Emmrich Volkarin - Official Companion Thread [Spoilers]

Anyone else notice that the Mourn Watch symbol not only resembles a skull but also a scarab beetle? That would be appropriate in terms of Egyptian mythology and the film the Mummy but does it have any significance in Thedas?

Considering that Thedas is a magical world, I assume they'd do (or be reputed) as doing something magical or mystical as well.

Okay, forget about Neve and her association with snakes. Look at Emmrich's outfit from the back in this image. That looks positively reptilian, not to mention his staff also has a snake.  Still, looking on the bright side, at least it isn't boring and predictable black as you might associate with a death cult.  Nice change to have a bit of colour in our necromancer.

No mention anywhere of him lacking a left arm. However, I did mention about the difference in his hands in the group picture. I was focusing on the right one, which I was informed was a glove but they are definitely different and to be honest neither looks natural.  His promo tarot seems to confirm the glove but why does he keep it on when he is relaxing?  The left sleeve does look much lighter than the rest of his outfit.   Is that just the lighting or is it an artificial arm attached at the shoulder?

I think the "snake" on the staff is actually a spine connected to the skull at the top. I do like the pop of color and the height. Either he is very tall or the Rook next to him is a very short qunari.

Q: Is Necromancy Blood Magic?

Patrick (via Bluesky): In my mind, "blood mage" and "necromancer" are two different practices. Certain necromantic works might use blood magic, but the two are not synonymous.

I suppose they may use a corpses blood as part of the ritual to draw a spirit into it?
Which would technically be blood magic but as it's not being used on, or to kill/harm, living people it's not considered as such.

They're not sacrificing people, or using mind control, or even cutting themselves to power spells so people don't a associate them with blood magic?

Maybe his hand is cursed and mummified

It may be there is a degree of mind control involving the spirit being used. They maintain the spirits cross willingly into the corpses having being "displaced" by the soul going in the opposite direction but we really don't know enough about the practice to be certain of this. Solas and Cole seemed unhappy about it, the former owing to the possible enslavement of the spirit and the latter because he suggested the spirits are actually harmed by the process. No doubt we shall discover more from Emmrich.

I assume you're thinking about Absolution with this. There is no denying there was blood magic involved there in what seemed to be a necromancy related spell. All very dodgy.

I seem to recall that back in DA2 when we were tracking those escaped Starkhaven mages to the cave, when we started being attacked by skeletons, Anders said something to the effect that they are raising the dead and there was some implication that they were using blood magic to do so. Also, that whole business with the rogue mage using women to recreate his lover and then animate it was linked to blood magic and necromancy. So, whilst not all necromancy may involve blood magic, there has always been a suggestion that there is a link between the two, particularly when it comes to animating corpses and skeletons or binding particular souls/spirits to them.

🤔...
What if someone romances Emmrich, and for some reason he can't (yes, I know the man has raised bigger things from the dead, and I'm also not age-shaming him)... perform? So Manfred steps in/up, no pun intended, and that's what the Devs were referring to about players boning a skeleton, potentially? Could be a funny scene, sure, but also kind of effed up. For one, the dead can't give consent. Ask that cute guy from Saltburn. My eyes are still burning. #SayYES2Necromancers #SayNO2Necrophilia