Necromancy -- the magic of death and the undead -- is feared and viewed with horror by most. But some who practice this blackest of arts know that power of any sort, when wielded by a just and wise hand, can be bent to serve any master for good or evil. In "Secrets of the City Entombed," explore lost Rahesh, the city destroyed by fire and ash where the study of necromancy once achieved immense power.

Evil and necromancy seem to go hand in skeletal hand. The parasitic presence of a vampire, the cold intellect of a lich, the unstoppable rage of the death knight -- these products of necromancy rightfully earn the magic its reputation for malevolence. Yet an axe can be used to cut wood or to hew men. Surely necromancy can be put to good purpose. This is the dream of those who seek necromantic knowledge in taboo Rahesh, the City Entombed, and these Scholars of Sin will share their secrets with those who dare to learn them.

This article supports Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead. The book provides a feast of great ideas and game material for Dungeon Masters, and players will find its magic items and rituals useful. The powers presented in this article offer players more ways to add an air of necromancy to their characters, and the setting for the discovery of those powers gives DMs a great place to reveal material from Open Grave. In addition, this article features material for classes from Player's Handbook 2, out in March, 2009.