Undead Origins

[Voadam]

Forgotten Realms Wyrms of the North Voaraghamanthar, "the Black Death"
3.5
Penanggalan: ?
Sea Zombie: ?
Iniarv, Lich: ?
Chardansearavitriol, "Ebondeath", Old Black Dracolich: The dragon had actually heeded the entreaties of Strongor Bonebag, a charismatic Priest of Myrkul with ties to the Cult of the Dragon, and been transformed into a dracolich.
On their own, the brothers unearthed a collection of dark sermons probably written by Strongor Bonebag. Reading these sermons (which they've kept secret from the Cult), they've come to believe Chardansearavitriol underwent a process different from that which the Cult uses to create most dracoliches.

Lich: ?
Undead: The taint of the dead god Myrkul's power in recent history animated many of the dead drowned beneath the western Mere, creating a profusion of strange undead and many sorts of ghouls, skeletons, and zombies now found in groups wandering the swamp and the lands around, attacking everyone they encounter.
Ebondeath, who cared more for gaining personal power than for Strongor's vision, was slavishly served by the cultists (each of whom, upon death, was transformed into an undead servitor by his fellows).
Upon Myrkul's death, the god's avatar exploded high above the Sea of Swords. Much of his might rained down on the waters to slowly collect on the sea floor, and the god's essence survives in the Crown of Horns, but a small fraction of the god's power coalesced atop the waves. This floating patch of bone dust drifted north, and -- perhaps by chance, perhaps by dark design -- recently entered the Mere, where Myrkul's fading power animated a leaderless legion of undead from the countless fallen bodies that lie unburied beneath the dark waters.
Ghoul: The taint of the dead god Myrkul's power in recent history animated many of the dead drowned beneath the western Mere, creating a profusion of strange undead and many sorts of ghouls, skeletons, and zombies now found in groups wandering the swamp and the lands around, attacking everyone they encounter.
Skeleton: The taint of the dead god Myrkul's power in recent history animated many of the dead drowned beneath the western Mere, creating a profusion of strange undead and many sorts of ghouls, skeletons, and zombies now found in groups wandering the swamp and the lands around, attacking everyone they encounter.
Zombie: The taint of the dead god Myrkul's power in recent history animated many of the dead drowned beneath the western Mere, creating a profusion of strange undead and many sorts of ghouls, skeletons, and zombies now found in groups wandering the swamp and the lands around, attacking everyone they encounter.

 

[Voadam]

Planar Handbook Web Enhancement Planar Touchstones
3.5
Balor Skeleton: ?

Lich: ?
Dread Wraith: ?
Elite Vampire Half-Elf Monk/Shadowdancer 13: ?

 

[Voadam]

Red Hand of Doom Web Enhancement Creature Appendix
3.5
Ghost Dire Lion: ?
Ghost Brute Lion: ?
The Ghostlord, Human Lich Druid6/Blighter 5: ?

Lesser Bonedrinker: ?

 

[Voadam]

Savage Progressions Gaining a Template Midcampaign
3.5
Vampire: "Vampire" is a fairly common acquired template among adventurers. When an adventuring party is attacked by a vampire, those slain by its special abilities may rise as vampires themselves if the proper measures are not taken.
A humanoid or monstrous humanoid slain by a 7th-level or higher vampire's energy drain attack rises as a vampire spawn (see the Monster Manual) 1d4 days after burial. If the vampire instead drains the victim's Constitution to 0 or lower, the victim returns as a spawn if it had 4 or fewer HD and as a vampire if it had 5 or more HD.
Vampire Spawn: A humanoid or monstrous humanoid slain by a 7th-level or higher vampire's energy drain attack rises as a vampire spawn (see the Monster Manual) 1d4 days after burial. If the vampire instead drains the victim's Constitution to 0 or lower, the victim returns as a spawn if it had 4 or fewer HD and as a vampire if it had 5 or more HD.

 

[Voadam]

Savage Progressions Ghost and Werewolf Template Classes
3.5
Ghost: Ghosts are the spectral remains of dead creatures that stubbornly refuse to leave the world of the living. Though many adventurers are stubborn, they are no more likely to return as ghosts than normal people are -- perhaps because adventurers often have access to raise dead and therefore expect to be brought back to life eventually. Nevertheless, an occasional adventurer does force herself into an undead state through sheer willpower when the life force leaves her body. Like all ghosts, such an adventurer must have a strong reason for persisting in an undead form. Thus, a player wishing to play a ghost character should consult with the DM to develop a suitable reason for the ghost's existence and determine appropriate circumstances under which she can rest in peace.
"Ghost" is an acquired template usually gained upon an intelligent creature's death. Such a creature can advance in the ghost template class and develop her powers slowly if desired.

 

[Voadam]

Savage Progressions Lich and Weretiger Template Classes
3.5
Lich: The lich template class has two special requirements. First, the base character must have the Craft Wondrous Item feat so that she can make a phylactery to hold her life force. The would-be lich must craft her phylactery over time, as described below. Second, she must be able to cast spells at a caster level of 11th or higher. It is this power, coupled with the knowledge of the process required, that allows the transformation to occur.
To complete her transformation to a lich, the character must create a phylactery using the Craft Wondrous Item feat. The phylactery is crafted in three stages, and the lich transfers a bit more of her life force to it at each stage. It does not, however, grant her any of the normal benefits of a phylactery until it is fully completed.
Paying the cost of each stage of its construction is a prerequisite for the corresponding level in the lich template class. Thus, to take the 2nd level in this class, the lich must invest 40,000 gp and 1,600 XP in her phylactery. She must spend the same amount again to take the 3rd level, and once again to take the 4th level (for a total investment of 120,000 gp and 4,800 XP). She can complete the phylactery early if she wishes, though doing so does not grant her any additional abilities until she takes the appropriate levels in the template class.
For the purpose of determining item saving throws, the phylactery has a caster level equal to that of the lich at the time she completed the most recent stage of work. For example, if a human wizard 11/lich 1 crafts the first stage of her phylactery, it is caster level 11th. She gains three more wizard levels before finishing the second stage of construction, giving it caster level 14th. At that point, she takes the 2nd level of the template class. She then takes one more level of wizard and completes the phylactery, which is thereafter caster level 15th.
The most common physical form for a phylactery is a sealed metal box containing strips of parchment on which magical phrases have been transcribed. The box is a Tiny object with 40 hit points, hardness 20, and a break DC of 40. Other kinds of phylacteries can also exist, such as rings, amulets, or similar items.

 

[Voadam]

Behind the Spells: Animate Dead
3.5
Kritak Gnoll Lich: Kritak, it is said, battled to the death; but even as the final blow was struck upon him, a specially prepared wand exploded.
After his exile, Kritak fashioned the wand as a security measure. For you see, even if his body perished the prepared magics of the wand would preserve the gnoll’s consciousness in a nearby body, allowing him to forever pursue his necromantic sorcery. In this case, an elven survivor became the vessel of Kritak’s soul and mind. Those other elves that were not killed in the wand’s blast were shortly slain thereafter by their “trusted friend.” But an unforeseen side effect of the possession magic soon showed itself. Apparently, the raw power which fed the wand’s magic continues in the new body, which becomes a surrogate wand itself. Not designed to contain such necromantic energies, each body Kritak jumps into slowly deteriorates. Within months, perhaps a year, the gnoll’s current body disintegrates and his consciousness must jump into another living creature or be forever lost.
The shaman is rumored to still exist, within Noras no less (although that nation has been split and renamed many times since) as some form of demi-lich. You can easily tell his true nature, for even if the host body has not yet deteriorated badly, the original “U” branded on him by Xox carries over from body to body as some kind of curse. This brand no longer means “exile” to the gnolls but rather is identified with Kritak directly. Many gnolls worship the former shaman as a deity of undeath. “Was Kritak the first lich?” you ask. No, but he is probably the first gnoll lich.

Skeleton: Corpse Soldiers spell.
Animating weapon quality.
Zombie: Corpse Soldiers spell.
Animating weapon quality.

VARIANT SPELL:
Corpse Soldiers
As the spell animate dead with the following exceptions.
Level: Clr 5, Death 5, Sor/Wiz 5
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: 300-ft.-radius, centered on you
Target: Any whole corpse in range
The spell’s power reaches into the earth which allows even buried undead to come to the magic’s call. There is no limit to the amount of undead affected by a single casting of corpse soldiers. All corpses within range walk, shuffle, claw, or swim their way to you after casting. No matter how many times you use this spell, however, you can control only 7 HD worth of undead creatures per caster level, instead of the 4 HD maximum as imposed by animate dead. In addition, each undead receives a +1 profane bonus to attack and damage rolls.
Material Component: A black onyx gem worth 1,000 gold pieces which you must smash at the end of the casting time.

Animating
If a weapon with this quality inflicts enough damage to bring a living target below zero hit points, the target must succeed a Fortitude save (DC 20) or be instantly turned into a skeleton or zombie (wielder’s choice). The created undead is under direct control of the weapon wielder as per the animate dead spell. The maximum Hit Dice worth of undead that can be controlled through the weapon is 36. This number is cumulative with undead controlled by any other means.
Moderate necromancy; CL 9th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, animate dead, creator must be evil; Price +3 bonus.

 

[Voadam]

Claw Claw Bite 2
3.5
Lux Cathcart, Butler and Restless Soul, human Aristocrat 7 ghost: Lux came to this inn still alive but mortally wounded. Several days ago he escaped form the Castle Stieglitz, stealing some jewelry and coming to Onuago where he intended to use the money from the jewelry to start a new life elsewhere with his sweetheart who lives in east Onuago.
Unfortunately, he was wounded by a zombie while escaping, and though able to swim to a boat and make his way to Onuago, he became feverish and died shortly after arriving at the inn.
Now his spirit cannot rest until the letters and jewelry are delivered to his love in the east side of town.

 

[Voadam]

Claw Claw Bite 3
3.5
Baron Von Stieglitz, Wight Fighter 7, Rogue 2: The situation is that the Baron's guilt, brought on by years of leading a militia of thieves and robbers, has finally caught up to him with the murder of one of his servants. The Baron feels that the murder is his fault, and has spent the past few months holed up in his room, brooding over his fallen mistress. This time in isolation and depression, coupled with the corruption already present in his soul and a drinking habit which has hampered his body to fight off infections, has hastened his becoming a wight.
In the past few months, the Baron has become corrupted by his greedy lifestyle, and has become a wight.

Undead: The situation is that the Baron's guilt, brought on by years of leading a militia of thieves and robbers, has finally caught up to him with the murder of one of his servants. The Baron feels that the murder is his fault, and has spent the past few months holed up in his room, brooding over his fallen mistress. This time in isolation and depression, coupled with the corruption already present in his soul and a drinking habit which has hampered his body to fight off infections, has hastened his becoming a wight. Meanwhile his men have splintered into factions, each with its own lieutenant-leader, and the castle has been looted, which has caused unrest in his buried elders. They too have risen as undead to restore the family to its once proud status as a merchant house.
Undead are once-living creatures animated by spiritual or supernatural forces.
Mummy: This tomb houses 4 mummies who have risen from their graves after their descendants were attacked while bringing offerings to them.
Wight: Unfortunately, the denizens of the graveyard are restless, and seek to haunt the Baron until he embraces the family law.
They have been haunted by their faded family name, and have withered into wights like their corrupt descendant.
Any humanoid slain by the Baron becomes a wight in 1d4 rounds.

 

[Voadam]

Claw Claw Bite 5
3.5
Hungry Plant: The plants are undead, having consumed the haunted souls of the living.
The plants sucked the undead out of the corpses and fed on the moonlight streaming in through cracks in the ceiling, becoming the monstrosities that the characters so recently encountered.

Undead: The people became so downtrodden that many succumbed to mental illnesses, which, after burial, led to an undead state.