Zombie
Zombies are decaying reanimated corpses, animated by necromantic magic or cursed energies. Their appearance varies based on how long they have been dead and the method of reanimation, but most exhibit pallid or mottled skin, sunken eyes, torn clothing, and exposed muscle or bone. The smell of rot clings to them, and their movements are often jerky or uncoordinated, as if memory of muscle use is imperfectly mimicked.
Basic Information
Anatomy
- Frostbitten Zombies: Found in arctic climates, their flesh is blackened by frostbite, and they move slower, but their frozen bodies are more resistant to damage.
- Withered Zombies: Common in the Withered Wilds; their bodies are partially fused with blight-grown fungus or bone growths.
- Corpse-Swollen: Bloated and diseased, these zombies burst with toxic gas when slain.
Biological Traits
- Unrelenting Endurance: Zombies do not tire, feel pain, or succumb to fear.
- Infectious Bite (Varies): In some cursed regions or through dark rituals, a zombie's bite can transmit undeath, turning victims into new undead.
- Resistance to Pain: Crippling injuries that would disable a living creature often have no effect.
- Obedient Servitude: They can follow simple orders from their master without question.
Genetics and Reproduction
Zombies are most commonly raised through necromancy—either by dark spellcasters, cursed locations, or corrupt artifacts. In rare cases, powerful curses or exposure to necrotic blights can animate corpses without a controlling master.
Behaviour
Zombies are nearly mindless. They operate solely on primal instincts—typically a compulsion to feed on the living or obey a necromancer’s simple commands. They retain no personal identity, memories, or emotions from their former life. Some varieties may exhibit crude awareness of their surroundings, but never independent thought.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Zombies are commonly used as shock troops or disposable workers by necromancers. They are feared in isolated villages and borderlands, where outbreaks can devastate the unprepared. In the Noctavian Empire and especially in places like the Shadowfen, zombies are both tools of terror and resources—guardians, servants, or even ritual sacrifices.
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