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RickDeckard:

--- Quote ---February 9 773 BC

List the eight school of the arcane

Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy and Transmutation.

Shields, barriers and other such protections.... Which school?

Abjuration

Channeling power to manifest the elements for destruction goals... Which school?

Evocation

Searching for answers...... Perhaps asking questions from beings from another plane or dimension? Which School?

Illusion Divination

Casting shadows..... Altering perception.... Masking ones identity to appear as another...Which School?

Transmutation Illusion

Altering shape, forming and manipulation.... Forcing physcial matter to conform to your desire...Which School?

Necromancy Transmutation

Why here? Why the Red Academy?

Power. Knowledge. Serve Lord Hazlik. (Note, if anything like the others here, he is an arse.)

Further Notes:

-Wear red.
-Counterspelling is very annoying but useful against an enemy witch.
-Evard's Black Tentacles aimed at the feet bypasses Counterspelling.
-Avoid entering Fanes, Lawgivers will probably burn me at the stake.
-Find the nearest whorehouse.
--- End quote ---

RickDeckard:

--- Quote ---February 17 773 BC

What makes Necromancy the preeminent school for practitioners of the arcane above all other areas of study?

Necromancy governs all things that pertain to life and reanimation.  While various schools may have dominion over the mind, may manipulate perception, allow farsight and divination into future and past events. None hold a sway over the very essence of being, existing, except necromancy.

Stages of Undeath.

The states of undeath are as follows, note that some of the various reanimated encompass multiple states:

-Decaying Corporeal.
-Preserved Corporeal.
-Preserved Corporeal requiring sustenance.
-Transient Incorporeal.
-Haunting Incorporeal.
-Humanoid.
-Mindless.
-Sentient.
-Composite Amalgamations.

Sub-classifications of the Corporeal Undead:

-Skeletal. (Typical of the most basic of reanimated entities.)
-Decayed. (Typical of the most basic of reanimated entities, renowned for their ability to transmit infection, withered are also capable of disease in some cases)
-Withered (Nearly preserved undead, flesh becomes desiccated, similar to preservation methods such as mummification. Though not as prevalent as the decayed)
-Non-humanoid.
-Intact. (Closely resemble their former living selves, though they will always have tell-tale signs of the necromantic energies that are utilized to provide mobility.)

Classification of a Ghoul

-Humanoid
-Sentient
-Preserved Corporeal requiring sustenance

What are some symptomatic manifestations of necromantic energies that could be observed in intact undead for identification?

The chill that typically accompanies negative energy, the living dead will not breath unless actively mimicking the act, nor will reflexes common in the living be intact; blink reactions will be delayed, and pain reactions similarly delayed or absent. Also react poorly to positive energy.

Physiology of the reanimated:

* Digestion
* Healing and tissue reconstruction
* Rest and sleeping cycles making up the metabolic functions;
* Propagation
* Development
* Senses.
Digestion

-The diet of various reanimated entities is highly dependent on their classification.  Some require no sustenance, some have inescapable cravings, and other are dependent on specific dietary requirements.
-Prolonged periods of abstaining from sustenance for those required to feed could result in the equivalent of insanity or frenzied behavior, though rarely has it resulted in destruction of the specimen. (Note, more of a insatiable craving and desire for consumption, it is unknown if they really /need/ it, because their lifespan outmatches our own...something to study.)

Healing and tissue reconstruction

Infusion of necromantic spells often can aid in the repair or reconstruction of tissue in the undead.  Especially useful for those without inherent means of restoring itself.  This is counter to the effects of positive energy.

Rest and sleeping cycles

The undead do not require rest like the living and, therefore, are tireless in their efforts.  This is particularly useful when employing the mindless reanimations for utilization in labor efforts or other mundane tasks

Propagation.

Many of the undead already possess a means for transmission and creation of similarly classified undead. The slaying of a host is nearly always a prerequisite for transmission.

Development

Undead do not age as the living, mostly due to the suspension of many of the physiological functions

Senses

(Anecdotal observations.)
-Empirical evidences, and various academic studies...In regards to vision, undead have an uncanny ability to still discern via sight even in nearly pitch black conditions.  Evidence has supported that they typically exhibit superior ocular aptitudes. 
-In addition, empirical studies have concluded that the animated dead retain olfactory and auditory capability, unless otherwise impaired by physical deformities or damage.
-Tactile senses additionally remain, though extensive research has discerned that it is inhibited or muted, based upon a tests that resulted in a retardation and delayed reaction to physical stimuli. 
-Corporeal undead, those still retaining a tongue such as a wight or ghoul, appear to retain their sense of taste.  Those with unescapable hunger seem to revel in the feeding process itself.

Further Notes:

-Explore more on the undead in regards to smell.
-That woman is a lot of effort to attempt to woo, obsessed with the dead more.
--- End quote ---

RickDeckard:

--- Quote ---March 9 773 BC

Practical Applications of Necromantic Thaumaturgy

In order to protect ourselves from the poisonous water of the depths the Fifth Circle Necromancy spell "Feign Undeath" was used in conjuction with a spell that allowed the recipient to survive in the conditions below. Upon entry to the caverns, the Skeletal undead were still present as stated by [REDACTED] mining away at their task and were not provoked nor took interest in the students. Even schools of fish were undead (only their skeletons remaining) and various other hostile creatures were present seemingly unphased by the toxic waters that otherwise were a great hazard to the expedition without our incantation.

Among the caverns were left over remains of varying degrees, I myself found a staff of arcane properties that possess fire spells (Firebrand and Fireball) & a note that that was handed over to [REDACTED] with the staff. The further we progressed the more dangerous the expedition grew, with large tentacles, a power underneath beast capable of spellcasting (Student [REDACTED] was most vulnerable to this and took a great effort to subdue this creature).

The greatest interest of the expedition was stumbling upon an altar of an ancient civilization known as El-Koth, a non-humanoid species with chitinous husks with the altar appearing to be...sentient. When [REDACTED]  smeared blood from his hand and [REDACTED] , the altar "sucked" up the blood & after smashing the near death [REDACTED]  against the altar (due to her having suffered bloody wounds from engagements with the underwater creatures), it drained her life force practically "feeding" from her.

After [REDACTED] was brought back to life, the expedition were forced to make a hasty retreat due to underwater quakes causing the foundations to become unstable to which the expedition returned to the Red Academy. Overall findings would fascinate the historians of the Academy and the expedition highlighted the useful properties of the Feign Undeath spell.

Further Notes:

-The note left behind by the Zulkir is interesting....despite the denials of the Administrator...
-Being forced fed seven meals a day for an upcoming experiment is a difficult task, I barely ate two meals a day typically.

--- End quote ---

RickDeckard:

--- Quote ---March 16 773 BC

Test Subject: Barovian, Female.

Title: Early Development Transformation Procedure (EDTP) Lesson.

Conducted By: [REDACTED]

Procedure:

The first part of the experiment began with a hysterectomy of the restrained test subject beginning with the sedation of the donor, this was however skipped at the request of Administrator [REDACTED]. The first incision consists of exposing the uterus which can be done in several ways, however it was performed an abdominal access done via horizontal incision through the lower abdomen. Due to the lack of sedation, it was painful for the test subject especially considering the internal organs such as a uterus lack pain-sensitive innervation. [REDACTED] stated than an amputation knife is is preferable for the rest of the procedure, as it's size and shape allows for the removal of the organ in a more timely fashion.

Final incisions were made to remove the organ, it should be noted that his particular procedure did not requite hacksaw or mallet, as those instruments were reserved for the thick flesh of a ghoul. The wounds were then sutured (with septoplasty to prevent scarring) and considering the amputation was precise, no arteries were needed to be sutured. Administrator [REDACTED] used a cantrip known to the renown necromancers of the Red Academy to preserve the Uterus. The Test Subject survived the procedure and after a successful domination spell by yours truly, was sent out of the Academy where she can continue her wretched life elsewhere far away from Hazlan.

--- End quote ---


--- Quote ---March 16 773 BC

Test Subject #1: Rashemi, Pregnant, Female.

Test Subject #2: Corporal Undead, Female (formerly).

Title: Early Development Transformation Procedure (EDTP)

Conducted By: [REDACTED]

Procedure:

Test Subject One was sedated after both test subjects were shackled to the operating tables. This procedure consists of three steps, two of which already explained in previous demonstrations. This current experiment is divided into three parts, the removal Test Subject's Two stomach, the hysterectomy and the attachment of the uterus onto the ghoul's abdominal cavity. Reason for a ghoul to host the uterus with the fetus is the overgrown stomach, which provides the perfect room for an impregnated uterus.

As stated by [REDACTED] , as seen in previous cliinical trials, the union between live and undead tissue leads to a Transient Undead State, this state can not be studied properly because it does not last long enough due to the subject perishing rapidly and becoming a corporeal undead. Aim of the procedure is to impose a Transient Undead State, or TUS, onto the unborn child. The hypothesis of this procedure is that it will be able to survive the procedure due to it's lack of development , which it may be able to sustain TUS and indefinitely and thus allowed to be studied properly.

The procedure began with the use of a hacksaw and Test Subject's Two stomach was removed, with a mallet used to fracture the ribs and a bone file to file over the fractured ribs, leaving a smooth surface. The same procedure above the hysterectomy was performed on Test Subject One, the uterus with the unborn fetus transferred over to Test Subject Two. [REDACTED] stated that "Ghouls have no metabolism, however, their stomach is their prime source of negative energy and thus their vestigial arteries will be connected to the placenta arteries, in such a way that the fetus will now be fed by the negative energy as an undead creature would."

The organ was sutured successfully, Test Subject One expired while Test Subject Two's pulsating womb throbbed and thrashed, ripples on the exposed viscera lining forming. Unfortunately Test Subject Two expired with the centerpiece...expired.

Hypothesis rejected.

--- End quote ---

RickDeckard:
[A blank entry, clearly there is much on the mind of the Student on the eve of a big day...]

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