Zombie's Bite

Log of unknown merchant, last entry:

 

24th of Morlint, the year 5237

Of course, there have always been zombies. Magicians have been creating undead for centuries. It's a tedious process, taking many days to amass more than just a handful of zombies or skeletons. Why wizards are interested in reviving the undead is beyond me. I guess they are loyal henchmen that need no food or sleep. But they're terrible at anything requiring the least bit of skill. A zombie can't use a needle and thread, they can't haggle for prices, they can't plan, they can barely follow orders. They are good at guarding places and items. I was told that was the biggest reason wizards invest in undead, to be bodyguards or guardians. They are usually quite easy to defeat. My escorts and bodyguards had little difficulty defeating them. But, something is different about these zombies. First, we've seen way too many zombies in the past few days. There is no way someone as ambitious as a wizard would create this many zombies and then just let them wander the countryside. Not just one wizard, it must have been many to find as many zombies and we have. Perhaps Ozette will have some answers when we arrive. Second, their bite festers and becomes discolored unlike any other wound I've seen. One of our escort warriors sustained a minor injury. It never healed. She turned on us, went feral. She bit me! Now my hand is turning the most grotesque purple.
  This has turned out to be the most dangerous delivery I've ever had the misfortune of delivering. I hope nothing more happens and that the swelling and pain in my hand subsides, medicinal herbs seem to be having little effect.