Adored Dead
"When the tomb was dug up, only a decaying skeletal frame remained. It was brought in a draped coffin, the grape colors of the gods covering his true flesh from the cruel rays of the sun. He was brought to the Tomb City of Liches, where our patriarch brought forward a the needed sacrifices to appease the priests. Fish oil, from the bountiful land we were once from, was poured over the skull. A purple dye was given to the necromancer who etched our beloved ancestor's remains with prayers, blessings, and curses. Then finally, our patriarch brought forward a young lamb, whose blood was smeared over the remains. The figure arose, giving a terrified and sudden breath from its decayed mouth, and was draped in glory. Praise be to the gods, and the secrets we had been given!" -Account of an ancient necromantic ritual

Necromancery is a school of magic which is difficult to understand, even by its own practitioners. When a body is raised from death, the soul does not return to that being, only their consciousness in a tortured form, unable to recall their own life after death. This form of magic is ultimately sickening for one's soul, which can be interrupted as torturous or simply an annoyance. While a necromancer has control over their creation, the being is still in some sense conscious, and the more autonomous they are the more capable they are of freeing themselves and living until they crumble away. To the ancient Kerks, Necromancery was a blessing, a gift from their god of death whom in the ancient Kycer religion was the mightiest and kindest of the forest gods.

The Kerks took immense care of their undead, and rarely raised them. There were levels of undeath in the faith; the bound dead, the adored dead, and the blessed dead. The bound dead were bodies of enemies, often zombified or skeletal figures of slaves or defeated clans who were set to work solely upon the Tomb Cities. These dead were laborers, forever expanding the tombs for the numerous Kerks. The adored dead were armed undead who were draped in the colors of the Kycer, becoming the soldiers and guards of the priests. Most were raised from the bodies of heroic warriors or zealous patriarchs who in death were chosen to serve the Kycer. They were semiautonomous, but were always bound and repaired by a cadre of necromancers and liches. The title of blessed dead was usually meant for liches alone, but title was often time given to undead commanders who led the Kycer's undead army into battle.

The adored dead had much the same prestige as a lesser noble, if not more so. The guards of the Kycer held estates, received payment, and were often joined in conversation with the Kycer's members in friendship. However, due to their state, their interests in mortal affairs was often limited as they universally held their eternal vigil with a silent spite. The Kycer's guard tended to chafe under the control of their masters, but were kept only content with how well they were treated by them, and how respected their positions were. It was not abnormal for the undead guards to have living squires and personal slaves attend to them, and often pretend to live a normal 'life' to keep themselves sane. When a Kycer Guard asked to go back into the afterlife, the necromancer would have to conduct a lengthy ritual to destroy them, but in doing so would bring dishonor and shame to their clan.