Awakened Corpse Characteristics

Awakened Corpses are commonly mistaken as Zombies and similar undead. They are the animated remains of recently deceased humanoids, and are almost always brought back to life for some nefarious purpose. They appear in many variations, sizes and shapes, usually depending on what they had been in life, but sometimes even further altered by horrid magics. The corpse is awakened with an active intelligence and personality, that sometimes vaguely remembers its past life and reflects its former mannerisms.

History

An Awakened Corpse differs from the common zombie in that memory and fragments of personality remain. Some arise when a soul refuses to release its vessel, clinging to flesh out of will or unfinished duty. Others are born through necromantic craft that seeks to bind mind to body. These workings are rare and uncertain, and many attempts produce only unstable husks.

Such beings are also known to rise unbidden. They may emerge from battlefields steeped in fury, or from cursed ground where the dead are restless. In rare instances, a caster has created one with purpose, preserving the skills of a fallen servant or granting a second chance to a loyal companion. Throughout history their presence is noted, always remembered as uncommon and dreadful marvels.

Culture

The culture of an Awakened Corpse reflects both past and present. Some attempt to follow the customs of their former life, recalling fragments of family, faith, or craft, though always imperfectly. Others bend to the will of the necromancer who raised them, shaped by new masters and imposed roles. Over time, a few gather into enclaves of awakened undead, forming communities defined by circumstance rather than heritage.

Identity is their great struggle. Many cling to the idea that they are who they once were, while others come to see themselves as something altogether new. Their culture, such as it is, lives in this tension: a people caught between memory and command, between echoes of life and the shadow of undeath.

The Bleak Academy has become one of the few havens where Awakened Corpses find a place of belonging. Within its halls, they serve as instructors, assistants, or caretakers, valued for the skills and memories carried over from their former lives. The constant presence of necromantic experimentation on the Academy grounds has also led to a higher frequency of awakenings. Corpses raised for mundane labor sometimes stir with thought, while flawed attempts at creating more powerful undead may result in an Awakened Corpse instead. For many, the Academy represents both a sanctuary and a proving ground, offering purpose within a community that values their unusual state.

Size Modifications

Humanoid Skeletons come in many different sizes, based on size of the original humanoid that was animated. The stats to the right are based on Medium Sized skeleton, but can be adjusted for other humanoid skeletons according to the chart below.

Awakened Corpse Types

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