Undead - Revision history

Admiralbenbo at 01:50, 22 April 2024

2024-04-22T01:50:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:50, 22 April 2024
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	~~WIP:~~		The undead are bodies animated by beings originating at the [[Oblivion Gate]] at the heart of the Abyss. Essentially, they're animated by ''[[Jotnar\|jotnari]]'' (yot-NAR-ee, singular jotnar), effectively anti-kami. Where the kami are manifestations of nature and creation, the ''jotnari'' are manifestations of negation and corruption. Their existence breaks down creation and drains anima from the world. Thus, an undead infestation in an area is often signaled by reduced fertility (both of plant life and animal life, including intelligent life); a prolonged infestation will cause the area to be completely sterile. ''Jotnari'' are present at low levels in many areas but are only a significant threat where the land has become corrupted to some extent. ''Jotnari'' (especially the minor ones) are not sentient as we know it [citation needed -[[Nidus]]]. Instead they're driven by an unceasing urge to destroy everything, especially life. They exist to kill living things and consume their anima; given enough anima they generally replicate. So undead infestations are contagious, given a supply of corpses.

	The undead are bodies animated by beings originating at the [[Oblivion Gate]] at the heart of the Abyss. Essentially, they're animated by ''jotnari'' (~~YOT~~-~~nar~~-ee, singular jotnar), effectively anti-kami. Where the kami are manifestations of nature and creation, the ''jotnari'' are manifestations of negation and corruption. Their existence breaks down creation and drains anima from the world. Thus, an undead infestation in an area is often signaled by reduced fertility (both of plant life and animal life, including intelligent life); a prolonged infestation will cause the area to be completely sterile. ''Jotnari'' are present at low levels in many areas but are only a significant threat where the land has become corrupted to some extent. ''Jotnari'' (especially the minor ones) are not sentient as we know it. Instead they're driven by an unceasing urge to destroy everything, especially life. They exist to kill living things and consume their anima; given enough anima they generally replicate. So undead infestations are contagious, given a supply of corpses.

	It is important to note that there are many undead-like creatures that are not jotnari in origin. Those others are always mortal souls trapped (whether by duty, by curse, or by strongly-felt need) between life and death. While these do have a minor draining effect on the ambient anima (enough to survive), they are not inherently inimical to reality itself. Most ghosts, a very few liches, many mummies, revenants and other tomb guardians, as well as the Dutybound from [[Godsfall]] fall into this category. One way to determine whether a creature is jotnari in origin or not is to check whether its first instinct (when someone disturbs it) is to attack or to warn the intruder away. Most of the Trapped will try to communicate in some fashion. To be sure, many of the Trapped are themselves beings of malign intent--adventurers must use their own judgement to determine the truth of the matter. In addition, some of the higher-order jotnari undead are capable of communication and deceit, while a very few seem to fight their nature.		It is important to note that there are many undead-like creatures that are not jotnari in origin. Those others are always mortal souls trapped (whether by duty, by curse, or by strongly-felt need) between life and death. While these do have a minor draining effect on the ambient anima (enough to survive), they are not inherently inimical to reality itself. Most ghosts, a very few liches, many mummies, revenants and other tomb guardians, as well as the Dutybound from [[Godsfall]] fall into this category. One way to determine whether a creature is jotnari in origin or not is to check whether its first instinct (when someone disturbs it) is to attack or to warn the intruder away. Most of the Trapped will try to communicate in some fashion. To be sure, many of the Trapped are themselves beings of malign intent--adventurers must use their own judgement to determine the truth of the matter. In addition, some of the higher-order jotnari undead are capable of communication and deceit, while a very few seem to fight their nature.
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	Spontaneous undead arise where the [[Shadow]] veil is thin (often due to mass deaths, especially traumatic ones) and/or the corresponding area of [[Shadow]] has been touched by the Waste. So battlefields, necromantically-active catacombs, plague-ridden villages, etc. are the most common sites of spontaneous animation. Minor ''jotnari'', driven by a hunger for anima, find corpses (which are easy to animate because they still remember being alive) and flood in. Unlike most undead infestations, these types are generally relatively self-limiting as they need corpses and don't have the intelligence to hunt. When the supply of living creatures drops too far, they collapse and enter a stasis-like state, waiting for the breath of life to wake them again to feed.		Spontaneous undead arise where the [[Shadow]] veil is thin (often due to mass deaths, especially traumatic ones) and/or the corresponding area of [[Shadow]] has been touched by the Waste. So battlefields, necromantically-active catacombs, plague-ridden villages, etc. are the most common sites of spontaneous animation. Minor ''jotnari'', driven by a hunger for anima, find corpses (which are easy to animate because they still remember being alive) and flood in. Unlike most undead infestations, these types are generally relatively self-limiting as they need corpses and don't have the intelligence to hunt. When the supply of living creatures drops too far, they collapse and enter a stasis-like state, waiting for the breath of life to wake them again to feed.

	Artificial lesser undead arise when a spell-caster (often of the demonic-cult variety, but there are others who dabble in necromancy) casts spells or conducts rituals to summon and bind jotnari to corpses. Unlike the spontaneous ones, these artificial ones are constrained by the spells and rituals to obey their master...as long as the spell lasts or is renewed. Being fueled by the spell's anima, they're much less dangerous to other life while under control. This does not make them safe--they still seek to destroy all existence and their presence still corrupts reality (and especially Shadow). But the draining/sterilizing effect is much less pronounced--a necromancer with a small stable of skeletons can go months before the symptoms become apparent. Of course, the necromancer does pay with his own vitality to some degree--prolonged contact with the undead causes premature aging and a particular pallor, along with dried, brittle hair and yellowed eyes.		Artificial lesser undead arise when a spell-caster (often of the demonic-cult variety, but there are others who dabble in necromancy) casts spells or conducts rituals to summon and bind jotnari to corpses. Unlike the spontaneous ones, these artificial ones are constrained by the spells and rituals to obey their master...as long as the spell lasts or is renewed. Being fueled by the spell's anima, they're much less dangerous to other life while under control. This does not make them safe--they still seek to destroy all existence and their presence still corrupts reality (and especially [[Shadow]]). But the draining/sterilizing effect is much less pronounced--a necromancer with a small stable of skeletons can go months before the symptoms become apparent. Of course, the necromancer does pay with his own vitality to some degree--prolonged contact with the undead causes premature aging and a particular pallor, along with dried, brittle hair and yellowed eyes.

	==Incorporeal Undead==		==Incorporeal Undead==
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	The process also entails giving up the creative spark that makes one fully human--this starts with losing the emotions and desires of the person over the course of a decade or so and replacing them with cold obsessions. Vampires find it hard to grow in power except by giving into the jotnar corruption more deeply, which further distorts their desires and even their bodies. Go far enough, and only a monster remains. Vampires do ''not'' need to feed on blood, but many prefer the taste. Any significant contact is enough to drain anima from living beings to some degree; the "fanged kiss" merely does it more quickly and thoroughly. And the rush of power is the last true pleasure that many of the older vampires have left.		The process also entails giving up the creative spark that makes one fully human--this starts with losing the emotions and desires of the person over the course of a decade or so and replacing them with cold obsessions. Vampires find it hard to grow in power except by giving into the jotnar corruption more deeply, which further distorts their desires and even their bodies. Go far enough, and only a monster remains. Vampires do ''not'' need to feed on blood, but many prefer the taste. Any significant contact is enough to drain anima from living beings to some degree; the "fanged kiss" merely does it more quickly and thoroughly. And the rush of power is the last true pleasure that many of the older vampires have left.

	Liches arose first when arcanists (including the one that became the [[White Skull]] studied the vampire lords and attempted to "improve" the process. They partially succeeded. The lichification ritual is a descendent and refinement of the vampiric ritual. By binding their souls into phylacteries, liches lost the ability to create more of their kind as simply as vampires do (a loss they do not particularly mind)--in exchange they have complete control of the corruption and retain their own minds and interests. They do, inevitably, lose the ability to grow in power (beyond horizontally). A wizard who became a lich while only being able to cast 5th-circle spells will never progress beyond that--only those that can die can grow. They do gain the ability to reconstitute themselves as long as the phylactery is intact, as their body is but a vessel of anima.		Liches arose first when arcanists (including the one that became the [[White Skull]]) studied the vampire lords and attempted to "improve" the process. They partially succeeded. The lichification ritual is a descendent and refinement of the vampiric ritual. By binding their souls into phylacteries, liches lost the ability to create more of their kind as simply as vampires do (a loss they do not particularly mind)--in exchange they have complete control of the corruption and retain their own minds and interests. They do, inevitably, lose the ability to grow in power (beyond horizontally). A wizard who became a lich while only being able to cast 5th-circle spells will never progress beyond that--only those that can die can grow. They do gain the ability to reconstitute themselves as long as the phylactery is intact, as their body is but a vessel of anima.

	This was a partial success because liches are even more dependent on a steady supply of external anima. And in most cases, simply taking a life (or a portion of one) as vampires do will not do for a lich. They need ''souls'' to fuel the demonic pact that stabilizes their being. And they need them frequently--if they do anything other than simply exist, a lich generally will need to feed on a commoner once a day (or less frequently on stronger souls). Failure to do so means that their minds and powers unravel before the corruptor's touch and they wither into demiliches.		This was a partial success because liches are even more dependent on a steady supply of external anima. And in most cases, simply taking a life (or a portion of one) as vampires do will not do for a lich. They need ''souls'' to fuel the demonic pact that stabilizes their being. And they need them frequently--if they do anything other than simply exist, a lich generally will need to feed on a commoner once a day (or less frequently on stronger souls). Failure to do so means that their minds and powers unravel before the corruptor's touch and they wither into demiliches.

	[[Category:Magic]]		[[Category:Magic]]

Admiralbenbo at 01:34, 31 August 2020

2020-08-31T01:34:50Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 WIP:
-The undead are bodies animated by beings originating at the [[Oblivion Gate]] at the heart of the Abyss. Essentially, they're animated by ''jotnar'' (YOT-nar), effectively anti-kami. Where the kami are manifestations of nature and creation, the ''jotnar'' are manifestations of negation and corruption. Their existence breaks down creation and drains anima from the world. Thus, an undead infestation in an area is often signaled by reduced fertility (both of plant life and animal life, including intelligent life); a prolonged infestation will cause the area to be completely sterile. ''Jotnar'' are present at low levels in many areas but are only a significant threat where the land has become corrupted to some extent. ''Jotnar'' (especially the minor ones) are not sentient as we know it. Instead they're driven by urges and hate. They exist to kill living things and consume their anima; given enough anima they "evolve" into higher forms or replicate. So undead infestations are contagious, given a supply of corpses.
+The undead are bodies animated by beings originating at the [[Oblivion Gate]] at the heart of the Abyss. Essentially, they're animated by ''jotnari'' (YOT-nar-ee, singular jotnar), effectively anti-kami. Where the kami are manifestations of nature and creation, the ''jotnari'' are manifestations of negation and corruption. Their existence breaks down creation and drains anima from the world. Thus, an undead infestation in an area is often signaled by reduced fertility (both of plant life and animal life, including intelligent life); a prolonged infestation will cause the area to be completely sterile. ''Jotnari'' are present at low levels in many areas but are only a significant threat where the land has become corrupted to some extent. ''Jotnari'' (especially the minor ones) are not sentient as we know it. Instead they're driven by an unceasing urge to destroy everything, especially life. They exist to kill living things and consume their anima; given enough anima they generally replicate. So undead infestations are contagious, given a supply of corpses.
 ==Lesser Corporeal Undead==
 The lesser corporeal undead (skeletons, zombies, and the like) occur in two major ways--spontaneously and artificially.
-Spontaneous undead arise where the [[Shadow]] veil is thin (often due to mass deaths, especially traumatic ones) and/or the corresponding area of [[Shadow]] has been touched by the Waste. So battlefields, necromantically-active catacombs, plague-ridden villages, etc. are the most common sites of spontaneous animation. Minor ''jotnar'', driven by a hunger for anima, find corpses (which are easy to animate because they still remember being alive) and flood in. Unlike most undead infestations, these types are generally relatively self-limiting as they need corpses and don't have the intelligence to hunt. When the supply of living creatures drops too far, they collapse and enter a stasis-like state, waiting for the breath of life to wake them again to feed.
+Spontaneous undead arise where the [[Shadow]] veil is thin (often due to mass deaths, especially traumatic ones) and/or the corresponding area of [[Shadow]] has been touched by the Waste. So battlefields, necromantically-active catacombs, plague-ridden villages, etc. are the most common sites of spontaneous animation. Minor ''jotnari'', driven by a hunger for anima, find corpses (which are easy to animate because they still remember being alive) and flood in. Unlike most undead infestations, these types are generally relatively self-limiting as they need corpses and don't have the intelligence to hunt. When the supply of living creatures drops too far, they collapse and enter a stasis-like state, waiting for the breath of life to wake them again to feed.
-Artificial lesser undead arise when a spell-caster (often of the demonic-cult variety, but there are others who dabble in necromancy) casts spells or conducts rituals to summon and bind yotnar to corpses. Unlike the spontaneous ones, these artificial ones are constrained by the spells and rituals to obey their master...as long as the spell lasts or is renewed. Being fueled by the spell's anima, they're much less dangerous to other life while under control. This does not make them safe--they still seek to destroy all existence and their presence still corrupts reality (and especially Shadow). But the draining/sterilizing effect is much less pronounced--a necromancer with a small stable of skeletons can go months before the symptoms become apparent. Of course, the necromancer does pay with his own vitality to some degree--prolonged contact with the undead causes premature aging and a particular pallor, along with dried, brittle hair and yellowed eyes.
+This was a partial success because liches are even more dependent on a steady supply of external anima. And in most cases, simply taking a life (or a portion of one) as vampires do will not do for a lich. They need ''souls'' to fuel the demonic pact that stabilizes their being. And they need them frequently--if they do anything other than simply exist, a lich generally will need to feed on a commoner once a day (or less frequently on stronger souls). Failure to do so means that their minds and powers unravel before the corruptor's touch and they wither into demiliches.
 [[Category:Magic]]

Admiralbenbo at 22:48, 29 August 2020

2020-08-29T22:48:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:48, 29 August 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
	WIP:		WIP:

	The undead are bodies animated by beings originating at the [[Oblivion Gate]] at the heart of the Abyss. Essentially, they're animated by ~~akuma~~, effectively anti-kami. Where the kami are manifestations of nature and creation, the ~~akuma~~ are manifestations of negation and corruption. Their existence breaks down creation and drains anima from the world. Thus, an undead infestation in an area is often signaled by reduced fertility (both of plant life and animal life, including intelligent life); a prolonged infestation will cause the area to be completely sterile. ~~Akuma~~ are present at low levels in many areas but are only a significant threat where the land has become corrupted to some extent. ~~Akuma~~ (especially the minor ones) are not sentient as we know it. Instead they're driven by urges and hate. They exist to kill living things and consume their anima; given enough anima they "evolve" into higher forms or replicate. So undead infestations are contagious, given a supply of corpses.		The undead are bodies animated by beings originating at the [[Oblivion Gate]] at the heart of the Abyss. Essentially, they're animated by ''jotnar'' (YOT-nar), effectively anti-kami. Where the kami are manifestations of nature and creation, the ''jotnar'' are manifestations of negation and corruption. Their existence breaks down creation and drains anima from the world. Thus, an undead infestation in an area is often signaled by reduced fertility (both of plant life and animal life, including intelligent life); a prolonged infestation will cause the area to be completely sterile. ''Jotnar'' are present at low levels in many areas but are only a significant threat where the land has become corrupted to some extent. ''Jotnar'' (especially the minor ones) are not sentient as we know it. Instead they're driven by urges and hate. They exist to kill living things and consume their anima; given enough anima they "evolve" into higher forms or replicate. So undead infestations are contagious, given a supply of corpses.

	==Lesser Corporeal Undead==		==Lesser Corporeal Undead==
	The lesser corporeal undead (skeletons, zombies, and the like) occur in two major ways--spontaneously and artificially.		The lesser corporeal undead (skeletons, zombies, and the like) occur in two major ways--spontaneously and artificially.

	Spontaneous undead arise where the [[Shadow]] veil is thin (often due to mass deaths, especially traumatic ones) and/or the corresponding area of [[Shadow]] has been touched by the Waste. So battlefields, necromantically-active catacombs, plague-ridden villages, etc. are the most common sites of spontaneous animation. Minor ~~akuma~~, driven by a hunger for anima, find corpses (which are easy to animate because they still remember being alive) and flood in.		Spontaneous undead arise where the [[Shadow]] veil is thin (often due to mass deaths, especially traumatic ones) and/or the corresponding area of [[Shadow]] has been touched by the Waste. So battlefields, necromantically-active catacombs, plague-ridden villages, etc. are the most common sites of spontaneous animation. Minor ''jotnar'', driven by a hunger for anima, find corpses (which are easy to animate because they still remember being alive) and flood in. Unlike most undead infestations, these types are generally relatively self-limiting as they need corpses and don't have the intelligence to hunt. When the supply of living creatures drops too far, they collapse and enter a stasis-like state, waiting for the breath of life to wake them again to feed.

	[[Category:~~Metaphysics~~]]		Artificial lesser undead arise when a spell-caster (often of the demonic-cult variety, but there are others who dabble in necromancy) casts spells or conducts rituals to summon and bind yotnar to corpses. Unlike the spontaneous ones, these artificial ones are constrained by the spells and rituals to obey their master...as long as the spell lasts or is renewed. Being fueled by the spell's anima, they're much less dangerous to other life while under control. This does not make them safe--they still seek to destroy all existence and their presence still corrupts reality (and especially Shadow). But the draining/sterilizing effect is much less pronounced--a necromancer with a small stable of skeletons can go months before the symptoms become apparent. Of course, the necromancer does pay with his own vitality to some degree--prolonged contact with the undead causes premature aging and a particular pallor, along with dried, brittle hair and yellowed eyes.

			[[Category:Magic]]
	[[Category:Unfinished]]		[[Category:Unfinished]]

Admiralbenbo: Created page with "WIP: The undead are bodies animated by beings originating at the Oblivion Gate at the heart of the Abyss. Essentially, they're animated by akuma, effectively anti-kami...."

2020-08-29T15:22:01Z

Created page with "WIP: The undead are bodies animated by beings originating at the Oblivion Gate at the heart of the Abyss. Essentially, they're animated by *akuma*, effectively anti-kami...."

New page

WIP:

The undead are bodies animated by beings originating at the [[Oblivion Gate]] at the heart of the Abyss. Essentially, they're animated by *akuma*, effectively anti-kami. Where the kami are manifestations of nature and creation, the akuma are manifestations of negation and corruption. Their existence breaks down creation and drains anima from the world. Thus, an undead infestation in an area is often signaled by reduced fertility (both of plant life and animal life, including intelligent life); a prolonged infestation will cause the area to be completely sterile. Akuma are present at low levels in many areas but are only a significant threat where the land has become corrupted to some extent. Akuma (especially the minor ones) are not sentient as we know it. Instead they're driven by urges and hate. They exist to kill living things and consume their anima; given enough anima they "evolve" into higher forms or replicate. So undead infestations are contagious, given a supply of corpses.

==Lesser Corporeal Undead==
The lesser corporeal undead (skeletons, zombies, and the like) occur in two major ways--spontaneously and artificially.

Spontaneous undead arise where the [[Shadow]] veil is thin (often due to mass deaths, especially traumatic ones) and/or the corresponding area of [[Shadow]] has been touched by the Waste. So battlefields, necromantically-active catacombs, plague-ridden villages, etc. are the most common sites of spontaneous animation. Minor akuma, driven by a hunger for anima, find corpses (which are easy to animate because they still remember being alive) and flood in.

[[Category:Metaphysics]]
[[Category:Unfinished]]

Undead - Revision history

Admiralbenbo at 01:50, 22 April 2024

Admiralbenbo at 01:34, 31 August 2020

Admiralbenbo at 22:48, 29 August 2020

Admiralbenbo: Created page with "WIP: The undead are bodies animated by beings originating at the Oblivion Gate at the heart of the Abyss. Essentially, they're animated by *akuma*, effectively anti-kami...."

Admiralbenbo: Created page with "WIP: The undead are bodies animated by beings originating at the Oblivion Gate at the heart of the Abyss. Essentially, they're animated by akuma, effectively anti-kami...."