Undead

Undead is a collective name for all types of corporeal and non-corporeal entities who were once alive in the normal sense, died, and then continued to exist in the world of the living. Undead of different varieties are featured in the legends of most cultures on earth and in many works of fiction, especially fantasy fiction and horror fiction.

Table of contents

1 Examples of undead 1.1 Corporeal 1.2 Non-corporeal 1.3 D&D Based Examples

Examples of undead

Corporeal

Corporeal undead still have a tangible body of some sort.

• Zombies, from the Voodoo religion
• Draugrs, from Norse mythology
• Vampires, of various cultures
• Mylings, of Norse folklore
• Hopping corpses, of Chinese folklore

Non-corporeal

Non-corporeal undead have no tangible form, but exist in the world of the living as spirit entities.

• Ghosts, common in many cultures
• Will o' the wisps are sometimes said to be undead spirits in parts of Europe and North America
• Mylings, of Norse folklore

D&D Based Examples

Note: Not necessarily based on real legends.

• Corporeal
  • Liches
  • Ghouls
  • Skeleton
  • Morhg
• Non-Corporeal
  • Wraith
  • Spectre
  • Revenant

See also: fantasy bestiary

In Dungeons & Dragons and similar systems, clerics can attempt to "turn" undead: to repel or banish them by the power of their faith, or by wielding a sacred artifact or relic. This is derived from the traditional notion that vampires could be repelled by the cross.

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's novel Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus introduced another variant on the dead that walk again, the dead brought back to 'life' by science.

Any number of films have been made concerning the undead.

In the Lorien Trust LARP system, the word unliving is used as a preferential synonym.