October Mini-Prompt: Undead
What culture doesn't have its spirits, zombies, and spooks? Tell me about the undead of your world. What causes their existence? What makes them dangerous? What can be done to stop them from rising or putting them down once they're up?
"We are Endless, for death is not our end."
These were the words of the greatest army known throughout all Weywardian history. The perpetual war cry that inspired men to fight harder, push faster, and give their lives without the fear of death. How did they come to be? Why? Who made them?
It all started with Jezrick and his closest friend Yolen. The two served in the Hestenia Army as foot soldiers but quickily rose to officers the more they proved themselves. At the time, as throughout all time, the Weywardians were at constant war with the demons whom dwelt in the Forever Twilight (equator). Hestenia, being the Southern Kingdom was responsible for keeping the demons from pushing further into The Four Kingdoms controlled lands. One day the General whom Jezrick and Yolen served under decided to push harder into a forest in demon territory. Jezrick and Yolen objected profusely but the General went ahead with his plan. In the end Yolen lost his life and the army suffered great casualties and had to retreat to the capital. Once there, grief stricken, Jezrick publically denounced his superior officer for his blunder at the border.
Ultimately Jezrick was given trial by journey of the Holy Mountain. The Holy Mountain was the one place, the one border, where all the four kingdoms met. It was said that once one completes the trial, they would be granted a weapon that could do what they desired. However, it was extremely rare that this would ever happen and it was expected for Jezrick to die. Yet days later he came trudging back down the mountainside with a beautiful sword in hand. He rose the sword in the air and out of a bright light came Yolen, fully clad in armor. Jezrick said that death would not claim him and death had certainly not claimed Yolen. He cried for his former commanding officer to be dismissed and for himself to take his place. At this point all of Hestenia rallied around him for he was the first in millenia to complete the trials and he was of their country. They would not deny him.
Jezrick marched forth from the capital with an army five times that which came back earlier. He and his army marched back to the border and won battle after battle. Yolen would come when summoned with the sword or when Jezrick was in danger. He became the Undead Guardian. The symbol of the dead not truly dying. Jezrick spoke to his army after a major victory that claimed the lives of many. He said to them that death was not to be feared. That death was a trifling matter. They had claimed victory even when it seemed out of reach. They pushed farther into the Forever Twilight than anyone had ever done. More than the founders of the Four Kingdoms themselves. When Yolen fell his soul had not truly gone to the afterlife but merely manifested from his own body when he made it to the top of the Holy Mountain. He said they were Endless. When a brother fell, his soul went into his fellow brothers on the field and he fought with them eternally. He said death made them stronger and that no demon could take that away from them.
"We are Endless, for death is not our end!"
For generations, Jezrick's beliefs would become known as the Warrior's Philosophy. The tale of Jezrick and his Endless would inspire armies for years to come and also the cause of many theological and philosophical debates.