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Zombies — Description

While overdosing is seen as a cardinal sin and a vile act, some have begun to wonder. Yes, the Church labels it as a crime worthy of execution and a punishment that befalls the greedy and blasphemous, but is there something more? If one isn't too quick to fall into reverent fury upon seeing a vampire or wraith, questions may start to form. Like, what actually causes an overdose? In this land, the Four Humors are vital to everything, from worship, to fighting to even making dinner. Many factions out there practically bathe themselves in certain humors, binding their very essence to the likes of Blood or Yellow Bile. Yet, these folk do not overdose. Philosophers of the Emerald Court literally abandon their bodies to spend the rest of their lives swimming in orbs of Phlegm, but they remain as is. Other members of the Church devote themselves to the fluid but do not overdose, and one may be curious as to why. The Church says such explanation is clear, as one only need to look at where these overdoses occur. Back alleys, slums, and the bottom of society's gutter, that is where these things go down. Look to villages in poverty and ruin, to folks with nothing in this world, and you will find those willing to indulge and escape. That is the difference, according to the Church. As long as someone has faith, discipline and order in their life, they will not overdose. Those who throw it all away for lives of sin and indecency leave themselves open for corruption, and that is when the heretical transformation occurs. So remain faithful and loyal, says the Church, and live a balanced life of moderation and reverence. Do so and never fear becoming like them. To many, the answer makes sense, but others find it a little too convenient of a solution...
Overdosing on Phlegm seems quite a likely downfall when one remembers that it is the humor of healing. That green fluid washes away pain, seals up wounds and calms the mind. All woes seem to vanish when given a hefty dose of the stuff, so it is easy to see how one can become hooked. Soldiers at war certainly are vulnerable to such a thing, as not only does it erase any injuries they receive, but it brings bliss to a brain consumed by fear, doubt and trauma. As the war has dragged on, this is why medicinal stores of healing Phlegm must be fiercely guarded, as many fellow fighters are looking for a brief release from their suffering. Anyone can see the appeal, and thus plenty of folk bathe in Phlegm for that sweet calm and pain-free feeling. But the more one abuses it, the weaker its effects are, thus the thirst for more and more. And as the flesh is awash in the healing touch, its senses begin to dampen and fail, and soon you aren't taking Phlegm to feel nothing, you are chugging it to feel anything...
Overdosing on Phlegm turns the user into a zombie, a shambling pile of warty green flesh. Like vampires, the transformation process is a gradual one, only getting worse as the more Phlegm is consumed and the less humanity you cling onto. The descent into becoming a zombie begins when one's sense of touch begins to grow permanently numb and the skin turns green. The abuse of the healing fluid has locked the body into a state of painlessness, which robs one of any and all sensations. As the process continues, the skin forms warts and pustules of Phlegm, as more and more senses begin to fade. Muscles will begin to falter, as they are too relaxed and confused by this constant healing state to function properly. Movement becomes awkward, as if your whole body has "fallen asleep." The true sign that the late stage has been reached is when you notice your flesh seems to move on its own, and that the wounds you receive no longer bother to heal.
When the body is thoroughly pickled by Phlegm, it no longer heals on a larger scale but instead seeks to preserve. It seeps into every fiber and cell of the body, keeping each piece alive no matter the damage. One can have a blade plunged straight into their heart, yet they will not fall, because they are no longer a singular being. The whole flesh has become thousands of its own thing, all linked together in this green shambling corpse. Chop off an arm, and both pieces will continue to act and move as if nothing happened. Even caving in one's head won't do a thing, because there are no longer any vital parts to the body, as late stage zombies are just piles of undying meat. But since the body doesn't care about healing wounds anymore, as it doesn't matter to long term survival, a zombie must stitch the limb back on or apply more Phlegm to glue it back in place. Those who have been zombies for a long time can be identified from their patchwork bodies and sorry states, literally holding themselves together lest they fall into pieces.
Becoming a zombie doesn't mean you lose your mind, but too much Phlegm usage and abandonment of morals can quickly erase that. As the healing humor is abused, it can fog the brain as well, slowly numbing the mind until one is a drooling husk that many associate zombies with. But there are certainly many zombies who still retain their humanity and find a way to continue on even if their body is a bit of a mess. They seek Phlegm to help put themselves back together and to briefly feel the smallest of sensations, as they have long forgotten the touch of pleasure or even pain. They typically come in a wild variety of shapes and sizes, as the constant patching up and loss of small pieces leads to strange cobble jobs. It should also be noted that their undying flesh is not picky and can work with anything, thus they can incorporate inanimate objects or even flesh of other zombies without issue. They cannot use bone-bile prosthetics, as their bodies do not produce Black Bile anymore, but they may wrap their flesh around these ivory frames to get a similar end result.
Compared to the other overdoses, zombies aren't a huge threat. Despite what rumors may say, overdoses cannot "infect" others through bite or scratch. Late stage zombies who have lost their humanity are simply wandering shells that seek Phlegm and its precious brain organa. Thankfully, they are slow but they are also incredibly persistent. Chopping them to pieces or blowing them up may be enough to stop them, but they aren't dead til every last scrap is incinerated. If one isn't careful when slicing them, they may simply be creating extra foes on the battlefield. They need to be in small enough pieces to be useless, and then fried to dust with humor magic, like yellowflame or crimson lightning. Fused abominations made of multiple zombies are the biggest threats, as they can be juggernauts in battle, and any damage to them simply means more smaller threats being shed.
Unlike other overdoses, where most folk may know about them from horror stories or witnessing their more monstrous members, zombies often get the reputation of being annoying over terrifying. This is because a lot of people's first encounters with them is by running into a member of the Undying Guild of Endless Deals. This "organization" is a group of zombies whose bodies have reached the ceaseless life stage while their minds have remained (somewhat) intact. The main thing about these members, though, is that they have devoted their lives to being merchants and traders, seeing an opportunity for business in this war torn land. While other sellers may hesitate to travel the roads so rife with danger and bandits, the Undying Guild has nothing to fear. Blades, arrows and even humor magic does little to them, as whatever pieces get hacked or blown off can simply be stitched back on. So thus the Undying Guild has made it their mission to wander these lands to hock their wares to any and all who will listen. While this could be seen as admirable, most folk find it incredibly annoying, as these zombie merchants don't know when to quit. Most members will talk your ear off trying to sell their goods, and be just as persistent as their undying flesh. Their wares also wildly vary in quality, as some offer actual usable items, while others may be trying to sell useless junk or even weapons that have been lodged in their torsos from previous annoyed customers. Due to their immortal nature, they see no trouble in badgering potential buyers until they are roughed up or thrown out of town in pieces. They will even visit cities where their kind isn't welcome, as they are willing to risk it for a potential sale, with the knowledge that at the very least they will walk away with a few dozen arrows "added to their inventory."
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Whew! The last of the overdoses! Now I can- hold up! GIBS?! MOBY?! They're all here!