The choice to be raised from the dead

[Quasqueton]

Is the afterlife in the standard D&D cosmology generally a "better place" than normal life on the Material Plane? What would you consider the default answer for someone being raised from the dead? Would the person generally agree to come back, or would the person be content to stay in the realm of the dead?

Consider a good person whose spirit/soul passed on to one of the upper planes.

Consider an evil person whose spirit/soul passed on to one of the lower planes.

Consider a neutral person whose spirit/soul passed on to one of the other planes.

Consider an animal's spirit/soul. Would an animal want to come back?

Should the decision to come back be based on how the character/creature would have chosen while alive? I mean, is the decision made by the consciousness of the spirit/soul in the afterlife, or is it something imprinted on the spirit/soul based on its subconscious attitude at the time of death? (Sort of like speak with dead draws on the imprinted knowledge of the corpse, not the passed on intelligence of the spirit/soul.)

Quasqueton

 

[reiella]

Depends on their alignment I think.

So you get a nice parity going on.

Evil folks tend to want to return to life to escape the hell (especially as they typically start at the bottom of the food chain in the Lower Planes).

Good folks will most often want to return to life to fulfill some task/to better life in general on the Prime.

Neutral, varies alot as it's a bit of a strech either way.

An animal, would typically be in an interesting situation. If they have advanced to a 'Planar-Type' template Animal, they have the awareness to know of their situation and the past. They know that returning would result in them becoming less aware, and most likly not have much of an effect. The Aristole in me lends me to think that the animal would not agree to return, as that would be a "loss of reason" type situation.

And for the last, I think it largely depends on the time since their death. Recent death, I think they probably haven't adapted to their new situation, and most likly be based on their decisions in life. After a prolonged period (and assumed adoption), it would be based on their 'post-after life' experience.

 

[Piratecat]

Fascinating question. This has been of significant importance in my game; recently a PC decided not to come back from the dead after being killed, and a whole plot hinged on how a good NPC was changed after dying and being brought back -- from hell.

I think in general the afterlife is pure bliss for most good people. For evil folks, the truly evil might want to come back to spread more pain... and the sorta evil might want to come back to repent.

 

[Hammerhead]

I can't imagine there's too much to do in the Upper Planes. I think most adventurers, who thrive on danger and excitement, regardless of alignment, would jump at the chance to come back to life. Besides, if heaven is for eternity, then a few years back on the Prime wouldn't make much a difference, would it?

People with more mundane lives, however, who like comfort and security, would probably elect not to return from their bliss on the Upper Planes.

I think most evil people would try and escape the torments offered by the lower planes.

 

[reiella]

I can't imagine there's too much to do in the Upper Planes. I think most adventurers, who thrive on danger and excitement, regardless of alignment, would jump at the chance to come back to life. Besides, if heaven is for eternity, then a few years back on the Prime wouldn't make much a difference, would it?

Well, that justification is a bit more difficult for folks who may go to Ysgard, or any of hte more 'eternal battlefield' places.

Ysgard is alot better to adventure in than the Prime, what with the "Everyone gets True Resurrected after a day of being killed" thing.

 

[Wolffenjugend]

Hmmm, that raises a good point. If you're in heaven already, why not go back b/c you know you'll be coming back to heaven eventually (so long as you don't turn to the dark side...). And if you find heaven really boring, why not go back and spread evil so you can see what hell is like.

 

[Altalazar]

This reminds me of a discussion of a similar question about Star Trek: Generations. Why would Picard want to leave the nexus? He's in "heaven" after all. Him going back is like being raised from the dead.

Someone I know argued that it didn't make sense, after what Guinan said about not ever wanting to leave, but I disagreed - first, Guinan had her whole race just about wiped out - she had nothing to go back to. Whereas Picard had all sorts of responsibilities - a crew to take care of, and so forth. On top of that, he had the guilt that his being in heaven was a direct result of something that caused the death of one hundred million people. So that kind of guilt just didn't sit well with him.

Perhaps similar reasons might work with a PC - certainly, if there is a dangerous quest to finish and your fellos PCs need you to finish it, then it would be wrong not to go back and help them. How could anyone of LG alignment sit on their laurels in heaven when there are so many people who they are obligated to help left behind?

 

[Numion]

I've usually rules that mundane NPCs - farmhands, servants, pedlars etc. - don't come back from deat if tried to resurrect. Upper planes should be much better for them than their existence on the prime.

Adventurers and other persons that usually are in the middle of unfinished businesses might decide otherwise.

 

[Elrik_DarkFury]

I think its up to the perished creature's intelligence and wisdom too.A wise or clever enought person would stay and thing about returning or not.A more simple mind would't delay it.-a character of mine would surely choose to return.-and don't dare to call me simpleton or Ugrug will smash your head.



______________

The Wizard

 

[Piratecat]

I'm suddenly tempted to say that when you die, you go to heaven -- but if you voluntarily leave, that place in heaven will be denied you. So adventurers have to decide: eternal paradise, or possible damnation followed by a few more brief years alive?