In Elements' cosmology, a Forgotten warrior is supposed to be a dead person who died in battle but hadn't a proper burial afterwards and he can't travel to the realm of the afterlife, so he roams the world as an undead spirit. However, some Forgottens are believed to haunt the world not because of an improper burial, but because they failed to fullfil their duties as soldiers or knights and they stay in the world of the living as a punishment for their inability. Failures like these usually include fleeing from battle, inability to protect their master or dying before slaining a great villain.
Since the cousins of these warriors forgot about their ritual or and death itself 'forgots' to take them to the afterlife, the sages call them 'Forgottens'. Furthermore, a Forgotten has no longer a master and, because of this, he serves none of the 12 great elements of the universe and considered an 'Other creature' by the sages. However, in orded to pass to the afterlife, he has to find a new master to serve and this time must either die again in battle and recieve a proper burial or to accomplish the duties in which he failed during his life. He usually try to hide the fact he is undead by various ways (wearing full-plate, appearing only at night) in order to win the trust of a new master more easily. Unfortunately, his supernatural aura, pitch-black skin and glowing eyes will betray his true nature sooner or later...
As undead spirits, Forgottens do not fear death at all (they actually try to die again on purpose) and they fight with unmatched courage, often smiting their opponents in a suicidal charge. Before the battle or before they die, they confess to their masters their true name and nature as well as the reason they couldn't find rest and beg him for a proper farewell ritual in order to break the Forgotten's curse.
When his task is complete and he is finally buried, a Forgoten is not considered forgotten anymore (he will be remembered by his master's people) and he is not of Other element anymore (he carries his master's element). As a gratitude for his burial, the Forgotten empowers a structure near his grave with his own spiritual power, making it able to produce quanta of his master element. The type of structure empowered depends on the rank of the Forgotten. Simple Forgotten Soldiers are usually unable to empower something bigger than a pillar while Forgotten Knights are known to empower even entire towers with quanta generating abilities.
Here is a poem I wrote about a Forgotten, it is not great but I hope you like it.
http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,40515.0.html
