Lore Mastery: On the use of animated corpses

[Evocatus]

Specifically, zombies.

We see plenty of wraiths, wights, ghosts, and spectres in Tolkien (or, at least, what could be construed as such), however, where do you Loremasters fit in the lowly zombie into your TOR undead arsenal?

For context, I'm converting some material and, of course, zombies play a role . . . because everyone loves an animated corpse hanging out in some ruins. While I think they would make some sense in this particular set-piece encounter, I'm loathe to just throw them in without some thought or prep into a Middle Earth setting.

I know Gareth uses them to some effect in TfW, but I'm interested to hear if others have perhaps used them in your games. If so, how did you set them up? Can you point to any uses in Tolkien, where I might be able to review the Professor's use?

Or, should I just avoid altogether? Repurpose them?

[Otaku-sempai]

I can imagine making use of undead corpses, animated through the Will of a sorcerer, but I don't think that it is something that I would use often. Such zombies would be mindless things that would probably not be too dangerous to armed folk of courage except in great numbers. But there is the horror factor that might cause the gaining of temporary Shadow. Nor do I think that I would effectively make them ghouls, although they might still be able to attack by biting.

[zedturtle]

Bog Soldiers (Rivendell, page 78) are the best example of "zombies" in the game. I would work with them.

As for justification, I agree with OS... evil Sorcery might be capable of many things, including things such as this. Also, Houseless Spirits might take the bodies of those recently dead. They would be weak in this form, but looking for a new host that would better suit them...

[Otaku-sempai]

Yes, the Bog Soldiers are good examples of the shambling undead that do not seem to be under the direct control of a higher power. It might be that, perhaps through some ritual, they were bound in life to the Witch-king of Angmar. Their spirits might still be somehow bound to their withered bodies, retaining some trace of awareness--if not true intelligence.

[Artaxastra]

In Tales from Wilderland we see the Gibbet King use recently dead corpses, both the one he inhabits and those of the people of Haycombe who attack their own town in the flashback section of Those Who Tarry No Longer. Those stats might be useful to you!

[mirdanis]

Tales From Wilderland Spoilers Below!
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I just finished running my group of players through Tales from Wilderland and I introduced undead warriors into the army that the Gibbet King brought to the Battle of the Celduin. I liked the idea of the heroes experiencing the horror of them at a distance through Lady Irime's memories of Haycombe in 'Those Who Tarry No Longer', and I wanted to bring that horror and threat into the Gibbet King's current plans in the continuing adventure thread. I also wanted the heroes to have a harder time inspiring the townspeople of Celduin than it seemed in the written adventure, and animated corpse-warriors did the trick. I was especially pleased with my idea of the Gibbet King having re-animated some dead horses to pull his cart, my reasoning being that live horses would be too likely to bolt in fear. And with zombie horses, you don't have to worry about feeding, watering, or stabling, either.