Necromancy

For now, this is just a collection of information -- needs more work.

Author's Description
In Rapina's world necromantic power strengthens the link between a person's departed spirit and his fallen bones. The departed still exist both in whatever afterlife they are enjoying/enduring yet they also become linked to their bones in the material world. almost as if they were dreaming of an alternate material existence. For most animations the link is weak and the spirit is not aware of its alternative existence on the material plain. Like anyone who is semiconscious, normal animated skeletons are none to bright.

For more advanced animations the link is stronger. Flaming skeletons, for instance endure the flaming pits of the lower plains and the flames from the realm they reside in pass through the link between their tormented spirits and their remains. Animations that can think, speak and act with a will of their own have a much stronger link and are conscious of their existence in the material world.. They may actually flip flop in that they may be less conscious of being in the afterlife although they realize that they are. Skeletons in Rapina's world are essentially ghosts bound to their remains while still remaining in the afterlife. The magic helps them to hold their bones together and move their bones as they once did in life.

I realize that in every book and game the authors all have their own take on necromantic animations but that is essentially how they work in Rapina's world. Each skeleton is unique. The skeleton of Mick is not the same as the skeleton of Lieutenant Gage. Their personalities do not come out much, however, unless they are advanced animations like death skeletons such as Roger. The Mortancers of Mortaebius traditionally use the skeletons of evil dead because it is actually often a relief for them to get a break from their afterlife and have an opportunity to exist in the material world.

-Rapina

Another Note
The priest of any god with sufficient faith can turn or command the undead, but actually creating the undead must be done either through necromancy by a magician, or by an actual spell-casting priest of Mortaebius. Many of the higher undead monsters have a way to reproduce on their own. Guardian Thane is both a priest of Mortaebius and a necromancer.