7 Hex Dragon Undead

(Physcial) Types of Undead
Vampires (traditional): Spawn, Vampires and Princes
Ghostly Undead: Shadow Spawn, Shadow Wights and Shadow Spawn, Banshee, Spectres, Revenants
Zombies: Normal Zombies and Kirean Zombies
True Skeletons: Liches, Lords and Warriors

Below is a typology of the Undead from the perspective of Necromancer ethics.

(Ethical) Categories of the Undead

1. Willing Returns: These are undead who have chosen and actively sought to extend their natural lives. These includes Liches, Skeleton Lords, Skeleton Warriors, Revenants, Spectres and some few Vampires. The distinguishing characteristic of this group is that the full soul of the individual is either free floating or re-bound to their own bodies. Death comes for all, the extension of a few years or even centuries is not of itself considered to transgress against the Natural Order to most Necromancers (though some few object to any spirit/soul rebindings).
2. The UnWilling Returns: These are undead who have not willingly chosen to remain, but who were trapped, tricked or who were victim of intense negative emotion at the time of their death. These include: Wights, Gaunts and Night Gaunts, and most Vampire Spawn, Shadows, some Spectres, etc. Use or creation of these goes against the Necromantic Oath and are hunted (as are those who may have helped create them like Vampires). Do note there are Spectres who are Willing Returns, and those are generally permitted in the Enforcer Brotherhoods. These too are full souls.
3. Impressioned Remains: Impressioned Remains are not full souls, but the stamp on the Spirit Field made by a strong character or strong (usually negative) emotion felt at death. These impressions have many of the attributes that the Spirit did in life, but will be more erratic and emotional and occassionally confused and angry as they do not possess the full integrated mental discipline, rationality and abilities of the departed Spirit. Think of it as a temporary, or slippery, knot in the spirit field that must be untied. These are also hunted down and removed by Enforcement Necromancers. Stronger, more focused, ones can attempt to take over the body of a weak (sick or mentally ill or chronically anxious) or recently dead person. They seem drawn to death and near death experiences. Additionally, some can invade the dreams of people who are in distress or mentally disturbed, causing horrible nightmares and weakening their health through exhaustion so they can try to posses them. Some Shadow Wights fall into this category, as do all Banshees and Shadow Spawn. Note the Kirean Zombie is likely closer to an Impressioned Remain (or, heaven forbid, Unwilling Return). They are dark and mysterious beings.
4. The Reanimated. Zombies and Golems. Zombies are bodies that have been animated, not with a soul, but with impersonal, vague and malevolent Spirit Energy to create quick, cheap armies. They are not self conscious and are soulless. They are closer to robots, but with the ethical twist that there is (barely) sentient spirit energy driving these desecrated corpses. This is an ethical transgression for the overwhelming majority of Necromancers. This also is explicity forbidden in the Necromantic Oath. Do note that the Zombie spell was invented by a renegade group of Necromancers who were hunted out of existence, but not before the spell was spread to a number of Wizarding covens and secreted away by some Necromancer Brotherhoods for further study. Necromancers are unclear as to the relationship between the long gone soul and the body and fear that there will be some tie that is not understood. They assume there is little connection, but do not know for sure. Zombies can include Mummies and a Zombie who has been around long enough may look like a Skeleton Warrior, but do not confuse the two (see below). Golems are (less malevolent) Spirit Engery bound to an inanimate object and thus generally escape the problems with binding Spirit Energy to Corpses. All Combat Necromancers approve of Golems, but some other brotherhoods do not. Do note the difference between a normal Zombie and a Kirean Zombie, the Kirean Zombie is generally held to be and abomination and far worse than an Impressioned Remain or an Unwilling Return (which it may be one of those), and would be hunted with prejudice, but the ability to make a Kirean Zombie has hopefully been lost with long dead Kirean Kingdom.

Necromancers only approve of (most of) category 1 (Willing Returns) and Golems (well, most approve of Golems). The Skeletons, Liches and Spectres they summon are Willing Returns. Revenants are a bit more controversial as they are willing, but malicious, wanting to exact revenge on the living, so the purists will ban them but the Combat Brotherhoods who are fighting deep in dangerous territory resort to them, but the debate rages even there. Necromancers actively oppose those who are or use category 2 or 3, the Unwilling Returns and Impressioned Remains. They also oppose reanimating corpses with malevolent Spirit Engery (Zombies).

Theoretically, Necromancers do not have an inherent issue with Vampires as Willing Returns. Practically, however, the vast majority of Vampires cannot resist creating Unwilling Returns (vampire spawn) since they are feeding anyway. So you can generally assume a -1 to -2 reaction roll between Vampires and Necromancers (-2 or -3 if the Necromancer is a Combat/Enforcer Necromancer). Combat/Enforcer Necromancers (Watchers, Gate Wardens, Banishers, etc) investigate and put to rest other Unwilling Returns including Gaunts, Wights, Zombies, unwilling Vampire Spawn and those that created them.

Zombies

There are two kinds of Zombies, normal and Kirean. Normal Zombies are as described in the Advanced Wizard spell: Zombie. A Kirean Zombie is a special Zombie created by the Kirean Kingdom.

The ancient Kirean Kingdom had a technique revolving around their ritual torture and sacrifice whose point was to create an Impressioned Remain from the intense negative emotions created by the torture techniques and then bind that Impressioned Remain back to the victim's newly minted corpse, creating a fairly intelligent, malevolent and angry Zombie (as compared to a normal, more mechanical, Zombie). They used these Zombies for shock troops and they are referred to as Kirean Zombies in the Necromancer's Encyclopedia. They have some level of confused and tortured self-consciousness and memory of their past selves, can make use of their past memories for instructions (i.e. "Go to Kirea Atlon" would work if they were familiar with the city and knew in their past life how to get there from here) and can make minimally intelligent decisions. They are best used as guards or shock troops, but have been used as assassins or messengers for low priority messages. The process consisted of a magical torture device called the Kirean Stone Dagger that caused excruciating pain while bloodletting, and a spell to magnify the mental duress, then capture the Impressioned Remain and bind it back to the body. The torture tool, theStone Dagger has been seen in the company of a tribe of Orcs of the Borderlands. Hopefully the horrific spell that finished the process and created the Zombie died with the Kirean Kingdom.

Vampires

Vampires can gain talents and character points like normal characters after being spawn for 6 months. Princes, have additional powers gained by creating and controlling more than 3 spawn for more than a year. They dive deeper into the spirit field and gain those powers from having spawn under control. They must maintain more than three spawn continuously to keep those benefits. If they drop down to 3 or less, they must restart the 1 year clock to build back up to having the extra powers.

See the bestiary for the NightMare an undead/demonic steed used by Vampires (mostly Princes).

Ghostly Undead

Shadow Wights

Shadow Spawn - created by the most powerful Shadow Wight Mages (and some others) so they can summon help. They are weak creatures of shadow and can cast the Shadow Spell and Drain Life. They are weak Impressioned Remains.

Banshees

Banshees are Impressioned Remains who have died due to intense grief. They are ghostly but can harm individuals and be harmed. They exude a MH Despair around them (each creature who comes within one hex of a banshee has to make an initial Contest save of the ST of the banshee against the IQ of the Victim and if they succeed are immune to the Despair effects of that one Banshee, if they fail they have to remake the save every time they get near again until they succeed) and can "cast"/emit a Piercing Cry that acts like an Induce Fear Spell in a 3MH radius (Cost 2ST). Her touch does a Drain Life that goes straight to her. All wounds are considered fatigue to a Banshee and only spells and magic weapons can harm her, but at half damage. They tend to be single minded, obsessed over recovering what was lost or staying near the place where a loved one died or near the grave site of a loved one or other such grief inducing phenomena. As grief driven, they can fade over time if the site of their grief undergoes significant transformation (say the graveyard is bulldozed and turned into office buildings). They will defend these areas from interlopers. They are associated with females, and while they are likely a slight majority, there are plenty of male banshees.

Spectres

Spectres are Willing Returns in that they desire to continue to walk the earth out of fear of what true death is, but are prone to dull wittedness and a bit recessive until angered. Most Necromancers approve of their limited operational use (though some few purists will contend that they are not fully Willing as they are too confused and fearful to be fully Willing). All Combat Brotherhoods approve of their use. They are semi-material and can walk smoothly on swampy land, rocks, a twig, etc. They can fit under the crack of a door. When angered they become more effective in combat and can move faster with more focus, but it is hard to anger them. They drain life (fatigue against the victim) that goes straight to healing any damange they have received (by spell or magical weapon only). They are fearful creatures and cause despair and anxiety wherevery they go. As a generic category, most Revenants are more powerful than Spectres due to their unremitting drive, though since Spectres have more self-control than Revenants, very powerful mages, necromancers and war lords can become very powerful Spectres. Spectres have a wide range of personality and power depending on their history and past life. Particularly powerful and focused Spectres can rival some Liches, but they are very rare due to the constant pressure to passivity that this fear based bodiless/non-sensory existence provides. It takes power and a strong will to resist the constant lethargy/despair. Over long periods of time, the pressure will usually prevail, leaving Spectres dormant in the shadows rousing minimally if disturbed. Tolkien's Nazgul are very powerful Spectres and willing returns. The Numenorians were fearful of death, and these powerful beings sought extended life through the Rings of Power. The Barrow Wights would be good examples of a powerful Spectre after centuries of Spectral un-life, slowing caving to the pressure of despondency and dormancy in the shadows. See thebestiary or 7HexDragon House Rules for the Necromancer spell Summon Spectre for generic/encounter Spectre abilities.

Revenants

Revenants are the Willing Return of an angry and vindictive full soul (note that In The Labyrinth has Revenants as just the ghost version of normal characters, or even player characters, we treat them like a normal category of monster, and have no idea what SJ was talking about ITL being for the living...). They are semi-material, ghostly figures, projecting a daunting visual appearance with their emotions coloring their appearance (melting face, small pulsing black flames outlining their form, hands and arms enlarging/stretching to grab you, etc). They tend to be near single-minded, wangint to come back and punish the living. They often had difficult and violent lives and feel they have not gotten their fair share or just deserts. They are highly focused and purposeful if given structure for their anger, though their driving emotion makes them narrow in understanding, purpose and use, but fearful when you are the object of that anger. Summoned Revenants make excellent shock troops, advance scouts or assassins, IF you can focus their anger to your mission (not an easy task, and GMs should force some creativity in co-opting a Revenant's narrow minded anger). Most Necromancers do not approve of them, but a very few active Enforcer Necromancers who are aggressively hunting down entrenched and powerful forces will resort to them for limited missions (think assassination or spying) with some small chagrin and internal debate on the circumstances that would ethically justify summoning one (similar to democracies all having spy/assassin agencies and the ethical quandries they cause). A robust ethical code around the use of them should be articulated by any Necromancer who knows the summoning spell, and expect most other Necromancers, and just about everyone else, to actively disapprove. As a generic category, they are the most powerful of the ghostly undead (Shadow Wight, Banshee, Spectre, Revenant, though particularly powerful individual Spectres can be more powerful than most Revenants), but due to their narrow and single minded existence, they have less range than Spectres. Being semi-material, they can pass smoothly over swamp or rocks or water, on a twig. They can't fly, but can fit under the crack of a door, etc. They drain life that heals any damange they have taken (by magic weapon or spell only). They carry with them an MH despair aura, and all must contest save ST of the Revenant vs IQ of the victim (plus any morale bonuses). They can cast several spells (Induce Fear, Control Person, MH Shadow, etc). Tolkien's Nazgul are particularly powerful versions of Revenant. See the bestiary or 7Hex House Rules for what a summoned Revenant can do.

Skeleton Warriors, Lords and Liches

Skeleton Warriors/Lords and Liches. True Skeletons (not decayed Zombies) are a unique breed of undead with a peculiar history. They are Willing Returns (see history below) with full souls and are particularly hostile towards demons (try not to summon a Lich and Demon together!) as demons tend to attack them on sight. They have volunteered to continue their service for a fixed time after death. Usually out of loyalty to the Necromantic Brotherhood and belief in the cause.

Skeleton Warriors are similar to myrmidons, but weaker.

Skeleton Lords are the best and most accomplished warriors, working on their martial and spiritual sides. Achieving a strong Spirit Field, they even have some Spirit Magic. They are fearsome and project fear and deadly intent. Untrained animals will shy away and the ignorant and superstitious will flee. Even the bold will have to steel his nerve to look them in the eye.

Liches are the top of the undead hierarchy. The most accomplished Necromancers (and the very rare wizard) with the strongest spirit fields. They exude power, fear, mortal threat and purpose. The ignorant and superstitious will flee from them, untrained animals will shy away whimpering, even the bold will have to steel their nerve even to approach one. Many will have a Necrostaff and magic items, some more established Liches will have a retinue of Skeleton Warriors/Lords and a Spectre or two. Summoned ones are the weakest of the lot. They tend to keep their association with their Brotherhood and live in seclusion or fortified settings as the populace can turn against you...

History: Almost 400 years ago the Great Sea Commander Cartoque, who had dabbled in the Necromantic arts and even studied at a Brotherhood for a few years, left the Necromancer Brotherhood before taking the Necromantic Oath to join the Imperial Navy to defend her seaside village from attacks by pirates backed by a neighboring duchy (which has since been incorporated into the Empire). She was a brilliant tactician and advanced to First Mate and then Captain in just a year and half. There were persistant rumours that the souls of sailors slain underneath her would come back at critical times to help him win battles. The Watchers planted a Necromancer on her ship to do an investigation of these unauthorized recallings. That backfired for the Watchers. Cartoque had a very strong Spirit Field and was promoted to Commander of a Battle Group and then Admiral of the South (almost a third of the Imperial Navy, see The Imperial Sorcerers for a history). The Watcher became her second-in-command and they spent long nights alone together in the old abandoned light house near the naval headquarters and in the Commanders quarters while at sea. The Imperial Sorcerers had always had a second rank navy and Commander Cartoque was tagged to lead the entire navy. However, the near fanatical loyalty of her men (some speculate due to implicit promise of life after death if they died in battle for her) became a concern to the Imperial Council. When the Imperial Sorcerers finally turned against their favorite Commander, she refused to leave her post and took her fleet out to sea. Hunted by the Sorcerers with all their vindictive might, Cartoque, despite winning battle after battle, was beginning to see the end via attrition alone. She took the fleet way out to a large chain of uncharted islands where she hoped to plot a quick strike coup against the Imperial Sorcerers.

On these particular islands were a large tribe who had a long tradition of great shamans. The current Great Shaman was a potent witchdoctor indeed. This tribe had long feared death and had elaborate rituals around the disposition of their dead. They would go through a process similar to Egyptian mumification, but would actually strip the corpse to it's bare skeleton, purified of all other organic matter and treated with special resins to preserve the bones and keep them together. They believed that the bones would get new flesh laid upon the bones (the core of the warrior's body) when the gods came down to battle the forces of evil in the next millenial battle. These skeletons were then interred in elaborate catacombs in the lava tubes of the inactive volcanoes that created the island chain. This Shaman had recently been promoted to Great Shaman due to his unprecedented powers, unseen before in the tribe. Many apprentices flocked to him and he began to attempt communication and recall of the dead. The combination of the Necromancer, Cartoque and the Shaman proved a potent combination. The Shaman now had the resources of the Necromancer to help refine his great powers and understanding of the Spirit Field, the vision and drive of Cartoque to pursue a bold new course and a host of apprentices to draw power from. They experimented with great magics and were able to rebind the spirits of their lost men to their old bodies in a new way. Not just zombies, but these spirits could be bound to their former bodies once they were turned to skeletons (any other organic remains ruined the spell, only pristine skeletons would do). The binding process took the skeletal remains to the alternate plane where the men's spirits were waiting. At first Cartoque had thought they had failed and simply vaporized the skeletons, but the Necromancer could sense a heightening of the Spirit Field and realized he could recall these rebound skelton warriors. This had the advantage of being able to recall not just a barely material Spectre or a dumb zombie (what the Necromancers had accomplished), but a highly intelligent material armed force. Of interest to the Necromancer and his Oath was the fact that the process had to be done on willing subjects, the departed soul had to be instructed to wait for re-binding and some who wanted to be rebound did not have the ability to wait in the appointed place long enough. Unwilling souls simply did not wait and could not be rebound against their will. Additionally, a small amount of non-organic matter can go with the skeleton (i.e. the resin, maybe a sword and shield, but no leather armour or bow strings or arrows fletching, or wooden shafts, etc). Figure about 7.5Kg after the resin.

The islands became an underground mecca for those wishing extended life (and many seeking revenge on the Imperial Sorcerers). The Necromancer, Cartoque, the Shaman and his apprentices created a small army of recallable skeletons and moved against the Imperial Sorcerers, attempting to take a key port and storm the Sorcerer's Palace that was 80 miles inland while the fearsome Imperial Infantry was away on a major campaign to the West. Meanwhile the Watchers had prepared a strike of their own, and when Cartoque's navy was away. The Watchers captured their own renagade Necromancer from the Islands and brought him back. Bringing in the more scholarly Alethia Brotherhood to help them understand what the Necromancer and his new friends had done, they were able to replicate this unique binding process where the skeletal remains are taken with the spirit to an alternate plane and then recallable from that plane (this is not entirely unlike how vampires get rebound to their bodies after a brief time lapse). The process was extended over the next 150 years to include the most powerful of the undead, the Lich. The Alethia Brotherhood pioneered work here. The Lich is an undead Necromancer. The apprentice to the first Necromancer to become a Lich was a powerful Necromancer whose Spirit Field has not been surpassed named Kalcrear and he became a Lich on his 60th birthday. Kalcrear set the bar for Liches and he was finally killed (again?) by a powerful Vampire Coven who had rallied several renegade Necromancers and other undead to the cause of crushing the hated Kalcrear. The Necromancers guard the process of becoming a Lich with the utmost seriousness, only the most powerful Necromancers can perform this process of creating Liches. Any leak is hunted down with the combined might of all Combat/Enforcer Necromancer Brotherhoods.

As for Cartoque, she did not surprise the port city of Dar Miralo and the Northern Fleet was recalled to help the Port Fleet repell the attack. The Sorcerers had planted a few spies on the islands and done some advanced Crystal Ball work. Despite the ambush by the Northern Fleet, Cartoque almost won the day. Finally, the Imperial Sorcerer's Council itself came to the cliffs above the battle to aid their fleet with mighty magics: summoned Dragons and Greater Demons, illusions, darkness and telepathic control of any of Cartoque's officers who got close enough to the cliffs. In a last ditch effort, the Great Shaman and his remaining adepts sailed near the cliffs to counter the might of the combined Council, but he was soundly defeated after the air crackled with magic. Those officers unfortunate enough to be controlled would then ground their ship or ram another of their own group. Most of Cartoque's fleet and skeleton army were finally wiped out. Cartoque's own ship and a handful of her faster rear guard evaded capture. She has passed into legend, with every half-drunk sailor alleging sightings of skeleton ships with Cartoque at the helm. She is now used as a morality tale to scare children in the Empire as to what the enemies of the Empire are like (summoning the dead, creating armed rebellion, "Cartoque will come for your bones if you don't defend the Empire!"). The battle is still studied in the academies and the demise of Cartoque is used as an object lesson to over ambitious military commanders in the IS army and navy.