When an individual dies and their Soul departs for Nometathra, unresolved tasks or an unrelenting will can compel the Soul to return to its original body. This results in a state of conscious undeath where the body halts the decay process, and the Soul regains control. Unlike conventional undead, these individuals retain all their intelligence, skills, and abilities.
In practical terms, The Touched are treated as undead: they no longer require food, drink, or sleep. However, they maintain the same cognitive and physical attributes they had in life, making them distinct from mindless undead creatures.
The Fel Touched represent a darker manifestation of undeath. These Souls linger in Nometathra, refusing The Cycle and awaiting an opportunity to return to the physical world. Often, they are the Souls of powerful warriors or magic users, drawn to freshly deceased vessels that suit their needs.
When a Fel Touched Soul forces itself into a new body, it undergoes a period of adjustment. Unlike The Touched, the Fel Touched inhabit a vessel not originally their own, leading to a blend of capabilities: they retain the skills and imprints of their previous life but must also adapt to the attributes of their new form. This can result in intriguing and dangerous combinations, such as a powerful wizard mastering the physical prowess of a fallen fighter.
Fel Touched Souls are often corrupted, their defiance of The Cycle twisting their consciousness. This makes them inherently dangerous, as they exist in opposition to the natural order.