Metsamees Family/Fenris/Essence

Undead

First of all, there are 2 kinds of undead, mindless ones (like zombies and abominations) and minded ones (like vampires and liches). I'll speack of theyr difference in due time.

Zombies and skeletons

Zombies are essentially the same as golems, only difference is that you have to craft golems out of the desired material, but a flesh body i already in desired shape,
all one needs to do is place a tiny peace of its own spirit in it (thats how a mage animates a golem too), placing ones spirit in a another vessel entirely is rather difficult, as far as i know,
but placeing a small piece in to a golem or a carcase will animate it and it will be directly under the spirits original owners control.
That sort of placeing spirit pieces is tiering on the user but nothing more serious is likely to happne.

Spirit piece will always have like a magnetic pull back in to its original place, thats why if the body is damaged to sevearly or the place that houses the spirit piece is severd the spirit will be unable to hold on and will return back to its original place.

Here in the other hand a weakness is revealed, a spirit is whole eaven if some of its peaces are placed in other containers, killing the necromancer or mage will make the spirit to withdraw all its seporate fragments to be whole again (where the spirit goes from here is another topic, i belive it will become one with the world, become apart of its origins, the spirit of the world, or Gaia as some call it) leaving the golems or zombies without control or spirit pieces to animate them, thus they fall to ground dead as they have ever been.

Now 3 ways you can meet zombies and skeletons.
1) A whole lot of zombies but no necromancer in sight.
-inexperienced necromancers tend to hide in bushed or in the crowd to avoid danger and let his tools do the work for him/her.
You can aproach this by 2 ways, ignore and avoid the zombies and skeletons and find the necromancer (he dies -> all his tools drop dead too). Or kill all the zombies at with point the necromancer will likely try to flee (experienced necromancers wont hide in the first place) and then he/she will be at your mercy.

2) A necromancer surrounded by a whole lot of zombies and skeletons.
-thees cases are mor difficult, now you must fight your way through the zombie mass to reach the necromancer, thees types of necromancers are likely experienced and will know how to cast some basic but realy annoyng spells on you.

3) A whole lot of zombies and skeletons but no necromancer?
- in this case it might be that berhaps you havent found the necromancer, but is also possible that they are directly under the control of a lich, liches dont need to be near to command theyr undead pawns as most necromancers must. And the like hood of meeting a lich out side of its layr/domain is small for your own good.


It has been a long read but finaly we reach the "how to kill" section.
Zombies - smash theyr skulls in, or chop theyr head of, the spirit piece is likely residin in its head, or spinal collum, rarely anywhere else. Or like all golems, do enouch damage and the spirit will be unable to hold on to the body and leave it.
Skeletons - same as zombies only skeletons being unencumbered by rotting flesh will be faster but more fragile.
Necromancers - rather easy to kill, they spend most of theyr time studyng and perfecting theyr necromancy and thus train alittle in other ways of magic let alone speack of any martial ways.
But do pay atention near them, some can cast rather devious curses or direct assault spells.

Ghouls

One might thing ghouls are advanced versions of zombies, but that is not so.
If one looks they can see that ghouls are rather in one piece and seem eaven fresh, they eaven bleed.
Ghoul is an unfortunate living creature who has fallen victim to necromancers.
Necromancers use a higher level of necromancery on a person crushing its mind and memory, and binding its spirit to the necromancer.
As sutch ghouls are mutch like undead, they can loose limbs and bleed empty but still continue to function in a normal manor.
However ghouls regenerate theyr limbs and heal theyr wounds over time, they still function as somewhat living.
They only need to consume matter to have material to regenerate theyr missing parts.
Ghouls however also feel pain when they are wounded, it is speculated that in a small level but still.
Necromancers and ghouls link is technicaly the same as is with zombies but in this case the ghouls spirit is connected to the necromancers, as sutch killing the necromancer will only leave the ghouls of further instructions, ghoul itself will still follow its last order.
Ghouls mind is decimated and memory in disarray, they can think for them selves in feau moments witch are short and pass quick,
they can recall portions of theyr past when they were living, eaven rational though happnes to some, witch causes them most likely great misery or depression (as long as they are able to maintain thought).
If the necromancer is careless or dies, then over time without a master, ghouls can regain self awareness or eaven they original personalities, however most likely they will never be same person as they once were.

"How to kill a ghoul."
Ghouls are as versatile as zombies, but unlike zombies they are not rotting (so dont spread disease, so well atleast), they are however stronger than normal humans, and usualy very agile and nimble.
Eaven though a ghoul is somewhat living poisons dont do mutch against them, neither can a ghoul become ill.
To kill it one must deal great damage to its brain or spinal column, separating the head is a good way.
Choping a ghoul in half also works, but that might be alittle to difficult for the most.
Fire is also a good tool against a ghoul, althoug killing a ghoul with fire alone is difficult, setting a ghoul on fire (flesh dosnt burn, use oil or something to ignite), or the ground around it,will distract the ghoul enouch for you to cleave its head of.

Abominations

Abomination or Mr. Meaty as the folks call it, is a fruit of the necromancers sewing class.
Abomination is multible corpses sewn together to form a huge mass of meat, with feet as thick as battering rams, and arms so multible as they bothered to put on it.
Abominations are generally used as siege engines, as they cleave and ram at the front gate, as stated earlyer it may have more than 2 arms, each of witch yielding a weapon of some sort.
They are however rather difficult to make, simply sewing meny corpses together wont do the trick, as flesh rots it becomes putrid and falls apart easily, so other magics are used to mold the flesh and bone together, prior to placeing a spirit piece in it.
And just cause the zombie is bigger dosnt mean it needs extra effort to control it, as sayd earlyer it is simply a zombie, only a bigger one this time.

"How to kill Mr. Meaty"
As one can figure, killing a zombie that big and with so meny armed hands is tricky at least.
If you see that it has a head, go for it, slice it of and hope it was its only head.
Necromancers have wised up, and started placeing the vital pieces inside the abominations instead of exposing them.
Necromancers still put a secondary head on it, for either decoy of simply ornamental decoration.
If after decapitation it still walks, another approach it to disarm it, literally, slash its arms of until there is none left, and then start tearing the body apart, eventually it will stop functioning.
Fortunately for you abominations mostly always are rather slow, slower than zombies, exept its arms, withs still strike with eccual speed to a zombie.
And of course there is always a option to kill the necromancer who controls the abomination.
However it is likely that the necromancer with the abomination is simply another decoy, something as difficult and troublesome to make as abomination wont be left vulnerable like that.
Or if its true master does come along it will definetly be accompanied by other necromancers(to take control of the abomination if the original master dies), or at least well defended by other undead, and hacking your way through a mass of zombies while there is an abomination at your back is quite difficult.
Abomination is usualy accompanied by lots of other undead.
A tactic i would recommend is to move alot, and taunt the enemy to follow you, seporate individual targets from the group, and take them out one on one, to save your stamina for the abomination him self.
But a necromancer with a more tactical mind will see through it, then well its up to you to find a better way.

Vampires

There are 2 kinds of vampires.
What comes of a ghoul if it regains its memories and mind? Lesser vampire of course.
Then whats a greater vampire, some times necromancers make errors and forget to crush the mind and memory of the victim, some times the victims mind is to strong and necromancer fails at the given task, or some times a power hungry human pays or otherwise agrees to have himself made in to a vampire.
Vampires are made in the same way as ghouls, but theyr minds are left or some other way remain intact.

Old wives tales tell that, vampires will die in sunlight, fear garlic and silver and also all holy signs.
And that a circle of salt will keep them away, or that they cant enter a house uninvited.... there are meny sutch tales.
Not all tales are entirely false, vampires are nocturnal most of them atleast, they see well in dark, but daylight hurts theyr eyes.
Vampires are allergic to silver, and contact with it will not heal well.
They are also allergic to garlic, it gives them nausea and some times rash, should they eat it or it other wise ends up in theyr bloodstream it will cause them to pass out for 20 hours atleast, covering your sword with garlic essence will not have mutch result, only way it ti take a syringe and inject it in to the vampire, with is likely more difficult than loping its head of.
Holy signs might make a vampire laugh at your ignorance, atleast then it will provide you with an opening to a cheap shot, yes thats right cheap shots are the key to survival.
Salt rings will hold enemys at bay, only if you know a spell to make it work, salt ring is a catalist and enhancer for a barrier spell, salt alone wont "vanquish evil".
And a vampire cant enter your home if it isnt invited, only if you home is strong enough to hold him at bay.
Like all theyr weaknesses so are theyr strengths over rated, transforming in to bats, creating ghouls, flyng, that i possible only if they live long enouch to study and master all those arts, those dont come naturaly.
And theyr ability to create other vampires by sucking the blood of people.... dont worry, when you fall victim to a vampire, only thing you will turn in, is vampire...excrement.
What is a vampires personality - imagine a human with superhuman strength, who also dosnt need to eat, or drink (unless it has some wounds to heal) and will not age. Terrifing isnt it, they usualy tend to be narcissistic, generaly bent on slauther of all that is weaker than himself and bows before those stronger than him. Lacks any respect for anything, and neither holds nothing sacred. Acts and does as wishers within its limits,(they tend to side with necromancers in theyr battles and sutch, and necromancers keep theyr subjects on a leach). That is a generalisation of them, not all vampires are like that, eaven greenhorns.
Older and experienced vampires will usualy be more calm and in control of them selves thus mutch more threathening.

Lesser vampires, are easely identified, by theyr ghastly apearance and relative mental unstability.
"How to kill a vampire."
The same way as a ghoul. Hack its head of or inflict massive damage to it.
Greenhorn vampires are easely manipulated, they think of themselves as gods or something of that like, and simple taunting can make them sloppy and they will make mistakes when charging towards you.
Elder vampires in the other hand, you simply have to rely on your skill and opportunitys exposing themselves to you.

Ghosts and specters

Theyr creation is rather clouded, some of them are the spirits of fallen whos spirits are powerful enouch to avoid afterlife and able to generate a ether body.
Those dont necessarily have to be human, or eaven animal, trees and plant life also have the ability.
Thus the forest spirits, who defend the woods and nature are usualy either from fauna or flora.
A more monstrous being is a wendigo, a old forest spirit who has over time generated himself a physical body, but you are more likely to be hit by a sphere lighting than meet one of those. Eaven if you are lucky enouch wendigos arnt realy malevolent, they simply protect theyr home.

The ones under the service of necromancers are either a ether body created by a necromancer or lich and then taken control of in the same manner as a zombie.
But those are wery difficult to make. Other option is to harness the already existing spirits, by helping them to create a ether body, in exchange for theyr loyalty, only ones willing are the ones loyal to necromancers, like some fallen vampires, or necromancers.
No spirit can be forced in to this, no lich is powerfull enouch to bend a spirit strong enouch to avoid afterlife in to it service.

"How to kill ghosts"
Forget salt, that is better to be used on foods not combat.
Ghosts being without a physical body and having a ether body are rather difficult to kill.
Only way to hit it is to hit it with something that contains a spirit -> your fist for example.
Unless you have the skill to enspirit your sword it will pass through it(eaven if its silver coated).
Only time you can hit it with your sword is when it attacks you, to inflict damage to you it needs to swap to a physical form for a moment, conveniently for them they cant do it for long, 1-2 sek being the top time usualy.
After they attack theyl revert back to etheral form.
So avoid theyr attacks, use daggers to quickly stab enemy while they are attacking you, and other wise use your fists.
And magics also, sience it emplies spiritual power, all sorts of sorcery will have effect on them.
However destroyng a ghosts ether body dosnt necessarily mean theyr end, they can remain and for another ether body.
But usualy after one or two defeats theyr will will be weakened enouch and they will enter afterlife.

Wraiths, wights

They are powerful sorcerers or necromancers or lich who have displaced theyr spirit in to a artificial shell.
Usually a piece of armor, or a weapon, from there theyr spirit forms a body for itself, often from other armor or other material, a dreadful entity usually clothed in black shrouds.
To behold its face, is terrifing experience feau wish to experience again.
Unlike usual zombie wraiths are masters of themselves, no one commands unless they choose to follow.
Unlike vampires wraiths wont die simply from decapitation, and dont have weaknesses.
Wraiths are stronger than vampires or abominations, and dealing damage to theyr body leads you to no end.

"How to defeat wraiths"
Theyr spirits are bount to one item they bare, some times its theyr weapon, amulet, ring or helmet, rarely bodyarmor itself.
Break it and the wraith dies, destroing other things will have no use, the wraith usualy can repair and regenerate the piece almost immediatly at the very spot.

Lich

Liches are old necromancers who have used theyr powers on them selves, makeing themselves undead.
Liches yield powerfull necromantic magics and not only necromantic magics, they have lived long and have grown wise.
They also arnt are weak in close range, instead of relying on theyr decayed and slow limbs they can telekineticaly controll it sword to use in close combat, very effectively.
"Telecineticaly you say, now you lie, one cant use telecinetics for sutch punctual and precice thing as swordplay!".
True tu usual telecinetics only worh for bashing, grabbing, lifting, dragging, pushing and pulling. But that is the average telecinetics, the advanced level can be as precise as that stated above.

Liches rarely leave theyr homes, and can control they undead pawns from afar, eaven if you manage to find theyr lair, it is bound to be full of guards.

"How to kill a Lich"
Simple, cut of its head.
Easier sayd than done, nearly getting close enouch to see a lich is a difficult task, and there is where the hardship begin.
It will likely be surronded by undead ready to assault you if they spot you, and not only the undead, the lich itself will likely use its powers against you from afar and you will be under attack from all sides.
Thinking you can hide behind undead so the lich will have problem attacking you is wishful thinking, no necromance or lich will have mutch regard for the safety of theyr rotting tools.
However, if you manage to get close enouch to strike at the lich prepare to fend of his sword or what ever weapon it bares, if it bares on, if that is done, a lich is slow and not very though, cut through him and the challenge will likely be over.