Tredecimosian Beastiary

The Undead

 There are many forms of undead within the realms of Tredecimos. These undead are separated into three distinct categories; based on power, controllability, cognisance, etc. These categories are the Restless Dead, the Living Dead, and the Unliving. Incorporeal spirit beings are further subcategorized within these categories as Ghosts, Ghasts, and Geists respectively; and are loosely attuned to an element which relates to their death and/or manner of presentation.

Within the first category of Restless Dead are the undead which are easiest for a necromancer to control, and by the same token the weakest. Within this rank are skeletons, zombies, and ghosts; of which there are Lost Echoes, Shades , Trinketbound and Will o' Wisps.

Skeletons are the most basic undead, literally just bones held together with magic and given commands. They cannot generally speak, and have an incredibly weak constitution. Usually sent out en masse as cannon fodder so the heavy hitters can get more shots off.

Zombies are rotting corpses given function once more by a necromancer. The fresher the body, the more powerful the zombie, but likewise more powerful its connection to the soul originally inhabiting it.

Lost Echoes are spirits bound to places of historic significance, acting out their last weeks on a loop, not realizing they're dead. These spirits will appear as they did in life, and usually have some untold story to tell. Occasionally throughout the loop, their visage will flash to how they appeared shortly after dying. Lost Echoes are loosely attuned to the time element.

Shades are the wayward spirits of bestial creatures, twisted by years in darkness and despair. Appearing as the darkest of shadows, with floating claws and a gaping maw. They are attuned loosely to the Darkness element.

Trinketbound are spirits tied to an item which held great sentimental value to them in life. Appearing much like a semi-transparent projection of the visage they took in life, these spirits usually have some sort of unfinished business or vendetta that won't let them leave. Trinketbound are loosely attuned to the soul element.

Will o' Wisps are spirits taking the form of small orbs of light, with a slight visible "aura" effect to them. They come from those who died young, too young perhaps to even understand the concept of death. These leftovers of childkind still act like children; albeit in their own twisted undead fashion. They live often in swamps and forests, and will lure small children to "come play with them" by way of running into danger and joining them in the afterlife. They are loosely attuned to the light element.

Within the second category of Living Dead are the undead which can function autonomously, are a good bit more powerful than the Restless Dead, and are likewise much harder to control. Within this category are Draugr, Revenants, Vampires, and the second class of incorporeals, Ghasts; of which there are Banshees, Cave Terrors, The Deceived, and Wraiths.

Draugr are much like zombies, but coming from a Norse or dwarven background. The Draugr, having been killed dishonorably and denied their ultimate afterlife, or having been cursed for their clan's misdeeds in life, wanders around the forgotten halls of its now tomb. The Draugr retain some basic semblance of thought, and can often build small tribes within their tombs.

Revenants have one purpose in undeath; revenge upon those who've wronged them in life, especially the one who killed them. They are somewhere between a skeleton and a zombie in composition, often with fleshy sections and bony sections. Upon locating and seeing their target, the Revenant's eye will glow with blue flame, and their strength magnifies threefold until they, or their target, are slain. Once slain, a Revenant will continue to reform in a period of 1-3 weeks until revenge is achieved or the curse of undeath is properly removed.