Undeath, also known as the Curse of the Ghoul, is a state of life after death made possible by the corruptions of netheric death energy. Undead are usually very hostile mindless beings, lusting after the flesh they once held in life, these weaker variants are called Zombies. When a stronger netheric spirit passes on it is possible that it may manifest amongst the upper echelon of undead; as a Ghoul. Ghouls are conscious undead beings with their own wills, though not considered the most pleasant form of immortality, humanity's natural fear of death often drives them to such drastic extremes. As an undead, the full scope of netheric magic becomes available to a ghoul; many dark sorcerers become ghouls for this very reason. they also exhibit inhuman physical strength and unending stamina at the slight cost of elemental and holy weakness. In a weakened state a ghoul may revert to zombie tendencies, with the possibility of losing their mind forever. It takes constant meditation for a ghoul to maintain his sanity.
Undeath is not wholly limited to terra mater, but it certainly is abundant there; whole countries have fallen victim to the undead, the unwilling undead are turned into zombies. Ghouls treat zombies like a human would treat a dog, feeding them on scraps of flesh and using them to hunt down the living. The majority of Ghouls are servants to the Fiends, all-powerful netheric entities; the final goal of the Fiends is to conquer Azur for the Nether and wipe out all other forms of existence there. The only force that has quelled the undead horde in battle are known as the Order of Paladins, of the White City, warriors of the cloth who still wage war with the forces of darkness. Holy magic has a purging effect upon intro-energies which is highly potent to the undead, but the sheer numbers of the horde prevent any lasting victory for the Order. Much of eastern mater is shrouded in a perpetual overcast, these lands are known as the wastelands, for they have been conquered by the ghouls and infested with undead. The human cities that have fallen now serve as bastions for zombie droves, and headquarters for a conspiring ghoul army.
