The Effects of the Day of Dread on Various Forms of Undead
by Marco DalmonteThis list could became a treatise, given the fact that there are many methods to become undead. I'll try to list here the most common methods and the effects I think the Day of Dread (DoD) has on those undead created these ways. Note that I think the method in which they were created is the key to their fate during the DoD, not their actual "rank". I've then listed all kinds of undead (often regrouped in broad categories) and the method of creating them, with what happens to them during the Day of No Magic between the parentheses. Here we go:
Skeleton/Zombie: Animate Dead (destroyed), Animated Dead + Permanency (destroyed), Artifact Spell (not destroyed but remains inactive for the duration of the no magic timespan), Bestow Curse Spell (destroyed), Create Any/Magical Monsters (destroyed), Magical accident (DM's rule - may be destroyed since it's a very weak type of undead).
Ghoul/Wight: Ancient Curse (not destroyed but remains in deep slumber), Artifact Spell (not destroyed but remains inactive for the duration of the no magic timespan), Bestow Curse Spell (destroyed), Create Any/Magical Monsters (destroyed), Magical accident (DM's rule -may be destroyed since it's very weak), Transmitted Curse/Infected (remains active but acts as if "slowed", with reduced vision, movement and strength).
Lesser Incorporeal Undeads (6 HD or less: Spectre, Lesser banshee, Lesser Haunt, etc.): Ancient Curse/Self Imposed Curse (not destroyed but remains in deep slumber), Artifact Spell (not destroyed but remains inactive for the duration of the no magic timespan), Create Any/Magical Monsters (destroyed), Magical accident (DM's rule - may act as if slowed, see above).
Greater Incorporeal Undeads (7 HD or greater: Wraith, Haunts, Phantoms): Ancient Curse/Self Imposed Curse (unable to materialise on the Prime Plane), Artifact Spell (not destroyed, acts freely), Create Any/Magical Monsters (destroyed), Magical accident (DM's rule - probably acts as if it had half of its HD and powers), Transmitted Curse/Infected (acts normally).
Mummy: Ancient Curse/Self Imposed Curse (if it's a weak mummy -8HD or less- it goes into slumber; if more powerful -9+ HD or intelligent mummy- it's only slowed, see above), Artifact Spell (not destroyed, acts freely), Create Any/Magical Monsters (destroyed), Magical accident (DM's rule - probably goes into slumber if it's not too powerful).
Vampire: Ancient Curse/Self Imposed Curse (if a young and weak vampire - less than 9HD or 200 years- sleeps for the whole period, if more powerful he acts freely but cannot use his magical powers), Artifact Spell (not destroyed, acts freely), Create Any/Magical Monsters (destroyed), Magical accident (DM's rule - probably goes into slumber if a fledgling vampire - less than 9 HD or 200 years of undeath: in any case he doesn't retain his powers for the duration of the anti magic period), Transmitted Curse/Infected (if a young and weak vampire - less than 9HD or 200 years- sleeps for the whole period, if more powerful he acts freely but cannot use his magical powers).
Lich: Artifact Spell (not destroyed, acts freely), Magical accident (DM's rule - probably goes into slumber), Magical Transformation (acts normally but doesn't retain his spellcasting abilities).
Nightshadow/Spirit: Ancient Curse/Self Imposed Curse (acts freely but cannot use spellcasting abilities), Artifact Spell (not destroyed, acts freely), Attained status (acts normally but cannot cast spells), Create Any/Magical Monsters (destroyed), Magical accident (DM's rule - probably acts freely).
Special Undead: (Undead Beholder, Gargantuan Undead, Undead Dragon, Undead Chimera, etc.): Ancient Curse/Self Imposed Curse (acts normally but cannot cast spells), Artifact Spell (not destroyed, acts freely), Create Any/Magical Monsters (destroyed), Magical accident (DM's rule - probably functions as a Created).
Note 1: the "Magical Accident" category involves those beings created via use of tremendous magic forces that have been unleashed without the control of the caster, or that derive from magical places or cursed places. The Created Undead (like Gargantuan Undead or Undead Chimera) normally stop functioning during the no magic period like they were golems.
Note 2: the wizard/priest/psionic lich performs a ritual
to attain lichdom. During this ritual he imbues an item
(Phylactery) with his life essence, thus creating a very resilient
magical item that will hold his life force forever if not destroyed
properly. This makes the phylactery of the lich a real "artifact".
The simple "anti magic" effect doesn't destroy the item: it simply
"turns it off". So, if the spirit of the lich is not in his body
but in the phylactery in that period, he's trapped inside there for
the duration of the anti magic effects. If he's in his body, he can
be killed permanently, because he won't be able to enter the
phylactery for the duration of the anti magic period. The Day of No
Magic has no further effects on liches.