Any form of higher undead that is
- fully sentient and self-aware, without dependancy upon outside influences to remain so, and
- capable of developing as an individual beyond who it was at the moment of its death.
Some forms of lower undead may exhibit aspects of these treats but are dependant upon other sentients (living or dead) to bolster self-awareness (such as ghosts or other spirits). To all best knowledge, Noble Dead must feed on life energies in some manner to remain functional, though complete loss of such will not always end their existence and instead drive them into a state of prolonged dormancy. The most commonly known form (so to speak) is the vampire (in Droevinkan and Stravinan = vampìr; Belaskian = upér, though this term does not appear in the first series). They are generally only known in the Farlands of the eastern continent. Other forms of Noble Dead are said to be liches, wraiths and the even more rare High Revenant.