Cybernecromancy is a highly illegal and morally controversial practice within Neo-Europa involving the reanimation of digital consciousness from the dead. It falls under the broader domain of Depth Witchcraft and is considered the darkest and most dangerous subset of spacer arts. The technique gained infamy during the Veil War of 2080, leading to its formal prohibition by the Council of Nobles.
Origins
Cybernecromancy evolved from Depth Witch techniques used to extract or reconstruct memories and personalities from deceased individuals by salvaging their Access Devices, such as the Spinal Gate, Cradle Jack, or Neural Mirror. Originally developed for therapeutic or forensic purposes—including grief counseling, interrogation, and war memorials—these methods were later corrupted into weaponized resurrection.
Methods
Cybernecromancers (often shortened to CyberNecros) extract core code, mnemonic imprints, and residual data fragments from the corpses of high-signal individuals. These fragments are processed through blackbox neural interfaces and often reinforced with illegal AI scaffolding. The resulting entities are not merely echoes—they can evolve, communicate, and execute complex objectives.
Common techniques include:
- Ghost-coding: Emulating a deceased mind's decision-making through code recursion.
- Echo stitching: Combining fragments from multiple minds to create a tactical hybrid.
- Mass Reanimation: Deploying hundreds of synthetic replicas in coordinated assaults on ICE networks.
The Veil War of 2080
The most catastrophic instance of Cybernecromancy occurred when a rogue Depth Witch named Persephone Gray raised an army of digital revenants using thousands of harvested access devices. This army surged through the Depths layer of Cypherspace, overwhelming digital infrastructures, collapsing memory banks, and toppling minor corporate subnetworks.
The event, known as the Veil War, lasted 37 days and forced the Seven Families to collaborate militarily within both physical and virtual domains. The war ended when Persephone Gray was destroyed—though a replica of her mind was later captured and sealed by Swert Systems.
Legal Status
Cybernecromancy is banned under Directive Black-VII, enforced by the Council of Nobles and prosecuted by their security proxies. Possession of ghost-code or unauthorized replica engines carries a sentence of memory erasure or permanent exile to Substructure-1.
Cultural Impact
Despite its outlaw status, Cybernecromancy has acquired a mythic reputation among fringe Spacers and radical Depth Witches. Some regard it as an art form; others see it as heresy. Echo cults, rogue chapel nodes, and ghost worship circles continue to emerge in the Smart Slums, feeding the belief that the dead can still lead the digital future.
Notable Figures
- Persephone Gray – The originator of the Veil War, now imprisoned as a living AI replica.
- Depth Witches – The broader category of technoshamans from which CyberNecros split off.
- Swert Systems – The corporation responsible for capturing and containing Gray’s replica.