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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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The '''Zombie Plague''' is a deadly infection that was spawned by the [[Chaos|forces of Chaos]].
The Zombie Plague is a combination of a Chaos infection and a physical malaise that spread rapidly before [[Abaddon]]'s [[13th Black Crusade]] and was heralded by the [[Plague Fleets]] of the [[Chaos Champion]] of [[Nurgle]], [[Typhus]]. This led to the rise of numerous [[Plague Zombie]]s on [[Imperial]] worlds and also resulted in the formation of a new branch within the [[Inquisition]] known as the [[Ordo Sepulturum]]. The plague degenerated those it infected which can be done so through a number of ways including physically. A portion of the victim's life essence is retained by the body even after physical death has occurred.
There have been numerous noted similarities between the plague and the operation of the [[Golden Throne]]. Increased study of the plague by [[Thorian]] [[Inquisitors]] have led them to believe that its study can help them understand the [[Emperor of Mankind]]'s life after undeath. However, every attempt at creating a stable ''"faith virus"'' has led to mutation in the sample. The victims of the plague are noted to have a psychic connection and it's been noted that [[Psyker]]s have the capacity of manipulating the creatures spawned.
On affected worlds, a once-loyal man may survive by pledging new allegiance to the Chaos Gods. This is problematic in the extreme for any Imperial reclamations, because, as well as the zombies themselves, they are forced to fight hordes of cultists who have ha plenty of time to take over the planet's defenses.
A common theory among the Thorian Inquisitors is that the plague is an offshoot of the technology used to create the Golden Throne and may have been created by the [[Dark Mechanicum|Dark Mechanicus]] that reside within the [[Eye of Terror]].
