, I do not understand a "Dark Elf Spider" being summoned from who knows where for who knows why

There may be no answer to this, but it is plaguing me--pun intended.

Well, Drachnids are creations of Mayong Mistmoore, a vampire. And, well, Necromancers used to summon spiders at level 12. It's a dark thing, ya know?

[Rainmare]

the Drachnid is a fusion of tier'dal and a spider, technically, it's ripping apart/killing 2 creatures and fusing them together. sounds like a Necromancer thing to me.

but naturally, Vazelle would love something so twisted, and really what your doing with your epic is forcing Vazelle's undead essence you have to 'conjure' forth a more powerful minion. or in other words,  your using Necromancy to force a dead demigod whom you've enslaved to provide you with a servant, and she picked a drachnid.

[Zabjade]

For some reason this reminds me, I play my Necro as a Medical Scientist or sorts...you should see her liabrary/operating room. She even has a book "Medical Necromancery".

[Toadpipe]

Thank you for the great and helpful responses you all. I am feeling more like a Necromancer: 4 out of 5 muhahas.

One final rabbit trail: Do you know if Drachnids are all necromantically created? Or can they now reproduce on their own? And secondly, are there any lore specifics on the process of creating a Drachnid anywhere? I liked Rainy's description exceedingly well.

[Cusashorn]

The exact process of how the Drachnids were created is never explained, but they reproduce just like normal spiders do. If they couldn't, then they wouldn't be running wild on Kunark.

[betatester7]

From the book Lore and Legend

"Mayong's Cruelty: the Drachnids"

From the diary of Najena, Teir'Dal sorceress.

It was in the beginning of the apex of my career of sorcery when I accomplished what I still believe to be my prize achievement. They were beautiful beasts with carapaces that gleamed so black they seemed to be cut of obsidian, multi-faceted eyes that could see in dimensions my Teir'Dal servants could not even begin to comprehend, and they were many hundreds, possibly thousands, of times the size of their much smaller cousins: the black widow spider. They were beautiful, deadly, and my creations.

Once I had discovered the secret of raising these magnificent beasts, I sent some as gift to those I admired. Among these individuals was Mayong Mistmoore. Seeking to curry his favor, and to let him know exactly how capable of a sorceress I was, I sent him one as a gift. Imagine my surprise when he sent it back, irrevocably changed. And my poor emissary, L'Dalt, butchered for his experiment.

What had left as two different beasts returned as one. He had grafted the head and torso of L'Dalt onto the body of the spider, and the two walked as one. L'Dalt's personality and memories seemed to have been lost in the shift, but his cunning and magical powers were still there - capable of being carried to and utilized wherever the body of that spider could take him. It was a truly formidable combination.

I couldn't help but feel a hint of amazement and respect for Mayong's ingenuity. At the same time, however, he had stolen my design and used it to his own ends. The thank you note he sent, "Thank you for supplying Mistmoore with suitable raw ingredients for true servant", mocked me. I vowed to learn all I could of these creatures and create something better. I studied these creatures, which came to be known as Drachnids, after Mayong began to release them into Norrath in packs.

They settled into small, neatly organized colonies. The young males spun the webs, and the young females caught food for the nests. The business of the mature males was always elusive. They seemed to be carrying out orders, possibly of Mayong's, but to what ends? I could never tell. The mature females fought for dominance in the position of nest matriarch. These Widows fiercely protected their station and killed the younger females that might challenge them. It all had a beautiful simple design to it. Mayong was truly a genius.

My studies ended when I was discovered. Trapped in their webbing for days, I nearly went mad from hunger and thirst and finally, out of a purely desperate attempt to live, I managed to use my magics to get free. I evaded all who pursued me, though I know I am truly only alive today because I never had to contend with any mature Drachnids, and hid beyond their borders.

Before I was to truly escape, however, I confronted Mayong. He seemed to be waiting for me, on the edge of their territory, and his face was without pity, or humor as I approached. I outlined what had happened, expecting, well, I am not sure what, but something from him. He, however, only coldly acknowledged that his creations seemed to be establishing themselves well and learning to act together.

When I told him exactly how offended I was that he cared not for what had nearly happened to me, he merely stared at me and informed me that the only reason he had called off the mature Drachnids was because I had played a small role in their creation. I felt foolish then, incredibly so, for imagining he would be angry at his creations for capturing me. If anything, it was a testament to their prowess, and had doubtless pleased him. He told me then that my boon had been expended, and that I should not lurk around their nests anymore. Next time I would not likely find so fortuitous a path to safety. Nearly every hour of every day, I think of something I should have done or said to prove to him that he had crossed the wrong sorceress, though the truth was I did and said nothing to him. I only ran away in a wash of emotions I do not care to admit to having felt. Once back within my own dominion however, I began to plot.

I designed newer, more ferocious creatures to match and surpass his own. He, I vowed, would feel that same fear and humiliation I had, and I would not rest until he had been shamed. I am still striving. I have created creatures from all manners and pitches of nightmares, but none seem to have quite such deadly perfection as those beasts.

I will find one though. It is only a matter of time. And then Mayong Mistmoore will regret what he did to me, and regret having ever made the Drachnids.

***

By my blood, 

Najena

Sorceress of the Teir'Dal

[Cusashorn]

^ Like I said, the exact process of HOW the Drachnids were created is not explained. Saying "Najena created them" doesn't explain the process in which she went about creating them.

[Meirril]

I'm just going to point out, necromancers raise dead things. While the dracnid you have following you around isn't obviously undead it is possible that your raising a dead dracnid to serve you. It would make sense in Kunark considering that dracnids are fairly powerful and most players have provided an ample supply of dracnid corpses in Kylong Plains...

...that and it looks cool.

[Aneova]

Cusashorn wrote:

^ Like I said, the exact process of HOW the Drachnids were created is not explained. Saying "Najena created them" doesn't explain the process in which she went about creating them.

Well... when a Tier'Dal and a Giant Spider REALLY love each other....