Dreadmarch (D-red-mm-arch)

Due to their incredible hatred, made manifest in a variety of different elements, the Dreadmarch has destroyed whatever flesh remains on their bodies as they slowly begin to walk towards their ultimate goal. As such, the only portions of their original form left behind are their resilient and surprisingly strong skeletons. However, not even this final portion of their bodies is safe from their own wrath, and they can often be seen slowly becoming damaged over time as the Dreadmarch rages against their fate.

Though the Dreadmarch can rise from a variety of different species, due to its unique circumstances resulting in undeath, it is incapable of creating more of its kind.

The Dreadmarch is a building storm. While it cannot organically grow or change due to being undead, its rage will grow ever larger over time as it steadily hunts for its desired target. This can result in a truly terrifying circumstance where entire swaths of land, communities, or even whole regions can be laid bare by the force of their immense elemental aura. As such, it is best to dispatch these monsters while they are still in the initial stages of their crusade while they are still able to be reasonably approached.   However, that said, the Dreadmarch is not immune to its own rage, and slowly, over time, it will destroy its own body until eventually it is consumed by the very elements that it lashes out at others with.

Due to the nature of their form of undeath, the Dreadmarch can manifest in many different regions within Refuge. However, it tends to be more common in areas where the taint of undeath lingers and where burial rituals have been ignored, which might have been otherwise able to suppress the victim's spiritual rage. However, as it can take years for this rage to build to a point of undeath, it can often come as a surprise to many communities when this undead force claws itself back into their lives from seemingly benign remains.

Unlike other forms of undeath, the Dreadmarch does not need to eat as it is sustained by the anger that brought it back to unlife.

Single-minded in their vengeance and driven to complete it at the expense of everything around them, the Dreadmarch can and will ignore everything set before it unless it directly impedes it from meeting its goal. Tearing through barriers and shrugging off blows, it continues to make its way to its hated target until eventually it succumbs or they sense that their revenge has been completed.   What makes this particular undead fairly unique, however, is that the circumstances of its death can change the manifestation of its hate-filled aura. While it is unknown if the creature has any control over this particular aspect, it can give those with knowledge of the Dreadmarch clues as to the circumstances of its death and its intended target.   Currently, the known types of Dreadmarch are:   Scorching Fire = A flame that rises from the heat of a lover's murdurous hand.   Freezing Ice = A chilling cold born from the knowledge of betrayal performed by a close ally.   Lashing Vines = Enraged plantlife created from the evil touch of a family member's actions.   Poison Fog = Lingering death created by the uncaring emotions of a persecuting judge or other member of the social justice system or high society.   Slicing Wind = Rending air manifested from the intimate and deadly relationship between a torturer and their victim.   Clashing Metal = Flailing bits of metal and chain work created from the heavy hand of an arrogant slave owner.   Crackling Lightning = Thunderous bolts released by the selfish actions of a close rival.   While any one of these deadly auras is enough to inspire great fear, what is perhaps most terrifying, however, to any would-be heroes is that depending on the circumstances of the creature's original death, their aura can be a mixture of various different elements. For example, if the Dreadmarch had been betrayed by a close rival while they were alive, their hatred may manifest as a mixture of both an aura of chilling ice and clashing bolts of lightning.

The Dreadmarch cannot see and cannot hear. However, despite this, it can intuitively sense the path it needs to take to reach its hated target. Regardless of how far they are, the Dreadmarch will continue walking ever onwards towards them without stopping for anything, including the need to defend itself, to consume any form of sustenance, or to plan any form of attack.