Undead: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:52, 14 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

caption	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 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 actions of their masters. It is not possible for a Deathveil Undead to become mortal, or to have their body/soul reinstated. They can however be made Spirits by other entities such as Gods, Arken, Ordial Entities, or Dragons (via Archon).
	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

caption	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

caption	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.

Accreditation

Writers	MonMarty
Processors	Birdsfoot_Violet

Last Editor	Birdsfoot violet on 06/14/2024.

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-{{Info history
+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           = noimg.png
-|name            = Undead Scare
-|datesandtimes   = 279 AC
-|location        = Imperial Palace, [[City of Regalia]]
-|peopleinvolved  = Augustus, Juvin, and Therin Ivrae de Sange
-|}}
-The Undead Scare is by far one of the most significant events in recent [[Regalian History]], as it is single-handedly responsible for the extinction of the mainline of the [[Ivrae]] Dynasty, allowing for the ascension of Emperor [[Alexander Kade-Alltmeister]] in 302 AC. Sparked by intrigue within the Imperial Family, the Undead Scare saw all three of Emperor [[Justinian II]]’s sons killed within a single day. With the loss of all-male relatives, Justinian was left with no other choice than to allow the throne to pass through a female to the next closest male descendant, effectively ending the Ivrae Dynasty’s rule over the [[Regalian Empire]]. Today, the Undead Scare’s legacy is seen with the [[Kade]] Dynasty’s position on the Imperial Seat, [[Unionism]]’s emphasis on certain burial practices, and increased hostilities with the [[Undead]] in general. And while recent events such as the [[Bone Horror Crisis]] have seen some minor changes with regards to mortal relations with the Undead, the Undead Scare is still strongly remembered by many within the Empire who are not as ready to tolerate an [[Affliction]] which saw to the end of nearly three centuries of Ivrae rule.
-==Background Information==
-Undead as an Affliction is still a fairly unknown subject to most [[Alorian]] scholarly communities, although many [[Religions]] have their own take on them. While the [[Asha]] have the mysterious [[Sefakhem]], the [[Altalar]] have [[Ammu-Loa]]’s servants and the [[Ailor]] [[Old Gods]] worshippers have the [[Draugr]], each of them has contributed to various local folklores of mortals returning after death to the land of the living. Some faiths such as Unionism had taken steps to prevent the rise of Undead, such as using cremation rather than placing corpses within a [[Helbowen]]. Regardless of practice, the concept of Undead is not unheard of, even if the underlying origin remains a mystery.
-However, to say the Undead Scare was caused solely by the Affliction would be incorrect. Personal ambition and an unquenchable thirst for power could be seen as the true culprit for this tragic event. For nearly two centuries, intrigue had played its part within the Imperial Court of the Regalian Empire. From the rumors of the [[Viridian Order]] playing kingmaker during the [[Years of the Three Emperors]], to the [[Seasonal Emperors Period]] under Chancellor [[Morgann Kade]], it was not uncommon for Ivrae Emperors to see their reigns cut short, only for a more favorable successor to take the Imperial Seat. But the Emperor alone was never always the subject of such acts of treachery. Records exist of Imperial Princes, second or third sons, and rival claimants committing acts of fratricide to move their place in the line of succession closer to that of the Crown Prince. While some of these plots were foiled and the offenders executed behind closed doors, other covert assassination attempts proved successful, allowing Emperors such as Maxelle I, Balthazar I, and Allestrain III to one day rule as Emperors despite being fourth sons or cousins of the previous monarchs. And while some of these succession changes were planned out by others, there existed some Princes who assassinated their elder brothers with their hands alone. In short, the intrigue plots over the Imperial Seat had always existed since the Empire was founded, and the sons of Justinian II were not immune to such actions.
+==Undead Types==
-==History==
+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.
-===The Three Princes===
+===Deathveil Undead===
-Emperor Justinian II, despite ruling over one of the worst periods of Regalian History, the [[Regalian Pessimism]], was overall well-respected and well-liked by his contemporaries. Even during such dark times, he was able to secure his inevitable succession by siring three healthy sons. The oldest, Augustus Ivrae de Sange, was proclaimed the Crown Prince and was brought up in the Imperial Court to one day succeed his father as the next Emperor of Regalia. The second eldest, Prince Juvin, was sent to the Viridian Order to become a Knight, as was a common tradition for the last two houses of the Five Families. Finally, the third-born Prince Therin was expected to never inherit the throne and was sent to become a bureaucrat for the [[Regalian Government]], a life which, while stable, lacked much of the fanfare of the Imperial Seat, even with him being an Ivrae Prince. Fated to a life of mediocrity in his eyes, Therin envied the status of his older two brothers, who would always be seen both as the future of the Empire and an emergency backup plan should disaster fall the Crown Prince. So as typical with those who lusted for greater power, Therin planned to better his position in the line of succession.
+{|
-===Fratricide and Failure===
+|-
-One night in 279 AC, the Imperial Palace was perfectly silent. The [[Tyrian Order]] had just recently begun to change out the night watch for the morning sentries, which offered Prince Therin an opportunity. Long familiar with the schedule of guard transfers, the Ivrae Prince snuck out of his chambers when the Tyrians rounded the corner and snuck into his brother Juvin’s chamber. Once inside, Therin drew a [[Steel]] dagger, which he then plunged into his sleeping brother’s neck. While immediately awoken by the attack, Juvin lacked the awareness nor the speech to alert the Imperial Guards of his younger brother’s treason to the family, and soon fell back on his pillow, becoming the next victim in a long history of palace intrigue.
+| rowspan="5" | [[File:Undeathqueen.png|300px|caption|left]]
+| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Description
+| 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 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 actions of their masters. It is not possible for a Deathveil Undead to become mortal, or to have their body/soul reinstated. They can however be made Spirits by other entities such as Gods, Arken, Ordial Entities, or Dragons (via [[Archon]]).
+|-
+| 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.
+|}
+===Relicsworn Undead===
+{|
+|-
+| rowspan="5" | [[File:Yyyyhhhh.png|300px|caption|left]]
+| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Description
+| 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.
+|}
+===Godsrot Undead===
+{|
+|-
+| rowspan="5" | [[File:Gdsagsdgfdh.png|300px|caption|left]]
+| style="font-weight:bold; width:75px; vertical-align:top;" | Description
+| style="vertical-align:top;" |
+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.
+|-
+| 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.
+|}
-With his position as second in line now secured, Therin was now one step closer to the Imperial Seat. While he could have stopped and been content with being the Crown Prince’s designated successor, his ambitions were not sated. Desiring the Imperial Throne for himself, the Ivrae Prince snuck out of the assassinated Juvin’s room and moved towards the chambers of the Crown Prince. With his dagger still stained red with his murdered brother's blood, Therin approached the side of Augustus’s bed, ready to repeat the same actions he undertook mere moments ago. However, his thirst for greater power would be his undoing, as his quick departure from Juvin’s chamber has led to the chamber door left slightly open, which prompted the morning sentries of the Imperial Guard to check up on the Second Prince. With the discovery of the murdered Prince came the immediate shouts throughout the palatial corridor, sending Tyrians into both Therin and Augustus’s chambers. At the same time, the sudden alarms had woken the Crown Prince from his sleep, only to see his youngest brother standing next to him with a bloody dagger. Springing into action, Augustus struggled with Therin to disarm his murderous brother, succeeding long enough for the Imperial Guards to apprehend the youngest Prince. With the dagger confirming all suspicions, Augustus ordered the immediate execution of his brother for the assassination of an Imperial Prince. At the dawn of that day, Therin Ivrae was brought before a makeshift gallows within the Imperial Palace’s courtyard and hung by the neck until pronounced dead by the court physician. Upon hearing of the unfortunate proceedings, Emperor Justinian II was reported to have wept privately in his chamber at the loss of two of his sons but was grateful that Augustus had survived, ensuring that the family would still have a future.
+==Expanded Lore==
-===The Death of a Dynasty===
+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.
-Following the execution, the bodies of Princes Therin and Juvin were placed in the catacombs of the Imperial Palace, awaiting formal burial beneath the Imperial Cathedral once their sarcophagi were built. There they remained unguarded, with all believing that this was the end of an unfortunate day of loss. However, what proceeded was unforeseen by everyone at the Imperial Palace. Around the same time of night as when Juvin was assassinated, Prince Therin rose from the catacombs as an Undead, his last mission still left unfulfilled. Creeping up from the bowels of the Palace, he awaited the changing of the guard as before, before sneaking into Augustus’s bed-chamber once again.
+===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).
-The Tyrian Order as per their protocol performed the changing of the guard as routine, though it was clear that many were still on high alert following the deaths of the Princes the previous day. With a desire to ensure that the Crown Prince was safe and secured, the morning sentries opened the chamber doors of Augustus’s room and were horrified at the sight they beheld. Crown Prince Augustus Ivrae de Sange, the last of Justinian’s heirs, was murdered by an Undead Prince Therin gnawing at his throat. Left with no other choice, the Tyrian Guards, immediately beheaded the Undead Ivrae, before rushing to bring a palace medic to the Crown Prince’s chamber. Unfortunately, Augustus had died long before the Imperial Guards discovered the grizzly scene, signaling the end of the Ivrae Dynasty’s future.
+===Undead around the world===
-==Effects==
+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.
-The immediate effect of the Undead Scare was Emperor Justinian II’s immediate crackdown on all afflictions and aberrants. With a newly elevated [[Darkwald Order]] to Imperial Respect, Justinian began to promote an ideology revolving around protecting against the supernatural, favoring any righteous means to combat such in the Empire. This in turn coincided with the prominence of the Purist Movement, a political ideology that started to work within the [[Regalian Senate]] to see the Empire come out of the Pessimism, preaching strong anti-occult rhetoric in their messages, and a focus on strong Imperial Rule.
+===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.
-The next immediate effect was the question of Imperial Succession. With the deaths of Augustus, Juvin, and Therin, the title of Crown Prince passed to Justinian II’s younger brother, Charles Ivrae de Sange. While this solved the question in the beginning, the death of Crown Prince Charles in 286 AC saw the death of the last male successor in the Ivrae Dynasty. Justinian only had three sons and failed to sire any others, whereas Charles Ivrae only sired daughters. Left with no other choice, Emperor Justinian worked with Arch Chancellor [[Moriarty Kade]] to create the Imperial Succession Act, which allowed for the position of Emperor to pass through a female descendent of Theomar to the next closest male descendant: Alexander Kade. This succession would further be confirmed by the Kade Settlement Act, which saw Princess Adelheid Ivrae renounce all Ivrae claims to the Imperial Seat, before retiring to her palaces in [[Vixhall]], where the Ivrae continue to live out their royal lives to this day.
-Finally, the Undead Scare reinforced Regalian suspicions with the Undead, creating a flareup of hostilities between the living and the unliving. The Isle of [[Etosil]] saw the most fighting between both groups, as the [[Etosian Church]] declared a holy war against the [[Bone King]] and his armies of the Undead, blaming their affliction as the reason for the Ivrae Dynasty’s extinction of the male-line. Elsewhere in the Regalian Empire, the Undead were declared killable-on-sight, seeing inquisitions, mobs, [[Knights]], and others rove the countryside and cities in search of the Undead, decapitating them and burning them at the stake. Even to this day, the [[Regalian Guard]] continues to decapitate executed criminals, before burning their heads and dumping the crushed up bones in a bottomless pit within Greygate Prison.
 ==Trivia==
-*The Bone Horror Crisis saw a peace deal brokered by [[Cedromar Kade]] between the Etosian Patriarch and the Bone King, changing the Church’s views on Undead from one of avoidance of the Spirit’s judgment, to a sense of “unfinished duty” by the Spirit where a person still has a role to play before facing said judgment.
+* 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.
-*Another smaller Unionist Sect known as [[Therin’s Tongues]] holds an alternative view on Undead, believing Undead to be souls returned by the Spirit’s will, and that Therin’s double fratricide was brought about by the Spirit. Suffice to say, Therin’s Tongues is considered semi-heretical in that it justifies the murder of Imperial Princes.
+* 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.
-*Nobody knows why Justinian II never sired any future male heirs after the Undead Scare. Some say he was too old at the time, while others believe that he continued to hold a sense of sorrow for the rest of his life, preventing him from even fathering more sons.
+* 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.
-{{History}}
+{{Afflictions}}
 {{Accreditation
-|Writers = FireFan96
+|Writers = MonMarty
-|Processors = Antimreoir, Woodwork, MantaRey
+|Processors = Birdsfoot_Violet
 }}
-[[Category:Recent History]] [[category:History]]
+[[category:Afflictions]] [[category:Ordial Afflictions]]