If you’re familiar with DnD, would ascending to lichdom (which requires asking Orcus, god of undeath, to grant you those powers, even though he doesn’t ask anything of the newly turned lich, he just wants issues to happen for free) count as being subservient in any capacity? Orcus can strip away those powers, so he technically does hold a sense of power over them
I'm not wholly familiar, but I do know most who align themselves with or dabble in anything pertaining to the undead are typically seeking knowledge. Like, an all-consuming greed that's never satiated. To endure for acquiring more and more, infatuated with an idea spurred by curiosity or disdain, disillusioned with what is or was.
You'd be surprised what people are willing to give up for the mere idea of something, freedoms included.
