Dawn of the Returned

In a city as charged with magic, both light and dark, as Kunrai, death is common and often unexpected. But the same magic that can so easily take a life has been known to restore it. Almost everyone knows of a fisherman who drowned at sea, only to make their way back to the world of the living by some miracle. Soldiers speak in hushed tones of fallen companions who rose from the battlefield, surrounded by a golden nimbus, to fight alongside their allies. And no one doubts the dark presence of the Drinking Court and their eternal thirst for blood.
Whenever a mortal returns from the land of shades, they are marked by the experience. The Returned can sense one another on sight, and feel an instinctive kinship with others who have shared their experiences beyond life. While they are not always friends, the Returned rarely see each other as enemies. Having once died, they are far more likely to adopt a "live and let live" attitude where others of their kind are concerned.
And on the first morning of Life Tide, the Returned are drawn to a hidden location in Kunrai's lowest levels. Though the site changes every year, those who have died and come back to tell the tale never have a problem finding. Nor are they able to resist its call if they are within the city's bounds. When they arrive at the location, the Returned are treated to a simple meal and a single mug of mead. They eat together and reminisce about their experiences.
Then, when they have finished their meal and mead, the Returned depart their hidden revel to rejoin the world of mortals. Some claim this yearly birthday party reminds them of how precious life is, while others feel as if it is a warning that death lurks around every corner, and the next time they meet might be their last.