03-08-2009, 01:27 PM
This is a topic I've been mulling over for some time now, and my internet searches haven't provided any definitive answer. What is undeath in Azeroth?
We know that undeath started with a plague and the end result was The Scourge. The Forsaken are afflicted in the same way as the Lichking's army, sans being his puppets. We also know that the body rots while still being animated, but what exactly is the nature of this animation?
Is it some twisted mimicry of life, with a heart beat, metabolism and other such biological functions? Or is it purely magical, leaving the contents of the body to rot away with no bearing on the animation itself? I think it's a combination of the above.
When an undead is struck, they bleed. They are also subject to other bodily ailments such as poison and stun. And while their time underwater is far greater than the other races, they do have to surface eventually. I know most of these are game mechanics, but I think they can also be used to shape our understanding of what undead physiology is.
The undead body tries to function as it did in life, up to a point. That is why the undead can be healed by consuming flesh/food and regular healing magic works. (Potions, bandages etc.) It is capable of healing damage that isn't inflicted by the undead plague itself, which I think is still actively ravaging the cells and leading to the decay.
When the plague makes a certain set of senses/function biologically impossible then the magic of the curse takes over. That is why those with exposed knees and elbows can still move, rotted out eyes can see etc.
I had a bigger arguement in mind but for the life of me I just can't flesh it out. What say the server? I'd love to hear every ones thoughts on it.
We know that undeath started with a plague and the end result was The Scourge. The Forsaken are afflicted in the same way as the Lichking's army, sans being his puppets. We also know that the body rots while still being animated, but what exactly is the nature of this animation?
Is it some twisted mimicry of life, with a heart beat, metabolism and other such biological functions? Or is it purely magical, leaving the contents of the body to rot away with no bearing on the animation itself? I think it's a combination of the above.
When an undead is struck, they bleed. They are also subject to other bodily ailments such as poison and stun. And while their time underwater is far greater than the other races, they do have to surface eventually. I know most of these are game mechanics, but I think they can also be used to shape our understanding of what undead physiology is.
The undead body tries to function as it did in life, up to a point. That is why the undead can be healed by consuming flesh/food and regular healing magic works. (Potions, bandages etc.) It is capable of healing damage that isn't inflicted by the undead plague itself, which I think is still actively ravaging the cells and leading to the decay.
When the plague makes a certain set of senses/function biologically impossible then the magic of the curse takes over. That is why those with exposed knees and elbows can still move, rotted out eyes can see etc.
I had a bigger arguement in mind but for the life of me I just can't flesh it out. What say the server? I'd love to hear every ones thoughts on it.