Undead

The undead are unnatural entities that combine a dead body with a supernatural spirit. They are brought into existence by evil deities, fiends, and necromancers. Undead by definition are corporeal as an undead is a dead corpse reanimated unnaturally.

Categorizations

Undead have been divided into the following categories: Xenopsychic and Genopsychic, Reanimated and Preservative, and controlled and autonomous (or free-willed). These are generally mutually exclusive divisions.

Xenopsychic and Genopsychic

A xenopsychic undead is a corpse possessed by a spirit other than the original one in which the living, pre-undead creature was born. The vast majority of undead are xenopsychic. A genopsychic undead is one with the original spirit. These are typically magic-practitioners who have used necromancy to preserve their bodies. They are rare.

Reanimated and Preservative

Most undead are reanimated corpses. A preservative undead is a formerly living creature that chose through the practice of magic to become undead physically. These are genopsychic.

Controlled and Autonomous

Controlled undead are under the dominion of a necromancer or other entity. Autonomous undead are self-willed or free-willed and not subject to the direct control of another entity, such as a necromancer. An autonomous undead can under some circumstances become controlled.

Reanimation

This is the chief process by which a necromancer creates undead minions. This is typically involves the use of a horrible ministrant.

Sources

• Compendium of Necromantic Entities, 2738
• Kaptrona's Book of the Undead, 2372
• Neptessor's Book of the Undead, Neptessor of Ixiot (attributed), 2057, Ebinóëse Language
• Warlock's Guide to the Undead

See Also

• Lytchlooter
• Necromancy