Undead

Undead, also known as Necrotics or Necros, are a class of creatures who were once among the ordinary living but have since begun an unholy unlife driven by the sinister force of Necrotic energy. The intelligence varies significantly between different species of Undead, due in part to both the particulars of energy through which they have been reanimated and due to the base intellectual capacities the once mortal being possessed in life.

## Common Undead Species

### Ghost

Ghosts are an Undead creature present in even the most ancient records, land their existence has left many with questions about the true nature of the Ibian Soul. While their ethereal bodies are almost entirely composed of ectoplasm and necrotic energy, Ghosts appear to arise entirely "naturally" from the Souls of deceased Ib who were not properly honored or memorialized following their passing.

### Skeleman

Skelemen are one of the simplest of Undead creatures, possessing little in the ways of personal intelligence and being driven entirely by Necrotic force. They arise from the bones and skeletal remains of the once-living and are animated through entirely magical means, rendering them vulnerable to any kind of magical nullification.

### Zombies

While there are many breeds of Zombies that arise from both magical and mundane means, the only category of Zombies that is truly considered Undead is Necrotic Zombies, which can be either artificially created or unnaturally arise from corpses in areas with high concentrations of ambient Necrotic energy. During the Reaper's Rest, all deceased beings across all of Aum arose as these monstrosities.

### Mummy

Mummies are powerful Undead creatures arisen from ancient nobility that were granted unholy unlife at the time of the Reaper's Rest.

### Vampire

Vampires are Undead creatures descended from one of 21 Accursed Ones that were granted their eternal damnation during the Reaper's Rest.

### Wereman

Weremen are Undead creatures afflicted with a Necrotic curse that appears to have origins in the Fey.

### Lich

Liches are devious Undead mages with their being bound to magical devices known as phylacteries.

### Death Knight

Death Knights are tenacious Undead warriors with their being bound to their armor and equipment. Unlike Liches, who invariably researched and worked tirelessly to manufacture the phylacteries which house their souls in order to gain their immortality, Death Knights arise from sheer force of will alone.

### Ghoul

Ghouls are a breed of Undead creatures that appear to arise from spontaneous genesis around sites with large numbers of fresh corpses. While initially, they behave as mindless monsters that attack everything on sight and desire only to consume fresh flesh, Ghouls gain intelligence and civility as they devour brains and tend to develop a taste for aged corpses over fresh ones as their minds develop.

### Dakan

Daken are a breed of Undead creatures that are believed to arise from spontaneous genesis and certainly also possess Fey origins.

### Abomination

Abominations are Undead Golems created through the gruesome modification of corpses and a vile infusion of Necrotic energy.

### Jiangshi

Jiangshi are Undead Golems bound to follow orders written upon seals placed onto their bodies.

## Undead Factions

### The Wakened Dead

The Wakened Dead is an Undead faction centered around the Necropolis and the Imperial Sewers. It is ruled over by the Council of the Damned and is dedicated to the cause of ensuring the continued existence of Undead Ib in the world.

### The Grand Duchy of Grimwald

The Grand Duchy of Grimwald is an Undead faction centered in the southern portion of the Grimwald Forest and ruled over by the Vampiric Tyrant, Duke Winston Grimwald. Its capital, Nevermore, the Fortress of the Dead, stands as a bulwark shielding the Empire against the hordes of Corrupt Fey and Brambles