Zombie

Necromancy in action.

### Vulnerabilities

Fire, Sunlight, Dismemberment, Holy Artifacts, Blindness (only as inflicted by magic)

## Physical Description

### Weaponry

Various

Zombies are a type of undead, characterized by their actively rotting bodies and lack of will. Any living creature can become a Zombie after death if reanimated with black magic.

## Background

### Necromancy

Necromancy was the final type of magic gifted to humanity by Malchoir, the god of sorcery, and is considered the most difficult kind to master. Due to the immoral nature of necromancy, the other gods denied this gift, though Malchoir snuck it in anyway. It has long been practiced by cults devoted to the sorcery god, and feared and despised by everyone else. Necromancy is used to raise the dead and a physical body is required, as it becomes animated purely by magic. The dead may be raised directly by casting a spell, or through a curse set on an individual while they're still lliving, which is more advanced and difficult to cast. Much of the knowledge on these complex spells and rituals are lost, along with the long extinct cults that practiced them.

### Description

Zombies are defined by their decaying bodies, distinguishing them from undead with preserved bodies, Mummies. Depending on where the body laid and for how long, the movement and appearance of the Zombie will vary. The colder and dryer the area, the stiffer and tougher the Zombie will be. By contrast, if the body was in a warmer and wetter area, the Zombie will be quicker but physically weaker. If the vocal chords are in tact, Zombies will emit all manner of nonverbal screams and groans as they are not independently in control of themselves. The black magic that possesses them controls them like a puppet, and depending on the skill of the necromancer who roused them, only controls what is necessary for the Zombie to move or fight. They lack consciousness, will, and a need to breathe or eat. As the necromancer has dominion over its subject, the undead doesn't have to be used for combat; they could also be used as simple assistants. For the most part though, the living dead are raised as a dispensable army for warlike purposes.

If the Zombie manages to live long enough, they will continue to decay and rot until only the skeleton remains. It will continue living on after this point. As they are animated purely by magic, any body part the Zombie loses continues to wriggle about. This makes the only way to truly destroy them be with fire. Zombies are immune to many types of magic, and cold spells only make them harder to destroy. Holy artifacts are proven to drive them away, and more powerful ones are capable of dispelling the necromancy which animated the Zombie in the first place, returning them to rest. It should be noted however, that necromantic artifacts exist also, enhancing the potency of the necromancer's spells and control over the undead.

### Myths

Many stories and myths surround the living dead, and they are a source of fear and paranoia on the outskirts of Kelemere. There are a number of cautionary tales that warn of traveling beyond the kingdom's borders out into the ruined world, for fear of massive undead armies and other monsters. One myth tells of a city of ghosts, Dwimorstol, that serves as the capital for the living dead ranks located in Fanemire. This is likely in reference to the old capital of Fanemire, Halpen.