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Resurrection

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“
Like all of the great rites of passage in life, death changes us, and 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.
”
– 
Ged Narrel, "Unfinished Rites"[1]
[!h]

Resurrection is the act of returning a character from death. In Critical Role, there have been several deaths of player characters which have caused the party to attempt resurrection rituals when possible.

The Fading Spirit[]

→ See also: FAQ#How would a character death be handled?

In Critical Role, specifically in their Exandrian campaigns, certain powerful spells along the lines of Revivify and Resurrection are treated as a challenge. This means that players can undo death, but its success is determined by the player's capabilities as a spell caster and their character's attachment to their companions. Whenever a character does die, a resurrection can be attempted but it is a challenge. This means there is a possibility of failing in which case the resurrection fails, the soul is lost and the character is deemed permanently dead.

Death DC[]

When a creature is resurrected, a roll is made against a DC, which begins at 10. For each time the creature dies, their death DC is increased by 1.[2]

Rapid Resurrection[]

Fan art of '"`UNIQ--nowiki-00000005-QINU`"' casting Revivify on , by '"`UNIQ--nowiki-00000006-QINU`"'

Fan art of Jester casting Revivify on Caduceus, by Linda Lithén.[art 1]

When a creature is targeted by the spell Revivify, the caster makes a spellcasting ability check against the target's death DC. On a success, the spell takes hold and the creature is resurrected. On a failure, the creature's death DC is increased by 1, and they can't be resurrected until they are resurrected by a spell with a casting time longer than one action.[2]

Resurrection Ritual[]

When a creature is targeted by a resurrection spell with a casting time longer than one action, such as Raise Dead or Resurrection, a ritual is initiated in which up to three creatures can contribute in order to call the creature's soul back to their body. Each contributor makes an ability check with a skill the DM deems appropriate for the action, against a DC that the DM also determines.[2]

For each successful check, the creature's death DC is lowered by 3 for this ritual. For each failure, it increases by 1 for this ritual. The DM makes the final roll against this DC. On a success, the creature is returned to life if its soul is willing. On a failure, the creature's soul is lost, and further resurrection rituals fail automatically.[2]

Only the strongest of magic can bypass this ritual, in the form the True Resurrection or Wish spells. These spells can also return to life a creature whose soul was lost from a failed ritual.[2]

Consecution[]

Special rules apply to consecuted individuals dying within range of a Luxon beacon. If the soul still remained within the beacon awaiting a rebirth, it would be plucked from the beacon via the spell and work as normal. If the soul had already been reborn, then there would be no soul to resurrect, and the spell fails.[3]

The Apogee Solstice[]

During the Apogee Solstice of 843 PD, all of the various ley lines were held, twisted, and tensed, causing a number of magics to not function properly including communication and resurrection magic. However, since Ruidus operates under its own magical ecosystem, resurrection magic operated at least briefly to restore Chetney Pock O'Pea to life when he was killed by Otohan Thull.[4]

Notable character deaths[]

Campaign 1: Vox Machina[]

Character Name Episode Killed By Resurrected? Notes
Pike Trickfoot Pre-Stream ("The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06)) Glabrezu Yes, by Father Tristan Slain by a critical hit as the glabrezu picked her up in its pincer-like hand and cut her in half.[5][6]
Grog Strongjaw "The Temple Showdown" (1x11) K'Varn Yes, by Pike Killed by a Death Ray from K'Varn.[7] Revivify succeeded.
Vex'ahlia "The Sunken Tomb" (1x44) Trap Yes, by Kashaw Vesh Killed by the trap placed on Purvan Suul's tomb which was unintentionally triggered by Percy.[8] Revivify succeeded.
Grog Strongjaw "Best Laid Plans..." (1x50) Craven Edge Yes, by Pike Soul swallowed by Craven Edge.[9] Revivify succeeded.
Theodore "The Kill Box" (1x52) Herd of Storms Yes, by Pike One of the Westruun civilians killed by the Herd of Storms. Raise Dead succeeded.
Percival de Rolo "Cloak and Dagger" (1x68) Anna Ripley Yes, by Pike Shot by Anna Ripley while he was unconscious.[10] Resurrection succeeded.[11]
Vex'ahlia "Raishan" (1x80) Raishan Yes, by Pike Revivify succeeded.
Scanlan Shorthalt "Raishan" (1x80) Raishan Yes, by Pike Frozen solid by Raishan's Cone of Cold. Revivify succeeded.[12]
Scanlan Shorthalt "The Deceiver's Stand" (1x83) Raishan Yes, by Pike Initial Revivify attempt failed;[13] resurrection ritual successful.[14]
Percival de Rolo "The Deceiver's Stand" (1x83) Raishan Yes, by Pike Gutted by Raishan. Revivify succeeded.[15]
Vax'ildan "Tangled Depths" (1x88) The Kraken Yes, by Pike Swallowed by the Kraken. Pike appeared in her astral form to perform the ritual. Raise Dead succeeded.[16]
Keyleth "Taryon, My Wayward Son" (1x97) Gravity Yes, by Vex'ahlia Plunged to her death over a 1000 foot cliff. Revivify cast by Vex'ahlia out of spell-storing coin provided by Taryon Darrington.
Vex'ahlia "Race to the Tower" (1x102) Vecna Yes, by Pike Instantly killed by Power Word Kill.[17]
Vax'ildan "Race to the Tower" (1x102) Vecna No Disintegrated by Vecna.[18]
Vax'ildan "Dark Dealings" (1x112) Artagan No Strangled out of curiosity by Artagan.[19]
Kaylie "The Final Ascent" (1x113) Vax'ildan Yes, by Pike Killed by Vax while dressed as a cultist.[20]
Cassandra de Rolo "The Final Ascent" (1x113) Vex'ahlia Yes, by Pike Killed by Vex while dressed as a cultist.[21]
Velora Vessar "Vecna, the Ascended" (1x114) Keyleth Yes, by Kashaw Vesh Killed by Keyleth's Sunburst while being used as a humanoid shield by Vecna.[22]
Vax'ildan "The Chapter Closes" (1x115) - No Returned to the service of the Raven Queen after imprisoning Vecna.[23]
Lieve'tel Toluse "The Search For Bob" (Sx45) Corrupted Empyrean Yes, by Pike Killed in "The Search For Grog" (Sx42). Raise Dead succeeded.[24]
Vex'ahlia "Dalen's Closet" (Sx47) Sylas Briarwood Yes, by Pike Drowned the night before her wedding. Revivify succeeded.[25]
Vex'ahlia "Fight for the Bloody Bridge" (3x114) Ozo Cruth Yes, by Pike Brutally slaughtered during the battle at the Malleus Key. Pike's Divine Intervention succeeded.[26]

Campaign 2: The Mighty Nein[]

Character Name Episode Killed By Resurrected? Notes
Mollymauk Tealeaf "Found & Lost" (2x26) Lorenzo No Resurrection discussed, but not pursued. The body was later resurrected by Cree with the help of the Somnovem as Lucien.
Caduceus Clay "Duplicity" (2x55) Nott Yes, by Jester Accidentally killed by an explosive arrow. Revivify succeeded.[27]
Nott the Brave "Dark Bargains" (2x83) Halas Yes, by Jester Killed by Power Word Kill trap after failing to check for traps. Revivify succeeded.[28]
Fjord "Dark Waters" (2x98) Deep scion Yes, by Caduceus Uk'otoa sent deep scions and sea spawn to regain the Cloven Crystal.[29] Revivify succeeded.[30]
Orly Skiffback "Dark Waters" (2x98) Deep scion Yes, by Jester Uk'otoa sent deep scions and sea spawn to regain the Cloven Crystal.[31] Revivify succeeded.[32]
Lucien Around fifty days prior to "The Chase Begins" (2x112) Lorenzo Yes, by Cree After hearing of Mollymauk's death, Cree went to the "vacated" body to bring back Lucien. Resurrection was likely used.[33]
Luc Brenatto "Between a Ball and a Hot Place" (2x129) Fire Elemental Yes, by Caduceus Slain in an area attack by a rampaging fire elemental.[34] Revivify succeeded.[35]
Jester Lavorre "Long May He Reign" (2x140) Lucien Yes, by Caduceus Slain by Lucien's clawed wing attack.[36] Revivify succeeded.[37]
Caleb Widogast "Long May He Reign" (2x140) Lucien Yes, by Jester Slain by Lucien's clawed wing attack.[38] Revivify succeeded.[39]
Mollymauk Tealeaf "Long May He Reign" (2x140) The Mighty Nein Partially, by Caleb/Caduceus After Lucien fell, Caleb's Raise Dead, cast through his Transmuter's Stone, initially failed to restore Molly's soul to the body.[40] Caduceus successfully used Divine Intervention to allow a second attempt, which then succeeded.[41] However, the resurrected tiefling ended up developing an entirely new identity instead of being restored as Molly.

The Re-Slayer's Take[]

Character Name Episode Killed By Resurrected? Notes
Farah Vallari "The Broken Beacon" (RT2x19) Wounds sustained in the battle against Grimm Heldwell Yes, by Pike Trickfoot In the Thorain Tundra the Re-Slayer's Take fought Heldwell who, empowered by spiritual energy, knocked Farah unconscious; Heera Agneheart tried to move her to safety, but accidentally damaged her with the flames of her teleportation, which contributed to her dying. Pike brought her back casting True Resurrection.

Campaign 3: Bells Hells[]

Character Name Episode Killed By Resurrected? Notes
Bertrand Bell "The Trail and the Toll" (3x03) Dugger No Dugger stabbed him, and the fighter's friends lacked the time and resources to resurrect him.[42]
Orym "Blood and Dust" (3x33) Otohan Thull Yes Revivified by Fearne Calloway.[43]
Fearne Calloway "Blood and Dust" (3x33) Otohan Thull Yes Revivified by Fresh Cut Grass.[44]
Laudna "A Dark Balance" (3x38) Otohan Thull Yes Raise Dead performed by Pike Trickfoot.[45]
Deanna Leimert About a year before "Far From The Others" (3x52) A large creature Yes Probably True Resurrection performed by a cleric of the Dawnfather.[46]
Bor'Dor Dog'Son "A Haunted Past" (3x63) Laudna No Laudna knocked him unconscious with Hunger of the Shadow[47] and inflicted the final failed death save with Wither and Bloom.[48]
Ashton Greymoore "The Promise and the Price" (3x77) Absorbing the shard of Rau'Shan Yes Ashton's body exploded in a thousand pieces but was immediately put back together thanks to the Ring of Temporal Salvation.
Chetney Pock O'Pea "True Heroism" (3x91) Otohan Thull Yes Chetney was slain in one round by Thull and immediately Revivified by Fresh Cut Grass.
Fresh Cut Grass "True Heroism" (3x91) Self-destruction No To save the party from total annihilation by Otohan Thull, Fresh Cut Grass cast Guiding Bolt into their own chest and exploded, killing both Thull and himself.
Ashton Greymoore "A New Age Begins" (3x121) Sacrificed as part of the Rites of Catatheosis Yes A combination of dunamancy and a Raise Dead spell cast through a Transmuter's Stone allowed Essek Thelyss and Caleb Widogast to restore the missing piece of Ashton's head and bring them back to life.[49]

Campaign 4: Aramán[]

Character Name Episode Killed By Resurrected? Notes
Occtis Tachonis "Stone-Faced" (4x04) Killed by Ethrand Tachonis as part of a ritual Yes Murray Mag'Nesson, using Bolaire Lathalia's tools with her Mage Hand, and enhanced by a favorable Portent and the magical support of Thaisha Lloy and Halandil Fang, managed to extract the Stone of Nightsong (a divine artifact) from inside the corpse;[50] this, combined with the resistence Occtis has showed to let his soul go to the Tenebral Reaches, allowed him to revive as a Hollow One, a feat of magic unheard of since before the Shapers' War, when the gods were still alive and their afterlives were still reachable.[51]

Trivia[]

  • Vex'ahlia has given offerings at more resurrection rituals than any other character.
  • During the Age of Arcanum the ritual to cast True Resurrection was forbidden, according to Patia Por'co, who remarked that one of the reasons she tried it was because death had a new owner.[56] Before the Raven Queen's ascension, her predecessor held a tyrannical dominion over all souls.[57]
  • During the apogee solstice of 843 PD, resurrection spells started to fail,[58] and part of the reason was the shifting of the ley lines.[59]
  • In the world of Aramán full resurrections were something mostly present in legend, and always through the intervention of some deity. When the Shapers were alive it came to a point where they would actively refuse to grant their clerics spells that would allow them to revive the dead, even if they would normally have access to them.[60]

References[]

  1. ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 215.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 119.
  3. ↑ See Matt's tweet.
  4. ↑ See "4-Sided Dive: Swordgate" (4SDx24) at 0:21:51.
  5. ↑ This pre-stream plot point was discussed during a Q&A.  See "Attack on the Duergar Warcamp" (1x04) at 3:45:58.
  6. ↑ See "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) at 16:59.
  7. ↑ See "The Temple Showdown" (1x11) at 4:01:56.
  8. ↑ See "The Sunken Tomb" (1x44) at 4:23:12.
  9. ↑ See "Best Laid Plans..." (1x50) from 29:50 through 43:16.
  10. ↑ See "Cloak and Dagger" (1x68) from 4:10:19 through 4:12:11.
  11. ↑ See "Passed Through Fire" (1x69) at 1:19:27.
  12. ↑ See "Raishan" (1x80) at 2:37:25.
  13. ↑ See "The Deceiver's Stand" (1x83) at 2:25:06.
  14. ↑ See "Loose Ends" (1x84) at 0:39:40.
  15. ↑ See "The Deceiver's Stand" (1x83) at 2:44:33.
  16. ↑ See "Curious Tides" (1x89) at 0:43:33.  Matt requested a diamond worth 500 gp, which is the component required for Raise Dead.
  17. ↑ See "Race to the Tower" (1x102) at 3:15:22.
  18. ↑ See "Race to the Tower" (1x102) at 3:33:18.
  19. ↑ See "Dark Dealings" (1x112) from 3:44:23 through 3:46:46.
  20. ↑ See "The Final Ascent" (1x113) at 4:38:25.
  21. ↑ See "The Final Ascent" (1x113) at 4:38:25.
  22. ↑ See "Vecna, the Ascended" (1x114) at 01:02:37.
  23. ↑ See "The Chapter Closes" (1x115) at 01:41:35.
  24. ↑ See "The Search For Bob" (Sx45) at 0:34:23.
  25. ↑ See "Dalen's Closet" (Sx47) at 2:28:51.
  26. ↑ See "Fight for the Bloody Bridge" (3x114) at 3:05:49.
  27. ↑ See "Duplicity" (2x55) from 4:04:00 through 4:04:33.
  28. ↑ See "Dark Bargains" (2x83) from 3:19:20 through 3:20:55.
  29. ↑ See "Dark Waters" (2x98) at 4:43:28.
  30. ↑ See "High Seas, High Stakes" (2x99) at 0:15:50.
  31. ↑ See "Dark Waters" (2x98) at 4:47:09.
  32. ↑ See "High Seas, High Stakes" (2x99) at 0:18:08.
  33. ↑ See "Ice and Fire" (2x121) at 0:49:57.
  34. ↑ See "Between a Ball and a Hot Place" (2x129) from 1:47:18 through 1:48:58.
  35. ↑ See "Between a Ball and a Hot Place" (2x129) at 2:40:36.
  36. ↑ See "Long May He Reign" (2x140) at 2:21:41.
  37. ↑ See "Long May He Reign" (2x140) at 2:40:46.
  38. ↑ See "Long May He Reign" (2x140) at 3:17:53.
  39. ↑ See "Long May He Reign" (2x140) at 3:51:58.
  40. ↑ See "Long May He Reign" (2x140) from 4:05:59 through 4:16:36.
  41. ↑ See "Long May He Reign" (2x140) at 4:25:28.
  42. ↑ See "On the Trail of a Killer" (3x04) at 0:31:45.
  43. ↑ See "What Dreams May Come" (3x34) at 1:04:20.
  44. ↑ See "What Dreams May Come" (3x34) at 0:35:01.
  45. ↑ See "A Dark Balance" (3x38) at 0:37:19.
  46. ↑ See "Far From The Others" (3x52) at 1:29:09.
  47. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 2:53:11.
  48. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 3:03:38.
  49. ↑ See "A New Age Begins" (3x121) at 2:26:04.
  50. ↑ See "Stone-Faced" (4x04) at 4:48:44.
  51. ↑ See "Stone-Faced" (4x04) at 4:53:36.
  52. ↑ See "Best Laid Plans..." (1x50) at 35:50.
  53. ↑ See "Passed Through Fire" (1x69) from 1:10:12 through 1:13:01.
  54. ↑ See "Curious Tides" (1x89) from 45:01 through 48:28.
  55. ↑ See "The Search For Grog" (Sx42) at 29:10.
  56. ↑ See "Blood and Shadow" (E3x03) at 3:33:29.
  57. ↑ See "Duskmeadow" (1x57) from 57:06 through 58:56.
  58. ↑ See "Hope Within History" (3x55) at 0:40:51.
  59. ↑ See "4-Sided Dive: Why, Matthew?! Why?" (4SDx15) at 0:06:34.
  60. ↑ See "Brennan Lee Mulligan Talks DELETING Characters In Campaign 4 & Araman Lore!" at 12:28.

Art:

  1. ↑ Fan art of Jester casting Revivify on Caduceus, by Linda Lithén (source). Used with permission.
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