Lore

Life, Death and Resurrection - by T.A. Saunders ©2011 v1.5

Resurrection Side Effect Chart

(100) Resurrection Failure

The Old Gods have decreed the character's final doom and cannot be resurrected in any way. Any further attempts will result in the person performing the second attempt to be slain on the spot; smote by the unrelenting fury of the gods. The individual who attempted the resurrection is spiritually drained and cannot cast spells or physically engage in combat of any kind for three days.

 (61-99) Penitent Resurrection

The hero is returned from the dead normally, but the individual performing the resurrection has incurred the wrath of the gods for doing so. As punishment, the person who performed the resurrection is stricken with an incurable malady or crippling of some sort (GM discretion). Blindness, losing the ability to walk, or cast magic are but examples. These maladies can be overcome with ingenuity, perseverance and being clever but can never be removed.

Being stricken in this manner is often worn as a badge of honor amongst the holy. Many see it as a worthy sacrifice to wield the ultimate power of restoring life to the slain, in the name of their deity. Manipulators of the arcane who suffer this effect look at it as the price for cheating death and accept it as part of the danger of wielding great power.

Additionally, both the hero and the individual who attempted the resurrection is spiritually drained. The hero is incapacitated in this manner for one week and the individual who performed the resurrection is incapacitated for three days.

(31-60) Dark Twist of Fate

The hero is resurrected normally but the price of this return to life is more elusive than most. At some point in the future of the hero's life the price of his or her return will be exacted at a critical point where good fortune or a positive outcome is needed.

This price is very situational (GM discretion); for example, the marked hero could rush into a burning building several times to help rescue people within, but when the time comes for him or her to rescue a loved one from the building, it will suddenly collapse, killing the loved one before he or she can be rescued. Another example could be the hero hands his or her close friend a flintlock to defend themselves with, but when the time comes the weapon misfires, explodes in the friend's hand and kills them.

It is impossible to know outwardly if a resurrected person is marked in this fashion, unless some means of detecting a curse is utilized upon them. Doing so revealed a hazy black aura around a resurrected individual so marked. This mark cannot be removed in any way, shape or form.

Additionally, both the hero and the individual who attempted the resurrection is spiritually drained. The hero is incapacitated in this manner for one week and the individual who performed the resurrection is incapacitated for three days.

(21-30) Wounded Spirit

The hero is returned from the dead, but they are forever changed by their experience of touching the afterlife. Their life-force is irrevocably weakened, which in turn effects their primary strength significantly. Warrior types feel less physically hardy, arcane spell-casters are less able to wield powerful magics and practitioners of faith feel less in touch with their chosen deity.

While permanent, this spiritual wounding is something that can be overcome through ingenuity, perseverance and hard work. Many perceive the spiritual wounding as a test from the hero's chosen deity to prove their worth for the resurrection they received.

Additionally, both the hero and the individual who attempted the resurrection is spiritually drained. The hero is incapacitated in this manner for one week and the individual who performed the resurrection is incapacitated for three days.

(2-20) Normal Resurrection

The hero is resurrected normally and there are no ill side effects, other that temporary weakness for one full week. The hero cannot cast spells, or engage in physical combat of any kind with any kind of reasonable effectiveness during this time. The individual who attempted the resurrection is likewise spiritually drained and cannot cast spells or physically engage in combat of any kind for three days.

(1) Divine Resurrection

The Powers That Be have decreed the slain hero has yet some important part to play in the events of the world and thus has been returned to life with no penalty and with no spiritual weakness. The individual who cast the resurrection is only weakened for a period of one day and cannot engage in spell-casting or physical combat of any kind during that time.