Returned

in: Races

## Introduction

Returning from the land of the dead, shepherded by their god Cactitlalteuctli; the Returned seek to reclaim what was taken from them. Every defeat of their enemy adds to their ranks, as long dead spirits await their turn to cross over to the land of the living once again. They have no value in preserving the sanctity of life, and sympathy for the living has long been cast aside for their own ambitions.

  Buried deep in the heart of the jungle, the Returned have spent their time restoring their forgotten capital, Tlantlahtoani; preparing it to host the rebirth of their grand civilization once more. While work continues on their homeland, scouts are sent out into the world to try and figure out what is going on in the new reality they’ve come back to.

  *You know the way that things go when what you fight for starts to fall, and in that fuzzy picture, the writing stands out on the wall, so clearly on the wall. Send out the signals, deep and loud. And in this place, can you reassure me with a touch? A smile while the cradle's burning? All the while, the world is turning to noise. The more that it's surrounding us, the more that it destroys. Turn up the signal. Wipe out the noise. — **Tetlteotlchikautok**, “Words inscribed onto the walls of a temple’s inner sanctum”*

## Quick Notes

* **Alternative Names:** Mochitlacatl (Themselves), The Returned (Others),
* **Naming Convention:** Nahuatl *(Examples: Mochitlacatl, Tlantlahtoani, Tizoc, Huitzilihuitl, Quetzalxochitl, Xoco)*
* **Appearance:** Animated skeletons, walking corpses.
* **Lifespan:** Indefinite
* **Height:** Varies
* **Regions Found:** Jungle, Plains, Coasts
* **Common Character Roles:** Labourer, Soldier, Priest, Scout
* **Values:** Family, Tradition, Conquest
* **Culture:** The restoration of their old civilization as it was.
* **Religion(s):** Cactitlalteuctli worship, formerly Mochitlacatl pantheon.
* **Common Allies:** None
* **Common Enemies:** The living
* **Views on Magic:** Preferring their own magic
* **Abilities:** Animate Dead (Ritual)
* **Weaknesses:** Holy Magic

## Appearance

The appearance of the Returned can vary widely depending on the circumstances of their revival. From mummified, seaweed wrapped corpses to the freshly slain bodies of their enemies, the bodies they inhabit can be quite varied. There's no hierarchy among themselves based on the state of their body they inhabit, their hierarchy is continued from their lives before they were killed. The living have different terms for them depending on their appearance.

* **Skeletons** - The bones of people who have long been dead are not the preferred choice to revive subjects in, but they are the most plentiful option and are typically reserved for former slaves and commoners.
* **Zombies** - Rotting bodies dug up out of their graves. Despite the sorry state of their condition they are often employed in some of the more physically demanding positions required. They make up the bulk of martial positions.
* **Wights** - Freshly slain victims that are quickly filled with an eager new spirit. Often opportunistic and chosen due to the familiarity of the participants of the ritual, their appearance is the closest to appearing 'normal' save for whatever misfortune was the cause of their demise.
* **Mummies** - When High Priests and royalty died they were bound in seaweed and entombed with their positions. It is considered to be a great honour to be revived to their original bodies. These mummies assume their old leadership positions that they had in life.

Regardless of what their bodies look like now, the undead try to restore some familiarity to their lives by donning their old personal effects. Despite how much they can try and emulate the life that they have lost, they can never really truly fool the living. There is a constant, unmistakable dark aura that accompanies their presence. This aura can be felt by all living things, and can bring a sense of dread and unease to them.

## History

Long ago, during the earliest era of men; there was once a civilization that had grown in the vast jungles. This civilization was originally just many independent villages that would trade and occasionally war with each other. Tired of the bloodshed and seeing it as only an impediment to their prosperity, each of the tribes' elders got together and decided to form an alliance among themselves so that they could finally have peace. In the centuries that followed this alliance, these villages grew rapidly to the point where their borders were no more. Eventually these villages merged into a singular city, which would become the capital of the entire civilization. This capital became known as Tlantlahtoani, and its people collectively called themselves the Mochitlacatl.

  Eventually though this civilization couldn’t be sustained solely on its immediate surroundings. The people required more land to crops and people to till the fields. The Mochitlacatl grew aggressively, invading and subjecting their neighbours until their realm had grown well beyond their tropical homeland.

  Their wars didn't go unnoticed though and before long, an alliance of Centari, Khemet, and Carnival of Trades was formed to put an end to the troublesome Mochitlacatl people. Soon, the Mochitlacat were beset on all sides by their enemies, who were determined to end their threat once and for all. Within a few short years, everything that this civilization had gained was lost and their capital was soon besieged. The capital fell and their leadership was slaughtered. Victorious, their enemies left the capital behind, letting the jungle reclaim it.

  Thousands of years would pass and the capital would be barely recognizable anymore aside from a few of their largest buildings that still stood the test of time. The forgotten city would have remained undisturbed if it was not for two hapless explorers who found the ruins of the city. They entered the temple and uttered the name of the dormant god. The god awakened and whispered dark words into the ears of the explorers. These words bloomed into pervasive thoughts which eventually compelled the explorers to take their own lives. The god then took the dead bodies of the explorers and filled them with the souls of their long dead servants. This event is referred to by the Returned as the ‘Awakening’.

  These two servants rose up in their new found bodies, their minds still as sharp as they were thousands of years ago. They immediately set about restoring their lost civilization, but to do so they needed more of their people to return from the land of the dead, Cactitlan.

## Society

Prior to their extermination, the Mochitlacatl based their society around family groupings. Multiple families and individuals would male up a single grouping. What constituted membership in a family was a mix of heritage and proximity. A family would typically be led by the senior most member of the family, although individual wealth, power, and renown also would factor towards leadership. Then each family head would establish a hierarchy among themselves in a grouping to decide leadership of that grouping. Males were generally preferred for leadership roles, but it was not entirely exclusive.

  In their pre-extermination days, much of their lives revolved around farming, warfare and religious ceremony. Commoners would keep a routine of tending to their crops during the day, which needed constant relief from the finicky jungle climate; to nightly prayers to their vast pantheon of gods. Commoners brought back from the dead would find an existence entirely different from what they were used to.

  After their awakening their hierarchy is kept much the same way, with the lords and priests directing the commoners and slaves. However, since the nature of their existence has changed so much they’ve come to rely solely on the directions of their leaders to guide them through this new epoch. As they no longer require food, water, or sleep, they spend the vast majority of their existence working. Despite how monotonous their new existence is though, they are not emotionless or lacking independent thought. The Returned very much wish to see their beloved kin brought back, preferring something resembling their former selves.

## Government

Prior to their civilization's extinction, the Mochitlacatl would be ruled over by an emperor along with his or her High Priests. The Emperor was considered to be a God living among men, having the divine right to rule. The Mochitlacatl  were patriarchal and would only permit males into positions of power. The only exception would be if a boy ruler had not yet come of age. Then either his Mother, Aunt, or possibly an older sister would act as a regent until the boy reached adulthood.

  A High Priest oversaw all religious proceedings and were answerable only to the Emperor himself. There was only one High Priest per city, which was considered to be the range of his domain. These High Priests oversaw important religious ceremonies that were often performed for the entire city when they came together. They also accepted offerings from the people who donated to the temple to win the favour of their gods. These offerings could range from golden trinkets, livestock, seeds, or even war captives!

 In the present time after the Awakening, the old social hierarchy is still persevered.The elite directs the lower class people to perform the menial labour while they themselves spend their time either worshiping their god or planning what to do next.

## Racial Relations

The Returned are at odds with all living things. They both resent them for living and covet their bodies to be used as future vessels for their kin. It would be extremely foolish and misguided for any living being to try and assist the undead with their plans, as they would certainly include their own demise.

  Vampires would see the Returned as threats to their food source, and would be inclined to pit themselves against undead for the sake of ensuring they do not wipe out their blood supply.  Demonic entities would view the undead as an indirect threat as well, not so much to themselves but a threat to the mortals from which they thrive on and devise their plans around.

## Religion

Before their extinction, the Mochitlacatl worshiped a wide variety of Gods. In the early days of their civilization, their pantheon included dozens of different gods that oversaw aspects of life. As time progressed, the Mochitlacatl started to focus their worship on a more narrow set of gods. These gods were representative of their new focus on war and conquest. One god eventually stood above the rest, Cactitlalteuctli.

  The temples, shrines, and idols of all the other gods were eventually replaced until Cactitlalteuctli was the sole deity being worshiped. No longer just the lord of the dead, Cactitlalteuctli was seen as the sole creator of the world and the Mochitlacatl were his chosen people.

  When the Returned began to rise once more, it was Cactitlalteuctli who empowered the dead with his magic to allow them to act and move as if they were living again. Cactitlalteuctli sought to rebuild what had been lost and guide the Mochitlacall to a new era where they would rise and conquer everything that would stand in their way.

## Racial Traits

### The Eternal Dead

As the Returned are animated dead bodies, they are not affected by diseases or toxins in any significant way. They also do not require food, drink, or sleep and are immune to mind altering spells.

### Dull Senses

Since they are inhabiting dead and decaying bodies, the Returned have greatly diminished perceptive skills. Their sense of taste and smell is completely gone, and their sense of touch, sight and sounds are significantly weakened than they would have been in life.

### One Way Trip

The Returned are held together solely by the power of gems and the will of their god. Once that magic is shattered from the corpse, it is gone forever. There is no way to resurrect them after the magic has been banished from the body they inhabited.

### Holy Weakness

Since their existence is a mockery of life and the natural order of things, most divine beings have a particular hatred towards the undead and would love nothing more than to see them banished. As such, Holy Magic is stronger when used against The Returned. They are also completely unable to benefit from its effects.

### Animate Dead

By affixing three onyx gems and two chunks of amber to a dead body, a Returned can perform a ritual that infuses the body with the spirit of a long dead Mochitlacatl. Their spirit inhabits the body and animates it with the magical power of an onyx gem along with the divine power of their god, Cactitlalteuctli.

* **Ingredients:** Corrupted Essence, Outer Void Vapor
* **Requirements:** 3 Chunks of Onyx, 2 Chunks of Amber
* **Required Scroll:** Necromancy
* **Effect(s) of Ritual:** Brings back a permed player as a Returned character, using the dead body of the permed character. This character has no memories, instincts, or spirit of the departed character. Their only connection is the body which they now inhabit. The primary ritualists of the ritual strengthen their presence in the living world, gaining +1 to their offensive/defensive/utility casting stat. This benefit can be gained a maximum of three times.

## Attachments & Kit Items

The items listed in the kits below are made with the Season 6 modlist. They have been updated as of **14th December 2023**.

*Expand for Returned Racial Kit*

 Shapeshifting (Derketo)
 Shapeshifting (Undead Drowned Captain)
 Shapeshifting (Undead Drowned Crew)
 Shapeshifting (Undead Drowned Crew Female)
 Shapeshifting [Necro Zombie 1]
 Shapeshifting [Necro Zombie 1]
 Skull Head II

Recently Returned characters may need access to the kit of their original race, depending on appearances.

## Lore Contribution

> **Credit for Lore Contribution:** *Rickets*
>
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> * *Includes selected lyrics from the song Signal to Noise by Peter Gabriel.*
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