Types of Undead

Types of Undead By Ronan Ceril

Although undead share many common traits with each other - all are animated and healed by negative energy - it is of some use to understand that like the living creatures of the world, undead differ greatly by type. To give a simple explanation of undead, it is possible to categorize most into three groups:

Corporeal, Mindless Undead

This is the sort of undead most often encountered by travelers visiting graveyards. These undead have bodies, but lack self-will or intelligence. Skeletons and zombies are two common types of undead which fall into this category. These undead are mindless and usually soulless. They do not feel pain or emotions - they do not feel at all.

This sort of undead is often created by unusual events, strong presences of negative energy, and accidental or intentional magic. Commanded and intentional undead of this type can follow simple orders, but lack the intelligence to carry out complex commands. Undead not directly under the command of a priest or necromancer often simply attack everything about them.

Corporeal, Intelligent Undead

Some undead retain fragments or whole parts of their memories, souls, or personality from their life. Intelligent undead retain some portion of self-will as well, and are more than mindless entities - they are individuals, capable of reasoning and speech. Vampires, ghasts, and liches are examples of intelligent corporeal undead.

Note that many undead with intelligence - particularly ghouls and ghasts - may be so overcome with hunger or have so little disregard for mortals that they act with brutal violence against the living.

Incorporeal Undead

This group is categorized by a lack of an actual, physical body on the Prime. Allips, wraiths, and spirits are examples of these undead. Many incorporeal undead exist simultaneously on the ethereal plane and the Prime, or can pass between both planes.

Some incorporeal undead are intelligent, and died with some unfinished business or curse which prevented their soul from passing on to the afterlife. Such undead are trapped outside of the cycle, and merely reform if destroyed - their purpose ties them to the Prime, and until it is resolved, they will not move on.