Resurrection

Lore & Background

The material component of diamonds symbolizes the immense value placed upon human life by divine powers. Casting this spell is not merely a mechanical act but a solemn bargaining with fate. It reminds mortals that while they can cheat death, doing so requires significant sacrifice and adherence to cosmic laws governing souls.

Reader's Guide

This seventh-level ritual represents one of the most potent uses of divine magic available to clerics and paladins. To cast it successfully, the caster must touch the deceased body within one year of death. The spell restores life by pulling the soul back into its vessel, provided the spirit is free and willing to return. Unlike simpler revivification spells, this magic demands a significant material tribute: diamonds worth at least one thousand gold pieces are consumed during the incantation.

There are strict limitations governing its success. If the target died of old age or their soul is unwillingly trapped in another plane, the spell fails completely. Furthermore, while it restores hit points and heals wounds, it does not regrow missing body parts like True Resurrection can. The casting time requires a full hour of uninterrupted concentration, making it vulnerable to interruption during dangerous expeditions.

Ultimately, this spell serves as a desperate measure for heroes who refuse to let their companions fade into the afterlife too soon.