UNDEAD UNDEATH (2822)
Undead is a rather generic term applied to any form of creature which was formerly living but resurrected using negative energy. The descriptions in this helpfile are mainly for background purposes, and certain undead creatures may not display all the traits listed here (at least not in a manner in which can be verified by mortal eyes). The most common undead are animations, or mindless servitors such as skeletons, constructs (flesh golems) and zombies. Typically, these are reanimated using dark magics. These lumbering corpses have no intelligent thought, and will follow their masters to whatever doom is imposed upon them. If animated by a sufficiently powerful force, certain animations can inherent some traits/abilities from their former lives, and can perform simple tasks (such as sentry duty or unsupervised labor) without having to be directly controlled. The next type of undead variety is the trapped lifeforce variety, or malevolent undead. These vile creatures typically have little or no memory of their former lives, and continue to exist only to absorb as much living material as possible in order to sate their own suffering of undeath. These lost souls are cunning, relentless hunters and have an unquenchable thirst for natural energy. They have been known to take form as ghouls, shadows, wights, ghasts, etc. It should be noted that destroying a malevolent undead creature is not permanent unless defeat is achieved through holy obliteration. Any other method of destruction will only last until the next evening, when the creature arises fully regenerated, intent on revenge. Death from a malevolent undead creature will usually result in the victim inheriting the undead status and form of its killer. The third type of undead are the spectral apparitions or projected lifeforces, who have been damned to live out the same scenes of their lives for all eternity. Existing only as echos of life, these spirits lack physical bodies in Thera, taking the form of ghosts, wraiths, spectres, or banshees. Spectral apparitions are caught in an endless loop of their daily lives, or forced to relive some tragic event which ended their lives. Not knowing they are dead, they will either ignore the living entirely, or fanatically assault any living creatures who disturb their routine. They seek only be left alone to repeat the same cycle forever. The final type of undead known to be wandering Thera are the intelligent variety which have volunteered (or been forced) into undeath. Vampires, revenants, liches, and some mummies have full memory of their living years and gain certain benefits from their states of undeath, although they must still feed on energy to exist. Revenants will typically have a single purpose in undeath, usually to slay a particular person or persons, and will expire once that task has completed and they have absorbed the intended lifeforce(s). Vampires and liches can exist nearly indefinitely, and are capable of manipulating negative energy in ways which can create and control other undead beings.