Exalted Undead

Exalted undead are a form of corporeal undead. They are made through a process of zombificiation. However in the preparation of the body for animation, the bones of the body are etched with special runes used to strongly and permanently bind the soul of the corpse to the body.

This process gives the animated corpse a number of distinct advantaged for this extra preparative work. The constant, often incessant screams of pain found in simpler zombies are stoppable. The flesh preserves better allowing the corpse a longer activity life. The muscles are more limber allowing for a greater range of motion and easier movement in general. Many of the body nerves are still intact allowing for a number of physical skills to be retained such as weapon training. However higher mental functionality is mostly lost.

Interestingly work has been begun on the etching of the bones of a still living being, preparing them for the process of undead exaltation while still alive. Doing so reduces the decay of essence during the zombification process. The benefit of this essential preservation is not entirely known. Although, if the body is allowed to fully heal before zombification then such a zombie may lack the scars traditional to most f their kind and could pass of one of high Oscurian breeding at a distance.

The etching of the bones themselves if a simply matter of cutting the peeling away skin and muscle, etching the underlying bone, and then replacing the bone and muscle to allow for healing and stitching the wounds closed.