Ashes to Ashes, Death to Life

RPG Curse Words

Character death. Total Party Kill. These words have long been the bane of DMs and players. DMs face scornful players and upset friends when a beloved character dies, and a possible coup when a TPK comes around. Players see their invested time, work and creation disappear before them with a single roll of the dice. Nobody, DMs and players alike, enjoy the idea of starting again or losing a beloved character within the game. However if death is never an option, if DMs fudge rolls so nobody dies, then the thrill and tension of grand battles can very quickly dissipate and the campaign can grow stale. While there are already several methods of resurrection and many ways to cleverly avoid death already in existence, here are some flavourful ideas that may provide an interesting twist on death and resurrection, for the next time a PC kicks the bucket.

Heavenly Tricks

The numerous gods of the realms have the power to take and grant life as they wish. When a PC dies, their benevolent god may choose to restore their life upon them in payment for their duty and service. This gift is usually reserved for the greatest champions of the gods, the mightiest of Avengers, the most steadfast of Paladins and the purest Clerics. However there is one god, who freely hands out this amazing gift to any follower of any god.

Mezanerin is more commonly known simply as the Trickster, and he is an entity capable of taking on any form he desires. Throughout the years many heroes and scorned gods have tried to kill Mezanerin, and some even believe they succeeded. While not a true god, Mezanerin is immortal and immensely powerful. This conniving Trickster will often appear before the spirit of powerful adventurers in the form of the god they feel closest to, offering to restore their life in exchange for more devout faith within the god. Agreeing to the verbal contract places a curse upon the warrior’s soul, diverting all their faith to feed Mezanerin’s ever-growing power. Fables and legends of Mezanerin state that a cursed soul can only be redeemed by another who refused an offer of the Trickster, but the exact details of such a ritual are unknown as any who refuse Mezanerin tend to stay dead. For the remainder of their life the cursed warrior will have Mezanerin appear to them, requesting certain tasks be accomplished in payment for their life. Some are trivial tasks such as drinking from a particular well within a certain town, while other commands are more morbid and sinister, with entire families being killed for Mezanerin’s inane plans. No one knows what the Trickster’s goals or intentions are except for the demi-god itself. Some believe it is an entity of pure chaos, intent on destroying the realms. Others believe the enigmatic entity is a protector of the realms, commanding its indentured clergy to complete numerous tasks that stave of the end of the world. However the true intentions of the mimicking god may never be known.

A Price Too High

Unfortunate adventurers can often find help with resurrecting their fallen comrades within most cities and some towns. Clerical Priests and Tribal Shamans will often offer their services of resurrection to passing adventurers, usually for a price. In some circumstances the price is far too great.

The smooth ageless features of the cleric Hilis should warn seasoned adventures of the impending danger. Her nubile skin and firm body are often accentuated by ceremonial robes unfit for a clergy member of her status. Her sharp crystal blue eyes hold the unforetold wisdom of countless years, while her thin lips are often pursed as if her mouth were permanently soured, much like the words she throws at the rest of her clergy. Hilis is famous within her hometown, and questions about her are quickly answered with smiles and regaling stories of miracles and acts of generosity. Ask about her age, and be met with blank stares and confused looks as people stutter over their answer before simply stating that Hilis has just always been around. This miraculous cleric is made all the more benevolent through her acts of generosity. Hilis refuses monetary payment for any of her acts of miraculous healing and resurrection, instead she requests that one drop of blood be spilled in the name of her saviour. Polished to a perfect shine, the inside of this silver chalice is half filled with the dried blood of the countless people Hilis has saved.

For many of the grateful souls that Hilis has healed, a single drop of blood is a highly acceptable payment in return for the life and well being. When some of the poorer inhabitants of the area offer more blood than asked out of simple gratitude, she graciously denies. The ageless cleric actually gains her powers from a Warlock’s pact, made countless years ago on the verge of her own death. A horrific demon offered the young Hilis eternal life, beauty and power in return for the completion of a simple task: to collect a drop of blood from sixty five thousand willing donors. This task, after countless years of using her Warlock powers to heal and raise the dead, is almost over. When the final drop of blood is given freely into the chalice, the seals holding the almighty demon within the Abyss shall break. Unleashing a demonic presence across the realms that would bring about the end of days. If discovered for her evils, Hilis will quickly flee from any form of confrontation. The ageless Warlock uses her fame and presence within the area to rally support and protection from the people around, countless people will rally against any that wish Hilis harm, willingly risking their own lives to protect the healer they love so much. These mobs of protectors refuse to listen to reason or logic and blindly act in anyway they believe will protect their innocent and miraculous cleric. A final confrontation with Hilis can be resolved quickly as the Warlock has only healing spells and abilities. However if Hilis is able to willingly shed her own blood into the chalice, it acts as the last drop, unleashing a far greater threat across the realms.

Life of a Reaper

Death is an inevitability for almost all within the realms, the multitudes joining the ranks of the immortals. As such the Reapers of the world are forever engaged with collecting the lost souls of the fallen. It is not widely known that reapers are flesh and blood… mostly. They walk upon the material plan like any other, guiding the truly lost to their final resting place. Reapers are not born, but chosen. Epically powerful heroes can often be chosen whilst on the verge of death. As a Reaper stands over the fallen hero, they can offer them a chance to change their destiny. This offer is reserved for only the greatest and most noble of heroes. Reapers have a deep seeded disgust for any malevolent spirit that remains upon the material plain to inflict harm or revenge. Ghosts, Spectres, Wraiths and every other ectoplasmic entity will flee from the presence of a Reaper, whose powers grant the ability to instantly smite the undead. Reapers have families, friends and enemies. They are not completely immortal but they can be killed with enough perseverance. Excessive physical harm will fell a Reaper; they are also particularly weak to weapons smithed from pure iron. A regenerative ability keeps them standing far longer than any other mortal, and they can also see clearly into the ‘shade’, the demi-realm where spirits and souls wander. A Reaper will often develop more abilities when they become particularly successful at guiding the lost. As each soul is guided to the afterlife the Reaper is slightly empowered by the passing. Telekinetic abilities can manifest in numerous ways and they can also become capable of entering the shade, moving freely through walls and obstacles.