Intelligent Undead and Personalities / souls?

[hector212121]

Quite frankly, where does the personality of a non-vampire intelligent undead come from? It can't be the same as it had before or else there'd be something in Create Undead about mental stats... not even to mention the alignment shebang. So either you're creating a personality from scratch, or you're summoning some ancient soul from the Evil afterlife to inhabit it and follow your orders.

I think it makes quite a difference between the two, as if you're summoning a soul that means that they start out with their own set of motivations whereas creating a personality/soul would mean that at least from the get go they have no plans. They might make some LATER, but...

[Drahliana Moonrunner]

That's a GM Fiat kind of question.

[hector212121]

Wasn't sure if there was canon on it somewhere

[Mysterious Stranger]

I think it is going to depend on the type of undead. A lich for example will defiantly have the memories and personality of the original character. Something like a shadow would probably be more like a newly born person driven mostly by instinct. A mummy will probably be more driven by the duty to guard their assigned tomb.