Editing Undead

Undead are [[monsters]] that are self-formed or reanimated from the dead.

== 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" /> and create more undead. Only powerful undead can resist and ignore this instinct.<ref name=":3">{{VERef|10.40 T}}</ref> 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 with enough time and death magic.<ref name=":0" /> When undead perish, they typically crumble or turn to dust. But the possibility of reanimation always exists if there's potential, usually if a head remains.<ref>{{VERef|10.55 F}}</ref>

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.<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> As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the person, the stronger the undead.<ref>{{VERef|Patreon Poll - Mini-Chapter}}</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> Undead will grow stronger over time, such as zombies turning into Ghouls or Skeletons into Skeleton Captains,<ref name=":0" /> and so will consuming mana. The higher the concentration of death magic, the more the process will accelerate. 

When an undead is created, the life they had is ripped asunder, creating a ghost. Typically, the ghost is ejected from the undead body or devoured by it. If the ghost remains in the undead body and merges with it, it creates a [[Revenants|Revenant]] or similar undead. If an undead is suppressed, the ghost remains externally and haunts their body.<ref>{{VERef|10.42 T}}</ref> Life informs death, and the undead are left with imprints of who they used to be in life. The capabilities a person had will influence the capabilities and talents of the undead that forms from them.<ref name=":3" /> Ghosts and similar spectral undead grow in power based on emotions and other esoteric means. They can often ignore certain offensive spells such as fireballs and lightning bolts, and greater variants may even be immune to elemental spells.<ref name=":2" /> 

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> Greater undead have a greater risk of rebelling.<ref>{{VERef|10.56 F}}</ref>
== Weaknesses ==
As stated above, decapitation or destruction of the head will kill most undead. Life and nature magic disrupts death magic and delays to rising of undead, making [Druids] better equipped to handle them.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/10/15/9-60/ Chapter 9.60]</ref> Healing [[miracles]] not only harm undead, but also cause them pain,<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/11/22/9-66/ Chapter 9.66]</ref> and faith abilities are natural weapons against them.<ref>{{VERef|10.10 E (Pt. 1)}}</ref> And as they need mana to animate, a mana-negative area will cause them to collapse.<ref name=":2">{{VERef|10.39 YN}}</ref> Earth magicore counteracts death magic, and salt interferes with it as well if it's pure and concentrated enough.

Truegold is the most reliable way to harm and destroy the incorporeal undead. Charms, totems and talismans can ward off, as does a salt circle with candles, but lose effectiveness over time as the ghosts gain strength. Light from both magical and mundane sources is able to harm them, and silver also has some effect against them.<ref name=":2" />

== Types of Undead==
*Artisan Bone Construct
*Banshees
*Bloated King
*Boggarts
*Bone Abomination<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2021/06/06/8-26-fk/ Chapter 8.26 FK]</ref>
*Bone Behemoth
*Bone Giant
*Bone Horror
*Bone Ogre
*Bone Shamblers
*Carcass Walker<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/26/s02-the-antinium-wars-pt-4/ S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt. 4)]</ref>
*Carrion-beetles
*Cathian Tombwalker
*Ceiling Crawler / Bone Crawler / Skeletal Crawler
*Chitinous Horror
* Cloth-undead
* Crypt King
*[[Crypt Lords|Crypt Lord]]
*Death Familiar
*Demius Warlock Bonelord
*Dorn Pillar<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/07/19/7-36-c/ Chapter 7.36 C]</ref>
*[[Draugr]]
**Tundra Draugr
*Flesh Abomination<ref name=":6.44 E">[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/09/14/6-44-e/ Chapter 6.44 E]</ref>
*Flesh Masks
*Fleshwalkers
*Frostmarrow Behemoth
*Ghasts
*[[Ghosts]]
*Ghoul
**Invisible Ghoul
**Swamplurk Ghoul
*Guardian of Ivory
*[[Hag Queens of Aklat Vunn]]
*Haunts
*[[Liches|Lich]] / Skeleton Magus
**Lich Coven
*Marsh Horror
*[[Mortemdefieir Titan]]
*Poltergeists
*[[Revenant]]
**Revenant Wraith
*Rotfield Giant<ref name=":6.44 E" />
*Rotfiend
*Shadow Walker
*Shambler<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/03/26/6-02/ Chapter 6.02]</ref>
*[[Skeletons]]
**Ashmarrow Skeleton
**Frostmarrow Skeleton
**Ironmarrow Skeleton
***Ironmarrow Skeleton Champion
**Skeleton Bruiser
**Skeleton Captain
**Skeleton Champion
**Skeleton Commander
**Skeleton General
**Skeleton Juggernaut
**Skeleton Knight
**Skeleton Lancer
**Skeleton Lord
**Skeleton Mage
**Skeleton Retainer
**Skeleton Troll
**Skeleton Warrior
**Thickmarrow Skeleton
*Specters
**Specters of Loss
*Spiked Stalker
*Spirits
*Swamp Lurker
*Tombghasts
*[[Wailing Pit]]
*Wight
*Will O’Wisps
*[[Wisps]]
*Wraiths / Reaper-Specter
**Bog Wraiths
*Zombies
**Bloatflesh Zombies
**Frostmarrow Zombie<ref name=":1" />
**Greater Zombie
**Mushroom Zombie
**Plague Zombie
**Sea-zombie<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/06/18/interlude-singing-ships/ Interlude - Singing Ships]</ref>
**Zombie Giant<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2021/12/26/8-60/ Chapter 8.60]</ref>

== Sytem-related powers ==
There are some Classes that are oriented for interaction with the undead.

=== Known Death Classes: ===
*[Apotheosis of Undeath, the Herald of the Breathless Age]
*[Corpseman]
*[Corpsemaster]
*[Death Commander]
*[Deathkeeper]
*[Death Mage]
*[Death Soldier]
*[Deathkindly Guardian]
*[Deathtouch Princess]
*[Deathtouched Survivor]
*[Death Warrior]
*[Flamesetter Deathchild]
*[Grave Singer]
**[Renowned Ghostsinger]
*[Necromancer]
**[Archmage of Death]
***[Undying Lich, Myth of Death and Vengeance]
**[Artist of Bone]
**[Knight-Artisan of Bones]
**[Necromancer of Flesh]
**[Necromancer of Slaughter]
**[Necromancer Queen]
***[Queen of the Eternal Necrocracy]
***[Queen of Undeath]
**[Ossific Necromancer]
***[Deathsbane Necromancer]
****[Necromancer of Reclaimed Grandeur]
*[Skeleton King of Terror]
*[Skeleton Knight]
*[Skeleton Mage]
*[Skeleton Warrior]
*[Undead Hunter]
*[Undead Leader]

=== Known Undead-related Skills: ===
*[Animate Undead (Objects)]
*[Arise, Legions of the Damned]
*[Authority of Death (Lesser)]
*[Axe Skeleton Squad]
*[Binding: Quickivory Bones]
*[Constant Foe (Undead)]
*[Create Pothead Skeletons]
*[Create Spectral Undead]
*[Crew: My Ship Is Crewed By Ghosts]
*[Command Undead: Lesser]
*[Copy Shape]
*[Corpse: Remembered Activity]
*[Death Magic Proficiency]
*[Manufacture Stellar Ivory]
*[Mass Greater Reanimation]
*[Monumental Animation]
*[Nemesis: Undead]
*[Personal Undead]
*[Raise Corpse]
*[Rattling Charge]
*[Reanimation: Reclaim Earthly Possessions]
*[Royal Bodyguard: Two of Life, Two of Death]
*[Skeleton Company, Arise]
*[Song of Death's Call]
*[Summon: Company of Khelt]
*[Summon Skeleton Archer Squad]
*[Swift Animation]
*[The Bone Giant’s Sword]
*[Undead: Boundless Speed]
*[Undead: Duelist Instincts]

=== Known Undead-related Title: ===

* [14th Herald of the Breathless Age, Skeleton King Toren]
* [The Undead Who Refused The Will of Death]

==Trivia==
*In sites of a major battles, where thousands died, the dead start rising after a week.
* The dead speak all tongues, which allows them to understand Goblins<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/27/2-01-g/ Chapter 2.01 G]</ref> or even the Frost Faeries.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/12/2-00-t/ Chapter 2.00 T]</ref>
*There exists a drink for undead called a Deathbeil Draught.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/06/07/9-01/ Chapter 9.01]</ref>
*“First light, Ghoul’s night. Second light, Ghoul’s flight.” -Rhyme about fighting Ghouls.<ref name=":0" />
*Old books state that sentient undead (not referring to [[Revenants]]), could only be swayed by sustained logical rhetoric or the most extreme, basic emotions.<ref>{{VERef|10.07}}</ref>
*Swamp Undead don’t like regular undead.<ref name=":3" />
*There were thirteen (fourteen?) Heralds of the Breathless Age in total. Those known include [[Nekhret]] and the fusion of the [[Mortemdefieir Titan]] and [[Az’kerash|Az'kerash]] of the Better Days reality.
*In the fallout of Nekhret's Breathless Age, the living wore Deathfaces, magical masks that made them resemble the undead so that they wouldn't be attacked.<ref>{{VERef|10.57 F}}</ref>
==References==
{{Refbox}}
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Undead]]
[[Category:Monsters]]