Entombed within this sarcophagus is the essence of Zhudun, the Corpse Star, a force that defies the inexorable march of time. Its dark gift bestows a chilling pact with death itself.
Body of Decay: The transformation into undeath brands the beneficiary with a spectral countenance, their body bearing the pallor of the grave. Their eyes become deep wells of despair, mirroring the void from which they draw their power. The beneficiary is a pariah, straddling the realms of the living and the dead, forever haunted by their otherworldly nature.
My Life, over Yours: Upon acceptance, the beneficiary's essence is forever altered, transforming them into an undead being. This new existence is marked by their ability to harvest the life force from those they slay. Each fallen enemy grants the beneficiary a single charge of necrotic energy. With each life force harvested, the beneficiary's appearance grows more vibrant and lifelike, the cadaverous pallor fading with the accumulation of charges. Should the beneficiary amass 12 charges, their creature type shifts from undead to their original creaeture type, reflecting a semblance of their former self. However, this visage is fleeting.
Vitality through Slaughter: The beneficiary of Zhudun's dark gift can harvest life essence from their vanquished foes, each defeated humanoid enemy contributing a single charge of necrotic energy. This energy can be channeled to resurrect the dead, with the cost in charges contingent upon the time elapsed since the target's demise:
- 3 charges: Resurrect a creature which has died within one day.
- 6 charges: Resurrect a creature which has been deceased for up to 10 years.
- 9 charges: Resurrect a creature which has been lifeless for up to a century.
- 12 charges: Resurrect a creature which has been dead for a millennium or more.
Upon payment, the resurrection spell effect is invoked, with no regard to the age of the remains. Once this formidable gift is exercised, the beneficiary is stripped of this power as it vanishes into the aether.
Impermanence of Death: Necrotic charges dissipate if not utilized within 7 days, reflecting the fleeting nature of life force. As the charges vanish, so does the beneficiary's vitality, urging them to continue the cycle of death to maintain their humanity. With the ebbing of necrotic energy, their undead nature reasserts itself, compelling them to walk the line between life and death in an endless pursuit of souls.
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