The Arisen are strange and alien to the world of Sarnaut. They have returned to Sarnaut two thousand years after their death. Destiny has granted them immortality to ensure that the future of the world will belong to them.

The Arisen is the official and commonly given name for this race. They are often referred to as “people of Zem” or more simply “Zems”. Their distinct appearance, combined with the fact that they have come back from the dead has given reason to nickname them “Returners”, “Zombies” or even “Ironmen”.

Regardless of the joking and derisive nature of these nicknames, the Arisen are a force to be reckoned with and instil both respect into their allies and fear into their enemies. They are a powerful force within the Empire.

Zems were once mortals, who were tall, slim, and dark skinned with amber eyes. While their mortal bodies have long past their prime, mechanical parts and a face mark ensure that the Arisen continue to live and survive in Sarnaut. The cause for these changes and the adoption of mechanical parts in their bodies is part of their deep history, and it allows those who died thousands of years ago to rise again.

The Arisen are fully fledged citizens of the Empire. In the three hundred years since their resurrection, they have progressed much. They were once weak-minded slaves working in harsh conditions, deep in the Xadaganian mines. However, as time went on, they progressed intellectually, providing Astral ships and mana stations to their lands.

The Xadaganians and Orcs sometimes joke about their fellow imperial citizens, most often commenting about their coldness, concentration and detachment from life. Despite this, they are respected by all, even if their mummified flesh has been replaced by mechanical body parts or at least hidden under their clothes. They are completely accepted as citizens and are an important part of the Empire, contributing much to its common goals.

“Only a fool would dare risk offending an Arisen”