Excerpt from the academic writings of Herutal the Unknowing, taken from the Spéiran Church Revelator records

It is an influential opinion among my esteemed colleagues that the manner and methods of undeath are a horrific secret, fit to be suppressed at any cost. An understandable opinion perhaps, but nonetheless wrong.

How can one fight what one does not understand? No, the undead must be studied, that they might be killed. To that overzealous foolery of an institution known as the Academy Review Board for the Preservation of Decency, know that I speak of undead, not necromancy! Yes, there is a difference, even if it wounds my heart and soul that I must educate the supposed overseers of this venerated hall of learning.

Undead are a type of creature. Necromancy is a school of magic. The study of ghasts and wights has as much in common with dracology as it does with necromancy, and does not require one learn foul magics! This text will include sufficient detail only for the study and combating of these beings, and not for their creation!

Staidéar allow that you know the difference.

So, if we must bear knowledge of this foulest breed of monster, where ought we start?

The only place we can. With death. All undead can be said to begin with death, and thus that is what we must define to continue. I am aware of the philosophical debate, but for the subject at hand we must utilize a definition more practical in nature, and thus I propose we move forward with the understanding of death as the breaking of that which binds soul and body together.

This being established, we may proceed with what happens after. Beyond the fact that they have in fact died the vast varieties of undead have little in common, but generally there are a few underlying commonalities. They all cling to the mortal coil in some fashion.

And all are inimical to living beings.

The power that binds us to our life is not so easily replaced. As soon as that vital force first breaks the unfortunate soul that it belongs to is bound to pass on, all else is just a matter of time. However, occasional forces of nature, and a certain infamous school of magic, seek to defy that truth, binding the soul to the body with some artificial means.

If it is possible to achieve the same security as one’s natural body it has not yet been done, and I dread to consider the price to craft such a bond, for this is when the true horror of necromancy starts.

If you cannot create a bond that matches the divine creation of our birth, how do you manage to mimic it? Well, assuming the hypothetical of course, one would be best off stealing said life force, wouldn’t one?

And that is exactly how the majority of undead function. They feed upon the living to maintain their cursed existence. In what manner varies, but nearly all take from the living by their very existence. In the remainder of this document I will brief you, dear reader, on a few of the most common and broad categories of undead, focusing on their danger to the living so that you might seek to survive their predations.