Refusing to come back from the dead

[the Jester]

If you die and someone tries to raise you, and you refuse to return, can someone else later try again?

I don't know that this is addressed anywhere, but I may have missed it.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I'd say yes, if it's within the time limits of the spell.

 

[UltimaGabe]

Sure- there's no reason why not. (If someone makes their save against Charm Person, there's nothing stopping you from casting it on them again, right?) However, the deceased can always choose to not come back, no matter how many times they try.

 

[DiceGolem]

This is especially useful because you know who is trying to raise you. If that NE BBEG Cleric of Destruction and Chaos is trying to raise you, you can choose to wait until someone nicer comes along.

 

[mvincent]

This is especially useful because you know who is trying to raise you.

Howso?

I've had a particular nasty BBEG kill someone and continuously raised (and rekilled) them until the soul refused to return (a KODT-Black Hands trick). I'm not sure how one could tell who is trying to raise you.

 

[MarkB]

Howso?

Like so:

Revivification against One’s Will

A soul cannot be returned to life if it does not wish to be. A soul knows the name, alignment, and patron deity (if any) of the character attempting to revive it and may refuse to return on that basis.

 

[Kwitchit]

Howso?

I've had a particular nasty BBEG kill someone and continuously raised (and rekilled) them until the soul refused to return (a KODT-Black Hands trick). I'm not sure how one could tell who is trying to raise you.

PHB page 171, under Bringing Back the Dead. "A soul knows the name, alignment and patron deity (if any) of a character attempting to raise it, and may refuse to return on that basis."

Edit: Ninja'd- but I didn't know it was SRD!

 

[eamon]

Link:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicOverview/castingSpells.htm#bringingBacktheDead

 

[frankthedm]

If you die and someone tries to raise you, and you refuse to return, can someone else later try again?

Considering your refusal cost someone 5000gp in diamonds, your body might not be well treated.

 

[mvincent]

Like so:

Thanks! Looks like my BBEG would've had to dominate various people to pull this trick off (a suitable ret-con for that particular BBEG).