Name singular- Thanata
Name plural-Thanati
Powers- The Thanati are adept at a wide range of magic (and indeed, there are no records of a Thanata being born without the capability to use magic), though they stereotypically focus on necromancy for reasons that will become obvious. They also cannot feel pain, and do not need to eat, drink, sleep, or breathe.
Lifespan- Once they become fully grown (around age 13), Thanati do not age. There are stories of Thanati many millennia old, still kicking around.
Physical description- Thanati are the size and shape of humans, but with one key difference: they are born as the living dead. Yep, they skip the cradle part and go straight to the grave. Their skin is ash gray, but otherwise, they look like human corpses in various stages of decay. All adult Thanati have a large wound across their chest that is sewn shut, the result of the Raising ritual that all Thanati go through.
Cultural Description- Being a slow-moving, immortal race has led the Thanati to take a leisurely pace through unlife. After all, why bother with hurrying up when you have all of eternity before you? Thanati tend to live in small villages, numbering 100-1000 strong. They do have permanent portal spells set up between a handful of other worlds, but they are rarely used. Most Thanati prefer to keep to themselves, and most outsiders want to stay as far away from Plutus as possible. The few Thanati who have headed to other realms have found themselves the victims of anti-undead stigma.
All Thanati are born with a fully functioning brain, but over time, said brain rots. The Thanati have devised the Raising ritual to counteract this. First, the Thanata "downloads" their consciousness into a crystal. Then, using simple magic, they command their original body to cut a segment of flesh out of itself to make a space for the crystal, which is inserted and restores the body to full functionality. Traditionally, the heart is the part removed.
Realm- Plutus. What is a world with death but not life? Plutus provides an answer. Long ago, Plutus was a garden world, but the planet's animating force slowly drained away. The Thanati tried desperately to restore their world, but all efforts failed. Now, plants grow and rot at the same time, the rivers run with putrid water, and the sky is eternally dusk. And yet, despite all of this, the Thanati endure, as they always have and always will.
Short description- Free-willed undead with a soul jar inside. Basically, your stereotypical lich with a really good hiding place for their phylactery.
