CradleLore: Undead and StarClan
In this post, I'll be talking about the undead and their connection to spirits, particularly the fact that they are created by a sick StarClan cat and how the Dark Forest relates to this. I am very excited to share this!
What is StarClan?
StarClan in this universe is real, yes, but its less of a heaven and more of another world for spirits. It's more prey-rich with less storms and no predators, yes, but sicknesses and squabbles. Sicknesses are never deadly or dibilitating, only slightly irriting. StarClan is made up of cats who were not considered evil by their peers, who never killed for fun or petty revenge, and who never gave into their lust for power. It is a mostly peaceful place for the dead to rest.
StarClan is also the space between the Aether and reality. The Aether is something not even StarClan can explain, only that it is more than themselves and is what gives them their prophecies to share with the living. Being the space between reality and being, StarClan is the only clan capable of wielding anything "magical"/having true powers. The biggest power they have is the ability to contact the living while they sleep, but to make a mind focus on them takes much energy from both the living and the spirit, thus making a visit rare and short.
StarClan is a respected afterlife of the warriors in the clans and is looked up to.
What is the Dark Forest?
The Dark Forest is also very real like its sister, StarClan, however, it is essentially cat hell, although not as brimstone and ash. The Forest is a place of silence, only the occasional broken wail cracking the quiet. Little prey runs, and what does is nothing but skin and bones. Cats here look as they did in death with never ending bleeding wounds. Cats in the Dark Forest are cats who were considered evil by their peers, killed for fun or petty revenge, and/or gave into their lust for power. Cats here are cast aside and looked down upon by those in life and in StarClan due to their sins of their life. To become a StarClan cat is the dream of most cats trapped here, but only StarClan can grant that to them- and with a bias jury every time, it is rare a Dark Forest cat can become a StarClan cat.
The Dark Forest is one half of the Veil between the Aether and reality. Like StarClan, the Dark Forest is part of the between area that seperates the unknown from the know. They neither know what exactly the Aether is or how it works, only that its a force that can cause a cat to vanish from everything. Many have tried to break the barrier, hoping the Aether provides some form of protection from the unfortunate place they were sent. Each one vanishes without a trace and within hours, almost every cat forgets they ever existed.
The Dark Forest is resented and feared, and thus, the cats inside are resented and feared- even thoughts who do not deserve it.
What are the Undead?
The undead are StarClan cats who have been trapped in their bodies as they rot.
At least, that is the short answer and what was thought to be the only cause.
How does a spirit become the undead?
There is a strange plant growing in StarClan. It starts as miscolored grass, then grows into deep red blossoms with black streaks across their three petals. Each stalk grows three flowers, meaning six petals on every plant. When a StarClan cat brushes against these flowers, it is only minutes before pitch black burrs seem to simply appear on the afflicted soul's fur. These burrs burrow into the cat's skin, causing always-bleeding holes and cuts. Then they multiply to cover the fur. Within a few days, the spirit is overtaken by these burrs. Any other spirit who tries to remove these burrs also becomes afflicted. Eventually, the spirits will become but a pile covered in the burrs. This... Scourge has wiped out so many cats in what was supposed to be a peaceful afterlife. Every spirit who is afflicted is suddenly and painfully forced back into their rotting bodies. Those who don't have any remaining flesh simply... vanish from the world. These cats do not vanish from another cat's memories like the Aether causes, but it does alter them in the memories. It makes them seem more... lethargic.
What is it like?
Painful. Harrowing. Imagine being in your own body unable to stop yourself as you begin killing those you love and then eating their still-twitching corpses. It is like watching your family be killed through a livestream while you're powerless to do anything about it.
There is no known cure to what this Scourge is. It is terrifying, fast, and deadly. No StarClan cat knows what to do.
Help is hidden in unfaithful shadows.
