the zombies

[Enkidoh]

Yes, it definitely shows an alternative view, that even creatures considered 'monstrous' or 'fiends' may actually not be all that they're made out to be. Incidentally unusually for a modern FF game, there is no explanation lore-wise as far as I can tell about exactly how zombies are reanimated in FFXIV - in FFXI for instance undead were stated as being reanimated by residual crystal energy leaking from the ancient Zilartian Crystal Line, so I'm wondering if something similar revives the deceased here in FFXIV as well (ala, aether). But I think I'm clutching at straws here.

[Erana]

There is no explanation lore-wise as far as I can tell about exactly how zombies are reanimated in FFXIV.

Time for some 1.0 Lore!
In Ul'dahn lore it is believed that those whose are left unburied outside the city walls will rise again as undead corpses. This was evident mainly by the skeletal wight roaming the wastes and a few zombies from levequests, although the wights seem to be devoid of thought.

I bet Dalamud's interference with the land's Aether has made this more powerful. Also there's the fact that the ruins of Sil'dih were partially uncovered, which was a City-state that fell from Necromancy gone bad and was sealed up by Ul'dah with a Zombie horde inside.

But no explanation as to why certain ones are more intelligent, nice touch though.