Ressurection

[Caliber]

I am just throwing this out to get some feedback. Feel free to steal if you want.

I was thinking what would happen if at dawn every day, everyone in the world was Ressurected (perhaps True Ressurected.) Overpopulation would quickly become an issue and famine would be rampant. Wars would be waged over meager supplies of water and food. Every day the armies that had been crushed the day before would be brought back to fight again. Soldiers would recognize other soldiers on opposing sides that they had killed before, and that had killed them.

Defintely a dark world. Perhaps some kingdoms ration food to their fighting men, resulting in the working class dieing from starvation often, only to return the next day.

The whole thing could start in a localized area and slowly spread as the campaign progresses. Possibly the PCs will be affected by it once or twice.

Maybe this is all happening because someone messed with the God of Death? Maybe the link to the Outer Planes has been severed and all parted souls are just bouncing back into the bodies that held them?

There could be a cult trying to end it all, kill everything once and for all. But instead of the standard evil cult bent on world destruction, they are a good cult just trying to end the world's pain? Perhaps some people come back with memories of intense pleasure and the name "Zerthinan" on thier lips? How this all fits in I have no idea.

Any comments on how to make this jumble into an actual campaign? Or just any comments in general?

Thanks for reading either way.

 

[willpax]

What a bizarre and neat concept. . .

In that world, necromancers might have a very different reputation--if you're undead, then you can't be reussrected, and zombies don't eat much (unless ordered to). So animate dead might become a public service (although I think most people still wouldn't want to see their relatives in that state).

Perhaps you need some sort of destiny thing going--people aren't dying when they are fated to, so the world is getting more and more out of whack.

Also, it would have a horrible effect on people's behavior--think about the kinds of sick games teenagers might play if they were certain that no one would really die. . .

The adventure hook might be that the players are in a position to see what should be happening, but isn't beause of the suspension of death. They may then need to seek the aid of morally repulsive types (those who made a study of death pre-event, like said necromancers, cultists of death gods and others) in order to figure out how to right the cosmic balance.

This still leaves unanswered the other side of the question: who benefits from this state of affairs? A necromantic political state would seem to have some benefits--they get the same immortal soldier benefit, and don't have as many food problems. Other than that, I'm not sure.

 

[willpax]

[edit: double post]

 

[Crothian]

Do people still die of old age?

I would think captureing your opponents would become very popular. Just create a huge jail or other detention facility.

Imagine the guys capture by orcs. The orcs eat them every day, next morning they are resurrected. THe ultimate in renewable resources.

Very interesting idea. It tolally changes everything in a world. Good Job!!

 

[Caliber]

Willpax -

I would totally expect lots of people to be insane. Not only from cruel tortures inflicted upon them by others, but people who have to watch their loved ones die over and over again without cease.

Interesting idea about Necromancers being able to end your suffering, at the cost of your body. Perhaps the soul, now bodiless, becomes a ghost? Perhaps misguided necromancers around the world have created a ghost nation without even realizing it?

Finally, maybe no one profits from it. Perhaps the entire thing is a mistake. Either a punishment sent down from above for some transgression, or perhaps some Epic spell gone horribly wrong? Perhaps Demons are behind it, expecting the world to drown itself in evil. Once they are convinced no good is left, they will stop the Ressurection and reap the evil souls that are left.

Crothian -

Unlike regular Ressurection, I think old age would still be brought back. Only people who died after a certain date would be affected though (I guess you could do away with this idea, but then you have people who lived 10,000 years ago walking around.) Its not so much that everyone has True Ressurection cast on them every day, its just that the effect is similar.

Canabalism would likely be a huge issue. Forget Orcs. Look at the larger races that consume a lot of food. When you are a Titan and you are hungry, people better watch out.

 

[Crothian]

Your also going to eventually get an over abundance of monsters, animals and plants.