[Bertram Anders]

Greetings everyone. It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine).

With the conclusion of DM Pluto's events on 10/21/2023 this brings the third incarnation of Thay to an end. Design work for the reboot is still on-going and the planned launch date is still November 3rd.

Following the updates from the timeline, the undead apocalypse is upon us. From now until November 3rd, Thay as we know and love it is going to be drastically different, and is in a "just for fun" period for players to see how long they can have their character(s) survive in an undead apocalypse while destroying as many of them as possible. 

Characters all start in the Welcome to the Undead Apocalypse area, which for those familiar with Thay is a spooky-fied Character Laboratory of Thay area. You can set a new or existing PC to any level, enchant items for free, and change your character's appearance to any you desire before beginning your survival attempt in the Undead Apocalypse hellscape of Thay.

For more detailed information, see below.

• When a character is finally killed, they will be turned into an undead with, perhaps, a strong desire for vengeance against any of those remaining who still live. When either an undead or a surviving character dies, they will be transported back to the initial Welcome to the Undead Apocalypse area
  
• Hostile undead have overrun the world and will be encountered everywhere. The encounter level of undead has been lowered, but you will now find more of them. Additionally, undead are now harder to turn
  
• All NPCs and domesticated animals are dead. There are no innkeepers, merchants, pickpockets, assassins, slavers, guards, or anyone else. This also means mercenary henchman contracts no longer work (they are dead)
  
• The world is cursed and healing of all types no longer functions. Resting is the only way damage can be healed. Items with regeneration properties will have the properties removed and regeneration spell effects will also not work
  
• HTF has been re-enabled for everyone, however it can be turned off through the character menu. For those that keep it on, you are playing in "hardcore mode" and it will be noted when your stats are announced upon login. Food can be found as treasure, otherwise you'll need to hunt or fish, and cook for sustenance
  
• When logging in character status and undead kill count (if still among the living) will be announced
  
• Undead will turn non-hostile to undead PCs when they perceive them
  
• Portal Stones can be used an unlimited number of times
  
• The !alias command can be used at any time to change your character's name, at will. Living characters; beware! That single Zombie trudging at you could be an undead Aethon, Spites, Balthazar, or Ezekiel in disguise
  
• The gates of Thralgard and Smoking Keep into High Thay are open
  
• Spooky music and dark, cloudy ambience is everywhere - turn up your volume and grab a torch (or two)
  

Be wary though - just because you can become a level 25 character, doesn't necessarily mean you should. The goal (for most characters) is likely going to be to try and survive as long as possible while killing as many undead as you can. Killing a bunch of level ~20 undead who have more tricks up their sleeves may be difficult.

Ultimately though, the end comes for us all. These characters you're using now or creating for this are going to "die" in one way or another. So please approach this with the attitude of having some fun before they take the road we all must...one day.

[Balanor]

Tip: It's also worth an additional post pointing out that formerly-civilized areas are going to be (much?) more dangerous than wilderness areas and even former adventure areas (crypts, caverns, dungeons, etc). Just like the survivors of the Walking Dead TV series. So...since most locations to which a surviving character starts is a civilized area...it may be in your best interests to hightail it out of those areas ASAP and seek to increase your undead kill count elsewhere.

[Balanor]

If any player would like a "do-over" with characters who died today...you're in luck. It was all just a bad dream your character had. Phew! If you login with them again, you'll find that they are back among the living although now they are in a true waking nightmare of the Undead Apocalypse. Although this also means your character's undead kill count was all just a dream too...and is back at 0.

In addition, those characters who did not die did such a good job of clearing the most dangerous undead out of the cities, that now only mostly zombies remain within formerly 'civilized' areas. But there are lots of them. And those remaining in the cities are at higher levels than other undead which may be encountered elsewhere.

[Bela]

The forges in the spooky lab now will enhance up to +5 and also up to unlimited spells. Knock yourselves out

[Balanor]

The undead hellscape of the damned world of Thay and the Underdark continues deteriorate. Now when those who have been killed by the undead hordes login, they will be *permanently* immune to almost any type of debilitating effect - such as paralysis, critical hits, sneak attacks, negative movement or slowing effects, mind attacks, and more. However, survivors will also discover a singular boon given to them by some dead or dying god, they will be *permanently* under the effects of a haste spell.

With all these newfound powers, will more of those recently among living now seek vengeance against those who continue to rack up the body count on their undead brethren? Only the undead gods know...

[Balanor]

As a trick, all characters have the capability of using the Arcane combat style by typing in this at any time: !cs arcane

As a treat; while the last of the gods have died, they provided one last boon (to everyone). If you can figure out how to use the Dynamic Item Creator developed by our very own William Draco, you can create your own Dynamic Magic Item which is not restricted by ILR. Simply type this to bring up the DIC and give it a shot: !dic
Please note this is meant to be a DM-only command, and will only be available to players until the setting reboot on November 3. So if you try it out, it is a figure-it-out-on-your-own ability. Please do not ask for/expect help on its use from a staff member!

Happy Halloween to all participating in the Undead Apocalypse!