Resurrection and the Hollow Price

In the world of Aethervale, death is rarely the end, but returning from it is never free. Resurrection is not a simple spell; it is a violent act of "Aetheric Re-anchoring" that defies the natural flow of the Currents.

The Mechanics of the Return

To bring a soul back, a cleric or necromancer must perform three simultaneous acts:

The Call: Locating the Spark within the Aetheric Currents. The longer the subject has been dead, the further the Spark has drifted, and the harder it is to pull back.
The Vessel: Repairing the physical body to a state where it can once again hold Aetheric charge.
The Anchor: Sacrificing a massive amount of "Refined Aether" (usually in the form of high-grade crystals) to act as a temporary magnet, dragging the Spark back into the flesh.

The Hollow Price

Every resurrection leaves a "Scar" on the soul. This is known as The Hollowing.

The Loss of Hue: Those returned often report that the world looks "greyer." Food loses its taste, music loses its melody, and emotions become muffled.
Aetheric Hunger: A resurrected individual is no longer a self-sustaining Aetheric entity. They must periodically "feed" on ambient Aether (or even the life-force of others) to keep their soul from drifting away again.
The Fragmented Ego: Memories are often lost during the transition. A resurrected hero might remember how to fight, but forget the face of their spouse or the reason they were fighting in the first place.

The "Twice-Born" Stigma

In many societies, particularly in Steamfort and the rural Eastern Continent, the resurrected are viewed with deep suspicion. They are called the "Twice-Born" or "Echoes."

Ecclesiastical Law: The Church of the Seven Saints officially permits resurrection only for the most "Essential Servants of the Faith." Unsanctioned resurrection is treated as a form of high necromancy, punishable by "True Dissolution."
The Bound: Some believe the Twice-Born are no longer people, but merely "Aetheric Puppets" controlled by whatever entity pulled them back.

The Ultimate Cost: The Anchor's Burden

The one who performs the resurrection often pays a price as well. Pulling a soul back requires the caster to "reach into the Current." This often results in Current-Sickness—a permanent depletion of the caster's own magical potential or, in extreme cases, the caster's soul being pulled into the Aether in the subject's place.