Variant Zombie

Bleached pure white by the acid seeping from its pores, an acid zombie glistens as if sweating. It moans softly at rest, as though in endless pain, and louder in combat. Makers favor tall bodies for reach and send them after lone fighters rather than using them as massed troops.

It attacks twice per round, but both blows land last, and its acid adds 1-4 to each fist. If both hit, it crushes the victim in a bear hug for another 3-12, and unless he passes a Strength check he cannot pull free, taking 3-12 more the next round. Touching one with bare skin causes 1-4, and no acid of any kind harms it.

To make one, coat the body in oil of acid resistance, cast acid arrow alongside animate dead, and pour bear's blood mixed with snake scales into the mouth beforehand to 'teach' it the hug.

Thinner than normal zombies, quick zombies jerk and twitch constantly, even when told to keep still. They run as fast as horses, serve as shock troops, and rot away to dust within a few months. They attack twice a round and always strike first, like a sword of quickness. The maker spreads a paste of ground-up potion of speed over the body and casts haste during the animation.

These look like ordinary zombies except for their silver-glowing eyes, and they shed tiny sparks when charged. Bane of wizards, they are untouched by any directly damaging spell. Every 2 points of such damage instead become 1 point of stored electrical energy, up to 24, released the next time the zombie touches a creature. The maker burns a protection from magic scroll, places the ashes in the corpse's mouth, and casts shocking grasp during animation.