Dorian normally would have taken offense at such a question, but after meeting Jaime and Chloe, he understood why it was asked.
"The usual things one does to commune with the dead and raise them. I don't dabble as deeply into death magic as some of my fellow countrymen though. My focus was mainly battle magic. Afflict the enemy with spirits of fear and horror, use their deaths to fuel my magic, and use their newly dead selves to fight on my behalf."
Honestly, said that way, it was no wonder most people starred at Battle mages in such horror.