In December 455AV Ilac was wiped out. Every living soul in the city was killed, around ninety percent of the population. In March of 466AV, just over ten years later, Annata, the great guardian of Cinnea gave her life to return these souls to the mortal plain. In one moment, the dead returned and dragged themselves to their feet. Ilac was reborn, but at what cost?

Those that returned were granted some measure of regenerative abilities. The first to rise found themselves mindless with hunger and consumed what was nearby. As the nourishment began to flow through sluggish systems it gradually awakened different parts of the body, dormant for ten years or more now. The heart began to beat, nothing like it had done before, but once every minute or so, pumping the increasing amounts of fluid around the body. Stagnant dry veins began to swell, absorbing the blood as fast as it was being given to them. Within a few hours the body began to move more normally, blood reaching further and further into smaller extremities. The need to consume continued and the bodies ranged further now, more capable of movement. They tracked down ever more fresh sources of nourishment. These fresh sources allowed the heart to beat stronger, forcing the blood further, reaching the brain. And finally, after hours of mindless action, the brain began to think. Those of Ilac who reached this point realised they were once again on the mortal plain. Then they remembered who they were. They were dead but risen. With that came the knowledge of what Annata had done. The sluggish brain begins processing now, it has time for questions now. Where am I? Who am I? How is this possible? And then they look down at themselves and see the tattered remains of clothing, the tattered remains of their own emaciated bodies. They see the blood on their hands and dawning comprehension comes. That nourishment, that blood that flows through my veins, it had to come from somewhere. Blood coats the hands as they look down to see the shredded and drained remains of Escari all around. But not just Escari, the human filth that worked with them too.
As Ilac rose, it tore apart its surprised occupants. A bloody massacre lasting several hours took place. Some of the Escari and their human loyals barricaded themselves in the keep. They listened to the screams of those not fortunate enough to get inside. The initial massacre gave strength to the long dead bodies. It allowed them to repair to a certain degree but not to think. That came later as the undead tore apart the keep to get to those inside. The undead that managed to feast here regained their power of thought, regained their minds. A large portion of Ilac still remain as mindless undead, seeking enough bloody nourishment to attain clarity of thought. The few that were at the slaughter in the keep have regained their will. There is a cost. The heart beats enough to pump what blood the body has around, but it does not create it. To maintain the power of higher thought, the undead of Ilac must consume blood. If this fails, then as blood is lost so is cohesive thought. Blood stops reaching the brain and it stops functioning, dropping once again to base instinct to hunt out nourishment with no higher brain power. It is a delicate balance, hence why less than a third of the Ilac undead maintain higher brain functions.
Among those that regained a measure of their old selves were three generals. General Cassia of the 2nd Legion, General Germanus of the 10th Legion and General Lucius of the 4th Legion. These three fought to secure the centre of Ilac together and brought a small measure of civility to the ravaged city. The area in the middle, the Kings Square has been secured, but the rest of the city is filled with the feral undead. Patrols keep a long stretch of road to the outer wall, now called ‘The Trench’ as safe as possible to allow a route in and out. With the arrival of representatives from the 13th Legion a council was convened and the generals decided to declare martial law in the absence of the king. Ilac is now run by a council of these three generals. They have pledged to defend and rebuild the city until such time as the king is found or a senate of the people is put in place. A recruitment drive has begun, any of the risen who are over the age of 16 are to be asked to join one of the existing 4 legions to bolster the ranks. Ilac has a way to go before it can hope to return to former glory, but the mending has begun.