True Dead

## "The True Dead" is the formal term in necromancy and planar study for disembodied souls that have not been tainted by umbral energies.

### Traits

The True Dead, the Dead, or just souls, are disembodied shards of primal essence that house the personality of a once living being. In other words, the spirits of the dead. They are usually produced only by sapient entities. Most animals and plants on death simply release their primal energy into the nearest appropriate nature spirit entity. They are incorporeal and utterly invisible. Even those rites and spell which reveal the presence of the undead have no effect as they are technically not undead, though those that reveal invisible things reveal them as translucent form and the most powerful True Sight effects show them as they were just before they died. Communication with the True Dead is difficult unless one is shaman or medium, or one is willing to invite them into one's body. They possess various supernatural abilities, such as limited precognition and emotion reading, and the ability to understand each other regardless of the language they spoke in life, but cannot normally affect the physical world. Those that had magical abilities before they died often retain them, but cannot use them to affect the physical world either. To use their powers or cast spells that have corporeal effects, they must be invited into the body of a living or undead being, at which point they can use their abilities at will.

#### Eating the Shadow

"Eating the Shadow" is the term the True Dead use for becoming a Twice Dead, in other words a Ghost. The process is actually very simple, and any of the Dead can do it. They simply will a small gate into the Umbral World to open, and absorb as much negative energy as they can hold. This drives most that attempt it utterly insane. Afterward, the dead becomes undead, and can affect the physical world and interact with corporeal beings without need of invitation.

##### Lunar Sensitivity

The Dead are influenced heavily by both Myrael and Aurora. When Myrael is brightest or alone in the sky the dead feel energized and experience surges of emotion and sensation. They are the closest to "alive" that they can come. When Aurora is brightest or alone in the sky the true dead are seared by her light, much as vampires are by the sun. If both moons are in the sky at the same time and with relatively equal light, the Dead are instead empowered to an incredible degree. Their supernatural powers operate much more strongly than usual, and they can affect the living in limited ways such as appearing in their dreams. They do not burn so much as shine with supernatural vibrancy. Before the destruction of Annarion, Aurora had no negative impact on the True Dead and energized them as Myrael does now. The moons of other worlds sometimes have an effect similar to one moon, both moons, no moon, or something altogether different.

###### Moving On... or Not

Most souls do not remain on the material plane, and those that do usually remain only a few hours or days as their confused spirits recover from the shock of death. Then they fade into Paradise or the Abyss, going on to their reward. Some, however, are too fascinated by the world of the living to move on, and remain for years or even centuries. Legend among the Dead holds that floating in the void of space are those of their kind so ancient they remember Annarion itself.

Embracing the Light

Via slow ritual bathing in the light of Myrael (or Aurora before the destruction of Annarion) one of the True Dead can become a Bright Soul. This is the opposite of an undead soul, being instead infused with so much positive energy that they can affect the physical world. When viewed magically such souls appear "more than alive," glowing with power, and have been mistaken for Celestials. Many of Dorhaun's Saints were exceptional individuals in life and became Bright Souls in death. The process generally takes a decade of dedicated meditation to perform, however, and while the True Dead in theory have forever in practice they find this almost as difficult as it would be for the living. The nights when both moons are in the sky expedite the process, as on other worlds (including Annarion) it is known to take thirteen years or more depending on the moon and the soul. The same process can be performed much faster by performing the same ritual in only Aurora's light, but this is lethal to all but the most driven and powerful souls. The direct intervention of a deity and/or a particularly heroic or altruistic death also create Bright Souls.