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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 could be turned into zombies.[1][3]

The Realms would be far friendlier to the undead if we learned to exercise greater control over our culinary habits. I fear most of us are beyond reasoning though. If you can get three moans from a zombie, you can consider it a good conversation.

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]

Zombies dragged their feet and so did not leave clear prints.[7]

Ecology[]

Necromancers used demons' blood as a powerful magical adhesive liberally applied to zombies' joint to stave the rotting and disintegration of tissues.[8]

Variants[]

Ankylosaurus zombie
A zombie created from the corpse of an ankylosaurus, typical to the jungles of Chult.[9]
Ash zombie
A zombie created from ash of the victims of the Mount Hotenow explosion. Usually Thayan magic in the creation.[10]
Beholder zombie
Sometimes called Death tyrants; zombified beholders which possessed some of their deadly abilities.[11]
Chillborn zombie
Zombies infused with deathly cold, which were capable of sapping the life from their victims.[2][12]
Girallon zombie
Crated from the corpse of a girallon, typical to some locations in Chult.[9]
Gravehound
Undead hounds found in Shadowfell and sometimes used by Thayan necromancers.[13]
Juju zombie
Free-willed, sentient zombies often created from powerful curses or other fell magics.[14]
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.[9]
Tyrantfog zombie
Priests of evil deities killed by other evil deities.[15]
Zombie dragon
Created from dragons and retained some of their deadly abilities. Not to be confused with dracoliches.[16]

Appendix[]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

Adventures
Dungeon #17: "The Waiting Room of Yen-Wang-Yeh"Dungeon #21: "Jammin'"Treasure HuntDungeon #29: "Nymph's Reward"The Sword of the DalesThe Secret of SpiderhauntHellgate KeepThe Accursed TowerPool of Radiance: Attack on Myth DrannorCity of the Spider QueenSons of GruumshThe Twilight TombScourge of the Sword CoastThe Rise of TiamatCurse of StrahdTomb of AnnihilationWaterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Novels
CanticleRed MagicThe Ring of WinterThe Chaos CurseThe PaladinsBaldur's GatePool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth DrannorWindwalkerThe MagehoundAnnihilationStorm of the DeadNeverwinterCharon's ClawNight of the Hunter
Referenced only
The Crimson Gold
Video Games
Pool of RadianceEye of the BeholderGateway to the Savage FrontierPools of DarknessNeverwinter Nights (AOL game)Spelljammer: Pirates of RealmspaceTreasures of the Savage FrontierAl-Qadim: The Genie's CurseRavenloft: Strahd's PossessionBlood & MagicDescent to UndermountainBaldur's Gate series (Baldur's GateShadows of AmnSiege of DragonspearBaldur's Gate III)Icewind DaleBaldur's Gate: Dark AlliancePool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth DrannorNeverwinter Nights series (Neverwinter NightsShadows of UndrentideNeverwinter Nights 2Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of ZehirMysteries of WestgateDarkness over Daggerford)Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the BeholderNeverwinterSword Coast LegendsTales from Candlekeep: Tomb of AnnihilationIdle Champions of the Forgotten Realms
Board Games
Dungeon Command: Curse of UndeathTomb of AnnihilationDungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins
Card Games
Dragonfire
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Defiance in PhlanHarried in Hillsfar

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.

References[]

  1. 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. 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. 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. 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.
  5. Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 103. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
  6. Ossian Studios (August 2019). Designed by Luke Scull. Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea. Beamdog.
  7. R.A. Salvatore (October 1991). Canticle. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 17, p. 221. ISBN 1-5607-6119-9.
  8. Ossian Studios (June 2018). Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford. Beamdog.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 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.
  10. R.A. Salvatore (July 2012). Neverwinter. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-6027-2.
  11. 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.
  12. Chris Sims (October 2007). “Design & Development: Zombies!”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #360 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 74–75.
  13. Erik Scott de Bie (2011). Gates of Neverdeath. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 11.
  14. Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 66–67. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.

Connections[]

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