Detailed Undead Page

Origin of the Plague
The Plague's origin lies in the last effort of preservation of a long extinct race. Cradled inside celestial stones, millions were sent off in hopes that one would find a sufficient carbon-based life sustaining planet. One of these millions reached a planet with greatly numerous carbon-based creatures and within a timeframe of weeks, the virus spread among their society and became known as the Undead Plague.

Stages of Development
The virus itself is only stage one to the evolution into the ancient race it seeks to preserve. Its amazing versatility and nearly constant mutation of structure make in invulnerable to many bodily defenses. It adapts to any host as well with elaborate structural evolution but this complex system of structuring gives the virus its most recognized deficiency, it can never become airborn due to its inability to float.

Stage two of infection is the immediate control of dominant organs inside the host within a matter of hours. This allows the host's body to be changed with little fatal effects and easier mutation. While in this phase, only basic instincts and involuntary activities work to sustain the host. Also known as the zombie or abomination stage, this is the critical moment for the mutation because it requires quick infection to reduce the amount of decay to the host. This stages last a matter of decades, most commonly one to two, although some are recorded at 40 years for some larger creatures. Once completely infected, the host mutation move to stage three.

Stage three is the "Ghoul Stage". This is the point in which highly recognized mutation takes place to form the bodies of the anceint civilization long extinct. Few viruses make it to this stage of development, but once completed it can remain dormant for uncalculated amounts of time. This stage was expected to be the final stage because the Ghouls are capable of independent thought and actions where Zombies and Abominations were unable to accomplish these. The Ghoul stage has no defined length of duration, so it was mysterious to the races of the world and thought to be the "butterfly" when actually it is more like the "chrysalis".

Stage four, final stage of development. Not discovered until centuries of development could be allowed to repair damage by decay of the host. These are the ancient race's children given the names "Kral" and "Kelroc". While they are the "butterfly" stage, they are not the highest order among the undead, due to unexpected mutations to be discussed further down. The Kral are the what basic homonid creatures become and Kelrocs are the result of infection of creatures with masses exceeding approximately one ton. They look similar to rodents, but share no resemblance beyond physical appearance. They are very intelligent, contending even with the smartest races of the world.

Hierarchal Structure
The structure of the Undead (called undead because of decay in zombie stages, although the creature is not inanimate) Society is as follows...
1. High Mage Order: The Liches
2. High Warrior Order: The Reavers
3. Purebred Order: Kelrocs and Kral
4. "Chrysalis" Order: Ghouls
5. Filth Order: Abominations and Zombies
6. Slaves: Skeletons and incompletes
7. Renegades: Vampires and Acolytes

The Liches are developed with great difference to the other Undead. Their evolution begins oddly during the critical zombie/abomination stage, and are only created from magically entuned beings. This is very rare, and thus far has only created 9 Liches. This evolution is so rare because under normal circumstances, Magical beings can become immune to the Plague and are also the most difficult to infect. No truely prominent theory exists as to the development of Liches, but they are nonetheless the most powerful form of Undead.

The Reavers are much easier to explain how they came into existance. They are chosen Ghouls magically charged under the blessing of the Liches. Reavers are specifically assigned to eliminate "Renegades". Also called Vampire hunters, the Reaver's specific task is control, they are the overseers of the Plague and shepards of the mindless zombie/abomination armies. Reaver's are physically the most powerful Undead creature and are the only true reason for the Liches to exist as the top Heirarchal power.

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Return Link: Fantasma The Undead Plague