Line #10 Main/TheUndead


1	[[quoteright:350:[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dungeons&dragons.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:[[VideoGame/TotalAnnihilationKingdoms Do not despair in front of this army of the undead. Remember: These are victims, not victors.]] ]]
3
4	->''"From every graveyard pour the hordes to strike before the dawn\
5	A thousand years of death's carnage gathered 'fore the morn,\
6	Their vengeance turned against mankind's unsuspecting head\
7	There's no defense, there's no escape, you cannot kill the dead!"''
8	-->-- '''Pagan Altar''', "The March of the Dead"
9
10	Dead folks who, whether due to [[{{Necromancy}} dark magic]], [[AppliedPhlebotinum mad science]], [[DueToTheDead lack of a proper funeral or burial]], [[UnfinishedBusiness some old problems they still haven't solved]], [[VengefulGhost a desire to get revenge on their killers or enemies]], or just plain stubborn bloody-mindedness, do not rest in peace. Unable to move on to the afterlife, they still roam around in the mortal world, (poorly) trying to behave as if they're still alive.
11
12	One way undead vary is the nature of their [[OurSoulsAreDifferent mind, soul, and spirit]]. In some cases, including liches, most ghosts, and some vampires, they keep their original soul and personality. They can still remember the simple pleasures of life, but they can no longer experience them, a frustration which may [[TragicMonster fill them with hatred of the living]], or simply make [[FateWorseThanDeath their existence an unliving hell]]. [[FriendlyGhost Friendly]]/[[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire heroic]]/[[FriendlySkeleton sympathetic]] [[FriendlyZombie undead]] are most often from this category.
13
14	In other cases, including many traditional vampires and most zombies, the undead are actually animated by [[OurDemonsAreDifferent evil spirits or demonic entities]]. They may have access to the memory of the deceased person whose corpse they are wearing, but they are not truly the original person in question. These types are primarily [[AlwaysChaoticEvil evil (or at least are used by said evil beings]], and are much more likely to be [[HolyBurnsEvil vulnerable to religious symbols and sacred rituals]].
15
16	The remaining forms of undead may be little more than puppets of a {{Necromancer}}, or they may be powered by magic alone, but they have no animating spirit (at least, not a sentient one).
17
18	See the '''UndeadIndex''' to read more about all the related tropes; along with the HauntedIndex, MummyTropes, SkeletalTropes, TropesOfTheLivingDead, and VampireTropes.
19	----
20	!!Beings of the Undead:
21	[[index]]
22	* '''[[{{Psychopomp}} Death]]''': The concept of death itself is often [[AnthropomorphicPersonification personified as a deity or spirit]], who's responsible for ending the life of every mortal being, or at least taking their souls away to the afterlife once they are fated to do so.
23	** '''TheGrimReaper''': The big guy himself, the most common representation of Death in Western folklore. Usually portrayed as an ImplacableMan, who resembles a [[DemBones skeleton]] wearing a BlackCloak and carrying a SinisterScythe. But [[ComicBook/TheSandman1989 not]] [[Series/DeadLikeMe always]]. Is a very diligent worker, who truly [[DeathTakesAHoliday deserves some vacation time]] every now and then. He might ask you nicely to GoIntoTheLight or he might try to send you there [[Franchise/{{Castlevania}} himself]]. Or he might just be a cool guy that fancies himself [[ChessWithDeath a nice game of chess]]. There are also variations that look similar to the Grim Reaper but aren't unique beings, yet still more dangerous and rare than your run-of-the-mill skeleton. He and his lesser servants may be formerly human, especially if YouKillItYouBoughtIt is in effect; other times they will just be {{Anthropomorphic Personification}}s of Death who have a lot in common with the Undead even though they aren't dead humans.
24	** '''{{Shinigami}}''': Basically the Japanese version of the Grim Reaper.
25	** '''[[HeadlessHorseman Dullahan]]''': Headless knights who travel across the land on a steed who will visit those who are on the brink of death, and harvest their souls so they can be taken to the afterlife.
26	* '''{{Flesh Golem}}s and {{Walking Ossuar\|y}}ies''': When a thrifty necromancer or mad scientist has a large number of spare parts left over from constructing their undead legions, you get a flesh golem. Similar to the next in that these are a reanimated assembly of body parts, flesh golems tend to represent a more... ''whimsical'' approach to anatomy. Parts need not be assembled in a humanoid form -- or in a logical way for that matter -- and they may not even all be from the same species. Designs tend to be rather freeform and range from [[BodyOfBodies haphazardly fused clumps of bodies]], to lumbering MultiArmedAndDangerous humanoids, to animalistic tangles of limbs.
27	** '''FrankensteinsMonster''': Or anything else made from human corpses and brought back with technology. The original was big, a quick learner, and very, very pissed at his creator. The modern type is a bit more pitiable. Usually the stitches show, so you can tell them apart from zombies. The intelligence level varies. They seem to have universal SuperStrength, so don't challenge one to arm wrestling. Also note that, depending on the work, these may not be "technically" undead, and hence not vulnerable to [[HolyHandGrenade holy power]] and tricks like the TropeNamer of ReviveKillsZombie.
28	* '''[[OurGhostsAreDifferent Ghosts]]''': [[OurSoulsAreDifferent Disembodied]] [[OurSpiritsAreDifferent spirits]] of dead people, as opposed to reanimated corpses. They have little in common with other forms of undead, as ghosts tend to vary nearly as much as all the other types of undead put together. Depending on the genre, they can be anything from harmless pranksters to [[EldritchAbomination Lovecraftian horrors]]; you'll know which one yours is once he starts smearing things on the wall. If it's crayon, you're generally okay; if it's blood, you are so horribly screwed it's not even funny. Unless you [[TomatoInTheMirror realize]] that you're [[DeadAllAlong already one of them]]... but hey, most people who run into them know who they're [[Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} gonna call]]. Unlike most forms of undeath, ghosts [[FriendlyGhost can be friendly]]. They may return to protect a loved one, or reward someone who arranged their burial, or the like. Ghosts also come in many flavors. In a lot of works, various words for ghost, such as phantom, spectre, wraith, etc. usually mean different varieties of ghost.
29	* '''[[OurGhoulsAreCreepier Ghouls]]''': When ghouls made their way from Arabic folklore to Western literature in the 1700s, they were placed among the Western undead even though the folkloric creatures aren't and this is why they are undead without any solidified undead lore to them. When undead their depiction varies from suave and deceitful like a vampire to voracious and animalistic like a zombie. Some variations of ghouls feast exclusively on the dead, but that doesn't mean they aren't willing to ''make'' a corpse to eat later.
30	* '''[[OurLichesAreDifferent Liches]]''': Popularized in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and common in modern {{Fantasy}}, a lich is an EvilSorcerer who retains his or her magical powers after death -- basically a revenant with a little something extra. The lich becomes undead by placing its soul in a SoulJar (or maybe [[Literature/HarryPotter seven of them]]), and can only be permanently destroyed by destroying said Soul Jar; in other fictions, the Soul Jar is optional. A lich's physical appearance can range from near-normal to zombie-like to completely skeletal, which usually depends on the lich's age. Because of their skill at magic, especially {{necromanc\|er}}y, liches tend to be among the most powerful and dangerous type of undead (if not ''the'' most powerful and dangerous) in settings where they exist. In the hierarchy of TheNecrocracy, they are guaranteed to be the top tier.
31	* '''{{Mumm\|y}}ies''': The mummy shambles towards the archaeologists who have defiled its tomb. Luckily for them, it doesn't move fast due to sleeping for three thousand years (although there are [[Film/TheMummyTrilogy exceptions]]). The classical depiction is wrapped in white bandages, and no one wants to see what's underneath them. Sometimes they can be easily defeated by simply pulling off their bandages, but if they possess magical abilities, then it is unlikely that this tactic will be of any effect. In those cases you can count on them to be about as mighty as the Liches. However, mummies tend to be especially vulnerable to [[KillItWithFire fire]].
32	* '''[[DemBones Skeletons]]''': Zombies without meat, so to speak. Tend to be difficult to hurt because they are all bone, so blunt weapons (or magic, if available) are required or at least useful. Other versions are simply cannon fodder undead. Most of them aren't particularly smart (not having a brain and all). Only really common in out-and-out fantasy, as they're a little too fantastic for sci-fi or horror; expect them to be magically reanimated soldiers for the EvilSorcerer or VainSorceress that [[PerpetualMotionMonster don't need to eat or sleep]], and stand guard over tombs for centuries if need be. Despite being fleshless, TheDeadHaveEyes.
33	** '''{{Calacas}}''': Particularly common in underworld settings based on the Mexican festival of ''Día de los Muertos'' (Day of the Dead). Though they aren't typical "horror" creatures despite being dead. They live very loud and colorful afterlives.
34	* '''[[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampires]]''': Like zombies, only faster, stronger, and smarter. They suck blood, and may spend a lot of time angsting about it. Usually [[VampiresAreSexGods highly attractive]], and both genders tend to be somewhat... [[HoYay festive]]. They dislike [[HolyBurnsEvil holy stuff]], [[WeakenedByTheLight bright sunlight]], and [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice pointy wooden sticks]]. [[LostInImitation Originally]] they were not attractive, at all[[note]]Even the original {{Dracula}}, well, LooksLikeOrlok, except when he was well fed, then he looked very good. For most of [[Literature/{{Dracula}} the novel]], he is quite handsome. After all, Creator/BramStoker modeled him after a man he had a boycrush on, Sir Henry Irving, who was a handsome actor. Stoker wanted Irving to portray the count in his theater. Besides that, look at Literature/VarneyTheVampire, who looked like Creator/LordByron.[[/note]], and they also tended to have ruddy complexions (from all the blood) rather than [[UndeathlyPallor pale ones]].
35	** '''[[ChineseVampire Jiangshi]]''': Undead vampire/zombie creatures from Myth/ChineseMythology. Also known as "hopping vampires", because they move around by jumping. Similarly to Western vampires, they prey upon the living; though instead of drinking blood, they prefer to [[LifeDrinker feed on your]] ''[[LifeEnergy chi]]''.[[/index]]
36	* '''[[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Werewolves]]''': They are ''occasionally'' considered undead in older myths, but generally, modern werewolves are not undead, being people who ''survive'' a werewolf attack, as those who die usually do not return as werewolves. Sometimes they're just [[Literature/{{Discworld}} lumped in the same category]] of "creepy things", regardless of the level of truth to it. To quote one [[Literature/{{Discworld}} Ankh-Morporkian]]: "They're big and scary, come from {{Uberwald}}, and don't die when you stick a sword in them. What more do you want?"[[index]]
37	* '''[[OurWightsAreDifferent Wights]]''': More or less the mummy's northerly cousin, associated with MedievalEuropeanFantasy. Tolkien popularized them as wights [[note]]more properly a barrow-wight, meaning a "barrow man", with "wight" being simply an antiquated word for "man"[[/note]] and established the modern interpretation, [[OlderThanTheyThink but they appear in Norse Oral tradition]] [[note]]as ''haugbui'', which is essentially old Norse for "barrow-dweller". -bui (pronounced "bwIgh") is related to wight etymologically[[/note]]. The first ''written'' appearances are OlderThanPrint, but these are only the first formal recordings of an oral tradition OlderThanDirt, probably a part of European folklore since the first kid dared another kid to spend the night next to a burial mound. The wight is an old, buried, usually desiccated or naturally mummified corpse[[note]]Some traditional stories also include reanimated drowning victims[[/note]] that rises up to guard its tomb or place of death from intruders. More eldritch and drier than a zombie, but fresher and much less powerful than a lich or death knight.[[/index]]
38	** The '''Draugr''' is a related variety of undead, popularized by ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series, but again, [[OlderThanTheyThink dating back to Norse oral tradition]]. These are essentially the wights of particularly greedy, evil, or stong-willed individuals who manage to retain a greater amount of mental and physical ability. They are not bound to their grave or site of death, though many choose to use such places as a lair out of entitlement or convenience. They possess great magical abilities, including the power to raise their victims as wights. These are the prototype for the Lich and reflect certain aspects of the Revenant and Vampire of nearby cultures.[[index]]
39	* '''[[OurZombiesAreDifferent Zombies]]''': Just ordinary, run-of-the-mill walking corpses. They come in a variety of types, but they tend to share some general traits. Zombies tend to be [[ZombieGait slow]] (usually), weak (comparatively), mostly blind ([[TheDeadHaveEyes unless they aren't]]), and stupid (at least at first...). [[MadeOfPlasticine Surprisingly squishy]], but they don't really notice. Some of them [[KillItWithFire die quickly when burned]]. Others... [[InfernalRetaliation don't]]. However, most, if not all zombies, can be quickly taken down by RemovingTheHeadOrDestroyingTheBrain. [[YouCantKillWhatsAlreadyDead Other times they're unkillable]].
40	** '''{{Plague Zombie}}s''': These zombies are the product of an [[TheVirus infectious disease]] or {{curse}} that spreads by biting living people, which [[ViralTransformation turns them into new zombies]] to repeat the cycle until it reaches [[ZombieApocalypse globally pandemic proportions]]. These are the most common zombie variants you'll see.
41	** '''{{Revenant\|Zombie}}s''': Your standard resuscitated corpse; however, unlike a regular zombie, the revenant isn't quite so rotting and falling apart, fairly intelligent and sapient; and, most importantly, an individual, since they retain their memories and personalities from their previous lives. They tend to seek vengeance for past wrongs, especially if they were murdered. While conceptually very old, and the prototype from which many other undead derive, this trope has fallen out of favor for the hordes of zombies and the bloodsucking vampires.
42	** '''{{Voodoo Zombie}}s''': These undead are created by [[HollywoodVoodoo dark voodoo magic]], and they serve as the enslaved minions of the {{necromancer}} who raised them their graves. This was the original meaning of the term "zombie" before Hollywood made them synonymous with the {{Plague Zombie}}s we all know and love.
43	* '''[[SwampMonster Swamp Monsters]]''': Swamp monsters in the line of "Literature/{{It\|1940}}" by Creator/TheodoreSturgeon are usually undead humans. They've died in a swamp or a similar wet and fertile soil where their flesh has been partially or fully replaced by fungus or plant matter.
44	* '''NonHumanUndead''': Not all undead begin as humans. A work that includes the undead often includes other fantastical or otherworldly creatures, and these may be just as likely to get up and walk around when they're supposed to be dead. Such entities may also be any of the above types of undead [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot in addition to this trope]].
45	** '''[[RaisingTheSteaks Undead Animals]]''': Take everything previously mentioned about the undead, and now apply it to all forms of life. As it turns out, not everything is better with penguins.
46	*** '''GhostlyAnimals''': Very similar to zomibifed animals, but they do not have any physical body, which can make them very dangerous or at least much harder to get rid of.
47	** '''[[{{Dracolich}} Undead Dragons]]''': A [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragon]] returned from the grave, and a frequent cause of adventurers [[OhCrap seriously contemplating their life choices]].
48	* '''UndeadAbomination''': An EldritchAbomination that is undead in nature. They are far more bizarre, creepy, and powerful than any regular human undead.
49	* '''{{Undead Child}}ren''': Take any one of the other kinds of undead mentioned above, but make it a [[DeathOfAChild deceased]], {{creepy\|Child}}, [[EnfantTerrible evil little kid]]. Now they're ''twice'' as creepy, and rather hard to shoot at.
50	* '''[[GhostPirate Undead Pirates]]''': Not all [[{{Pirate}} maritime marauders]] who lived and died centuries ago during UsefulNotes/{{the Golden Age\|OfPiracy}} are guaranteed to stay buried at sea. Sometimes, they'll just rise out of DavyJones' Locker to continue terrorizing people in the ocean, often sailing on literal {{ghost ship}}s such as the ''FlyingDutchman''. They bring a whole new meaning to the [[SkeletonMotif skull-and-crossed-swords symbol]] on the JollyRoger flag.
51	* '''[[WarriorUndead Undead Warriors]]''': Soldiers and warriors who were slain in combat, but have somehow returned to haunt new battlefields and fight again. They often serve as [[NightOfTheLivingMooks infantry troops for any evil army]].
52	** '''[[BlackKnight Undead Knights]]''': What liches are to sorcerers, these guys [[WarriorHeaven are to warriors]]. They rarely appear unless the undead are an organized army, and when they do, they function either as its generals, [[EliteMooks shock troopers]], [[RankScalesWithAsskicking or both]]. They are nearly always found on horseback ([[HellishHorse either skeletal or pitch black]]), their weapon of choice often is a one-handed bastard sword with a skull on the hilt, and their armor is [[SkeletonsInTheCoatCloset richly decorated with skulls, bones, distorted faces, and other heraldry related to death]]. Their actual appearance varies between [[UndeathlyPallor a pale human]], a [[DemBones skeleton]], and completely spectral, relying on a [[AnimatedArmor possessed suit of armor]] instead. Popularized by Lord Soth of ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'', though the UrExample are probably the Nazgûl from ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''.
53	** '''[[NaziZombies Undead Nazis]]''': These guys are the [[CannonFodder unlucky]] [[UsefulNotes/NazisWithGnarlyWeapons soldiers]] of UsefulNotes/NaziGermany who were killed in action during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, only to be brought back to (un)life through the use of [[{{Ghostapo}} dark sorcery]] or [[StupidJetpackHitler super-science]].
54	[[/index]]

Context Main / TheUndead