Undead of the Silent Death

Undead of the Silent Death: The Personal Reflection of the Necromancer

The undead raised by followers of Silent Death share a commonality in that they resemble typical zombies, skeletons, or other reanimated corpses, but with a key difference: each necromancer’s personal beliefs and spiritual connection to the God of Silent Death influence how the undead manifest. While there is a basic form to their reanimation, no two necromancers’ creations are identical—the personality, philosophy, and experiences of the necromancer shape the aesthetic and behavior of the undead.

The result is that each necromancer’s undead army feels like an extension of the caster—an expression of their inner self, their desires, and their divine bond. The uniqueness comes from the caster’s influence rather than any inherent properties of the undead, meaning that the same corpse raised by different casters could look radically different depending on their spirituality, emotional state, or intentions.

Common Physical Traits of the Undead:

While the influence of the necromancer shapes each raised corpse in unique ways, there are some common traits shared among all undead raised by Silent Death followers:

Basic Undead Forms: They tend to take the form of the more standard undead: skeletons, zombies, ghouls, or other reanimated corpses. The flesh of these undead may still decay, though some might have better resistance to decomposition than normal. However, they do not bear the same malformations or chaotic physical forms that might occur with wild or uncontrolled necromancy. They are functional but lack true autonomy, driven by their raiser's will.
Resistance to Decay: The undead raised by followers of Silent Death are often more resilient than ordinary undead. Their bodies do not decay as quickly, and they are less susceptible to the usual weaknesses of zombies or skeletons, especially when it comes to radiant or necrotic damage.

How the Necromancer’s Influence Affects the Undead:

Emotional & Philosophical Imprint:

The nature of the necromancer directly affects the appearance and behavior of the undead. For example:

A stoic, meditative necromancer might raise undead that seem calm and serene in their movements. The reanimated bodies might retain an aura of peace, their wounds appearing healed, or their faces showing a tranquil expression. The corpses could move in slow, graceful motions, embodying a sense of balance and order.
A vengeful or passionate necromancer might raise frenzied, aggressive undead with warped expressions of fury or pain. The bodies could appear more corrupted, with shadows or flames swirling around the wounds, a visual echo of the necromancer's wrath. The undead might act more restlessly and may be more prone to violent actions, reflecting the anger or trauma that fueled their raiser’s desires.
A compassionate necromancer, one who believes in the protection of life, might raise undead that appear more gentle in nature, perhaps marked with glowing, soothing auras around their wounds. These undead may have an air of grief, as though they are mourning their own deaths but are still bound by a divine duty to protect the living. The undead they raise may carry themselves with purpose, performing their tasks with careful, deliberate intent.

Physical Manifestations:

The physical appearance of the raised undead reflects the necromancer’s personal history and beliefs, creating an individual signature for each necromancer’s creations:

A necromancer who has undergone great trauma, such as the loss of a loved one, might raise undead that have scorched marks on their bodies or pale, shattered features. These undead may have wounds that are not fully healed, their bodies showing clear signs of pain, reflecting the necromancer’s personal grief and unresolved trauma.
A necromancer with a deep connection to nature might raise undead that appear to have vines, moss, or earthly patterns subtly etched into their skin. These undead could have wooden or stone-like limbs, their decaying flesh appearing to merge with the natural world, reflecting the necromancer’s belief in life and death as interconnected cycles.

Aura and Energy:

Divine Influence: Undead raised by followers of the Silent Death often carry a divine aura that connects them to the God of Silent Death, although this influence varies. The more devout the necromancer, the more strongly divine the aura. These undead could exhibit ghostly glows, ethereal wisps, or even symbolic marks on their skin that reflect the necromancer's devotion. If the necromancer is less devout, the connection to the God of Silent Death might be less clear, but still present.
Shifting States: In some rare cases, particularly among the most powerful necromancers, the raised undead may carry a more ethereal presence. They might flicker between the material world and ethereal planes, briefly becoming intangible or blurry, reflecting the necromancer’s own spiritual depth and their closeness to the Silent Death.

Personality & Behavior:

The behavior of the undead is similarly influenced by their raiser’s psyche:

Methodical Necromancers: Those who are more logical and strategic might raise undead that follow orders with precision and calm efficiency, almost as though they are tools—perfectly attuned to the task they’ve been given.
Emotional Necromancers: Those who are emotionally driven might raise undead that reflect their emotional state, such as a volatile undead who can get easily triggered by situations of danger or conflict. These undead may appear to be in a constant state of agitation, as though they are constantly on edge, mirroring the necromancer’s inner turmoil or unresolved emotions.
Balanced Necromancers: Necromancers who have reached a level of spiritual peace might raise undead that seem to reflect a balance of tranquility and duty. They might appear calm, even serene, and act more like guardians, quietly patrolling areas of importance, never rushing, always alert and prepared.

The Transcendence of Wraithborn:

While the majority of the undead raised by Silent Death followers are functionally similar to zombies or skeletons, the more powerful necromancers may have a rare ability to raise an undead that transcends to a more sentient form—the Wraithborn. This process is not common, and the necromancer’s connection to Silent Death must be exceptionally deep for this to occur. Wraithborn are not merely reanimated corpses; they are often the living embodiment of the necromancer’s divine bond, imprinted with their values, experiences, and faith.

These rare entities retain greater autonomy, intelligence, and the ability to interact with others on a deeper, more meaningful level. Their ethereal nature and divine aura set them apart from the usual undead raised by Silent Death followers, making them feel more like true spiritual reflections of their casters.

Summary:

Undead raised by followers of Silent Death are not bound by one common form, but are instead deeply shaped by the personal experiences, beliefs, and emotions of the necromancer who raises them. The appearance, behavior, and aura of each undead are a reflection of the caster’s inner self, making them unique to each individual necromancer.

Though functionally similar to typical zombies or skeletons, these undead carry the imprint of their creator, making each one feel like an extension of the necromancer’s will, their emotions, and their spiritual connection to death. There is no single "type" of undead raised by followers of the Silent Death, but rather a vast array of individual manifestations shaped by the casters themselves.

Undead of the Silent Death