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{{Info afflictions
The stuff of nightmares for some, figments of folklore for others, and the steadfast guardians of ancient faith to even fewer, Undead are a barely understood Affliction that has started wreaking havoc in Aloria in the past century or so, leaving scholars unable to figure out why. Undead take a variety of different forms, often dictated by the faith and belief they held in life as they are barred from the gates of the afterlife, but they share a common trait in being damned by the living for their very existence is a revolt against nature and the cycle of life and death. Playing Undead is not recommended for new players, or for long-term goals. Undead Characters are hated by nearly all cultures and Religions and have very limited roleplay opportunities. When playing an Undead, choose one of the Undead Types, and follow the rules defined. It is possible to both make a new Character that was made Undead in their backstory, as well as convert an existing Character into an Undead. However, in such an instance, the body must not be held by the state.  
|image = Undead.png
|races      = All, though some can avoid it.
|origins    = Unknown
|}}
The stuff of nightmares for some, figments of folklore for others, and the steadfast guardians of ancient faith to even fewer, Undead are a barely understood Affliction that has started wreaking havoc in Aloria in the past century or so, leaving scholars unable to figure out why. Undead take a variety of different forms, often dictated by the faith and belief they held in life as they are barred from the gates of the afterlife, but they share a common trait in being damned by the living for their very existence is a revolt against nature and the cycle of life and death. The Undead struggle to exist in a world that is so strongly against them, always forced to carve something with a semblance to normality on the edges of society, always hunted by the forces of religious virtue, even if they have done nothing wrong, and are themselves the victim ill-will of others. As Undeadism across the world is becoming worse with each passing year, both the living and Undead are forced to grapple with the arising morality of Undeath, and the subsequent violence that is erupting over these questions. Playing an Undead is not recommended for new players, as Undead are almost universally hunted by all Races and Religions, with very few exceptions. Roleplaying as an Undead results in hostility from other Characters, and roleplay opportunities are denied with unrelenting opposition. Undeath (unlike in some other lore universes) is not a Race of its own, and rather just builds on existing Races. You may convert a living Character into an Undead at any time. Resurrecting a past character that died some time ago, will require approval from Lore Staff.


==Core Concept==
==Undead Types==
===Becoming Undead===
There are three Types of Undead, Deathveil Undead who are the more general type of Undead, Relicsworn Undead who are distinctly Unionist aligned, and Godsrot Undead who are Fornoss Religion aligned, each with differing legality.  
In Aloria, all living things have a body and soul bound together through some unknown force. A soul can only ever belong to one body, and even though some Magic exists to remove a soul from a body without destroying it, by far and large the majority of people who die in Aloria pass into the afterlife. For some, however (and with increasing frequency), their souls are unable to pass into the afterlife, or only briefly do so before being forced to re-inhabit their bodies. When a soul has been severed from its body, even if it returns later, a state of Undeath occurs, where the body is technically still functioning and controlled by the soul, but the merger is imperfect, decay has set in, the body no longer needs to eat, sleep, or breathe, and a variety of things can happen. First, examine the manners by which one can become Undead:
===Deathveil Undead===
* '''Violenced Undeath:''' is a common form of Undeath, and one that has been researched but few have any understanding of. In many recorded instances, a person came to a violent end in either extreme tragedy or anger, and as a result became Undead, awakening shortly after death had set in.
* '''Unfinished Undeath:''' is an equally common form of Undeath, where a person had such a strong connection to unfinished business in life that their soul refused to pass into the Afterlife and returns to the body. This may also occur if a person dies just before the conclusion of earthly business.
* '''Forced Undeath:''' is a less common form of Undeath, that involves a person being forced to become an Undead. This can happen through a variety of means, for example Ordial rituals, Ordvaan Rituals (see Deathwatch Undead), Rituals of the Bone King, or Death Isldar rituals that deny the Afterlife to the soul.
* '''Gateshut Undeath:''' is a very rare form of Undeath, that follows a soul being actively rejected by their Afterlife for religious reasons. A good example of this is Fornoss Undead, who are rejected from the Afterlife by their Gods because their Soldi or Svaldi is so low (though it also may occur due to the gods fighting over the rights to a soul, thus trapping them in Undeath for the course of the arguments).
 
===Perception of Death===
To most Religions of Aloria, Undeath is a perversion of faith, because most faiths have the principle of divine judgement, where a person's soul shall be judged by a God of the afterlife, and deemed worthy to paradise. The logic that many faithful uphold, is that any type of Undead they meet, must have been rejected by their god and is therefor an immoral and sinful being, or one who actively wanted to avoid the judgement of their God and thus commit blasphemy. The reality is more complicated however, as the vast majority of the Undead did not ask to become Undead, or worse, were forced into by other more nefarious individuals. Undeath has only really become a major problem in the last 40 years with the rate of Undeath exploding exponentially each year. Undeath has existed for as long as death and life were a thing on Aloria, with references found even in Seraph murals, but it was always a fringe issue, until the gruesome murders at the Imperial Palace that saw all the sons of Emperor Justinian II slain by an outbreak of Undeath in the Palace itself. Since then, most faiths and societies have adopted anti-Undeath burial practices, like cremation and beheading before burial (the latter of which prevents Undeath from ever taking place).
 
==Types of Undead==
There exist multiple types of Undead, usually categorized based on Religions, as each Afterlife has different rules for entry (and those who are rejected). These types provide general "theme traits", which should be respected, but Players have a great deal of freedom beyond the standard. For example, if the requirement for Unionist Undead is just to have glowing eyes and pale skin, Players have the freedom to add more, so long as they don't detract the minimum that is there. As a general rule, no form of Undeath can make a person appear like any normal person. Afflictions cannot be hidden, Undeath being more so because Undead do not have basic body biology function. Note, they don't still need to believe in these Religions, Undead often lose their faith due to being refused by their old communities. Atheist and Ordial Cultist Undead move on straight to Deathrot. Is is important to note that if one of the Types states it is accepted by a particular religion, it means they won't be attacked on sight by them, but the law is still very much against them and they will have other enemies.
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 33%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
{|
{|
|[[File:Unionismundead.png|170px|thumb|left]]
|-
|
| rowspan="5" | [[File:Undeathqueen.png|300px|caption|left]]
<span style="font-size:130%;><center>'''Mortis Undead'''</center></span>
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Description
Mortis Undead are very common among Unionists, but not bound to any specific Religion and generally seen as the "default" Undead for those who do not want the cultural or thematic connections the other Undead Types have. Mortis Undead start with only two notable traits: glowing eyes of whatever eye color their eyes were before death/milky white opaque eyes, and a much paler skin/darkened eye sockets. Over time, Mortis Undead can rot, stay roughly the same, or need new body parts to amend those that were lost.  
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Deathveil Undead are created in circumstances that are not understood but are likely due to the interference of Ordial Entities like the Death Gods Malefica, the Consigner, or the Machinist. An Undeath occurs when a person's soul is unable to pass on into the afterlife, and is somehow condemned to remain with their body. Deathveil Undead are usually created by the Death Gods to do their bidding in their war on the living and to consume their souls. Within many societies and religions, Undead are also an abomination, especially so in Regalia, where Undead have been a continuing menace. Deathveil Undead are the most common form of Undead, who are generally universally hunted by all law-abiding citizens, religious forces, and military organizations. Only the most outcast of criminals and low-lives might tolerate being near a Deathveil Undead, who are generally only somewhat safe existing in the Sewers. Many Deathveil Undead are either willing or unwilling soldiers of the Malefica, thus considered evil. While is possible for a Deathveil Undead to wish freedom from the clutches of the Ordial entites that control them, this is usually not up to them, and thus they are still complicit in the vile actions of their masters. It is not possible for a Deathveil Undead to become mortal again, or to have their body soul reinstated. They can however be made Spirits by other entities such as Gods, Arken, or Ordial Entities.
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Rules
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
* Deathveil Undead inherit their Heritage Traits from their pre-death Heritage. They can still cast Magic but not God Magic, and are unable to gain other Afflictions or Affinities.
* Deathveil Undead, if they were Arkenborn or Godborn in life, lose all their Traits from these conditions. Some visuals may also change due to Undeath (see art for inspiration).
* Deathveil Undead are generally hunted by the Regalian Empire and its citizens. Deathveil Undead players should expect to have a very hard time to find casual Rp in the City.  
* Deathveil Undead can be in varying states of decomposition down to being entirely skeletal, but players should observe that due to decomposition, they are a hive of disease and rot.
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Mechanic 1
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Deathveil Undead no longer need biological processes such as breathing, eating, or sleeping. They are theoretically immortal so long as their body is not physically destroyed, as destroying their head will still force their soul to detach from their body and pass on. Deathveil Undead can live for hundreds of years, though we recommend a maximum of 500, due to the stringency of lore from this far back.  
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Mechanic 2
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Deathveil Undead, due to their connection with the Ordial Gods Malefica, the Consigner, and the Machinist, are able to use Divinium to summon these entities, even if normally Pagan or Cult Gods such as these could not be summoned. In doing so, not only do they have access to the normal Divinium Summoning, these entities also double as having all functions of the [[Spirit#Spirit_Dukes|Spirit Dukes]].
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Mechanic 3
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Deathveil Undead do not need to remain bodily cohesive, meaning parts of them can live independently from the main body. This could for example allow them to send a hand crawling under a doorway which can later be re-attached, or an eye held around a corner to see. This allows Deathveil Undead to creatively interact with some Staff Events by creatively using their bodily flexibility.  
|}
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 33%;">
===Relicsworn Undead===
{|
{|
|[[File:Burningchoir.png|170px|thumb|left]]
|-
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| rowspan="5" | [[File:Yyyyhhhh.png|300px|caption|left]]
<span style="font-size:130%;><center>'''Burning Choir Undead'''</center></span>
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Description
Burning Choir Undead are exclusive to [[Unionism]]. These Undead are formed when devout Unionists die in service of the Emperor or the faith, for example Knights or soldiers or priests themselves. Burning Choir Undead are always a skeleton enveloped in flames, usually golden, but other colors too. Burning Choir Undead are still seen as anathema by the priesthood, but some among the Unionist population secretly help them. with their service in undeath.  
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Relicsworn Undead are the only type of Undead legal in the Regalian Empire, yet still regarded with mistrust and concern. Relicsworn Undead have no connection with the Death Gods, rather Relicsworn are made by the intervention of the Unionist Gods. Relicsworn Undead are made either from soldiers or aging Knights who are dying, or criminals whose life is given new purpose in service to the faith. This is either done by interring their head, skull, or heart into a Unionist reliquary container or box, after which it is interred into a suit of Armor (the image depicts a skull reliquary inserted into the chest-piece). Relicsworn Undead are then conscripted into the Burning Choir Chapter of the Aelrrigan Order, from where fellow Aelrrigans ensure the magical cohesion of their binding that keeps their body intact, and the influence of the Death Gods away. Relicsworn are then used to guard places that other Knights deem themselves above, such as graveyards, crypts, and abandoned religious sites that have long since been reclaimed by nature or just lack visitors. Due to their relation with the Aelrrigan Order in being part of it, they also follow Aelrrigan Code, and work with the Aelrrigans, though many Aelrrigans do not consider them full-fledged members, more like a commitment for the Order as a whole that sometimes becomes a burden. Unionist fanatics can consider Relicsworn a type of holy warrior, however.
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Rules
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
* Relicsworn Undead inherit their Heritage Traits from their pre-death Heritage. They can still cast Magic but only Unionist God Magic, and are unable to gain other Afflictions or Affinities.  
* Relicsworn Undead, if they were Arkenborn or Godborn in life, lose all their Traits from these conditions. Some visuals may also change due to Undeath (see art for inspiration).
* Relicsworn Undead are legal in the city of Regalia, but may still face bigotry. They are also only legal so long as they are Aelrrigan Knights, and get hunted if they leave the Order.
* Relicsworn Undead are always in armor, because they lack a body without it. The armor is in essence their body, which is extended from the Reliquary that is fixed into it.
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Mechanic 1
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Relicsworn Undead no longer need biological processes such as breathing, eating, or sleeping. They are theoretically immortal so long as their body is not physically destroyed, as destroying their head will still force their soul to detach from their body and pass on. Relicsworn Undead can live for hundreds of years, though we recommend a maximum of 250, as Unionism did not exist before that.
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Mechanic 2
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Relicsworn Undead, due to a complex binding of Unionist God Magic, are invisible to Event Entities such as: Evolist Gods, Arken, Spirit Dukes, and some Extraplanar Event Entities (inquire with DM for opportunities). This even extends to things they are holding, including a person if they are inside their armor (permitting space, given the presence of the reliquary which takes up some space).
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Mechanic 3
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
The Unionist Gods have not just blessed the Relicsworn with eternal martial duty, but also given them the means to soothe loss of simple life. That is to say, they can resurrect domestic pets like dogs, cats, and lizards from the dead, and give them extended life. This also extends to mounts like horses, or just wild animals in general, just never complex life forms like people or Spirits.  
|}
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 33%;">
===Godsrot Undead===
{|
{|
|[[File:Estellonundead.png|170px|thumb|left]]
|
<span style="font-size:130%;><center>'''Deathwatch Undead'''</center></span>
Deathwatch Undead are exclusive to [[Estelley]], always created rather than spontaneously risen. These Undead are created by the Rite of Ammuloa, performed by a Ordvaan, who plunges a ritual dagger into their heart during a ceremony, binding them in eternal service as a protector to a place, person, or family, creating Deathwatch Undead who remain clean and unaffected by mutations, save for glowing eyes and porcelain skin color. These Undead are tolerated by the Estelley faithful.
|}
</center>
</tr></table>
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 33%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
{|
|[[File:Oldgodsundead.png|170px|thumb|left]]
|
<span style="font-size:130%;><center>'''Draugr Undead'''</center></span>
Draugr Undead are the mortal enemies of the [[Fornoss]] faithful, rejected from the afterlife by various means, but most commonly some dispute over their soul, or improper burial practices. All Draugr have gray skin and their (often) Velheim tattoos and eyes glow, but further rot and mutations can take place. Draugr Undead are particularly hunted by the Fornoss faithful who mostly ignore other Undead, because these Undead in particular often must be put to rest.
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 33%;">
{|
|[[File:Sadunssdead.png|170px|thumb|left]]
|
<span style="font-size:130%;><center>'''Saydir Undead'''</center></span>
In Farahdeen, there are many dead and undead things, Saydir Undead being one of them. The Saydir are Sariyd dead whose souls became trapped in a pseudo-sand-and-body state, where part of their body spontaneously shift to sand, seep away, before reforming, with sand trickling from most body parts. Saydir are hunted by Qadir and Songaskians alike to put them out of their misery, as they live in the eternal knowledge of all that they have lost, their emotional instability contributing to the deluge of sand slides.
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 33%;">
{|
|[[File:Foreborn.png|170px|thumb|left]]
|
<span style="font-size:130%;><center>'''Foreborn Undead'''</center></span>
Foreborn Undead come from a mixture of [[Baskarr]] Religion and certain scientist cults, both of which are protective and supportive of the Foreborn Undead. Foreborn Undead have been judged as "serving the dead" by their respective Gods, for the Asha recovering the past, and for these cults rejecting Magic dominance, both aligned on the fight against the Allorn Elves. Foreborn Undead are exceptionally unstable due to their physical power often ripping their body apart, needing frequent replacements.
|}
</center>
</tr></table>
==Deathrot==
[[File:Sadsad.png|230px|thumb|right|A Deathrotten Mortis Kul.]]
Deathrot is a process that threatens every Undead at some point or another and causes some of them to become Ordial Corrupted. Undead, no matter how strong their belief in their religion, or their mental fortitude, struggles with a constant urge to slide towards hatred of the living, envy of being what they can never return to, or rage against the Gods for having permitted this. In the Beyond, a malicious entity known as the Malefica (found in [[Ordial Cultism]] preys on this, trying to infect the mind with such intense hatred of the living, that they let Ordial power into their body and soul. When this occurs, this is called Deathrot, which sets in a slow but steady spiral, culminating to the individual completely being corrupted by the Beyond and becoming an agent of death of the Beyond. Many Undead face a constant battle with this creeping hatred in their heart, with exclusion and violence inflicted on them from their old societies and often friends and family, tipping them over the edge. Deathrot coincides with steady increases in Ordial mutations, with aesthetics slowly shifting towards Ordial the more Deathrot sets in, including Ordial green eye colors, bone protrusions, ghostly effects and more. Deathrot can be a fast process that only takes weeks, but for some Undead it can take decades if not centuries. When Deathrot sets in, the Dimensional Alignment of the Undead swaps to Ordial, meaning any Void or Exist Abilities will become Ordial instead. Atheist and Ordial Cultists who become Undead start Deathrot immediately. Becoming infested with an Ordial Shade of any kind also sets in Deathrot, or at the very least forces the Undead to become Ordial Aligned. Deathrotting Undead do not have to specifically align with the Malefica or be Ordial Cultists. They can at any point in time align with a different Ordial Entity, or simply fester and derive power from the hatred in their heart. Deathrot does also not necessarily make an Undead unequivocally evil, or always a hateful person. Hate can express itself in remorse, grief, or envy towards the living, or even just resentment over how they were treated, hunted, and often put down without recourse or mercy. In this way, Deathrot represents a detachment from living society and a will to make a society for the Undead, or find some way to punish the living for what they have done to the Undead, and continue to do to them. Deathrot can also be halted, by a return to faith, or outside factors like a Deathrotting Undead finding love among the living. Ordial Alignment can never be taken away, but by temporarily halting Deathrot, the Undead can let go of their hatred and violence towards the living, and live a reasonable normal life of undeath.
===Afflicted Form===
Afflicted Form is a Transformation that can be used by Deathrotting Undead for a variety of reasons ranging from disguise to a surrender to hateful emotions and look cool in combat. Afflicted Forms are more monstrous forms of their normal body, and allow some more creative freedom like making the Character appear more like a hulking beast, so long as it remains vaguely humanoid, and should not add additional function (like wielding more than one weapon with multiple arms). Afflicted Form cannot imitate other types (like Vampire or Marken), and must always remain the same, and be predominantly green or Ordial-themed.
==Undead Traits==
This section puts all Abilities, Free Packs, Limitations, and Mechanics together for ease of reference. Keep in mind, Afflictions are not Races, these Traits are additive, they do not replace Racial Traits.
===Abilities===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:50%;"
|- style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center; background-color:#c0c0c0;"
! Ability Name
! Ability Type
! Ability Range
! Ability Description
! Modifiers
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#e5ffcc;" | Chem Revive
| rowspan="5" | [[File:Gdsagsdgfdh.png|300px|caption|left]]
| Active Technique
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Description
| {{#simple-tooltip: Emote Range | Emote Range means that it can target anyone who is within Emote Range (thus who can see your emotes when you use them).}}
| style="vertical-align:top;" |  
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip: Chem Revive | To empower an Ally, Target them with this Ability. If the Ally reaches 0 HP, they are instead revived with 2 temporary HP, and given 4 more Attack Emotes. If any of these Attack Emotes was able to put an enemy down to 0 HP, the 2 temporary HP is converted to permanent HP, and they heal an additional 1 HP. If they fail to put an enemy to 0 HP, the temporary HP is removed, and they KO properly. This Ability cannot be used on a person already affected by a Revive Ability (Sacred Revive, Chem Revive, etc). Chem Revive has a 2 Hour Cooldown.
Godsrot Undead or Hvitdraugr as they are called among Fornoss believers, are Undead who are created in a very specific process unique to Fornoss as a Religion. In Fornoss, the faithful gain Soldi and Svaldi, two different currencies of honor split in two pantheons in the same religion. When a Fornoss person died and they have one more than the other, their respective Gods claim them for their afterlife. If however a Fornoss believer has roughly equal Svaldi and Soldi, and has a lot of both, both pantheons will end up claiming them and they can pass on to neither afterlife. In such a situation, they continue to exist in a state of Undeath after they have died on Aloria, until such a hypothetical time that the Gods agree who gets to have their soul. Many Godsrot Undead exist in this state for centuries, as the Gods rarely interact and neither side ever wants to relent to the other. Godsrot Undead are illegal in Regalia, as it does not respect this Fornoss tradition, but among the Fornoss believers, Hvitdraugr (which differ from Deathveil Undead which they call just Svartdraugr) are considered holy to some degree, requiring them to protect them and keep them safe from Regalia's attempt to exterminate all Undead regardless of the circumstances of their existence. Godsrot Undead can be told apart from other Undead due to their signature gray skin, and blue glowing Fornoss Tattoos on various parts of their body.
}}
|-
| {{#simple-tooltip: Undead Modifier | Undead cannot use this Ability on anyone but themselves. Instead, this Ability is always active (meaning they do not need to use it), and automatically triggers when they go to 0 HP. Also, this Ability has a 1 Hour Cooldown for Undead instead of 2 Hours.  
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Rules
}}
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
* Godsrot Undead inherit their Heritage Traits from their pre-death Heritage. They can still cast Magic of any Planar Alignment, and are unable to gain other Afflictions or Affinities.
* Godsrot Undead, if they were Arkenborn or Godborn in life, lose all their Traits from these conditions. Some visuals may also change due to Undeath (see art for inspiration).
* Godsrot Undead are illegal in the city of Regalia, but are considered holy among Fornoss Religion followers. As such, Fornoss believers will protect and keep them hidden.  
* Godsrot are never in a state of decomposition. Their skin turns gray and cold and their eyes glow, but all other bodily functions and organs still work like normal.
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Mechanic 1
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Godsrot Undead are functionally Undead, but their body still functions as if it was alive. That is to say, they need sleep, they need to drink and eat, and they need to breathe. That being said, they no longer age in this state of Undeath, and so they can be hundreds of years old, though we recommend a maximum of 500, due to the stringency of lore from this far back, and Gods don't take that long. 
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Mechanic 2
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Godsrot Undead are blessed by Bard: They can declare one person their "Ward" (does not need consent), which grants +1 Defense Stat (break cap up to 9) while in Emote Range. This must be declared on a Character Application to apply. The Ward is also immune to Prideborn Mindvex, Bodyborn Mutations, and Arkenborn emotion reading/memory alterations, so long as they are Ward.
|-
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Mechanic 3
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Godsrot Undead are also blessed by Thirun: While fighting alongside at least one Odalv or Bardvir, they gain +1 Defense Stat (breaking cap up to 11). They can also hijack any Mechanic or non-Ability-based Magic, such as aesthetic or environment Magic usage by other Players, and make it do something they want, or shut it down entirely. They can act like Anti-Mages to other aesthetic Magic.
|}
|}
 
==Expanded Lore==
===Limitations===
Expanded Lore offers more reading material regarding the Undead or Undeadism in general, but is not required reading in order to get a decent experience.  
* '''Undead Limitation I:''' Bralona, and Suvial cannot be Undead under any circumstances. Undead also cannot become other Afflictions, or [[Marken]] or [[Archon]].
===Perception of Death===
* '''Undead Limitation II:''' Affinities not blocked like [[Arkenborn]] and [[Godborn]] lose their Traits upon becoming Undead. Some visuals may also have to change.
To most Religions of Aloria, Undeath is a perversion of faith, because most faiths have the principle of divine judgement, where a person's soul shall be judged by a God of the afterlife, and deemed worthy to paradise. The logic that many faithful uphold, is that any type of Undead they meet, must have been rejected by their God and is therefor an immoral and sinful being, or one who actively wanted to avoid the judgement of their God and thus commit blasphemy. The reality is more complicated however, as the vast majority of the Undead did not ask to become Undead, or worse, were forced into by other more nefarious individuals. Undeath has only really become a major problem in the last 40 years with the rate of Undeath exploding exponentially each year. Undeath has existed for as long as death and life were a thing on Aloria, with references found even in Seraph murals, but it was always a fringe issue, until the gruesome murders at the Imperial Palace that saw all the sons of Emperor Justinian II slain by an outbreak of Undeath in the Palace itself. Since then, most faiths and societies have adopted anti-Undeath burial practices, like cremation and beheading before burial (the latter of which prevents Undeath from ever taking place).
 
===Undead around the world===
===Mechanics===
While Relicsworn Undead are usually limited to Regalia or Etosil and Godsrot Undead are exceedingly rare, Deathveil Undead can be found all over the world in all manner of cultures. In Elven and Estelley society, a type of Deathveil Undead called Deathwatch is common where living bodyguards are forced to become Undead through a ritual act, which binds them into service to their master's family for all eternity. The Deathwatch Undead push away the influence of the Death Gods by killing and offering them the souls of their enemies to consume, thus sating their desire for death and preventing them from controlling the actions of the Deathwatch. The Saydir are Undead sand-wraiths from Ard al Nur (the homeland of the Qadir and Songaskians). The Saydir were originally the Sariyd inhabitants who were swallowed by the Great Storm and choked out. Though, because this event also had the corrosive influence of the Death Gods, many of these Sariyd citizens would become Undead in their rage against the Dragons. Saydir continue to be a massive problem to both the Qadir and Songaskians, as they reside in large numbers in the desert dunes, and make the nights in Ard al Nur extremely dangerous.  
* '''Undead-Life:''' Undead are not immortal, but their life is extended by several centuries, up to a maximum of 500. There are in theory older Undead, but we do not permit players to play 500+ year old Characters.
===Necromancy===
* '''Undead-Forge:''' Undead are able to apply Ordial aesthetics and decorations on objects they own, armor, weapons, rental regions, and areas around them, creating undead effects and decorations.  
The concept of Necromancy or Death Magic exists in Aloria, but is has nothing to do with Undead. Undeath purely describes the concept of a soul bound to its body after having departed from it partially, but being unable to pass on fully. Necromancy or Death Magic describes the act of animating dead tissue or objects through Magic, or by the use of Spirit (Shades). Necromancers cannot control the bodies of Undead, and Undead also cannot act as fuel for Necromancers. The souls used for Necromancy (Shades) and the souls still attached to Undead bodies (normal souls) are also vastly different, though Undead Necromancers do exist, especially Deathveil Undead. Deathveil Undead, being close to the Malefica, can command a great deal of control over other Ordial-aligned aspects, such as Death Magic and Shades themselves. This is of course dependent on the Undead embracing the Malefica and its hatred against the living. The Malefica does not grant the gifts of the Beyond to the Undead who only reluctantly work for the Death Gods in their quest to cause death and end the concept of life.  
* '''Undead-Biotic:''' Undead no longer need biological processes. They do not breathe, do not need to drink or eat, sleep, or rest, and cannot be fed from by Vampires or Geists.  
* '''Undead-Graft:''' Undead can add objects and body parts removed from other living or Undead to repair parts of their body, meaning they can heal themselves while outside of Combat and recover lost limbs.  
===Deathrotten-only Mechanics===
* '''Undead-Speech:''' Undead are able to communicate in a secret language that only Undead, Geists and Geist-Thralls and Geist-Broods can understand, that cannot be understood through other Abilities or Mechanics.  
* '''Deathrot-Form:''' Undead can use Afflicted Form to transform into a Disguised Monster Form. Even though this is a Disguise, it cannot be seen through, even by Abilities or Mechanics that can see through Disguises.
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*In places where necromancy is either legal or looked over, some necromancers turn a very healthy profit by resurrecting the dead pets of the wealthy who can’t bear to be parted from their favorite companions. It should be noted however, that these pets are not Undead, but rather Ordial Shades forced into corpses as Spirits.  
* A rumor for nearly two decades after it happened was that the Emperor couldn’t bear to kill his last remaining son, despite his Undead status. Instead, he kept him chained and secured away in the deepest reaches of the Imperial Palace.
*With the rise in publicity of knowledge about Ordial powers and Deathrotten Undead, so too has the paranoia of those who hate them risen, leading the most radical of conspiracy theorists to believe that the Regalian Empire may be entirely controlled by phantom-possessed people.
* In places where necromancy is either legal or looked over, some necromancers turn a very healthy profit by resurrecting the dead pets of the wealthy who can’t bear to be parted from their favorite companions. It should be noted however, that these pets are not Undead, but rather Ordial Shades forced into corpses as Spirits.
*A rumor for nearly two decades after it happened was that the Emperor couldn’t bear to kill his last remaining son, despite his Undead status. Instead, he kept him chained and secured away in the deepest reaches of the Imperial Palace.
* With the rise in publicity of knowledge about Ordial powers and Deathveil Undead, so too has the paranoia of those who hate them risen, leading the most radical of conspiracy theorists to believe that the Regalian Empire may be entirely controlled by phantom-possessed people or Undead high priests and bureaucrats.
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{{Afflictions}}
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Revision as of 09:32, 12 June 2024

The stuff of nightmares for some, figments of folklore for others, and the steadfast guardians of ancient faith to even fewer, Undead are a barely understood Affliction that has started wreaking havoc in Aloria in the past century or so, leaving scholars unable to figure out why. Undead take a variety of different forms, often dictated by the faith and belief they held in life as they are barred from the gates of the afterlife, but they share a common trait in being damned by the living for their very existence is a revolt against nature and the cycle of life and death. Playing Undead is not recommended for new players, or for long-term goals. Undead Characters are hated by nearly all cultures and Religions and have very limited roleplay opportunities. When playing an Undead, choose one of the Undead Types, and follow the rules defined. It is possible to both make a new Character that was made Undead in their backstory, as well as convert an existing Character into an Undead. However, in such an instance, the body must not be held by the state.

Undead Types

There are three Types of Undead, Deathveil Undead who are the more general type of Undead, Relicsworn Undead who are distinctly Unionist aligned, and Godsrot Undead who are Fornoss Religion aligned, each with differing legality.

Deathveil Undead

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 Description

Deathveil Undead are created in circumstances that are not understood but are likely due to the interference of Ordial Entities like the Death Gods Malefica, the Consigner, or the Machinist. An Undeath occurs when a person's soul is unable to pass on into the afterlife, and is somehow condemned to remain with their body. Deathveil Undead are usually created by the Death Gods to do their bidding in their war on the living and to consume their souls. Within many societies and religions, Undead are also an abomination, especially so in Regalia, where Undead have been a continuing menace. Deathveil Undead are the most common form of Undead, who are generally universally hunted by all law-abiding citizens, religious forces, and military organizations. Only the most outcast of criminals and low-lives might tolerate being near a Deathveil Undead, who are generally only somewhat safe existing in the Sewers. Many Deathveil Undead are either willing or unwilling soldiers of the Malefica, thus considered evil. While is possible for a Deathveil Undead to wish freedom from the clutches of the Ordial entites that control them, this is usually not up to them, and thus they are still complicit in the vile actions of their masters. It is not possible for a Deathveil Undead to become mortal again, or to have their body soul reinstated. They can however be made Spirits by other entities such as Gods, Arken, or Ordial Entities.

Rules
  • Deathveil Undead inherit their Heritage Traits from their pre-death Heritage. They can still cast Magic but not God Magic, and are unable to gain other Afflictions or Affinities.
  • Deathveil Undead, if they were Arkenborn or Godborn in life, lose all their Traits from these conditions. Some visuals may also change due to Undeath (see art for inspiration).
  • Deathveil Undead are generally hunted by the Regalian Empire and its citizens. Deathveil Undead players should expect to have a very hard time to find casual Rp in the City.
  • Deathveil Undead can be in varying states of decomposition down to being entirely skeletal, but players should observe that due to decomposition, they are a hive of disease and rot.
Mechanic 1

Deathveil Undead no longer need biological processes such as breathing, eating, or sleeping. They are theoretically immortal so long as their body is not physically destroyed, as destroying their head will still force their soul to detach from their body and pass on. Deathveil Undead can live for hundreds of years, though we recommend a maximum of 500, due to the stringency of lore from this far back.

Mechanic 2

Deathveil Undead, due to their connection with the Ordial Gods Malefica, the Consigner, and the Machinist, are able to use Divinium to summon these entities, even if normally Pagan or Cult Gods such as these could not be summoned. In doing so, not only do they have access to the normal Divinium Summoning, these entities also double as having all functions of the Spirit Dukes.

Mechanic 3

Deathveil Undead do not need to remain bodily cohesive, meaning parts of them can live independently from the main body. This could for example allow them to send a hand crawling under a doorway which can later be re-attached, or an eye held around a corner to see. This allows Deathveil Undead to creatively interact with some Staff Events by creatively using their bodily flexibility.

Relicsworn Undead

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 Description

Relicsworn Undead are the only type of Undead legal in the Regalian Empire, yet still regarded with mistrust and concern. Relicsworn Undead have no connection with the Death Gods, rather Relicsworn are made by the intervention of the Unionist Gods. Relicsworn Undead are made either from soldiers or aging Knights who are dying, or criminals whose life is given new purpose in service to the faith. This is either done by interring their head, skull, or heart into a Unionist reliquary container or box, after which it is interred into a suit of Armor (the image depicts a skull reliquary inserted into the chest-piece). Relicsworn Undead are then conscripted into the Burning Choir Chapter of the Aelrrigan Order, from where fellow Aelrrigans ensure the magical cohesion of their binding that keeps their body intact, and the influence of the Death Gods away. Relicsworn are then used to guard places that other Knights deem themselves above, such as graveyards, crypts, and abandoned religious sites that have long since been reclaimed by nature or just lack visitors. Due to their relation with the Aelrrigan Order in being part of it, they also follow Aelrrigan Code, and work with the Aelrrigans, though many Aelrrigans do not consider them full-fledged members, more like a commitment for the Order as a whole that sometimes becomes a burden. Unionist fanatics can consider Relicsworn a type of holy warrior, however.

Rules
  • Relicsworn Undead inherit their Heritage Traits from their pre-death Heritage. They can still cast Magic but only Unionist God Magic, and are unable to gain other Afflictions or Affinities.
  • Relicsworn Undead, if they were Arkenborn or Godborn in life, lose all their Traits from these conditions. Some visuals may also change due to Undeath (see art for inspiration).
  • Relicsworn Undead are legal in the city of Regalia, but may still face bigotry. They are also only legal so long as they are Aelrrigan Knights, and get hunted if they leave the Order.
  • Relicsworn Undead are always in armor, because they lack a body without it. The armor is in essence their body, which is extended from the Reliquary that is fixed into it.
Mechanic 1

Relicsworn Undead no longer need biological processes such as breathing, eating, or sleeping. They are theoretically immortal so long as their body is not physically destroyed, as destroying their head will still force their soul to detach from their body and pass on. Relicsworn Undead can live for hundreds of years, though we recommend a maximum of 250, as Unionism did not exist before that.

Mechanic 2

Relicsworn Undead, due to a complex binding of Unionist God Magic, are invisible to Event Entities such as: Evolist Gods, Arken, Spirit Dukes, and some Extraplanar Event Entities (inquire with DM for opportunities). This even extends to things they are holding, including a person if they are inside their armor (permitting space, given the presence of the reliquary which takes up some space).

Mechanic 3

The Unionist Gods have not just blessed the Relicsworn with eternal martial duty, but also given them the means to soothe loss of simple life. That is to say, they can resurrect domestic pets like dogs, cats, and lizards from the dead, and give them extended life. This also extends to mounts like horses, or just wild animals in general, just never complex life forms like people or Spirits.

Godsrot Undead

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 Description

Godsrot Undead or Hvitdraugr as they are called among Fornoss believers, are Undead who are created in a very specific process unique to Fornoss as a Religion. In Fornoss, the faithful gain Soldi and Svaldi, two different currencies of honor split in two pantheons in the same religion. When a Fornoss person died and they have one more than the other, their respective Gods claim them for their afterlife. If however a Fornoss believer has roughly equal Svaldi and Soldi, and has a lot of both, both pantheons will end up claiming them and they can pass on to neither afterlife. In such a situation, they continue to exist in a state of Undeath after they have died on Aloria, until such a hypothetical time that the Gods agree who gets to have their soul. Many Godsrot Undead exist in this state for centuries, as the Gods rarely interact and neither side ever wants to relent to the other. Godsrot Undead are illegal in Regalia, as it does not respect this Fornoss tradition, but among the Fornoss believers, Hvitdraugr (which differ from Deathveil Undead which they call just Svartdraugr) are considered holy to some degree, requiring them to protect them and keep them safe from Regalia's attempt to exterminate all Undead regardless of the circumstances of their existence. Godsrot Undead can be told apart from other Undead due to their signature gray skin, and blue glowing Fornoss Tattoos on various parts of their body.

Rules
  • Godsrot Undead inherit their Heritage Traits from their pre-death Heritage. They can still cast Magic of any Planar Alignment, and are unable to gain other Afflictions or Affinities.
  • Godsrot Undead, if they were Arkenborn or Godborn in life, lose all their Traits from these conditions. Some visuals may also change due to Undeath (see art for inspiration).
  • Godsrot Undead are illegal in the city of Regalia, but are considered holy among Fornoss Religion followers. As such, Fornoss believers will protect and keep them hidden.
  • Godsrot are never in a state of decomposition. Their skin turns gray and cold and their eyes glow, but all other bodily functions and organs still work like normal.
Mechanic 1

Godsrot Undead are functionally Undead, but their body still functions as if it was alive. That is to say, they need sleep, they need to drink and eat, and they need to breathe. That being said, they no longer age in this state of Undeath, and so they can be hundreds of years old, though we recommend a maximum of 500, due to the stringency of lore from this far back, and Gods don't take that long.

Mechanic 2

Godsrot Undead are blessed by Bard: They can declare one person their "Ward" (does not need consent), which grants +1 Defense Stat (break cap up to 9) while in Emote Range. This must be declared on a Character Application to apply. The Ward is also immune to Prideborn Mindvex, Bodyborn Mutations, and Arkenborn emotion reading/memory alterations, so long as they are Ward.

Mechanic 3

Godsrot Undead are also blessed by Thirun: While fighting alongside at least one Odalv or Bardvir, they gain +1 Defense Stat (breaking cap up to 11). They can also hijack any Mechanic or non-Ability-based Magic, such as aesthetic or environment Magic usage by other Players, and make it do something they want, or shut it down entirely. They can act like Anti-Mages to other aesthetic Magic.

Expanded Lore

Expanded Lore offers more reading material regarding the Undead or Undeadism in general, but is not required reading in order to get a decent experience.

Perception of Death

To most Religions of Aloria, Undeath is a perversion of faith, because most faiths have the principle of divine judgement, where a person's soul shall be judged by a God of the afterlife, and deemed worthy to paradise. The logic that many faithful uphold, is that any type of Undead they meet, must have been rejected by their God and is therefor an immoral and sinful being, or one who actively wanted to avoid the judgement of their God and thus commit blasphemy. The reality is more complicated however, as the vast majority of the Undead did not ask to become Undead, or worse, were forced into by other more nefarious individuals. Undeath has only really become a major problem in the last 40 years with the rate of Undeath exploding exponentially each year. Undeath has existed for as long as death and life were a thing on Aloria, with references found even in Seraph murals, but it was always a fringe issue, until the gruesome murders at the Imperial Palace that saw all the sons of Emperor Justinian II slain by an outbreak of Undeath in the Palace itself. Since then, most faiths and societies have adopted anti-Undeath burial practices, like cremation and beheading before burial (the latter of which prevents Undeath from ever taking place).

Undead around the world

While Relicsworn Undead are usually limited to Regalia or Etosil and Godsrot Undead are exceedingly rare, Deathveil Undead can be found all over the world in all manner of cultures. In Elven and Estelley society, a type of Deathveil Undead called Deathwatch is common where living bodyguards are forced to become Undead through a ritual act, which binds them into service to their master's family for all eternity. The Deathwatch Undead push away the influence of the Death Gods by killing and offering them the souls of their enemies to consume, thus sating their desire for death and preventing them from controlling the actions of the Deathwatch. The Saydir are Undead sand-wraiths from Ard al Nur (the homeland of the Qadir and Songaskians). The Saydir were originally the Sariyd inhabitants who were swallowed by the Great Storm and choked out. Though, because this event also had the corrosive influence of the Death Gods, many of these Sariyd citizens would become Undead in their rage against the Dragons. Saydir continue to be a massive problem to both the Qadir and Songaskians, as they reside in large numbers in the desert dunes, and make the nights in Ard al Nur extremely dangerous.

Necromancy

The concept of Necromancy or Death Magic exists in Aloria, but is has nothing to do with Undead. Undeath purely describes the concept of a soul bound to its body after having departed from it partially, but being unable to pass on fully. Necromancy or Death Magic describes the act of animating dead tissue or objects through Magic, or by the use of Spirit (Shades). Necromancers cannot control the bodies of Undead, and Undead also cannot act as fuel for Necromancers. The souls used for Necromancy (Shades) and the souls still attached to Undead bodies (normal souls) are also vastly different, though Undead Necromancers do exist, especially Deathveil Undead. Deathveil Undead, being close to the Malefica, can command a great deal of control over other Ordial-aligned aspects, such as Death Magic and Shades themselves. This is of course dependent on the Undead embracing the Malefica and its hatred against the living. The Malefica does not grant the gifts of the Beyond to the Undead who only reluctantly work for the Death Gods in their quest to cause death and end the concept of life.

Trivia

  • A rumor for nearly two decades after it happened was that the Emperor couldn’t bear to kill his last remaining son, despite his Undead status. Instead, he kept him chained and secured away in the deepest reaches of the Imperial Palace.
  • In places where necromancy is either legal or looked over, some necromancers turn a very healthy profit by resurrecting the dead pets of the wealthy who can’t bear to be parted from their favorite companions. It should be noted however, that these pets are not Undead, but rather Ordial Shades forced into corpses as Spirits.
  • With the rise in publicity of knowledge about Ordial powers and Deathveil Undead, so too has the paranoia of those who hate them risen, leading the most radical of conspiracy theorists to believe that the Regalian Empire may be entirely controlled by phantom-possessed people or Undead high priests and bureaucrats.
Afflictions
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Last Editor MonMarty on 06/12/2024.
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