The Call of the Crypt

Though it may sound like the favored curse of a necromancer or Hag, The Call of the Crypt is a mental illness experienced exclusively by those who have been brought back to life.

It is theorized by scholar and holy man alike that when a mortal has been brought back to life by either scientific or magical means, their soul is placed from the ethereal plane, back into the material plane. The act of returning one’s soul into it’s physical body can have adverse side effect on the brain and results in an illness called The Call of the Crypt.

Devic Order of Progress member Demire wrote in “The Long Forever” one of her many analyses on death: It is far to simple to summarize The Call of the Crypt to be the result of just magical means, it ignores the very real value of biology. The mortal brain, not unlike those of the Deva, requires blood flow from the heart in order to function property. When a mortal dies, the blood in their body stops being pumped and thus, has negative impacts on the brain. It should also be noted that in instances of reincarnation where the brain is reconstructed or recreated, the psyche likely undergoes the traumatic recollection of death. These two factors should not be ignored when searching for the cause of The Call.”

Causes

Being brought back to life by any means other than the usage of the spell 'Wish'

Symptoms

The Call of the Crypt has many symptoms, all mental with physical ties. Those who suffer from the illness feel stiffness to the joints, chills, nausea, memory-loss, anxiety, and vertigo when triggered. Triggers of The Call of the Crypt normally are tied to items, words, and other factors involved with the afflicted’s death IE A sword, an individual, a spell, a location, etc.

Treatment

Due to the rarity of reincarnated individuals on Dioya, The Call of the Crypt is a rare illness, but for those who suffer from it, it can have a very real impact on the lives who are touched by it. Cures have been sought after by Druid, Doctor, and Cleric alike all across Dioya, with no luck or definitive cure.
Many who suffer have found some ease from therapy, coming to terms with their place back in the realm of the living. This is not a cure but it is a light form of treatment.

Image by Delawer-Omar

When a mortal being is brought back to life by any means other than the 'Wish' spell, they must make a CON saving throw of 13+ or be afflicted with The Call of the Crypt.
Any individual who suffers from The Call of The Crypt must roll a WIS check of 10+ before any skill or attack roll that includes an item, person, or other factor that played into the individual's death. If they succeed, they may continue to roll as normal. If they fail, they are Stunned for one turn.
For example: If the individual was killed by a sword, any time after being brought back to life they use a sword, they must make a WIS saving throw before rolling to hit.

WIS check frequency is lowered by multiples of 2 for every 10 passes an individual makes.

Type

Mental

Origin

Natural

Rarity

Unique