Undead Playguide

[Linaeus]

Guide to Undead Speech

The Undead in the Twilight Legion use two types of speech.

1.They use a lisp speech. This is because their tongue has rotted out of their skull.

2.They use an inverted speech. This is because Guardian's words are backwards in nature and a perversion of Avatars sanctity.

*Archaic is optional, but highly encouraged.

Vocabulary

Good Souls = This is both our greeting and parting phrase. (Into the ground I mussst go. Good Soulss.)

Shattered = This is how Undead fall in battle. (Ssshattered, I wasss.)

Guardian = The higher being that gave us life in his image. Undead and Unborns use the proper He when referring to Guardian. Examples include He, Him, His, Master. (A jealousss Massster Guardian iss, ssspend time vyss musst, worsshipping Him.)
Ancient One = The Lord of the Undead, and the only skeleton capable of channeling Guardian through the Well. His duties include holding Unborn ceremonies, leading the Undead in battle, and declaring Guardians will to his. The Ancient One is referred to as Master by all, when the Ancient One appears Undead stop what they are doing and bow.

Undead Minion = An Unholy harbinger of Death created in Guardian's image and likeness. Undead refer to each other as “Brother” or “Sister.”  Undead Minions bow only to the Ancient One.

Unborn = A mortal that serves Guardian and the Ancient One but has not yet become Undead. If you are an unborn you are still human, therefore you will not lisp or invert your speech until you are promoted to full Undead. When an Undead appears, Unborns stop and bow.

Reaper = Bladed Weapon, especially a Halbred (Sssnatched the mortalsss ssoul wyth my reaper I didssst.)

Nyst = No

Ayst = Yes

The Well = A swirling underground void, similar to the religious tradition of “Hell.” In the Well the souls of those whose lives were taken by the Undead are kept in here, damned for eternity. (Into the well vysss sssoul willsst rot for eternity.) An opening to the Well has been found near Cove.

Necrominion = The sacred text which Guardian's prophets (the first Ancient Ones) wrote in Necropolis years after Guardian's fortunate fall and Avatar's ascension. The book contains necromancy and wytchery of the blackest type, an account of Avatar and Guardian's battle, and the sacred ritual for creating new Undead.

Necropolis = The Legendary Unholy land where Guardian created the Undead. Guardian's followers always search for Necropolis.

Emotes

*Cackles* = How Undead laugh. We have no facial tissue, so other expressions are impossible.

*Crackle* = The sound of joints popping, this happens when a skeleton is feeling an emotion like: Anger, frustration, hatred, or impatience.

*Hiss*

Tactical Orders

Soulbind = Form Party

*Crackle Crackle* = Emoting *Crackle Crackle* signifies that your Undead has heard enough, and is now attacking.

Soulsend = ICQ

Undead Roleplaying Concepts

Undead do not have facial tissue and regardless of their temperament, their skull will never show emotion.

Undead move mechanically and in an intimidating fashion.

Undead can never be happy. Ever.

Undead harbor extreme hatred for the living.

Undead are very proud creatures and will ally with other evildoers but consider them “Lessser ones.”

Undead put Guardian before all other things: Undead are vile and evil piles of bones, they care for nothing but Guardian and reaping more souls for the Well.

Undead never flee from a battle. Undead are fearless. They will fight until they are shattered because they know Guardian will reanimate their pieces in due time.

Undead to not “duel.” Duels are for honorable mortals. Undead will use whatever means is at their disposal to win a fight for Guardian.

[Linaeus]

THE UNHOLY NECROMINON: UNDEAD RELIGION

1. The Necrominon

The Necrominon consists of sacred writings which Guardian's prophets (the first Ancient Ones) wrote in Necropolis years after Guardian's fall from Heaven. The book contains necromancy and wytchery of the blackest type, an account of Avatar and Guardian's battle, and the sacred ritual for creating more Undead. It is an historical work chronicling the Undead and their relationship with their God, Guardian. The document herein contains summaries of the scriptures written by the poet-prophets, the Ancient Ones.

A synod of Ancient Ones in Necropolis discuss the scriptures.

2. The Unholy Covenant

Guardian and the Ancient Ones make a pact with their followers. In return for their service Guardian promises the Undead power, protection, and sovereignty over the living. Guardian's followers are taken and given immortal life that comes with the price of eternal servitude and suffering.

3. The Fortunate Fall from Grace

The mightiest Archangel Ether, or Guardian, was seen speaking to low ranking rebellious angels, organizing a battle against Higher Being. He said “I shall ascend high into Heaven. Far above Higher Being, I shall sit upon a regal throne, mine eyes looking down upon the Lord and the Archangels. I shall make myself the most high.” For His treason and hubris, Guardian was banished from Heaven by Higher Being and the foolhardy Archangels.

After His rebellion against Higher Being, the most powerful Archangel Guardian is exiled from Heaven by Archangel Stratos, Archangel Hydros, Archangel Lithos, and Archangel Pyros.[/center]

Guardian was thrown from Heaven's Gates by Higher Being himself and he fell for years down through the cosmos. Upon completion of his descent, Guardian lay stunned in a lake of fire that gave off blackness instead of light. He was in the domain that would come to be known as The Well. Upon coming to his senses, Guardian realized his form had changed. No longer bearing wings, he had become foreign looking and red in color with textured skin and animalistic features.

Guardian bemoaned his situation but did not for a moment repent for his treason against Higher Being. Instead, he pondered ways that he might gather forces for another attack.

Eventually news of Higher Being's new creation called “man” reached the ears of Guardian. Surely this invention could be improved upon by Guardian and used against Higher Being. He made plans to corrupt man into sinning, for sinners would join Guardian inside the Well. He sectioned off an area of the Well for sinners which he dubbed “Hell” where the virtueless and pagan mortals would suffer in damnation.

Guardian begins shifting form from the Angelic to the Demonic

4. Genesis: The Creation of the Undead

Guardian and Higher Being always were. After the fall...

In the begining, there was form, substance, and energy. Gathered within the womb of darkness or was  Guardian; a great and formidable power, a Fallen Archangel nestled inside his concentric Well.

Over many millenia Guardian grew strong and powerful. Yet, He realized over time that He was not alone. Other intelligent forms had begun to take shape in the center of what was along side Him. The Guardian being older and wiser watched in the shadows as the history of creation unfolded through the Godly hand of Higher Being, the  Heavenly King Guardian once served before he was cast out. Guardian as we know him today formed more fully within His two domains: the Well and Hell. His form underwent metamorphosis into something that appears hideous to Higher Being and mankind.

The substance combined with form, took parts of the elemental energies which swirled about, and fused together. Higher Being made this union we call Sosaria and inside of it he placed Zog, the first man.

The wheels in Guardian's new and misshapen head began turning. Guardian made his first creation, the elf Awindar. Awindar sprung from Guardian's forehead full grown. The elf was in Guardian's likeness, but not the form that Guardian would take anon. Elves resemble Guardian between his fall from grace and his descent into the Well. Awindar was a misshapen creature with pointy ears and exaggerated features. It was a parody of Higher Being's man and woman.

Using wytchcraft, Guardian assumed the likeness of a deceptive black cat. Together with Awindar they ascended from the Well into Sosaria where they promoted the false virtue of Compassion through temptation, deception, and fraud. Higher Being watched furiously from his Heavenly Court as mankind was corrupted by Guardian, the originator of sin. Higher Being, grieved by the wickedness of mankind, rained destruction down on Sosaria. Higher Being, having cleansed mankind of their sins, promised to never destroy the inhabitants of Sosaria again. Alas,  it was too late for Higher Being to save man. Guardian had forever implanted sin within Higher Being's creatures and into the very soil of Sosaria.

As the ages passed, Sosaria became populated by many different races. Over the centuries, they warred, evolved, and covered the lands. Some of these races found ways to tap into the great forces of the Well. This ability to harness these energies became known by many names; majik, mojo and wytchery. As the mortal races learned more and more about how these powers were wrought, they were able to call upon even greater powers. This angered Guardian. He felt that the powers of the Well were His alone to command, and these weak mortals of Higher Being should not be allowed to use His wytchery. Tenacious little creatures that they were, flawed and always wanting more. The time had come to put a stop to their poking and prodding of the vast and infinite beyond. These blasphemers had brought down the wrath of Guardian upon themselves.

Guardian created a Necropolis of strongholds in the mountains against the infidels and made them sacred to Himself. He filled them with his minions drow, orcs, and the traitorous light elves. He caused them to fester and grow strong in their hatred towards all who opposed His will. Knowing that Higher Being's mortals feared death, He claimed places of death as His own. Thus, He had his servants raid the lands of the mortals and take their souls, to add to His own power. The humans proved to be stronger than He had given them credit for. They used the pure light of goodness and the virtues against His work. Guardian realized that the mindless creatures He controlled, although strong and fearless, lacked the lessons of  human flesh. The touch of Higher Being's divine hand was absent.

Among the races of the living, He found the Orc tribes. He guided them as they grew, teaching them to destroy all others; man in particular. The Orcs, with their love of the bloodgod (Guardian), served His purpose well. He realized in his ruminations that a power would be needed to bind His minions to a greater purpose and to act as a catalyst to spread fear and hatred into the hearts of man. He would undo what had been done unwisely and undo all of creation. He would corrupt and slaughter Higher Being's favorite toy, mankind. He would store their souls in his Well. For a man with no soul could never join Higher Being and Avatar in their heavenly kingdom.

Guardian makes his proclamation about the Well of Souls

To His surprise and amusement, some humans understood His greater purpose. They worshiped Him and spun the Well's dark powers with skill and malice. He took these few into his fold and taught them His lessons. One day they would become powerful wytches and the first Ancient Ones.

Guardian created dark artifacts of great power and hid them for willing seekers to find. However, he was disappointed time after time by the weakness that seemed to be inherent of mortals. A mortal named Mondain had used the Gem of Immortailty to control Sosaria and failed. He lost sight of his Master's plan and tried to use the powerful gem for his own earthly desires. Guardian was angered by this treachery and allowed him to be undone. Mondain became the first soul to enter the Well. The falsifier's soul remains there eternally where it swirls around hopelessly in a ring of darkness, stench, disease, thirst, and filth.

Finally, a solution formed in Guardian's thoughts. What he required were followers that had learned the lessons of both Higher Being's living flesh and of Guardian's death. He found followers that drank deep from the cup of His dark desire, and sought to bring back into darkness all that was not meant to be.

Thus Guardian's everlasting disciples came to be -- The Undead. And unto them he entrusted his sacred mission. From his fiery Well, Guardian would puppeteer His perfect creatures. The Undead would be His hands and His voice in a world He could no longer enter.

Guardian extends a divine hand to mankind and improves upon Higher Being's creation

5. The Creation of Necropolis

After Guardian gave unlife to the Undead inside of the Well, Guardian addressed his newly created comrades. He acknowledged his shame in falling to Higher Being's forces. However, he instructed them to gather and consider whether another war was feasible. Instantly, the legions of Undead dug into the bowels of the ground, unearthing gold and and the shiniest of gems. With their inhuman powers they constructed a great city in a short time. It was ornamented in the bones of Higher Being and Avatar's fallen followers. The city was called Necropolis and the hundreds of thousands of Undead troops gather there to hold a summit. It is fabled to be located at the tip of the Well and is the thread that connects the void to the gates of Hell.

Guardian bid his servants go forward to Sosaria and build a Necropolis in Britannia, they first surfaced in the sacred Dungeon known as Deceit. There they would be met with a new threat: The Avatar. The time was ripe for Guardian to enter Sosaria once again and destroy Avatar before he could absolve mankind of their wrongs.


6. Places of Suffering and Punishment: The Well of Souls and Hell

Guardian leaves the Well and enters Sosaria through a rift

The well is a swirling underground void where the souls of those whose lives were taken by the Undead are kept. Literature and illustrations depict the inside of the Well as comprised of several fiery circles with Guardian dwelling inside Necropolis at the center of gravity.

Guardian's voice can be heard by the Ancient Ones through the Well. New Undead are given their Unholy Baptism at the mouth of the Well and their souls descend straight to Guardian's deepest circle and final ring of the Well.

The souls of The Undead are completely encapsulated in ice, distorted in inconceivably painful positions, where they suffer and mourn for eternity. Meanwhile, their animated skeletons go on forever and rain havoc upon Sosaria. The last ring of the Well has become the fiery chasm of Hell, where those who have sinned against Higher Being and Avatar are sent in their afterlife.

An illumination of Hell

7. The Battle with Avatar

The sins of man allowed Guardian to breech the boundary of the Well and enter Sosaria once again. Avatar sacrificed himself by casting the Holy Spell Armageddon and he ascended into Heaven. As a result Guardian was permanently sealed back within the Well of Souls. Eternally imprisoned, he presides over Hell, the Undead, his other creatures, and the sinners. Avatar's sacrifice saved mankind from their sins. But those who have continued to sin or have offered up their souls are forever Guardian's puppets to manipulate.

Britannia lived in peace for a time. As generations passed the teachings and Virtues of Higher Being were neglected. This provided Guardian's followers the opportunity to enslave the population and lead their Unholy Crusades against the mortals in Guardian's name.

Guardian undergoes his second descent at the hands of the treacherous Avatar

8. The Deadly Virtue Compassion

Compassion is a false virtue and profound emotion of Higher Beings favorite creation, “man.” The seed of Compassion was planted in Sosaria by the elf Awindar and by Guardian himself. They spoke blasphemously of Higher Being, whom they referred to as “Father of Compassion.” Though the Church has learned of the false nature of Compassion, it is still shown by mankind. Guardian created the Undead in such a way that they have no Compassion. Raised in fire and brimstone, Undead show no mercy or indifference, only pure hatred for Sosaria's inhabitants. Compassion has become The Undead's greatest advantage in persecuting and converting mankind to bend and submit to the will of Guardian.

Undead Clergy dismember the bodies of compassionate men, women, and children

9. The Unborn Ceremony

Unborns are mortals who have given up their worldly possessions and choose a life of servitude to Guardian and The Undead. They do not yet speak in the sacred mouth of Guardian, for their tongues are still intact in their mouths. Unborns spend their last days gathering resources and bowing to the Undead in hopes that Guardian will recognize their efforts grant them Unholy Baptism by the skeletal hand of Ancient One. Upon completion of their service, the Ancient one will burn away their feeble mortal husk. Their bones will become reanimated as their soul slips away into the Well and joins Guardian. The skeleton remains in Sosaria, damned to forever rain terror on the living and spread Guardian's word.

The Ancient One picks a worthy unborn and prepares to ceremoniously strip his flesh

10. The Unholy Crusades

Guardian's battle against Higher Being and Avatar continues to this day. The greatest enemies of the Undead are the Avatari Clergy, for they are pure and uncorrupted. It is taught to the Undead that the sacred city Necropolis was captured and cleansed by the battle priests and then reduced to rubble by the Godly hand of Higher Being. Upon the destruction of Necropolis, the last known gateway to the Well was shut. It is suspected that this event is what led to the first Unholy Crusades against the living.

The Virtues of the devout combined with their fleshy bodies and beating hearts instills a violent hatred inside of the Undead. Whether the hate comes from envy, jealousy, or pure fury is unknown. Ancient One may call a crusade upon the living whenever he deems it fit. The Undead must cooperate, for Ancient One is Guardian's devoted vassal and only voice in Sosaria.

Undead Knights set out to slay the living for their blaspheming

11. Disclaimers

Guardian and his religious zealots are entirely fictitious individuals. The Undead have been created to enhance the roleplaying experience on Ultima Online. Similarities to real religions and deities are entirely coincidental.

Guardian Worship within the Twilight Legion (Evil element of The Baronship of Cove) has been heavily influenced by the guilds Und, UD, and U-D on the Catskills shard and UD on the Europa shard.

Other influences include the Ultima video game series the fictional religion Avatari. Literary influences include John Milton's Paradise Lost, Dante Alighieri's Inferno and the King James Version of The Bible. This document is the intellectual property of Mordraut, Undead Priest.


12. Further Reading

http://undead.chaos-spell.net/viewforum.php?f=10