Undead World

1. Undead World

   #1

   The last world for your heroes...
   
   Once upon a time there was a fantasy world as we know it, with strong wizards, wise warriors and courageos thieves or something like that. There, a gigantic conflict between Good and Evil rages, and innocent peasants and zombies get slaughtered every day.
   
   This is not the story.
   
   This is not the story of a mighty Necromancer, who sought the magic to transport numerous undead across large distances, found it works better than expected, for none of the 'dummies' have been spotted ever after.
   
   This is not the story of the heroes that defeated said Necromancer, tried the spell and shared it freely with forces of Good. So was born the Disintegrate Undead spell, a magical cheap way to dispose off of the lesser undead adversaries.
   
   This is the story of the poor zombies and skeletons and others that did not get the chance to die,but were transported to...

2. Undead World

   #2

   The planet is relatively Earth-like, even if it never embraced the gift of Life, and is basically a chunk of stone with some unbreathable atmosphere. (If it is hard to imagine, imagine Mars.)
   
   Geology and Weather:
   Relatively stable, with few volcanoes. No seas (well, duh, no liquid water). Weather is limited to never stopping winds and occasional sand storms. There is but little 'sand' on the surface. Temperatures - from a human point of view - range from hot at day to damn freezing at night.
   
   
   Flora and Fauna: None before the first experiments.
   
   Flora: as nobody cares about the living conditions and hygiene of zombies, some older examples of basic necromantic art carry the seeds of life with them, notably lichens and mosses. Some of these hardy life forms survive even these conditions, and slowly spread on favourable places. They will probably change the face of Undead World, though it may take a few thousand years.
   
   Fauna: none at all, the Mindless Ones are the closest things to animals and are used as such.
   
   
   Society:
   The undead population is divided into two distinct groups: the Mindless Ones and the Animated.
   
   The Mindless Ones are the basic zombies and skeletons, that have little to none sense, speak very little and may be used for the simplest tasks only. You will not play a Mindless One unless you consumed too much alcohol tonight.
   
   The Animated are all those, that have enough sense to percieve the situation as it is, and possess the initiative to do something about it.
   
   Before beginning to play an Undead World character, care should be taken to create the history of the corpse animated into what you are now. The most important decision to make is whether you have the Mark of the Past: do you remember your Life? Those with the Mark may remember many useful things learned while they lived, but remember also the moment of death, a constant source of pain.
   
   All Animated remember also their (second) birth, their master and creator and the years they served him/her. Those without the Mark remember their duty with pride (usually), but those knowing Life are often bitter ...
   
   
   Civilization:
   No houses are yet built, all structures are digged deep in earth. There is a lack of all materias, most notably metals. Stone is everywhere but hard to mine. Tools are mostly adapted weapons, and those that have them are considered wealthy.

3. Dangers

   #3

   Most dangerous to the undead population is naturally the Sun. The thin atmosphere makes it really bad: longer exposure leads to death, short exposure means severe burns. It should be noted the chances to regenerate for most undead are small in Undead World. Those that do not know to protect themselves, have a very short existence. All Animated have the Escape Sun skill, knowledge of sunrise and ways to hide.
   
   Some danger are certain Mindless Ones, lost on the Sand Plains, likely to attack anyone if uncontrolled.
   
   A real danger are the ghouls. Ghouls need fresh meat to survive, or at least to be able to communicate normally. A ghoul in Undead World has only two chances to survive:
   renounce his ways and supress his needs, and live with pain in the few civilized areas, or join one of the ravenous packs roaming Outside, screaming with hunger and eating what is left - any undead unlucky to get into their fangs. The undead flesh makes them only angrier, as it stills their hunger only slightly.

4. Location

   #4

   The Pub is digged deep enough to hide you from Sun and has its own atmosphere. Really.
   
   Located in an old volcano's crater, it puts the gas emerging to good use. The poisonous and slightly radioactive substance would choke a living person in seconds. The undead enjoy it for its debilitating effects similar to alcohol or stronger drugs. Many with the Mark remember such a thing from their living days and use it to forget.
   
   Warning: Prolonged imbibing may cause the dead bodies to gradually fall apart and thus slowly kill you while you enjoy it. It is worth noting the few unlucky immaterial undead ending up in Undead World have mostly, sooner or later, entered the source of Gas and slowly dissolved.

5. Undead World

   #5

   COOL!!!!!! You could write a book about this, seriously!
   
   Anyway, if you're making this a campain for the heros, ESCAPE FROM THE UNDEAD WORLD that'd be interesting.... Anyway, there's also having the world by itself, which alone is pretty good. Keep it up. This is really going somewhere.

6. Undead World

   #6

   Additional Skills
   (The first is Escape Sun, you gain it really fast or die anyway.)
   
   Sun Runner
   (more a feat or so) To gain this skill, you must expose yourself for short
   moments to the Sun, and gradually gain a weak immunity to its effects. That means, with a succesfull save you can run through sun-lit areas (but not with direct sunlight!) without getting burned. Of course, for very short distances. Allows to move through less shadowy areas in the day.
   
   
   Mindless Shepherd
   The knowledge how to approach uncontrolled Mindless Ones, how to appear non-threatening to them, and finally how to convince them you can protect them from the dangers of Undead World. Such a thing requires at least a week of careful treatment and a save. If succesfull, you gain a faithful servant, otherwise you might get attacked. Mistreating or percieved mistreating may cause it to leave you or attack, as with other animals.
   To convince a controlled group of at least 5 Mindless Ones to do anything, a succesfull save has to be made, two saves for a group of 10, three if 15 etc.
   
   The skill may be used to release a Mindless One from someone else' control, through making it feel mistreated. Or to teach one some nice trick, as if it were intelligent. Smart boy!
   
   
   Intimidate
   Knowledge how to convince one or more Mindless Ones to do what you want, quickly but with force or threats. The Sun will get you! May provoke hostile reactions.
   
   
   Undead Anathomy
   Basic knowledge of types of people, err, material undead, and their bodies. Gives a chance to repair or heal SOME minor wounds. This means mostly physical wounds, not sunburn.
   
   ---
   
   Locations
   
   The Old Wise Man Up The Hill
   There lives a wise man on a high mountain, you can speak him if you risk the way. It is actually an old shadow, formerly a Sage of some kind. He values his loneliness above all, and don't forget there is little cover on the way up. Only his cave offers some protection, so better don't insult him...
   
   The Dusty Gardens
   There is a bit of life here. Moss and lichen take a long time to grow, and still longer in this conditions. But it slowly spreads. Covered by a thin layer of dead matter and dust, it still looks a bit different from the horrible desert the whole planet is. A small community of former farmers call this place home and take care of it. While they are peaceful, any violator of their rules can make a fine addition to the compost.
   
   The Sunny Fields
   Some vulcanic eruption created a nice plain area. The ground is black, smooth and very hard, stretching for miles like a great stony river. On one hand, there is useful material here: black glass. Until it breaks, it is sharp as any knife. On the other hand, there is no cover to be found or made for miles, so anyone to forget the time here will be fried.
   
   The Road
   Over a mile long ditch from The Pub to The Hill (they never needed better names). A good Sun-Runner can run down the Road during the without problems. Most inhabited holes are connected to it, as well as the Pub.
   
   The Outside
   ...the rest. The whole planet that is yet unexplored.
   
   ---
   
   Groups
   The greatest problem of the Animated is that they distrust one another. This is doubly true for those with the Mark, for the Living were ever distrustful of the Undead. And now that you are the monster, you cannot even trust yourself. Some have done horrific things on command of their Master, some on their own. No wonder it is hard to find company.
   Still, some did:
   
   The Diggers
   Among the first to take action, instead of covering in sand they began digging the first holes. Later digged The Road. Will accept anyone experienced with stone or willing to work hard.
   
   The Metal Seekers
   Occupying a small (currently sleeping) volcano, this fanatics mostly of dwarven origin try to work metal, anyhow. The tools they produce are very crude, and the worker zombies often perish in the dangerous fiery enviroment, but it is the only guaranteed source of metal.
   
   The Farmers
   See The Dusty Gardens.
   
   The Anoymous Flesh-Eaters
   Ghouls that ignore the Call of the Flesh, trying to help one another.
   
   The Individualists
   This 'group' is not named so, indeed it has no name at all. Most 'members' have been slaves, servants, or lowly peasants in their lives. Now that they are free, they recognize all their life, and even their after-life they have been serving someone else. On this world, however ugly it is, they are free and no one will take this freedom away.
   
   They are not good at working together, being too unorganised and unwilling to cooperate. Still, they are likely to protest against any attempts at controlling other Undead.
   
   The Awake
   A few Undead begin as Mindless Ones, but slowly awake to become one of the Animated. Memories return, and one may not like to be a slave/animal to someone. This could be truly a role-playing challenge.

7. Sun Runner

   #7

   i dont thik sun runner as a feat is a good idea maybe
   
   sun runner as a class or type of undead
   a new breed of zombies that can resist sun light
   but all the others undead se thems as a thread or something like that
   well thats only mi opninion .
   
   
   i think the undeads rulez!!! :twisted:

8. Undead World

   #8

   it can be limited it further. Say that trying to outrun the Sun (literally), weakens you somewhat, or at least gives you a nice sunburn, affecting Charisma.
   
   You can get it with much pain, so it is a limit in itself. Undead do not feel pain, except from very few sources like holy water (not available) and sunlight (available in abundance). No wonder they evade the Sun so much! May require some other limitations, considering it is the only thing Undead fear here. But, should you (or anyone) ever PLAY this, do as you wish! :wink:
   
   Hmm, a new breed of zombies...
   Remember the original world they all were forced to leave. Local necromancers would have a harder time to do their job, and improvements like this may help. But don't forget the atmosphere is much thinner here, Sun showing much more power!
   
   Giving the feat to one breed only may do good. Thus securing the whole group cannot just acquire the feat someday! Fear of the Sun should be something they all know.

9. Undead World

   #9

   Did I write Charisma? :shock:
   
   Anyone knows how to interprete Charisma for Undead? Undead don't look good, nor are great leaders. Will have to think about it, and other traditional characteristics.

10. Undead World

    #10

    As undead are, well, no longer living, they are likely to not be aware or care about each others or their own appearance and therefore Charisma. Perhaps only higher level undead, like vampires, would care about charisma, but even then, only amongst thier peers.
    
    If charisma were to be a factor in lower undead, it would be more likely to be tied directly to their constitution, the measure of how well they are able to hold their form together. An undead with both legs and the better part of both arms would be more attractive than the skeleton that drags it's legless torso across the sands with it's arms.

11. charisma ?? or p.b.?and vampires??

    #11

    mmm
    
    ok we can try the charisma as how thery related wich other undeads if he is a cool guy or a bad temper
    
    and p.b. = physical beauty for how they look ( undeads are all ugly i think )
    
    
    i have an idea of how to use the undead world in my campaign (but first i request permission of manfred i dont want to steel nothing :wink:
    
    maybe we all can play in our worlds (campaigns ) normally and when the character die we can start the campaign in the undead world maybe with a quest of how to get back to the living world (as a undead or as a living )
    one question i have is : what about vampires??
    do vampires live in the undead world and if they are in between the undeads how they survive because they need flesh blood to survive so what about them??
    
    and vampires they are like living things they have a good p.b. or charisma .

12. Undead World

    #12

    To reply in somewhat mixed order:
    
    Vampires?
    It is easy to send weak undead to the Undead World, but hard the more powerful ones. Not only they would have a better chance to resist, or to save, but they also would slightly unbalance things.
    You play a zombie? I play a lich!
    
    I don't want all kind of powerful Undead walking that world...
    There were many different and bizzare created already. Would be my personal limit. Of course an occasional powerful NPC could mix things up! Possible adventure idea? Someone coming into this anarchy and wanting to rule things now. Hmmm...
    
    Besides, vampires would have a VERY hard time to live here. No blood, no living, no fun. Frequent visits of the Pub will have its consequences.
    
    Undead and physical beauty? :lol: Strange words came here together. Still thinking about this one.
    
    Oh, and YES, use it! Then tell me of any ideas you came up with!

13. Undead World

    #13

    Starting in Undead World
    
    The characters (the Undead) do not truly start in Undead World. They start as living creatures. They can be adventurers, but ordinary people like farmers etc are OK. Then comes the Death. Help them make it however they want, heroical, gruesome, useless, natural, whatever. Then comes the moment of Animation (in some cases it happens simultaneously with Death). Create a necromancer or some creature, or event responsible for their Undeath.
    
    Then, comes their Life as Undead (funny combination, huh?), and later their unwanted relocation to Undead World.
    
    All above can be simply background they write up somewhere, or can be role-played in any length desired. This is why I created Undead World: to drastically change an existing campain, let characters die, and continue despite it!
    
    As for the quest, you don't have to GIVE it to them, they can choose it themselves. They should not forget, even IF they ever return, they won't be welcomed as Undead. This is the decision they will have to make. Maybe they did horrible things while being Undead, and they surely felt the hate for all Living. Or should they stay in this hell, maybe to repent for their sins?

14. tanx

    #14

    for the undead world
    
    i think what i mean ith de p.b. thing is they could have a pb of -5
    but a charisma of 12
    
    if all are undeads and all ugly they could have some charisma between them just for who is cool nd who is mean etz etz

15. Undead World

    #15

    Charisma for Undead? How can THAT work?
    
    To the Living, Undead do not have any charisma, they are simply damn ugly. (Please ignore vampires and similar, we talk here mostly about lower Undead.) But we have a society composed of free-willed Undead only. Social interaction will happen, and some are heard and seen more than others.
    
    To re-work Charisma for Undead, we must analyze their society and social-being, and to do it, we must delve a bit in their emotional baggage. Please note that Undead are somewhat emotionally-impaired. Were they not, they would probably all be dead now, or mad from this world, from commiting suicides to blind killing-sprees.
    
    
    Negative emotions?
    
    Undead, even those with free will, are not friendly creatures. The transport to Undead World was but a traumatic event. Most of the Undead were torn from their master and commander. All of them were pushed forward with a burning hatred to the Living. There are no Living nearby, the hate grows weaker, and Undead begin to remember their former lives, and their masters.
    
    Pain and Fear: Undead do not truly feel pain. There are exceptions, like holy water and the Sun. With no holy water around, Sun is the only thing Undead fear. On the other hand, it is the fastest way to die. (And some do commit in this way a suicide.) Pain and fear can but come from their background, when they were still Living. In Undead World, many old memories awaken again. See also Self Preservation as a possible source of fear.
    
    Hate: No Living to hate. As before, sources of hate can come from the background, too.
    
    
    Positive emotions?
    Not many. :( If you rediscover parts of your past, you may remember things that used to make you happy. Some of them may be possible to repeat in Undead World, at least partly. Thus if you find someone doing some nonsensical activity, it may be trying to find the joy from the living days again. Many Undead try to return to jobs they had in Life. Some succeed, few are truly happy, or at least content.
    
    (Reminds me of a particular zombie, that used to be a trapper, most probably. These days you can discover his work, as you fall into a hole and your foot gets stuck. This is a BIT dangerous, of course, if you don't manage to get free till sunrise.)
    
    
    Self-preservation
    Common Undead are weakly equipped in this regard, but Undead World changes much. The freedom gained here, and returning memories make them feel a bit different, almost like having value, and in few cases having found The Meaning Of Life.
    
    It should be noted that combat is deadly, and chances to recover are few and limited. Any conflict, even with much weaker foes can damage you. While the wound may be not big, it may be beyond repair or healing.
    
    
    Why do anything, anyway?
    Once there is some shelter from the Sun, Undead don't need anything tu survive. (survive :wink: ) Some of them, mostly the Mindless Ones, do exactly that: nothing. It is easy to stay in your hole, maybe remove the dust swept in from time to time. Some fresh or old philosophers live similarly, having finally found the time to ponder all those big and little problems of Life (and of Undeath).
    
    A little problem is with adventurers:
    Gold? Too few valuables.
    Killing monsters? YOU are a monster.
    Fame? Very funny, my friend.
    Girls? There are some, but would you really want...
    
    What remains is the urge to do something, just anything, not having the boring life like everyone else. It was one of the reasons most adventurers started. Now, even former farmers may want a change.
    
    
    Social-being.
    Undead are not social. Distrust is the most common feeling if you meet someone unknown. Many simply ignore you, unless there is some reason to hear.
    
    
    To sum up Charisma:
    Charisma is based mainly on physical fitness, and how preserved the Undead looks. A missing limb, or many wounds (even stitched together) lower it. Whatever makes the Undead look more able to survive Undead World, improves his Charisma. Thus, weapons do help in more ways. A quality sword makes everyone listen to you. A preserved zombie with good rag-armor and an old sword can have the Charisma of a paladin. (Ironic if it was a paladin before.) Having a lot of animals/servants improves Charisma, too.
    
    Still, most Undead value their freedom and peace, and if you are known to them as a breaker of these things, all things that improved your Charisma lower it now instead.

16. Undead World

    #16

    Weird option:
    
    Reviewing things I wrote before, I mentioned for mere inspiration that Undead World could be similar to Mars, just to better imagine it.
    
    Now let us think for a moment: What if it IS Mars?
    
    Pure fantasy could meet sci-fi RPGs, not to forget those weird spelljammer settings. I can already imagine (yet another) B-movie with heroical astronauts landing on Mars, this time to be attacked by ravenous ghouls, helped by another friendlier Undead. Of course bearing some message about humanity n' stuff. Ugh. :roll: Any Holywood script-writer out there? My idea would not be that expensive :twisted: $$$
    
    Sure to followed by Escape from Undead World, explaining how they got there, and how they got from there. With lots of action, too. ...
    
    (Just a question, is it necrophilia, if both participants are dead? :wink: :roll: :shock: :) :lol: Certain themes cannot be just by-passed in a true block-buster.)

17. b-movies rocks

    #17

    i think hell yeaah
    mars is a good home for the undeads
    
    maybe the could biuld their homes underground?

18. Undead World

    #18

    That was what I meant them to do from the beginning.
    
    Of course, having few tools etc., means they cannot get very deep. But as they have all the time of their lives :wink:, they do what they can to get away from the Sun.
    
    And if there are any caves, even better.

19. Undead World

    #19

    Given the incredible timespan afforded to undead, what's to stop one of the sentient ones from taking a rock and carving a deep fortress well beneath the surface, safe from the sunlight? Or from finding one of those lumps of metal ore and cold-forging it into a tool or weapon? In no time at all, you could have the planet honeycombed with caverns of undead...

20. Undead World

    #20

    Easily possible.
    
    Still, these are meant to be the beginnings of Undead World. There are probably only a few (ten?) thousand Undead on the planet. Many are not sentient, many are not peacefull. It is not yet the fairy-tale and many years have passed...
    
    But rightly, with enough time and Undead the whole planet can look mightily different. Can complicate it a bit, as occasional earthquakes (or mars-quakes :wink: ) make the builder's job harder. Doesn't matter.
    
    Before it goes that far, you may want to find caves at first, or at least some cover. Later, trips to Outside may be done for resources. Still later, it is the only kick (I mean adventure) you may get.
    
    Feel free to imagine a society present on Undead World hundreds (or even thousands) years afterwards.

21. Undead World

    #21

    Not sure where this idea fits into...
    
    For weird settings only: Undead may make fine planetar-explorers. Cheap and reliable. :wink:

22. Undead World

    #22

    Actually, considering that I'm working wth my girlfriend to create a universe which is essentially a merger of everything, I could see it happening... Probably in the hands of the Trisector Corporate Authority, given that it happens o be run by a magically-inclined race...

23. marsquakes

    #23

    maybe aldo a marsquake can help the undead forming many caves or a great canyon with caves .
    
    and what about a martian thing that eat undeads?
    it could be fun don´t you think?

24. Undead World

    #24

    There are some free-roaming undead that eat other undead.
    
    But who knows, the planet may not be as dead as it seems.
    
    Some theories about life on Mars suggested that there might be actually quite evolved life-forms on the surface like... polar bears. Mind you, the bigger the mass, the less warmth does it lose. Of course it would require a different diet, somehow gaining nutrients from the rocky surface (so not an animal in the usual sense). Or perhaps some less than lucky Undead?
    
    No rule, but a possible plot.

25. Undead World

    #25

    all kinf of undeads?
    
    dracolichs too'??
    
    and if they , maybe the other undeads can use them against another threats like the polar bears or some other alien creatures??

26. Undead World

    #26

    It was noted previously that mostly only the weaker undead were dropped here - so dracoliches, mummies, and the like probably wouldn't exist. Vampires certainly wouldn't, as they'd have starved to death.

27. Undead World

    #27

    :shock: Seems like someone actually reads this! I am glad. 8)
    
    Yep, it was by purpose that only weaker Undead are sent to Undead World, for sooner or later some player WOULD choose a dracolich to play himself.
    :dracoliche:
    
    Then again, if it makes you happy, powerful Undead can arrive here, but it is extremely improbable. Such a thing would be unique, use as a plot hook only.
    
    
    Hey, a Vampire could work! One arriving here would:
    a) mix up the local power structure
    b) slowly starve to death, thus not changing Undead World forever
    c) possibly be quite mad and dangerous in his last moments
    
    (And as I see dracoliches, such creature would soon rule over the whole world.)

28. Undead World

    #28

    A vampire would be less than dangerous, if the legend of needing to sleep in the earth of their grave is held true. In a case such as that, They're as good as dead the moment the sun rises...
    
    As for a dracolich - they'd be powerful enough to cave a cave for themselves with their claws and spells, and they would end up ruling the world in short order.

29. Undead World

    #29

    What are Undead?
    
    Undead are creatures, that should not be alive anymore. For one reason or another, something makes their bodies partially immune to Time, and even able to move and act, almost as if they were still living...
    
    And the something is most often Magic.
    
    
    Hit points
    
    Magic powers the Undead, it makes them work, it holds their body parts together. If you hack an arm away, the flow of magic ceases, the Undead cannot use it anymore. Luckily, in a magically rich world the magic does not diffuse very fast. The poor Undead simply reattaches the arm, and magic circullates again freely. It even can 'heal' the rotting flesh partly.
    
    So it is that magic in undead bodies is the hidden equivalent of Hit Points. If magic leaves the body, it looses the last similarities to the Living (movement and hate). There are known spells and abilities to achieve this effect.
    
    Undead in well-preserved bodies have thus more Hit Points than others. If physically (or otherwise) damaged, a part of the magic is lost.

30. Undead World

    #30

    Combat in Undead World
    
    Undead World is a zero-magic world. Don't try to find what the term means, I have just invented it. :wink:
    
    As such, it has no magic of its own, but is not hostile to magical creatures.
    (A "negative"-magic world would drain all magic present, possibly even from magical creatures. A "positive"-magic world has magic spread eveyrwhere, ready to be used by magic-users.)
    
    The bad thing is, once the magic is used, it dissolves, and it is impossible to get it back anymore. It is lost forever.
    
    
    To be wounded in Undead World means to be weakened forever. If you are sewn and nailed together, your Hit Points may increase beyond your former maximum. But this is only armor, that protects the magic hidden inside. If you are wounded enough, then you will be weakened again. (DM should note the number of Hit Points at arrival, and may assign penalties as the magic gets weaker.)
    
    Combat is deadly, and to be wounded is dangerous. So is Undead World.

31. Undead World

    #31

    Note on magic and spells etc.:
    
    No spells were cast yet in Undead World, and no special abilities were used. Should it ever happen, be aware the magic is lost once used. After running out of that magic, the DM may (or may not) allow to use one's own magic for this... think of it as bleeding voluntarily, without a chance to heal.
    
    Hmmm... this becomes a non-magic world. And magic is at the core of fantasy. If desired, alternative sources of magic might be found. Will think about it, and the price. Anybody ideas?

32. Well...

    #32

    Magik as in "wonder" and "supernatural" are the core of fantasy, tropes so to speak. Spell magik is not, but something we frequently see. The LotRs has very little in the way of spell magik, when compared to many fantasy novels. Many fantasy books have only a touch of spell magik, but still have the sense of wonder and wow. Connan is fantasy, and you seldom see spells in there.
    
    Besides... maybe the God of the Undead will be drawn to this sphere... he will provide the magik for his undead minions. Any living visitors might be in trouble.... After all, if it requires magik to get home and there is no magik... well you get the idea.

33. Undead World

    #33

    Sure, fantasy has to be 'magical' and wondrous, it is not about casting n-th level spells. And living beings (as we know them) would be in trouble either way, for they would simply choke.

34. Undead World

    #34

    ...God of Undead
    
    Yes, a deity is a traditional resource of magical powers (at least in RPGs...) And at least a few Undead will worship something, for many remember doing this from their lives.
    
    But before we allow a deity to enter Undead World, we better ask a few questions:
    
    
    1.Is it?
    
    If someone claims to hear voices in their head, or feel an unearthly guidance, madness is often the first suspect. Even strange events, or downright miracles may not be enough to make everyone believe. As for Undead World, mistrust is strong, but any miracle would surely attract followers. (Reminder: The False Priest plot option.)
    
    So if there is nobody, it's just your mind that plays with you, you are getting mad, or you lie. Any additional miraculous happenstances are mere chances, faked, or perhaps really effects of magic, just not from the expected source. Or the effects are limited to a place, where even your mind is not reliable anymore.
    
    
    2.Is it God on the phone?
    
    OK, there is someone out there. And that someone not only listens, but answers, too! The question only is... WHAT is it?
    
    a) A planet, and the very space can give birth to creatures that are hard to imagine, or even impossible to imagine. And some may be mistaken, or indeeed wish to be seen as Gods. Many reasons and plots/campaigns possible.
    
    b) As mentioned elsewhere, the act of worshipping alone may create a deity.
    
    c) The planet was inhabited before (or another planet in the same system), but they destroyed themselves a long time ago. Structures and/or strange artifacts may or may not stay behind. Or the deity was the destroyer.
    
    c2) "And so was the Enemy cast out into the emptiness, never to return until the world ends." Does that remind you of something? (Morgoth/Melkor from LOTR) A deity that was forced to leave, lost its homeworld and/or all worshippers, might desperately seek some.
    
    d) A deity active in the same solar system, discovers them and is glad to have new worshippers.
    
    e) A deity from the former world of those undead, becomes linked to Undead World through their worship.
    
    f) A deity from the former world of those undead, has actually caused this situation. Inspired the spell, and now reaps the benefits of the situation. Depends, whether it only wants to get those filthy undead as far away as possible, or has some other motives...
    
    
    3.Thank you, oh Mighty One, could we now ask this leeetle favour?
    
    Well, what is the benefit of having a deity? To be morally superior to unbelievers is fine, but what about something immediatelly useful? Some special abilities may do good, and power to cast spells might change Undead World deeply.
    
    a) The being cannot grant, or is not willing to grant, any powers. It may have various powers of its own, and use them (or not) on behalf of its worshippers. The choices of 2.a) and 2.c) work fine here.
    
    b) The being grants minor special abilities to selected few, creating priests. Even a simple Cure Light Wounds (for Undead) may do wonders.
    
    c) Classical RPG (D&D-ish) priestly magic available, and any devout worshipper may ask for a godly favour, and may be granted it. Don't like this option, makes Undead World simply another place to cast 9th level spells.

35. Undead World

    #35

    4.We bow down before you... so what do you really want?
    
    Depends on the being that is/plays God, a few possibilities I cover here:
    
    a) ...seeks to gain more power from being worshipped.
    
    b) ...wants to enjoy Power Over Others (tm), and play games with them. (An infant deity, perhaps? A place to learn how to rule over mortals?)
    
    c) ...wants to unite them, and when the army is big enough, open a gate into the former world (or some other), and crush the enemy!
    
    d) ...a god of Death had moral qualms: the Undead are an unnatural deformity to the process of death and birth. Since they are from parts of souls, they can be unique. And once created, they are self-suficient entities, in very rare cases able to turn to good. Simply destroying them may not be right. Thus was Undead World to happen: a place to keep undead safe (and living safe from them), and to observe their behaviour.
    
    e) ...a god(des) of Nature did the same thing as in d) and the true mission is to bring life upon the dead planet. The Farmers already work towards this purpose. (Note for Kassil: Strange as it sounds, undead may be good for terraforming!)
    
    f) ...has really no idea what to do with them, only observes at the moment... will decide for another option sooner or later.

36. Gods

    #36

    How about a mythos that a great undead god had his minions banished to undead world and he/it wants a reconing with the other gods of living worlds.He chooses his undead champions (our heros)! This would invite the introduction of undead geared magic items and artifacts, also maybe a powerful lich as our decayed gods right hand man (not all fingers of course!)

37. Very nice

    #37

    I saw this thread a while back and meant to check it out but I got distracted. This is one of the coolest ideas I've seen in a long time. It's unique and the possiblities for it are enormous. The undead have always been my favorite plot pieces. I never thought to make a WHOLE WORLD of them. That's just brilliant. If I can think of anything to add to it I'll be sure to do so. Just wanted to give ya a big "Well Done!" while I remembered to.

38. Undead World

    #38

    Thank you. My ideas have left me here, I would gladly welcome any inspiration.

39. Undead World

    #39

    Why not make their god an Atropal?

40. Undead World

    #40

    Huh?

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