Corpse Wagon

With a number of armies using necromancy to raise the dead the need to gather corpses has become a battle in itself. Innovation has developed a vehicle specifically for transporting the dead and is used by both sides to gather, store, and enchant corpses though depending on the variation these enchantments are vastly different.
The two major variations of a corpse wagon the first and more popular is the profane corpse wagon. The profane corpse wagon is used by necromancers to gather the dead and assist in either a quick reanimation or storage for later. Often crewed and propelled by the undead or followers of the necromancer a profane corpse wagon resembles a large carriage that has been altered with blasphemous enchantments that protect the carts contents. Inside the wagon is a small workshop specifically tooled for necromancy as well as hooks to hang the dead for storage. The pallbearers ride within the wagon while moving to and from a battlefield but often will hang outside and on top of the wagon in the middle of a battle to better gather the wounded and dying as well as fighting off opponents. When numbers are needed in battle a profane corpse wagon will gather the undead to enchant with the more basic necromantic spells creating lesser mindless undead quickly to be sent back into the battlefield under the necromancer's orders. If greater undead are needed either multiple corpses can be combined under a short period of time to empower a single greater undead or a trained necromancer may take their time within the corpse wagon to summon a greater undead. If not pressed for time the corpse wagon also is used to store a multitude of corpses for later use.

It seemed like it would be the hearse used to carry a nobles corpse to their final resting place were it not for the foul men who rode atop it. Foul servants of the necromancer they wore hoods to hide their faces, likely corrupted by the foul magics, and wielded hooks and chains they threw out to catch the dead and dying. I saw one soldier too busy fighting a skeleton to see the chain wrap around hid neck and drag him into the corpse wagon, he returned with a twisted neck and fighting for the necromancer. -Ivo, Knight of the Holy Order of the Saint Rose

The lesser used but still popular variation of the corpse wagon is the repose wagon. Used by paladin's priests, clerics, and other such armies that abhor the undead the repose wagon is used to insure the dead are put to rest as quickly as possible. Fashioned as part hearse and part shrine this corpse wagon is covered in armor and holy script for protection from the profane. Manned by holy warriors the repose wagon will gather the dead in order their remains are consecrated preventing any would be necromancer from raising the dead. When used in battle the repose wagon has little time to offer a proper funeral save for the prayers of a priest and cremation in a holy fire. Beyond the basic requirements of the pallbearers these holy warriors also capture the undead for purification, casting the unclean abominations into the repose wagon to be burned like the other corpses. A recent variation has seen the introduction of a pipe organ that has been used to improve the moral of allied forces, this has been met with mixed results.

I know not what to fear more, dying to the enemy and returning as one of the undead or falling far from enemy lines only to be remitted to the repose wagon. The pallbearers are large men who have been seen carrying the dead with ease to be thrown into the purifying flames. I hope that they were fully dead before but there is no question after. And now they seek to use hymns and spirituals upon the same vehicle and all I can think of is the organs powered by the souls of the dead. Ivo, Former Knight of the Holy Order of the Saint Rose

Nickname

Meat Wagon, Rolling Crypt, Portable Shrine

Price

5,000 gold

Rarity

Uncommon

Length

20'

Height

10'

Weight

300 lbs

Speed

30 (with two draft/warhorses)

Complement / Crew

one driver, up to four pallbearers with two draft/warhorses

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

200lbs - 2,000lbs