What use is death magic?

[Ballbarian]

I can be rolling in piles of different gem types, but always seem to be running short on death gems. I spend them almost as quick as they come in. I also tend to (almost) always have at least 3 levels of death magic on my pretender regardless of the nation that I am playing.

I typically summon mound fiends to help with spending the death gems. Skull Face, Skull Staff, Standard of the Damned, Wraith Sword, Horror Helmet, Skull Mentors, to name a few items. If there are any gems left over they go to summons.