Source: Book of Spirits p144
This Numen only functions if the spirit is using Chain of the Dead, or Corpse Ride. Creatures killed by a Ridden Dead can be animated by the spirit. It costs two points of Essence to animate a corpse for roughly a day — see the write-up below for more details. (Those with World of Darkness: Antagonists can create their own zombies — this Numen grants five Creation points to craft a zombie. Greater spirits can pump more Essence into the effort, adding one creation point per extra point of Essence.)
Spirit Plague Zombie
Background
Use these stats to represent zombies created by the Plague of the Dead Numen. These zombies seek to kill any living human in their presence; failing that, they wander about destroying any other life they can recognize. Some even attack mannequins in desperation. Tragically, zombies can often remember scraps of their life — enough to allow them to act with some intelligence, but also enough to torment them as their bodies and minds rot away utterly.
Description
They see with eyes clouded with pus, they eat with tongues bloated with rot; these walking dead not only
inspire horror from their frightful undead appearance, but they also decay at a staggering rate — within hours they begin swelling with necrotic gasses, oozing pus and attracting hordes of cadaverous insects.
Storytelling Hints
These shambling dead, while amazingly strong, are not extremely dangerous as individuals for a group of humans. Yet in groups, they become an overwhelming tide of unlife. Even though they have little means to resist damage, they can absorb terrific amounts of damage and remain dangerous. These zombies do not suffer wound penalties and do not differentiate between bashing, lethal and aggravated damage. After exhausting their Health attribute, begin removing points of Physical Integrity. As this trait degrades, the zombie begins losing digits, feet and even limbs — which may make some actions impossible, or drop their Speed. At five points, the zombie has half of its limbs, and when the trait reaches 0, there’s nothing left. Zombies cannot heal their wounds.
Attributes: Power 5, Finesse 1, Resistance 3
Willpower: 0
Initiative: 1
Defense: 0
Speed: 6
Size: 5
Weapons/Attacks:
Type Damage Dice Pool
Baseball Bat 2 (B) 8
Bite 1 (L) 7
Fist 0 (B) 2
Health: 5
Physical Integrity: 10
Spirit Plague Weakness
The death aspected Essence that animates them also speeds the decomposition of their corpses. These zombies take a point of damage every three hours due to the necrotic effects of their animating energies. All zombies created via Plague of the Dead bear this weakness.
Residual Memories Weakness
These poor creatures are driven to murder, yet still posses a few memories of their life. When presented with a loved one or other appropriate stimulus, they will stop attacking — or perhaps move away whimpering for three (Resistance) minutes. After this time, the same stimulus will not work again. No one is safe for long.
Limited Intelligence
The zombie possesses enough intelligence to solve basic problems, such as how operate door knobs, unlatch gates and use simple hand-to-hand weapons.
Quick Movement
The zombie’s Speed equals Power + Finesse (rather than just its Finesse)
Vicious Bite
The zombie inflicts lethal damage with its bite.