On the subject of the undead,
Prior to the fall, the Empire of the Iron Hand was at war for thousands of years with the undead. When the living opened the elemental barriers to the planes and the elementals began streaming through, once it was clear that it was a losing battle, an alliance was formed between the living and the undead in order to try to stop the elemental onslaught. It was too late (or just insufficient) and the destruction still occurred. I had already died by this point, as I met my end right at the beginning of the fall, but my understanding from those I've spoken to is that while the alliance was tense it was also successful.
At some point, prior to my resurrection back into Maelstrom, several undead pulled themselves from the earth and 'woke up.' They came to our settlement looking to see if the alliance was still standing. At the time, someone told them that yes, it was. I can't confirm for sure who gave that order, but the primary rumor is that Dame Marize gave the command. I haven't seen her in some time so I haven't been able to confirm or deny. Since then, her majesty the Empress has made it very clear that the living are in no position to turn away allies and that the enemy we face is greater than the potential problems chaos magic can cause. Personally, I agree with her.
I've traveled to many different lands and my experience has been that undead, and chaos magic, are different in every land. I've seen lands where chaos blights the earth, and I've seen lands where chaos blights the user. I don't know what effect it has in our land, I just remember war and I remember suffering as a result of the war.
The issue currently in Maelstrom is that nobody I've spoken to has been able to remember the exact terms of the original alliance. We also don't know the history of the war itself. It is possible that the undead were the result of a plague or a curse. It could be a dark portion of the Empire's history covered up. The undead could be victims, or they could be the result of their own choices. We (the living) don't know yet. Partially as a result of the loud calls for the destruction of undead from visitors to Maelstrom, the undead locally have not been eager to come forward and speak openly or without anger and bitter feelings to the living and until we can speak to them, the details of our arrangements and a significant portion of the history of our land is in the dark. The Elementals have destroyed nearly ever source of written record and so our only chance to discover what has happened here and why comes from speaking to those we would consider enemies in other lands.
Of the local undead I am aware of, they have a wide range of circumstance. Some of them wish to become mortal again but are under curses that prevent that until certain conditions are met. Some don't wish to become mortal again, feeling undeath is the way they should be. Some undead who were not... Whatever the necromantic version of bottled is... Have been resurrecting as mortal again- sometimes when they resurrect they've tried to heal local people with chaos, forgetting that they are among the living once more. None have attacked in violence outside of their initial resurrection. One undead was previously mortal, but after receiving heinous treatment at the hands of the resurrected mortals starved to death and spontaneously resurrected as undead- which leads me to theorize about the possibility of a curse or a disease.
The situation with the undead in Maelstrom is complicated and we don't know very much yet. But, despite my personal experiences with necromancy and chaos, I am inclined to agree with her majesty- the enemy we face in Maelstrom is far, far greater than all but the worst I've ever seen chaos do. I don't know what an alliance with the undead would look like for the Maelstrom in the long term. Tian in Enerret has a system that prevents the free will of the living from being controlled by chaos and the use is regulated, the undead are willing, and that could be a possible outcome. I don't have answers for those questions yet.
If our current situation with the undead makes it ethically or morally impossible for individuals to offer aid to the Maelstrom, I understand and hold you to no obligation to continue aiding us. But, please also understand the living's attempts to understand what has happened to our home and our fight against a far greater enemy. Being understanding of the complicated situation in Maelstrom does not require that you be understanding or accepting of undead or chaos magic in other lands- every land is different. An example on a far lesser scale of seriousness, in some lands goblins are constantly vicious and little more than animals bent on constant cruelty. In other lands, goblins are recognized sentient citizens who contribute to the land. Accepting the goblins as citizens in one land does not mean you need to allow the goblins in other lands to murder you.
If you are attacked by an undead in the Maelstrom, it will be treated the same as if you were assaulted by one of the living. If an undead casts chaos on you (outside of well meaning accidents), it will be treated the same as if anyone cast chaos on you. The entirety of the undead population will not be held responsible for the actions of one, the same as the entire living population will not be held responsible for the actions of one. Until some of the mysteries can be unwrapped and more can be uncovered, the undead are our allies- and I hope that a more permanent method can be found once those mysteries are unwrapped that allows them to continue being our allies. They have done nothing that would make them not be our allies. Our homes aren't full of chaos circles. There isn't the smell of chaos in the air everywhere. They are not raising the living as undead. There is peace- complicated peace, but peace.
As I have been asked it several times, yes. At this point every land who sends us food and other aid is aware of the undead here and what their role is in our current society.
Please do not use the unique situation of Maelstrom to justify or argue actions in other lands. Our land is in a very, very specific situation.
I don't have many answers, but if anyone has any further questions about the undead in Maelstrom I am happy to try my best.
In service,
Lord Terren of Knight's Ferry