Crypt Servant

Crypt servants look like corpses, generally dried and withered. Most are human, though elves, dwarves and others turn up. They usually wear the livery of the dead lord whose tomb they keep, and many, especially newer ones, bear the tattoos of mamluk slave-soldiers. They speak their master's language in dry, rustling voices.

Rumors of these undead first came from the fallen kingdoms of the haunted wastes, followed by proof. Now that the method of making them has been rediscovered, they are being placed in newer tombs too.

Crypt servants were made to serve every need of their dead lord, but intruders usually meet them as tomb guards. A lone servant, or the one nearest the entrance, challenges visitors aloud, typically expecting a password or a visible token of the master's family. Anyone who fails to answer correctly is attacked.

Visitors who get past the guard are left alone by the others unless they meddle with the master's belongings. Touching the master's body provokes an attack no matter what passwords or signs are offered.

A servant that starts fighting summons the rest, and despite its faint voice every servant in the tomb arrives within 1d6 rounds. Many are armed; those without weapons punch. They fight with mindless rage, focusing on whoever most recently disturbed the master or his things. Sleep, hold and charm spells fail against them, as with other undead.

Any corpse can become a crypt servant, but volunteers are preferred. Many ancient servants chose the role to go on serving their lords after death, and mamluks still volunteer today. A modest tomb has one; the grand tomb of someone rich and powerful may have several. They clean and mend the tomb, polish treasures, light candles and keep watch. At first they work tirelessly, but over the years and centuries they rest longer and longer between tasks, sometimes standing frozen for days, even years, until they stir again.

Crypt servants are often linked to the crypt thing, since the spells that create the two are alike and likely share an origin. In campaigns that use crypt things, one may lead a band of crypt servants.

A crypt servant fills no natural role, neither adding to nor taking from its surroundings beyond now and then disposing of intruders and other pests.