Gentle Repose

Gentle Repose

1st-level necromancy
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (a pinch of salt and a piece of copper placed on each of the corpse's eyes)
Duration: 10 days


Gentle Repose is a necromancy spell that imbues a corpse with a restful serenity, preserving it from decay and the touch of time. This spell is not an act of darkness but one of respect and preservation, a quiet acknowledgment of death's role in the cycle of life. As the caster sprinkles salt and places copper pieces on the closed eyes of the deceased, they create a bond with the eternal stillness, a pact that shields the body from the ravages of decomposition and the call of undeath.

Upon casting Gentle Repose, you touch a dead body, and the spell envelopes it in a protective aura. This aura halts the decay process, preserving the body in the state it was in at the time of casting. The spell also protects the body from being transformed into an undead creature, a safeguard against necromantic energies and the darker aspects of magic.

This preservation does not confer any semblance of life; it is a state of suspended decay, a respectful maintenance of the body's integrity. The spell's effect is akin to a moment frozen in time, allowing for the deceased to be kept with dignity until burial or other final rites can be performed.

Gentle Repose is widely used in societies where burial practices are important cultural rituals, providing time for family and friends to gather and pay their respects. It is also crucial in areas where the threat of undeath is real, offering a form of protection against the desecration of loved ones.

In addition to its practical applications, Gentle Repose is a spell that speaks to the deeper understanding of life's finality. It is a gentle touch in the face of loss, a magical reassurance that the departed are cared for and honored in death as in life.

Classes: Cleric, Wizard, Bard
Source: Custom Creation


Gentle Repose is more than a mere preservation spell; it is a quiet hymn to the sanctity of rest and the respect owed to those who have passed. In its casting, one finds a connection to the timeless tradition of honoring the dead, a recognition of the sacred pause between life and what lies beyond. The spell weaves a silent, reverent space where grief can be expressed and farewells whispered, where the departed are granted peace and the living are given time to reflect and remember.