Difference between revisions of "Revenant"

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Revenants are a type of [[undead]], distinguished by their increased strength, speed, and independence as a result of having a living soul, rather than a mock soul like the [[Shambling Undead|shambling dead]]. Some revenants still have dead grey flesh, while others are merely skeletons, and some are nothing but ghosts. All can be distinguished, however, by their pale glowing eyes, which may glow slightly different colors in different individuals, for reasons not fully understood.
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Revenants are frightening [[undead]] known for their great strength and speed and strange, glowing eyes. Unlike [[shambling dead]], revenants are corpses animated using a true soul.
  
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In [[Northrim]], revenants are called '''draugr'''. In [[Deshret]], they are called '''ghouls''', and are sometimes confused with demonic creatures that wander the [[Underworld]], as well as [[Hyetzu |Hyetzi]], due to their penchant for eating human flesh. In [[Kemhet]], due to their burial practices, they are often animated '''mummies'''.
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Much of this article is taken from excerpts of ''[[Works of Grigore Summers|Vita Mortis]]'' by [[Grigore Summers]].
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==Nature==
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Revenants are creations of [[necromancy]]. Sometimes they are the result of the individual himself calling upon any dark powers who would listen to grant him vengeance, in which case their soul is kept from the afterlife long enough to carry out the desired deed. Such an individual usually dooms their soul to a [[Demon|demon]] unless saved.
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==Names==
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Revenants are known by nigh upon countless names. Most common folk would never know a revenant from any other type of undead despite their differences. Thus, like all other sorts of undead, revenants may be called "draugr" in [[Northrim]] as well as "ghouls" in [[Deshret]]; however, a [[Ghoul]] is often considered different creature entirely and is not undead at all but a [[Demon|demonic]] entity and is used interchagably with "demon." In [[Achaean Empire|Achaea]], revenants are sometimes called "shades."
  
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Other revenants are created by a necromantic spell. In many cases this is an oath made in the name of a demon or a god of death to carry out a certain task for eternity. For example, Pharaohs in Kemhet may bind their soldiers and slaves to guard their tombs, causing them to rise from the dead and attack if the tomb is disturbed. Should such an oath-bound revenant fulfill their oath completely, or the oath become impossible to fulfill (such as by the destruction of the tomb they swore to protect), their spirits will be released and proceed to the afterlife.
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==Appearance==
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Being undead, revenants may vary wildly in appearance. They will of course look like whatever being they were originally but as an animated corpse. Revenants vary in degrees of decay. Some may have dead grey flesh while others are fleshless skeletons, and still others may simply be ghosts. All revenants have a faint glow to their pale eyes, the color of which varies in different individuals.
  
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A necromancer may also bind the soul of a recently-deceased individual to his service, causing them to rise from the dead and obey his or her commands, forcing them to watch helplessly as their now-dead form carries out the necromancer's will. In some cases, the soul empowering such a revenant may not be the corpse's original owner, but another person's spirit the necromancer had bound in a [[soulstone]].
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==Nature==
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Like shambling dead, all revenants wildly crave to devour flesh. Some believe they may have fairly intelligent thoughts, but they never reflect this except through cleverness. They are quick and strong, smart enough to know how to catch their prey. They are far more dangerous than shambling dead as a result. Revenants are capable of regenerating their dead flesh and "healing" their wounds through the consumption of the living, almost like a [[vampire]] drinking blood. Unlike a vampire, however, a revenant will never again resemble a living creature. Holy power can repel any revenant, and all revenants are utterly destroyed by the light of the sun.
  
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In most cases, the destruction of a revenant's body frees their soul to return to the [[spirit realm]] and await its final judgment. However, the souls of the strongest-willed revenants will refuse to proceed to the afterlife and can attack and harm mortals even as [[ghosts]]. Such spectral revenants can only be harmed through magical means, and once defeated, may pass on the afterlife or perhaps be destroyed forever.
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===Creation===
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==Abilities==
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Generally, revenants are created by [[necromancy]]. Necromancers raise and call upon revenants to fulfill their every command. Sometimes, a revenant itself calls upon dark powers to reanimate its flesh, or to allow it to linger as a spirit, after death to carry out some desired deed such as vengeance. Other revenants are bound by some sort of oath to carry out a duty for all eternity. Some cultures, such as ancient [[Kemhet]], may put curses upon burial sites to recall spirits from their rest and force them to rise as revenants to defend certain tombs.  
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The necromantic magic animating a revenant, fueled by the power of a true soul, gives them great strength and speed, even if their living tissue is sheared away to mere bones, leaving only a skeleton with the telltale glowing eyes of a ghoul. But through a process similar to a [[Vampire|vampire]] drinking living blood, a powerful revenant can consume living tissue to regenerate their own. Unlike a vampire, however, they will never again resemble the living. Their healed tissue is grey, dead, and hideously scarred.
 
  
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Like all creatures created by demonic magic, revenants are burned by holy magic and the light of the sun.
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However, some revenants are tethered to the mortal world against their will with no demonic involvement, such as ghosts that haunt the site of a truly terrible murder, unable to pass on without some kind of aid. It is unknown how or why this may occur.
  
 
[[Category:Monsters]][[Category:Undead]]
 
[[Category:Monsters]][[Category:Undead]]

Latest revision as of 19:48, 18 November 2022

Revenants are frightening undead known for their great strength and speed and strange, glowing eyes. Unlike shambling dead, revenants are corpses animated using a true soul.

Much of this article is taken from excerpts of Vita Mortis by Grigore Summers.

Names

Revenants are known by nigh upon countless names. Most common folk would never know a revenant from any other type of undead despite their differences. Thus, like all other sorts of undead, revenants may be called "draugr" in Northrim as well as "ghouls" in Deshret; however, a Ghoul is often considered different creature entirely and is not undead at all but a demonic entity and is used interchagably with "demon." In Achaea, revenants are sometimes called "shades."

Appearance

Being undead, revenants may vary wildly in appearance. They will of course look like whatever being they were originally but as an animated corpse. Revenants vary in degrees of decay. Some may have dead grey flesh while others are fleshless skeletons, and still others may simply be ghosts. All revenants have a faint glow to their pale eyes, the color of which varies in different individuals.

Nature

Like shambling dead, all revenants wildly crave to devour flesh. Some believe they may have fairly intelligent thoughts, but they never reflect this except through cleverness. They are quick and strong, smart enough to know how to catch their prey. They are far more dangerous than shambling dead as a result. Revenants are capable of regenerating their dead flesh and "healing" their wounds through the consumption of the living, almost like a vampire drinking blood. Unlike a vampire, however, a revenant will never again resemble a living creature. Holy power can repel any revenant, and all revenants are utterly destroyed by the light of the sun.

Creation

Generally, revenants are created by necromancy. Necromancers raise and call upon revenants to fulfill their every command. Sometimes, a revenant itself calls upon dark powers to reanimate its flesh, or to allow it to linger as a spirit, after death to carry out some desired deed such as vengeance. Other revenants are bound by some sort of oath to carry out a duty for all eternity. Some cultures, such as ancient Kemhet, may put curses upon burial sites to recall spirits from their rest and force them to rise as revenants to defend certain tombs.

However, some revenants are tethered to the mortal world against their will with no demonic involvement, such as ghosts that haunt the site of a truly terrible murder, unable to pass on without some kind of aid. It is unknown how or why this may occur.

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