Undeath

The Restless Dead

Stories are oft told of corpses rising from their eternal slumber to prey upon the living, an unconscionable plague - tormenting us with faces of friends and family, warped in a caricature of horror. Generally, these fanciful tales are typically only that - fancies. Whether told to entertain or to ward off potential trespassers, the concept of non-living creatures has been used to frighten for millenia. Yet, like rumors and political manueverings, there is a seed of truth contained therein.


While most accounts of undead are false, the truth is that such an afflicted creature no longer requires their body except as an anchor for their will. After many years of study, the Galborian Mystics have documented that the exact nature, while not clear, centers around a lack of the life energy that all creatures possess. When depleted suddenly, these fates-spurned beings develop an unnatural hunger to replace what is missing. Through various means, they attempt to obtain this energy - granting them the ability to subsist off of it alone.


Despite the name, these cursed individuals have not become deceased - they simply require regular consumption of Drycæ to maintain a semblence of higher intelligence and personality. Interestingly, the trials of the Galborians demonstrated that a captured "undead" Kreshtian, who had lost all sense of self, was able to re-assert themself after ample "infusions" of the life-bestowing energy. It is especially curious that the subject even retained personal memories from before their affliction - despite now lacking a brain or other vital organs, leading some to question the nature of life, sentience, and the soul.

Transmission

Thus far, it is believed the only way to become afflicted would be to have an already afflicted creature drain a victim's energy completely - though often this simply kills the victim. There are unverified reports that there are other ways, via intense Drycæ for example. Some scholars speculate that an important component of the process involves the donation of a small amount of the inflicted's natural energy, though this is not verified.

Symptoms

Afflicted creatures almost always present with an emaciated body, as their condition literally feeds on every scrap of life energy in their body. The brain, center of personality, higher thoughts, and discipline, is often the last to go - though changes to behavior are evident from the disease's onset. Those few accursed who retain their sense of self require near constant replenishment, else they will erode into a crazed beast. Afflicted who succumb find themselves at the mercy of their hunger, driven by a bestial intelligence to consume the ever vital energy. It is not known how these creatures retain this remnant of intelligence, such as it is, despite the utter lack of functional organs.

If an afflicted creature loses all vestiges of energy, they grow still, unable to stir until a living creature with a healthy vitality comes within a few feet. The emanation of the living's Drycæ is enough to reanimate the creature's remains. These radiating emanations also act as a beacon, calling all those afflicted within several yards as a bonfire draws in the cold and weary.

Origin

It is not known how far back in history this condition presents, but rumors and historical notes point to Thul'draneth, who supposedly invoked a mighty manifestation that required immense Drycæ from devoted willing followers and unwilling captives. Despite the alleged abundance of Drycæ, the effect was too demanding, and fed off Thul'draneth until their own energy was corrupted - leading to the necessity of feeding of others to retain enough of this energy to survive.