Editing Undead (section)

== Background ==
In places where large numbers the dead aren’t properly buried or cremated, for example right after a war, a natural process occurs where the magic in the air only has to fluctuate a bit to cause the dead to be reanimated as undead.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/09/27/3-17-t/ Chapter 3.17 T]</ref> The undead can naturally sense the living, and instinctively seek to kill.<ref name=":0" /> In large numbers, the undead will generate enough death magic to be self-sustaining.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/07/19/7-36-c/ Chapter 7.36 C]</ref> Animals rarely become natural undead outside of [[Noelictus]], and even there, invertebrates do not rise without an extreme concentration of death magic due to lacking bones, which is where death magic is stored. Death magic will accumulate in the head of an undead, which makes it a weak spot as they can be put down if the head sustains enough damage, though headless undead are still a possible occurrence.<ref name=":0" />

In general, the undead rise in a certain order. First zombies, then skeletons and if the slaughter is great enough, even Ghouls. There is usually a ratio of one Ghoul rising for every ten zombies, and zombies will turn into Ghouls over time.<ref name=":0">Gravesong Book One</ref> Given time, stronger undead will emerge as well, like Crypt Lords and higher undead.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/09/28/3-18-t/ Chapter 3.18 T]</ref> Some classes naturally result in stronger undead, such as [Warriors] becoming Ghouls. Some species also naturally result in stronger undead variants, such as [[half-Elves]] due to their magical nature.<ref name=":1">[[Huntsong]]</ref> Elemental undead can emerge in certain environments, such as Frostmarrow Skeletons rising in cold climates.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/04/12/9-41-pt-2/ Chapter 9.41 (Pt. 2)]</ref> 

Methods to mitigate the natural rising of undead until the body is properly tended to include using Gravesalt (salt, ashes, silver), having a [Gravetender] see to the body, and putting plants near the body to eat the death magic. A [Priest] blessing the dead may also help, though it is yet unconfirmed.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/09/04/9-13/ Chapter 9.13]</ref> Proper burial includes decapitating the body and spreading salt between the head and shoulders,<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/12/14/9-28/ Chapter 9.28]</ref> or lining the coffin with silver.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/06/10/9-46-s/ Chapter 9.46 S]</ref>

[Mages] can also reanimate the dead as well, and the ones who do so are generally called [Necromancers] and obtain it as a [[Classes|Class]]. Not only can [Necromancers] reanimate the dead faster, but they can also design and enchant them. Undead creations made purely of bone requires more magic to animate than flesh undead.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/10/22/6-51-a/ Chapter 6.51 A]</ref>