Resurrection

Resurrection, despite seeming simple, with several spells designed and specifically meant for this purpose, is a difficult affair in this planar system. Theoretically, it is a very simple affair. A spellcaster, a source of magic, and a target are all that are necessary to ressurect the unfortunate deceased, in theory. In practice, however, there are issues that can come when gods and extraplanar beings decide to interfere. These gods, with their wide range of domains, sometimes wish to prevent or otherwise refuse to allow mortal souls to return to the mortal coil that their souls escaped. One such being would be The Raven Queen, another, Myrkul or Kelemvor.

Because of these gods and beings, it means that resurrection can be a messy affair, especially in urban and trade centers where the gods' attention is pulled more frequently by their loyal clerics. The clerics, along with the petitioners looking for the resurrection of their lost friend, must convince the gods that the resurrection will be a moral action to take, rather than one out of selfishness or want. Should this resurrection instead take place in a more remote location, this rarely, if ever, needs to happen. The following details what needs to, and will, happen to successfully perform a resurrection.

Necessary People

The ressurection has three parties involved in the lengthy ceremony that occurs.

The first party is the player's party, the party with the petitioners and the deceased. This party must be willing to make sacrifices to reverse the natural law and order of the universe, while understanding that ignorance will not be tolerated as an excuse for any unwanted consequences for their actions.

The second party is the cleric, or more usually clerics, that will pull the gods' attention directly to the ceremony, and act as the intermediaries. They will inform the party what will happen with the ceremony, what their job is during it, as well as informing them about the possible consequences that they might need to know about, ranging from the sacrifices to bring their friend back, to the ripples in the universe afterwards. This party has the greatest physical burden, as the gods will be riding and possessing them during the bulk of the ceremony.

The last party is that of the gods. This can range in number from one godly being, up to a few dozen, depending on the clerics that are pushed into joining, and have sway in the area that the ceremony is being performed in. More often than not, these gods have some sort of sway over the Life and Death domains, though there might be others whose attention is turned to the ceremony, and if the deceased also has a god (or gods) that they pay homage to, they will also join.

Necesary Components

To all outward appearance, this looks to be a usual ceremony of a somber nature. Not quite as somber as a funeral, but not nearly as joyous as a wedding or birth, either.

The cleric leading the ceremony will set up the space in a manner fitting their god, as well as their domain and traditions. This can include incense, candles, crystals and leaves, or anything else. Additionally, and material costs associated with the spell are necessary and brought into the area as well.

Additionally, if any of the sacrifices brought forth to give for the sacrifice have material components, those will need to be readily accessible as well.

The Ceremony

The ceremony itself is a lengthy and drawn out affair, occurring on three layers of existence at once.

The First Layer

This first layer occurs on our material plane, and appears to be nothing more than a group meditation exercise around the deceased.

The clerics and party members arrange themselves into a circle surrounding the deceased member, with the material components and any physical sacrifices placed directly next to, or on top of, the deceased looking for ressurection.

While appearing to only be in a meditative state, the participants of the ceremony are instead thrust into a strange meditative state, even deeper than what would be expected. Until the gods have had their say, and the spell either succeeds or fails, the participants cannot be roused from their state, nor can they realize anything that happens around them. This makes this ceremony extremely difficult and dangerous, especially in times of conflict or war. Additionally, if the gods so choose, the participants could simply remain in this fugue state eternally, in payment for wishing to rise above the laws of mortality.

The Second Layer

This layer occurs almost in the ethereal plane, though if one was to attempt to peer into, or join, the ceremony, such as with the spell misty step, they would be unable to witness anything happening.

Regardless, on this layer, the gods meet with the petitioners, in the same orientation and position as the clerics were. This is the layer that the petitioners take charge of. The gods demand to know why they should be the exception for mortal laws, and the petitioners must explain why. In this task, a silver tongue or charismatic demenor aren't necessary, but honesty is required. The gods will punish lying, and will look even more distastefully upon the ceremony.

Additionally, three sacrifices must be made to prove that the petitioners are serious. These sacrifices can be anything from physical objects, such as family heirlooms, to more intangible things such as a treasured memory. The sacrifices must be made from a place of honest intention, and cannot be taken back once made.