Unlife is still greatly a mystery despite ages of desperate research by Loremasters and other Essaence users. It is a force from the the planes of unlife, which was instrumental in slowly but surely destroying the civilization built up during the Third Era as it had done once before at the end of the Second Era. It seems that its objective is the absolute elimination off all life on Myaasia for reasons not fully understood. The fact that Myaasia seems to be a gateway between worlds probably has something to do with it as does the natural animosity between opposing elements. Unlife is the force behind most forms of undead, which it uses as its tools with great efficiency. The relationship between the countless orders of demons and unlife is less clear; some demons are clearly servants or allies of the unlife, but many show no such connections to outside observers even though they all show up “evil” to various detection magics (due to their close relationship to the Void or the Chaos Planes). It must be said, though, that some of the entities inhabiting the Void are so alien that there are simply no points of comparison with any human motives.
Unlife can use the Essaence with great skill though the power it provides to its servants is so tainted with “unlife” or “evil” that it can be rightfully considered a separate force from the Essaence (some talk of the White Essaence and the Dark Essaence). Anyone tainted by using unlife is thus suspectible to more taint and unlife sympathies. Thus anyone using negative energy spells marks themselves. This taint can be detected by those detecting unlife and by unlife itself. Any channeling of negative energy or creating of unlife is Dark Essaence regardless of the source of the magic power. Any channeling of positive energy or creating life is White Essaence regardless of the source of the magic power.
During the Second Era and the Magewars, unlife mostly used straightforward massive force. It was repelled, although the battle was extremely close and, as a result, destroyed almost all civilization on Myaasia. During the Age of Shadow (most of the Third Era), it was much more subtle. Rarely did unlife mount large-scale attacks, preferring instead to slowly corrode civilization by subverting rulers and people in positions of power to their side. The methods of unlife involved disguise, lies and propaganda instead of outright mayhem. Needless to say, such methods were much harder to combat than straight-out attacks. However, it nearly turned out to be a fatal mistake to think that unlife had abandoned force. No one knew the true extent of unlife’s power or infiltration into the society, as most people trying to resist simply disappeared. This resulted in draconian measures in much of Myaasia with anyone helping unlife or using unlife being killed immediately. At the end of Third Era, unlife suddenly changed tactics with huge unlife armies breaking out of wards and attacking civilisation everywhere. Luckily the active intervention by great heroes and the Lords of Orhan helped bring the onslaught to a halt before life was completely eradicated.
No one knows what methods unlife will employ in the Fourth Era. In some areas that were hit hardest during the Unlife Wars, unlife still holds sway, and some people warn strongly against the persisting threat of infiltration. Most people do still remember the events of the Unlife Wars, so they are on the lookout for any signs of taint.
There is also a Church of Unlife, whose members are thus in eternal conflict with most everyone else.