Nihilomancy

The most easily understood of the newest arcane arts, even if the methods of achieving it are beyond the ken of most. Through the use of Nihilotheurgy, the practical application of Nihilomancy, one uses magic to cast spells based around the themes of ruin, nothingness, and termination. Like the other new arts, Nihilomancers have their own names for these used within their circles: Erasure, the Void, and Severance.

With Nihilomancers being a new development, their existence and the art they practice are not well known. Those who know of them, however, come to fear them. They practice a spellcraft of endings and nothingness. Almost anathema to what the Planar Council represents.

Because of its terrifying nature, Nihilomancy is often misunderstood as "death magic" or confused with Animancy. However, where Animancy manipulates the soul and the energies of the dead, Nihilomancy simply enforces an end to existence itself. A Nihilomancer does not kill a target to raise it; they delete the target so that it can never be raised.

With Nihilomancers being a recent development in the arcane community, their existence is viewed with extreme caution by the Planar Council. The ability to permanently erase matter or sever magical connections makes them anathema to traditional preservationists. Despite this stigma, Nihilomancers have no trouble finding work on the battlefield, where their ability to bypass defenses and permanently remove threats is invaluable. However, many practitioners struggle against this violent stereotype, seeking to use their powers for waste disposal, hazard containment, or the safe deactivation of rogue magical constructs.