What it means to be Undead

Having written a metaphysical explanation which describes how Undeath and Resurrection works I felt the need to explore what impact these laws will have on the undead in the game. So, what follows is a series of cameo's and exploratory thoughts on various random aspects of life after death and what it means to be undead given the way it has been defined in the way the law.

Becoming and being a Liche.

A Liche is basically an undead Necromancer. A mortal being who has chosen to extend his existence in the mortal realm by becoming undead.
This can only be achieved in practical terms whilst the Necromancer is still mortal and effectively involves an arcane ritual suicide which culminates in the simultaneous capture of both the Necromancers soul and body within a shared Necrodermis.
This will give the Necromancer the ability to control and animate its former body through the manipulation of the Necrodermis whilst entrapping and preserving the Necromancers mortal soul within the same vessel.
Essentially this is what many great Necromancers have opted for in their twilight years as a means of extending their existence. So, Drachenfels, Nagash, Kemler have all made this transition from mortality to undeath.
However, it is not immortality, nor is it a perfect solution for extending one's existence. There are two fundamental flaws in becoming a Liche both of which can be attributed to a single metaphysical law.

1. Once separated by death the soul or psyche of a mortal being cannot be recombined with its former body. This effectively means that the former soul of the mortal necromancer is in practical terms nothing more than a shade. It becomes frozen in the emotional and motivational state that it was in at the point of death and nothing that transpires after death can change its nature. Thus a Liche will never decide to pursue redemption or embrace friendship or love because it is emotionally locked in whatever state it was at the point of its transition.
   
2. Whilst the Necrodermis encasing the body of the Necromancer will bind the corpse together and enable the soul of its former owner the ability to animate it. Unfortunately, its arcane properties cannot preserve it in the pristine condition it may have been prior to death. The body itself will begin to decompose almost immediately. The most immediate consequence will be the loss of all bodily fluids which will result in the skin of the body becoming pale and dry. External actions can be taken to try and reduce the speed of decomposition and overcome some of its more obvious consequences such as the smell. But no matter how much effort is expended the body of a Liche will gradually show its age even without the potential damage that it might suffer over time.