A zombie was an undead creature usually created by the re-animation of a corpse. Unlike animated skeletons, zombies still retained some flesh on their bodies and gave off a horrid, rank smell. They were almost mindless, but could be given simple commands, such as "kill anyone who opens the treasure chest." Virtually any solid creature could be turned into a zombie; in addition to humanoids, troglodytes, minotaurs, ogres, and even beholders, among others, could be turned into zombies.[1][3]
Description[]
Basically, a zombie was the corpse of a creature that had been animated by someone who could manipulate negative energy, such as a cleric. For example, a cleric would be able to use negative energy on a corpse and make it move its body, arms, legs, etc.[3] Zombies could also rise spontaneously if an area was saturated with necromantic magic.[1] Some zombies were risen after their bodies were preserved, appearing significantly less grotesque than their rotting kind.[7] On rare occasions, ordinary zombies retained some of their basic cognitive functions, able to speak simple words and phrases[8] and some were capable of wielding weapons.[7][9][10]
Zombies dragged their feet and so did not leave clear prints.[11]
They were manifestations of the lowest tiers of necromantic magic and were naught but soulless shambling shells. When a zombie was raised, its soul was already long gone to the afterlife and was not forced into the decaying corpse.[12]
Ecology[]
Necromancers used demons' blood as a powerful magical adhesive liberally applied to zombies' joints to stave the rotting and disintegration of tissues.[13]
Habitats[]
The monstrous hamlet of Wormbarrow was located deep within Undermountain, inhabited by Ghaunadaur-worshiping avolakias and numerous undead, including zombies.[14]
In the 15th century DR, the Jungles of Chult became home to hordes of zombies created by Ras Nsi in an attempt to conquer the city of Mezro. With the city departing the Prime Material plane, Nsi's zombies remained a plague.[15]
10,000 zombies inhabited the so-called City of Zombies in the 333rd layer of the Abyss, ruled by the Zombie King. These rotting wrecks were victims of Orcus and sought to achieve true death that would end their torturous existence.[16]
Relationships[]
Zombies were common shock troops used by the drow of Menzoberranzan, including House Do'Urden that used fellow drow as their undead servants.[17]
They were also a profitable business. Shradin's Excellent Zombies shop in Skullport offered zombies controllable via a dead hand scepter for purchase.[18]
Variants[]
- Ankylosaurus zombie
- A zombie created from the corpse of an ankylosaurus, typical to the jungles of Chult.[19]
- Ash zombie
- A zombie created from ash of the victims of the Mount Hotenow explosion. Usually Thayan magic in the creation.[20]
- Beholder zombie
- Sometimes called Death tyrants; zombified beholders which possessed some of their deadly abilities.[21]
- Chillborn zombie
- Zombies infused with deathly cold, which were capable of sapping the life from their victims.[2][22]
- Girallon zombie
- Crated from the corpse of a girallon, typical to some locations in Chult.[19]
- Gravehound
- Undead hounds found in Shadowfell and sometimes used by Thayan necromancers.[23]
- Greater zombie
- A stronger and more resilient version of an ordinary zombie.[24]
- Juju zombie
- Free-willed, sentient zombies often created from powerful curses or other fell magics.[25]
- Netherese zombie
- Intelligent and sentient walking dead servants of the Lichlord.[26]
- Ogre zombie
- Powerful zombies created from dead ogres.[1]
- Sea zombie
- Created from the corpses of humans who drowned at sea.[4]
- Tyrannosaurus zombie
- Created from the corpse of a tyrannosaurus, typical to Chult. These fearsome creatures could regurgitate zombies from their gullets.[19]
- Tyrantfog zombie
- Priests of evil deities killed by other evil deities.[27]
- Zombie dragon
- Created from dragons and retained some of their deadly abilities. Not to be confused with dracoliches.[28]
Notable Zombies[]
- Connor Vinderblad, a victim of Auntie Ethel's in the late 15th century DR.[29]
- Viledel, the Sea King, and his wife Liala, rose as well-reserved zombies when their tomb on the Island of Viledel was disturbed by a group of shipwreck survivors in the mid-14th century DR.[7]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
The Crimson Gold
Video Games
Board Games
Card Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
External Links[]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.
Zombie article at the Ravenloft Wiki.- Zombie article at the Baldur's Gate 3 Community Wiki, a community wiki for Baldur's Gate 3.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 315–316. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 274–275. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 265–267. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), pp. 373–374. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 103. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ Ossian Studios (August 2019). Designed by Luke Scull. Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea. Beamdog.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Aaron Allston (January 1987). Treasure Hunt. Edited by Steve Winter. (TSR, Inc.), p. 29. ISBN 0-88038-326-7.
- ↑ Allen Varney (May 1989). Knight of the Living Dead. (TSR, Inc.), p. 72. ISBN 978-0880385985.
- ↑ Richard Baker (June 2013). Search for the Diamond Staff. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (September 2020). Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 297. ISBN 978-0786966981.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (October 1991). Canticle. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 17, p. 221. ISBN 1-5607-6119-9.
- ↑ Template:Cite dragon/180/The Voyage of the Princess Ark
- ↑ Ossian Studios (June 2018). Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford. Beamdog.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Ed Greenwood, Christopher Lindsay, Sean K. Reynolds (June 2007). Expedition to Undermountain. Edited by Bill Slavicsek. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 39. ISBN 978-0-7869-4157-5.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter (September 19, 2017). Tomb of Annihilation. Edited by Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14. ISBN 978-0-7869-6610-3.
- ↑ Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson (1988). The Throne of Bloodstone. (TSR, Inc), p. 55. ISBN 0-8803-8560-X.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (December 2005). Homeland. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 2. ISBN 0-7869-3953-2.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood and Steven E. Schend (August 1991). “Seeing the Sights in Skullport”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #172 (TSR, Inc.), p. 12.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter (September 19, 2017). Tomb of Annihilation. Edited by Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 240–241. ISBN 978-0-7869-6610-3.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (July 2012). Neverwinter. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-6027-2.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 309–310. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Chris Sims (October 2007). “Design & Development: Zombies!”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #360 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 74–75.
- ↑ Erik Scott de Bie (2011). Gates of Neverdeath. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 11.
- ↑ Kim Mohan, Mike Mearls (April 2017). Tales from the Yawning Portal. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 237. ISBN 978-0786966097.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 66–67. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.
- ↑ slade (1996). How the Mighty Are Fallen. (TSR, Inc), p. 63. ISBN 0-7869-0537-9.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 85. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
- ↑ Andy Collins, James Wyatt, and Skip Williams (November 2003). Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 197–198. ISBN 0-7869-2884-0.
- ↑ Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.