Fun with Resurrection... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Fun with Resurrection... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Pallin Rahl
05-07-07, 05:15 PM I've made it a point to note (to my players) that Resurrection is not very commonplace in Eberron... and that, unlike some campaign worlds, it's not nearly as simple as walking into the local temple with some cash and/or a handful of diamonds and expecting your buddy to spring back to life. :P The PCs fully understand this (that "dead" is more likely to actually mean "dead" in my campaign). ;)

That being said... something has come up, where I find the availability of a Resurrection logical and, to an extent, warranted. ...it involves the stopping of a fairly significant evil, saving the life of Jaela Daran in the process ...who promised each of the party a boon, of sorts - *ahem* get your minds out of the gutter. ;)

Oddly-enough, the dead character in need of the Resurrection is a long-standing NPC ally of the party. If none of the actual PCs request the Resurrection directly... there is at least another NPC ally currently with the party that was close friends with the deceased - who I could see asking for the Resurrection.

Whether or not to grant the Resurrection is not the issue here, really. ...I could see it going just fine either way. What got me thinking is... how could I turn this into an adventure hook, of sorts?

...maybe make the Resurrection require a hard to obtain component that the party would have to quest for? ...or possibly swing some kind of extra-dimensional adventure to save the fallen NPC's soul... /shrug

To that end, I was wondering what you all think could be a fun adventure stemming off this likely Resurrection request ;)

Note: The party is all around level 11 at this point.

---

Side-question... (something that popped into my head as I was contemplating all of this).

The NPC ally in question is a Valenar Elf. ...her death was rather meaningless (caught partially unaware by another NPC ally of the party, unwillingly turned evil and unholy-powerful heh). Regardless, do you feel the NPC would likely accept the Resurrection? ...I'm not sure of how the Valenar Elves view the afterlife, etc. ...are their beliefs somehow still tied to Aerenal Elves? ...or are they vastly different? Just wondering if they'd even bother to try to have her Resurrected... if it's generally accepted that the common Valenar Elf would turn down such an opportunity, etc...

Yeah, not knowing the specifics of the NPC herself makes this kind of judgement more difficult... I'm just wondering if there is something about the beliefs of the Valenar Elves in general that I should be considering...
Bluebrush
05-07-07, 05:35 PM Well, given the draconic prophecy, destiny is hard wired into the setting.

If the NPC was destined to die, or if her personal destiny is fulfiled (Helped defend a vital pass during a war, which could have altered the fate of Valenar), you have a reason to futz with your players.

Remember Marut Inevitables, dedicated to stopping those who cheat death?

One of them, chasing your NPC across the world, could make a good ongoing campaign hook. Especially if CR15 is way too hot for your PCs to handle and they have to keep running ALL THE TIME.
Kinger
05-07-07, 06:31 PM As for Valenar, I could see arguments in either direction.

Did this particular individual do right by her ancestor? Was she sufficiently glorious to become an ancestor of reverence herself? If so, she'd probably think her work on Eberron was done, and that the beckoning afterlife was welcome.

Did this particular individual die in rather unimportant, inconsequential, or humiliating circumstances? If so, she'd probably accept the ressurection so that she may die at a later date in a suitably non-sucky manner.

The fact that the character is a Valenar Elf may help her get the Res, though. If she were a devote Flamer, a cleric of the Flame would likely not want to do it. Her soul would have gone on to strengthen the Flame, and calling it back (even if it was willing) would only draw strength away from the object of their reverence. Since she is non-believer, she wouldn't join the flame anyway, so no harm, no foul on that point. Tack on that she has an important quest ahead of her (ie: save the mortal face of the Flame, the Lollipope) would mean that certain individuals may see a benefit in getting the character back on her feet with that pesky mortal coil shoved back on.

Now, having said all that, I still think death should have consequence beyond "Damn, now I'm only level 10!" The Marut idea is a good one which I've long planned to implement myself should the need arise. Just don't throw the Inevitability of Death at the character until AFTER the quest is done. No use muddling the story with sudden, unnecessary barriers. Let them celebrate their victory for at least, oh, five minutes before the mighty mechanical master of mortality bashes through the wall and lets loose with Circle of Death. :)
Hideous Phidias
05-07-07, 08:03 PM A quest idea for you maybe replace the diamond requirement with Khyber dragonshards of the same value. They could have to travel deep into the Droaam or the Shadow Marches to optain them. This is also a good place for dealings with the Dragonmarked House Tharashk. You don't see muuch dealing with them.
Toloran
05-07-07, 08:07 PM Well, the main reasons (as far as I can tell) that ressurection magic is so rare in the setting is mostly a philosophical one rather then a practical/logistic one: Most NPCs realize that their power to ressurect (either from a class ability or the house Jorrasco Ressurection Altars) is very rare and hard to come by. In addition to that, also they bring up the question of whether it is the right thing to do to bring the dead back to life considering death is a natural part of the world?

In otherwords, it isn't so much that it is hard to do but most individuals capable of doing it aren't willing to (even as repayment for saving their life). A quest to ressurect the NPC would probably entail convincing the Rezzer (in this case, Jaela) that the elf died before his time and this is only returning things back to their natural order.
kitrack
05-07-07, 08:18 PM One thing mentioned in the books is actually going to Dolurrh. This could be because, for some unknown reason, the Resurrection will fail, or perhaps Dolurrh has gone remote, or for some other reason. Maybe her soul doesn't want to come back but the PCs need to ask her a question (or several) with a detailed answer?

The Maruts and Nalfeshnees might take exception to their presence. Perhaps her soul has been claimed by one of the unknown entities of Dolurrh?

One of my PCs had a brief adventure on Dolurrh (she made some enemies last time she was there...), so that the party's magic could actually bring her back.
Just another user
05-08-07, 08:24 AM I don't know if is viable in your situation, but if all you want is turn it into a quest/adventure and you are at the moment in Thrane you could say that the NPC would accept to be resurrected only if to do it is a cleric of the Valenar religion of the ancestors (or maybe even a specific priest?). This would mean travel to Valenar, enter in it, (not exactly easy) find one, or the, priest and eventually persuade him to resurrect the NPC.
Pallin Rahl
05-08-07, 03:52 PM Quick P.S. ...I may be mistaken, but isn't anything over 9 HD (i.e. the PCs & NPCs in question here) immune to Circle of Death? ;)
Kinger
05-08-07, 06:42 PM Good question. Never bothered to look it up.

Fine, the mighty mechanical master of mortality busts through the wall and just beats the ever-loving crap out of you with his thunderous fists.
Pallin Rahl
05-08-07, 06:58 PM ...there ya go ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Pallin Rahl 05-07-07, 05:15 PM	I've made it a point to note (to my players) that Resurrection is not very commonplace in Eberron... and that, unlike some campaign worlds, it's not nearly as simple as walking into the local temple with some cash and/or a handful of diamonds and expecting your buddy to spring back to life. :P The PCs fully understand this (that "dead" is more likely to actually mean "dead" in my campaign). ;) That being said... something has come up, where I find the availability of a Resurrection logical and, to an extent, warranted. ...it involves the stopping of a fairly significant evil, saving the life of Jaela Daran in the process ...who promised each of the party a boon, of sorts - ahem get your minds out of the gutter. ;) Oddly-enough, the dead character in need of the Resurrection is a long-standing NPC ally of the party. If none of the actual PCs request the Resurrection directly... there is at least another NPC ally currently with the party that was close friends with the deceased - who I could see asking for the Resurrection. Whether or not to grant the Resurrection is not the issue here, really. ...I could see it going just fine either way. What got me thinking is... how could I turn this into an adventure hook, of sorts? ...maybe make the Resurrection require a hard to obtain component that the party would have to quest for? ...or possibly swing some kind of extra-dimensional adventure to save the fallen NPC's soul... /shrug To that end, I was wondering what you all think could be a fun adventure stemming off this likely Resurrection request ;) Note: The party is all around level 11 at this point. --- Side-question... (something that popped into my head as I was contemplating all of this). The NPC ally in question is a Valenar Elf. ...her death was rather meaningless (caught partially unaware by another NPC ally of the party, unwillingly turned evil and unholy-powerful heh). Regardless, do you feel the NPC would likely accept the Resurrection? ...I'm not sure of how the Valenar Elves view the afterlife, etc. ...are their beliefs somehow still tied to Aerenal Elves? ...or are they vastly different? Just wondering if they'd even bother to try to have her Resurrected... if it's generally accepted that the common Valenar Elf would turn down such an opportunity, etc... Yeah, not knowing the specifics of the NPC herself makes this kind of judgement more difficult... I'm just wondering if there is something about the beliefs of the Valenar Elves in general that I should be considering...
Bluebrush 05-07-07, 05:35 PM	Well, given the draconic prophecy, destiny is hard wired into the setting. If the NPC was destined to die, or if her personal destiny is fulfiled (Helped defend a vital pass during a war, which could have altered the fate of Valenar), you have a reason to futz with your players. Remember Marut Inevitables, dedicated to stopping those who cheat death? One of them, chasing your NPC across the world, could make a good ongoing campaign hook. Especially if CR15 is way too hot for your PCs to handle and they have to keep running ALL THE TIME.
Kinger 05-07-07, 06:31 PM	As for Valenar, I could see arguments in either direction. Did this particular individual do right by her ancestor? Was she sufficiently glorious to become an ancestor of reverence herself? If so, she'd probably think her work on Eberron was done, and that the beckoning afterlife was welcome. Did this particular individual die in rather unimportant, inconsequential, or humiliating circumstances? If so, she'd probably accept the ressurection so that she may die at a later date in a suitably non-sucky manner. The fact that the character is a Valenar Elf may help her get the Res, though. If she were a devote Flamer, a cleric of the Flame would likely not want to do it. Her soul would have gone on to strengthen the Flame, and calling it back (even if it was willing) would only draw strength away from the object of their reverence. Since she is non-believer, she wouldn't join the flame anyway, so no harm, no foul on that point. Tack on that she has an important quest ahead of her (ie: save the mortal face of the Flame, the Lollipope) would mean that certain individuals may see a benefit in getting the character back on her feet with that pesky mortal coil shoved back on. Now, having said all that, I still think death should have consequence beyond "Damn, now I'm only level 10!" The Marut idea is a good one which I've long planned to implement myself should the need arise. Just don't throw the Inevitability of Death at the character until AFTER the quest is done. No use muddling the story with sudden, unnecessary barriers. Let them celebrate their victory for at least, oh, five minutes before the mighty mechanical master of mortality bashes through the wall and lets loose with Circle of Death. :)
Hideous Phidias 05-07-07, 08:03 PM	A quest idea for you maybe replace the diamond requirement with Khyber dragonshards of the same value. They could have to travel deep into the Droaam or the Shadow Marches to optain them. This is also a good place for dealings with the Dragonmarked House Tharashk. You don't see muuch dealing with them.
Toloran 05-07-07, 08:07 PM	Well, the main reasons (as far as I can tell) that ressurection magic is so rare in the setting is mostly a philosophical one rather then a practical/logistic one: Most NPCs realize that their power to ressurect (either from a class ability or the house Jorrasco Ressurection Altars) is very rare and hard to come by. In addition to that, also they bring up the question of whether it is the right thing to do to bring the dead back to life considering death is a natural part of the world? In otherwords, it isn't so much that it is hard to do but most individuals capable of doing it aren't willing to (even as repayment for saving their life). A quest to ressurect the NPC would probably entail convincing the Rezzer (in this case, Jaela) that the elf died before his time and this is only returning things back to their natural order.
kitrack 05-07-07, 08:18 PM	One thing mentioned in the books is actually going to Dolurrh. This could be because, for some unknown reason, the Resurrection will fail, or perhaps Dolurrh has gone remote, or for some other reason. Maybe her soul doesn't want to come back but the PCs need to ask her a question (or several) with a detailed answer? The Maruts and Nalfeshnees might take exception to their presence. Perhaps her soul has been claimed by one of the unknown entities of Dolurrh? One of my PCs had a brief adventure on Dolurrh (she made some enemies last time she was there...), so that the party's magic could actually bring her back.
Just another user 05-08-07, 08:24 AM	I don't know if is viable in your situation, but if all you want is turn it into a quest/adventure and you are at the moment in Thrane you could say that the NPC would accept to be resurrected only if to do it is a cleric of the Valenar religion of the ancestors (or maybe even a specific priest?). This would mean travel to Valenar, enter in it, (not exactly easy) find one, or the, priest and eventually persuade him to resurrect the NPC.
Pallin Rahl 05-08-07, 03:52 PM	Quick P.S. ...I may be mistaken, but isn't anything over 9 HD (i.e. the PCs & NPCs in question here) immune to Circle of Death? ;)
Kinger 05-08-07, 06:42 PM	Good question. Never bothered to look it up. Fine, the mighty mechanical master of mortality busts through the wall and just beats the ever-loving crap out of you with his thunderous fists.
Pallin Rahl 05-08-07, 06:58 PM	...there ya go ;)