Fext

The **Fext** are a species in Archaeus. Unlike other species, they do not reproduce, but are formed from the resurrection of dead individuals of other species. First formed 250 years ago from the countless dead on the battlefields of the Great War, they have remained hidden until recently, living in the abandoned underground cities of the Ninkilim in a theocratic society devoted to the Ossuarium, the first Fext, who also possesses the capability to resurrect others.

## History

The Fext were first formed from corpses in the mass graves and battlefields of the Great War in approximately Å-370, reanimated by the Essence, blood, and Arvum energy that had seeped into the ground. Lacking memories of their old lives and fearing rejection from the other races, they followed the first Fext, named Fzoul but referred to as the Ossuarium or Omnissiah, to live underground, in the abandoned cities of the Ninkilim and homes of their own making.

They organised themselves in a theocratic society under the Omnissiah, eschewing all contact with the outside world, until armies of the undead, led by a necromancer named Brors, invaded their cities. In order to counter this threat, the Fext emerged into the world, with a number participating in the Siege of Adalhard Manor in which Brors was killed.

## Culture

As the vast majority of Fext do not remember their past lives and consider their current selves their true selves, asking about prior lives is considered rude. All Fext feel a sense of respect and gratitude towards the Ossuarium; when mentioning him, they gesture with their right hand from their forehead to the ground as a symbol of respect for the ground from which they were raised. Sometimes, a Fext may hear the Ossuarium speak in their mind if they stray from the correct path.

Recently, a small number of individuals, including Suzanna de Partie and Thalaniel, have been resurrected as Fext shortly after dying, and have kept their memories. The Fext community travelling with Queen Adalhard's caravan has been generally welcoming to them, but the cultural split is notable as the new Fext maintain personal and cultural ties from their previous lives.

Fext are sometimes distrusted by the other races for a variety of reasons, from their reclusiveness and their isolated culture to their unexplained links with the Arvum. Those who choose to become Fext may suffer even more discrimination.

## Biology

The oldest Fext are around 250 years old, and no limit on their lifespan has yet become obvious. There is great variety within their species, due both to the variety of species they once were and to the transformative effects of resurrection. Noted subspecies of Fext include wraiths, ghouls, banshees, skeletons, and liches.

Though they can benefit from traditional healing magic and surgery, the Fext's unique state of undeath grants them immunity to control by Necrobotanists, unlike other dead individuals.

The use of Arvum energy in their resurrection causes servants of the Arvum, such as the Arvumites and the necromancer Brors, to detest them and target them specifically in battle; this is hypothesised to be the result of the perception that they have 'stolen' this energy in a way more permanent than other magic. The Arvum energy they carry also causes forces of nature, such as treants, to dislike their presence.