Resurrection: Fading Spirits

Like all of the great rites of passage in life, death changes us. Simply returning to the world of the living does not undo that change, nor is it at all simple. Those who have passed beyond the veil are marked by it, even if they manage to find their way back.  

— Claret Director Ged Narrel, Unfinished Rites

  This house rule is used to increase the emotional stakes of bringing a beloved friend back from the dead. It also adds the ever-increasing threat of losing a friend permanently to the game, even with the aid of miraculous magic.   If magic is used to bring a character back from the dead (except for the revivify spell; see below), everyone present becomes part of a resurrection ritual. Up to three characters present for the ritual—typically members of the deceased's adventuring party—can contribute to the ritual by attempting to call their ally's spirit back. This could involve delivering a stirring speech, playing a song from their shared childhood, goading a rival back with a display of sword skills, confessing undying love for them, or anything else that the players or the GM consider emotionally stirring.   Participating in the Ritual. Each of the participating characters makes an ability check. A player can tell the GM what kind of check they want to make, but ultimately the GM decides what check is appropriate based on the character's contribution to the ritual. The baseline DC of this check is 15, but the GM can raise or lower the DC (typically anywhere between 10 and 20) if the contribution seems particularly appropriate or particularly insincere.   For example, praying to a fallen paladin's god for mercy might require a participant to make a DC 10 Intelligence (Religion) check, whereas shouting at a dead friend's corpse to get back up and stop lazing around might require a DC 20 Charisma (Intimidation) check. If the contribution is roleplayed in a particularly touching way, the GM can grant advantage on the check—even if the check's DC remains high.   Resurrection Check. After all the characters' contributions are completed, the GM rolls a single, final resurrection check with no modifier. The base DC of this check is 10, but it is modified in three ways:

The DC is increased by 1 for every time the character has returned to life before, as the soul's connection to this world is slowly eroded by repeatedly dying and returning.

The DC is reduced by 3 for each successful contribution from the other participants in this ritual.

The DC is increased by 1 for each failed contribution to the ritual.

  If the resurrection check is successful, the character's soul is returned to their body (if the soul is willing, as usual). If the check fails, the soul does not return—and the character is permanently unable to be raised from the dead.   True Miracles. If a character is brought back from the dead by the true resurrection or the wish spell, or by a god, they instantly return to life without the need for a resurrection ritual.