Undead Creatures
Undead are a common and feared element of the Realms, often tied to necromancy, evil, and the plane of Shadowfell. Some well-known types of undead in the Realms include:
- Skeletons: Animated remains of once-living creatures.
- Zombies: Reanimated corpses with little intelligence or will.
- Ghouls: Undead humanoids that crave flesh and often reside in underground lairs.
- Lich: Powerful wizards who have extended their lives through necromancy, becoming undead and often evil.
- Wraiths: Ethereal, shadowy creatures that drain life force.
- Mummies: Ancient, preserved corpses that can be animated.
Necromantic Magic
- Lichdom: Wizards who seek to extend their lives through necromancy can become liches, powerful undead creatures.
- Summoning: Necromancers can summon undead creatures from the Shadowfell or other planes.
- Unholy Rituals: Dark rituals can animate corpses or create new undead.
Tragic Circumstances
- Death and Decay: In some cases, prolonged exposure to death, decay, or negative energy can cause a corpse to become undead.
- Unnatural Causes: Deaths caused by powerful curses, evil artifacts, or divine intervention can sometimes lead to undeath.
Evil Influence
- Demonic Possession: Demons can possess corpses and animate them as undead.
- Shadowfell: The plane of Shadowfell is a realm of death and shadow, and undead creatures often originate from or are tied to this plane.
Other Factors
- Cursed Objects: Certain cursed items can cause undeath.
- Divine Intervention: In rare cases, deities or other powerful beings can create undead for specific purposes.