ok, I was just wondering if anyone ever came up with a preserver undead... or are all undead an abomination to life?? Is there not a style out there that could be tolerable?? or even beneficiall?? (I think the dwarven spirits that fail their focus are worthwhile and non harmful, don't you?? but can there be others??)
The 2e Dark Sun adventure Dragon's Crown features an undead preserver called Haakar. I don't see any reason that all undead need necessarily be horrendous abominations.
The 2e Dark Sun adventure Dragon's Crown features an undead preserver called Haakar. I don't see any reason that all undead need necessarily be horrendous abominations.
Agreed. Even certin types of liches maybe good.
(I think the dwarven spirits that fail their focus are worthwhile and non harmful, don't you?? but can there be others??)
Not quite sure what you're saying. Dwarven Banshees, which I don't think happen for failing their focus, but for dying while not actively pursuing their focus, otherwise there'd be a whole lot more of them. Anyway, they'd still pretty much be an abomination to life, solely because they exist in a state of torment. There's a Prestige Class, or it might have been a kit back in 2E called the Dwarven Exorcist which was there to specifically to take care of Dwarven Banshees, and were well regarded by the Dwarven community, because, quite frankly, no dwarf wants to end up a Banshee.
There's a Prestige Class, or it might have been a kit back in 2E called the Dwarven Exorcist which was there to specifically to take care of Dwarven Banshees, and were well regarded by the Dwarven community, because, quite frankly, no dwarf wants to end up a Banshee.
I don't recall that in an offcial product. Could it have been from a 2E fan-based site?
good is one thing, I'm talking ecologically beneficial.. or at least not a drain.. I remember an old 2e monster called a defiling skeleton, when it was slain, it defiled the ground arround it in order to reanimate.. very cool.. does anyone know of a preserver variation on that type of theme??
Undead have no impact on the environment. Athas is not a Romero movie filled with brain-hungry zombies, and even then the impact would be...humanoid species population control.
A Banshee, or Meorty, or Dune Runner, does nothing biological at all; look out for an undead that'll come out in the updated TotDL that has an impact on the environment, albeit a localized one. Its called the Ashen.
The update will also have Defiling Undead, but understand those are basically animated zombies/skeletons to which you add a magic item that reanimates them, upon their destruction, through defiling. Those are created by powerful undead necromancers and by sorcerer-kings for their own armies, or at least that's what the 2E fluff said.
I don't recall that in an offcial product. Could it have been from a 2E fan-based site?
Just did a web search for. Found it in the Dark Sun Netbook. I remember lots of stuff, just not necessarily where I found it.:embarrass
as for ecologically unfit...this is a good point. undead are inimical to life...i can't count the references to things such as plant life withering and animals retreating from the abode of a powerful undead entity.
i think the misconception with undead is their role on athas and as a category of entities. the lowest levels of undead (Zs and Ss) are kind of like 0th level adventurers on athas...really more a practical joke, perhaps something to amuse you drunken around the campfire. they serve also roles in the armies of the kings, and perhaps in more unscrupulous circles as workforce. but the higher level ones include not just the level zapping favorites, but the intelligent undead as well. anything sentient, malicious and with special powers is not to be disregarded, especially in a dangerous place like athas. their hatred of life, perpetual agony and tendency to kill people make them another obstacle to a world we can all play in the sand together in :D
regarding the original post, i recall Rkhard was something of a non-evil persuasion, at least in the Crimson Legion novel. and i don't see anything wrong with a NG or LG Kaisharga. hell i see a lot of things right with it, from a player's perspective!
Mightily puzzled over that reference...TotDL has a generic undead ability, Rot Living Material, that any undead can acquire at creation time, but its a touch effect and works several hours after the plant has been touched. Basically it won't make the undead into the despoiler of an entire forest on his own.
Scarring off animals, yes, although a noisy hunter with a riffle does exactly the same without being an unholy force, and nature is all fine afterwards.
nah if it were 2e it'd be called a 'kit' :D
:poke: I said that. I just wasn't sure then if it was a 'kit' or PrC I was remembering. ;)
Two, considering the sheer number of unique undead "races" on Athas, it would be greatly surprising to me if Dark Sun DIDN'T have a type of undead that only preservers can become after death.
--remember, the Obsidian Lands to the south are full of undead, hungry for payback NB
Withering of plants?
that would be wights. evil undead presence and all
my mistake most undead inhabit desolate & remote places anyways...the whole hate-life thing and all. I've just never read or encountered undead in a cheery woodland glade :D but yeah wights do that. and umm apparently a lot of undead types I've run over the years. ah well it made for good atmosphere anyways :P