Raising a Slain Character

Under normal circumstances, one can raise the dead through simple use of Raise Dead, or an equivalent power, although one will usually need to then cast other healing or regenerative spells upon the very weak (but now living) victim before they can return to health.

If a character is slain by death magic, it is preferable to quickly raise that character from the dead to prevent the deceased from reanimating as a shambling corpse. Three rituals are required, and must be performed the same day the character was slain:

• Protection from Death Magic (or equivalent power)
• Raise Dead (or equivalent power)
• Imbue with Life Energy (or equivalent power)

If the first ritual is not used, the character still rises from the dead, but is now both evil and insane. If the third ritual is not used, the character still rises from the dead, but does so having already contracted a terminal and incurable form of Undead Spiral. Because of these facts, shortcuts are not recommended.

If the slain character is not going to be raised from the dead, one the following burial procedures must be used to prevent reanimation of the corpse as an Undead:

• The corpse must be blessed with holy water and laying on of hands, and prayed over.  The body must then be interned in earth following whatever methods are appropriate for a member of the victim’s faith. 
• If the victim was known to wield dark powers (and thus may be seeking some twisted way to return to this world after death), the body must be decapitated and a wooden stake thrust through the heart of the corpse. 
• If the religious beliefs of the victim are unknown, then a general burial ceremony can be used, so long as Protection from Death Magic (or similar power) is bestowed upon the corpse just prior to internment.  A holy symbol of a good-aligned god, preferably that of the True One, must also be hung from the neck of the corpse.
• Cremation is a foolproof method of internment.  A completely cremated individual can only be raised from the dead as a non-corporeal Undead, such as an Empty Silhouette.  If the ashes are sprinkled with holy water or silver dust, then even this form of animation is impossible.
• If the character is buried at sea, his hands and feet must be bound in silver chains, and have Protection from Death Magic invoked over the body.
• If the character is buried in a mass grave, each corpse must be blessed, have incense dust and holy water sprinkled over the corpses, then have a powdered base (caustic) of at least int(2) showered over the mass bodies prior to internment.

For believers of non-Evil deities, but who do not worship the True One, cremation is the best, as only the True One’s portfolio includes defense against Death Magic.