So, I'm running Kingmaker, and due to some little bits of scheming I'm doing behind the main scene, I'm wondering about resurrecting Vordakai, the millenia old Cyclops Lich.
However, since he's been undead, and presumably still being animated by his soul, even if his phalactery isn't working... would that delay the time window that he could be resurrected in?
Come to think of it, undead that are old enough they can't be resurrected must be comparatively common. There's presumably a spell around that refreshes the duration somewhere, but I haven't found it if there is.
I'll probably just design a spell if there isn't one. The plot demands what the plot demands. But I'd prefer to stick with the rules if I can.
Ressurection can resurrect a destroyed undead. Can this not be considered the time of death for the spell?
/cevah
Ressurection can resurrect a destroyed undead. Can this not be considered the time of death for the spell?
/cevah
Technically to become a lich in Golarion you have to ritualistically kill yourself in some fashion. That's usually the culmination of the process to lichdom.
Since Vordakai is an ancient cyclops, he would have technically died a long time ago, right before becoming a lich.
Maybe go for some obscure ritual instead of a spell? Something like Buffy the Vampire Slayer's attempted resurrection of the ancient vampire, The Master.
Ressurection can resurrect a destroyed undead. Can this not be considered the time of death for the spell?
/cevah
Technically to become a lich in Golarion you have to ritualistically kill yourself in some fashion. That's usually the culmination of the process to lichdom.
Since Vordakai is an ancient cyclops, he would have technically died a long time ago, right before becoming a lich.
Yep. Then you became undead. When destroyed, you die yet again. Which death counts? As a character, you can die several times and be fixed. Does a spell cast now consider the time of death to be the first time you died, or the most recent?
/cevah
Yep, that's the question I'm wondering about. Which death counts? Is it the state of the body, or the state of the soul that matters? Or is it the connection between the two that's important?
If it's the body, then resurrection should be impossible. If it's the soul, then it is. If it's the connection between the two, it's debatable. If it was an ancient vampire, the soul is still directly in the body, and that wouldn't be a problem. But a Lich's Phalactery, remotely animating the body? That one I'd say would fail.
When you became undead you died, and then you were destroyed so it should be from the actual moment of death, not destruction.
PS: For those that do no know Mr.V actually did become a lich, but for story purposes they have an alternate rule that says if a lich is stagnant for too long he loses some of his power(class levels), and the actual lich template. Upon being an 11th level caster again he goes back to being a full lich.
PS: I will also suggest that a spoiler alert be put in the title so nobody is surprised.
Time travel is an interesting option. Probably going to result in a temporal paradox though.
I think, in the end, the most literal interpretation of the rules does mean that Wraithstrike is right. Even if you're functioning more or less like you're alive, it is the time of actual death rather than destruction that counts.
It feels like this should be a more common problem than it is. I suppose if this is the way it works, Liches and other sentient undead would probably have some sort of magic item that gives them a constant gentle repose like effect so that they can still be resurrected if they are destroyed. Doesn't hurt to have safeguards like that.
That, actually, is probably the way to go with my particular problem. I'll design something, put it in the homebrew section and link between the two things (Unless someone more competent than myself wants to do that).