Zombie

Zombies are physical, soulless bodies belonging to healed, formerly dead individuals who have declined to return to their mortal bodies after their souls have ascended to the higher planes. They most often occur when a healer manages to heal a dead body (such as one preserved via Cryonics) but the former inhabitant does not wish to return to the living.   With the help of Necromancy, Curative Magic, and Cryonics, today zombies are often used to provide a second chance at life to some dying individuals who cannot be cured through traditional medicine.  

Physical State

Degradation

Without their original soul the bodies of zombies degrade faster than the usual wear and tear of their species, even when given proper care by an attentive individual. Zombies do not understand personal self care and so those left to their own devices tend to degrade even faster. This is why Cryonics is the preferred method of maintaining the physical integrity of a zombie intended for transplant.  

Shadows of Life

Zombies require nutrients for survival, of the same types required when they had souls. Their methods of obtaining food depend upon the instincts hardwired into their species, as a zombie has limited critical thinking on its own without the inhabiting soul. They do retain some memory imprints from the soul originally occupying their body, and so are prone to empty mimickry of some of the actions and routines from their life.  

Skinlodging

When the former occupant of a body declines to return upon its resurrection, even when provided with Necromantic assistance, another soul can be bound to the body. Just as lawful resurrection require the willingness of the resurrected individual, the legal reuse of another's body also requires permission from the former occupant. This can be obtained prior to or after that individual's death. The use of another's body to prolong the physical life of a soul on the mortal planes is referred to as Skinlodging.  

Soul Binding

While a soul may choose to return willingly to their own body with only guidance from a necromancer, the binding of a soul to the empty body of another requires Rune Magic. These runes are legally required to allow the new occupant to depart the body of their own free will upon its death, to allow for the soul's humane passage into the next phase of life upon the body's death. Omitting this clause will permanently bind the soul to the body, regardless of its present state. This is one of the leading causes of the Undead.  

Medical Care

Skinlodgers require regular trips to a Healer for body restoration and renewal. Curative Magic can slow and in some cases even reverse this degradation, although of course the average lifespan of a transplanted body is much shorter than that of an original.