Undeath

Terrans are careful to burn their dead.
Bodies that are not burned or buried in hallowed ground are susceptible to reanimation. Undeath comes in many forms, but its causes can be divided into two main categories: incidental or deliberate. Incidental reanimation is the result of poorly understood elemental forces; most scholars suspect energies related either to shadow or water. In either case, the end result is something neither alive nor dead. Incidental undead are likely to retain their memories and personality at least in part. Those who do not tend to be driven by instinct, no more or less dangerous than another wild animal.
Deliberate undeath is a considerably darker subject. Some forms of undeath are the unfortunate result of a botched attempt at resurrection. Some are the self-inflicted result of a quest for power or immortality. Most commonly, however, deliberate undeath is the result of a necromancer seeking minions. Because necromancers derive their power from dark magic, the undead they create are subservient. Those that have any level of intelligence tend to be evil, and while they may retain the memories of the body's inhabitant, they are not the same person. Should the necromancer responsible for their resurrection cease to be, all but the weakest undead will persist. However, they will usually act either on instinct or their own designs rather than the will of the necromancer.
Terrans generally kill undead on sight. While Terrans are more likely to tolerate the existence of incidental undead who are not a threat to the community, even these undead face suspicion and hostility.
Undead can always be dispatched by fire, and deliberate undead are susceptible to elemental light. Destroying the body also works. Other weaknesses vary among the subtypes of undead, but often include the heart or head.

Transmission & Vectors

Undeath is never contagious. However, in the rare case of hereditary curses, it may appear to be genetic.

Treatment

The usual treatment of undeath is death. While a few scholars are interested in whether an undead subject could be returned to life, this result has never been achieved.

Rarity

Rare