The Zushakon Now

 

"Cloak" by art-vander (resized) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

A Different Kind of Undeath

In common parlance, Zushakon are a type of undead. Their natural forms are ghostly: intangible, free-floating, and unaging. They aren't reflections of a particular species but appear as cloaks, as they always have. Their cloaks may have colors from their old lifetimes, in their original aeon, but taking on flesh does not add to their Echoes now. As their memories of those lifetimes fade, so too do the colors they gained.

But as eldritch beings, they are unique undead. This means they are often not beholden to the same rules as undead in other aeons. For instance, they are not good or evil by design, so they aren't affected by warding measures against undead that are always evil. (Whether malicious Zushakon count as evil and can be affected is up for debate.) They sense if they're being summoned, but they cannot be compelled to attend and if they choose to appear, they cannot be forced to follow a summoner's directions.

Attacks

As noted previously, in their natural form, Zushakon can harm other souls. This is true even if those other souls are in bodies at the time, though it's generally more difficult for them to do much damage when that is the case. Their attacks do a unique type of damage that others may struggle to heal, naturally or magically. Memory loss and cognition problems are common outcomes of their attacks. Unfortunately, healing usually won't restore lost memories, but cognitive issues improve.

With enough harm, a Zushakon can weaken or sever the connection between a soul and its body. Whether they need to attack the soul or some mystical connection to the body depends on how the soul/body connection is composed in that aeon. How much damage is needed to force a soul out - partially or fully, temporarily or permanently - is anyone's guess. Until a soul is forced completely out of its body, it may be able to repel an intruder but once the connection is severed, coma and death will seize the body unless the intruder seizes it first.

Healing

While all of that can make Zushakon terrifying enemies, their ability to heal souls can make them incredible allies. If a soul has been cracked or even shattered, they can trace the damage and mend them in a way others cannot. They may be able to restore a weakened soul/body connection and help cast-out souls back into their bodies, depending on a number of factors (like the extent of the damage and stability of the soul). They may also be able to chase out intruders and free people from possession by other species.

Humor

During their original aeon, plenty of Zushakon died from natural causes but they took a special joy in sharing the most bizarre, senseless, and violent ways their lives ended - the stranger the mishap, the better. The greatest form of entertainment in the lands of the dead was death itself. As a result, Zushakon humor continues to be exuberant and morbid, particularly by the standards of those who have never experienced a similar cycle of life and death. No matter how serious or sane they may seem, eventually their gallows humor will shock somebody.

Magic

Zushakon can develop ritual magic to serve their needs. They tend to do so after an effect grabs their attention and inspires them. Through experiment and study, they may be able to develop a facsimile. Their version will require various steps and more time than the original effects. They also may not work for other species, even if they perform the same sequence. For these reasons, Zushakon only research what they need or want most, and their repertoires can vary widely.

Movement

Since they are attuned to death energy, particularly any kind of Underworld, they can sense entrances or pathways to such realms and pass between the material and the Underworld freely. By and large, they're also able to move freely into, out of, and between afterlife realms. Some realms have strict entrance procedures that may keep Zushakon from entering on their own. However, if they are placed there by someone else, nothing can keep them from leaving, if they wish.

Zushakon vs. Zushakon

It is possible for a Zushakon to cast another out of a body it's possessing. It's also possible for their natural form to take damage, though they're generally harder to hurt. Intangible undead can be difficult to affect in the first place, and Zushakon have some resistance to effects that damage souls in other aeons. How much damage it takes to destroy one entirely is unknown but since few of their kind are left, even Zushakon who are fiercely at odds are loath to find out.

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