I will try to do this without spoilers but it is difficult.

The fourth level summon using flickering shards results in a creature that, when examined, gives no signs of negative energy or being evil. In fact the description states it as a neutral magical beast.

The name of the summons implies that it is undead and evil.

Sooo:

1. Is this summons evil and undead, or neutral and a magical beast? 2. Could people tell any of this information about the summons or are they metagaming the name floating above its head?

I need to know as I have no desire to be punished for necromancy accidentally when the creatures description doesn't imply necromancy.

Thanks

It is an illusion, which can be deduced IC, but it certainly has the outward appearance of being what it looks like.

Thank you.

So if accused and taken to trial for it, one would be able to defend themselves?

ie. show people that it is, in fact, an illusion

You can show people an illusion, that doesn't mean they're going to believe you.

Is this different in third edition then? Back in original AD&D if you showed someone an illusion they were then able to ignore the illusion and any of its effects (ie. walk through an illusory wall, not take damage from an illusion).

So if my party thinks I just summoned a zombie, I can't rp passing my hand through it to show them it is an illusion?

They will hurt you. I suspect this boils down to:

GFWD I need to know as I have no desire to be punished for necromancy...