Gentle Repose

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• Level: 2
• School: Necromancy
• Class: Cleric, Paladin, Wizard
• Casting Time: Action or Ritual
• Range: Touch
• Components: V, S, M (2 Copper Pieces, which the spell consumes)
• Duration: 10 days

You touch a corpse or other remains. For the duration, the target is protected from decay and can't become Undead.

The spell also effectively extends the time limit on raising the target from the dead, since days spent under the influence of this spell don't count against the time limit of spells such as Raise Dead.

Tactical Usage

Gentle Repose serves as essential insurance for adventuring parties, effectively pausing the countdown on resurrection magic while preserving valuable remains. Cast this immediately after party member deaths to extend your options for recovery. The 10-day duration provides ample time to reach civilization or acquire necessary resources for more powerful restoration magic.

As a ritual spell, Gentle Repose can be cast without expending spell slots during downtime, making it economical for preserving multiple corpses or maintaining protection on valuable remains. This flexibility makes it invaluable for parties exploring dangerous areas far from resurrection services.

The dual-casting option (action or ritual) allows tactical flexibility. Use action casting during combat aftermath when immediate preservation is critical, or ritual casting when time permits and spell slot conservation matters. The spell works on any corpse or remains, not just party members, enabling strategic preservation of important NPCs or enemies for later questioning.

Spell Combinations

Gentle Repose forms the foundation of comprehensive death-prevention strategies. Combine with Speak with Dead to gather information from preserved corpses without risking undead transformation. The spell ensures interrogation subjects remain available for multiple questioning sessions over extended periods.

Layer with Protection from Evil and Good when dealing with corpses in areas with high undead activity. While Gentle Repose prevents the target from becoming undead, it doesn't protect against external necromantic influences. Consecrate or Hallow can provide additional safeguards for long-term preservation.

For advanced preservation strategies, combine with Clone preparation. Gentle Repose maintains the original body while clone magic develops, providing backup options if the clone process fails. Sending can coordinate with distant allies about resurrection timing while preserved bodies remain stable.

Material Component Details

The 2 copper pieces consumed by Gentle Repose represent a minimal but meaningful cost. These coins are typically placed on the corpse's eyes in traditional burial practices, creating both mechanical and narrative significance. The copper's symbolic value represents the price of peaceful rest.

Most adventurers carry sufficient copper for multiple castings, but extended expeditions might require careful rationing. Consider the economic impact in impoverished areas where copper pieces might be scarce. Some cultures use alternative small denomination coins that function equally well.

The consumed nature means the spell cannot be counterspelled through component removal, but thieves might steal copper from corpses if left unattended. Store additional copper separately from other valuables to ensure spell availability when needed. Some clerics consecrate copper pieces specifically for this purpose.

Creator Notes

Gentle Repose prevents common horror scenarios while creating new narrative opportunities. The spell eliminates zombie movie dynamics where party member corpses threaten the group, allowing focus on resurrection logistics rather than undead combat. Use this to reduce player anxiety about character death consequences.

For campaign pacing, remember that Gentle Repose extends resurrection timelines significantly. Characters who die early in adventures can be preserved throughout entire story arcs, preventing rushed resurrection quests. This allows for more dramatic resurrection moments and better story integration.

The spell creates interesting moral dilemmas around corpse preservation. NPCs might request preservation of family members, creating ongoing obligations for the party. Some cultures view corpse preservation as interfering with natural death processes, potentially creating social conflicts around spell usage.

Environmental Interactions

Gentle Repose functions independently of environmental conditions but interacts meaningfully with various burial customs and supernatural influences. In areas with high necromantic energy, the spell provides crucial protection against ambient undead creation. Desert environments benefit significantly from decay prevention.

Cold environments naturally slow decay, making Gentle Repose less immediately necessary but still valuable for complete preservation. Conversely, tropical or swamp environments accelerate decomposition, making the spell critical for corpse preservation in such climates.

Certain magical environments might interfere with or enhance the spell's effects. Areas of positive energy might extend duration, while negative energy regions could require higher-level spell slots to maintain effectiveness. Some consecrated ground provides natural preservation that stacks with magical effects.

Common Rulings & Clarifications

Target Requirements: The spell affects corpses and other remains, including partial remains like severed limbs. It doesn't require a complete body but works best with substantial portions. Skeletal remains and heavily decomposed corpses can still benefit from preservation.

Undead Prevention: The spell prevents the target from becoming undead through any means - natural environmental effects, necromantic spells, or cursed conditions. This protection is absolute within the spell's duration but doesn't remove existing undead conditions.

Resurrection Compatibility: Days under Gentle Repose don't count against resurrection time limits. This means a body preserved for 8 days still counts as 2 days dead for Raise Dead purposes. The preservation effectively stops the resurrection clock.

Ritual Casting Timing: The ritual version requires 10 minutes but can be interrupted without losing the spell slot. Multiple attempts can be made if necessary, making ritual casting reliable despite potential interruptions.

Alternative Applications

Gentle Repose excels in forensic and investigative scenarios beyond resurrection preparation. Preserve crime scene victims for detailed magical examination later. Detect Magic, Zone of Truth, and Speak with Dead work more effectively on well-preserved remains.

For historical research, the spell allows preservation of ancient remains for extended study. Archaeologists and scholars benefit significantly from preventing further decay while conducting research. This application proves valuable for campaigns involving historical mysteries or ancient civilizations.

Military applications include preserving fallen soldiers for proper burial rites or identification purposes. The spell enables respectful handling of war dead while preventing battlefield corpses from becoming undead threats. This usage resonates strongly in campaigns with military themes.

Related Spells

Death Prevention: Death Ward prevents death before it occurs, while Revivify provides immediate resurrection. Raise Dead and Resurrection offer more powerful restoration options that work well with Gentle Repose preparation.

Corpse Interaction: Speak with Dead benefits from preserved subjects, while Animate Dead cannot affect protected corpses. Soul Cage provides alternative ways to preserve aspects of the deceased.

Duration Extension: Extend Spell metamagic can increase duration, while Permanency effects might make preservation indefinite. Clone provides ultimate backup preservation through magical duplication.

Scaling Analysis

As a 2nd-level spell, Gentle Repose maintains consistent utility throughout all campaign levels. Early-level parties benefit from affordable corpse preservation, while high-level groups use it as standard death preparation protocol. The spell's value increases with party wealth and resurrection spell access.

The 10-day duration scales well with adventure pacing. Early adventures might complete within days, making preservation sufficient for immediate resurrection. Higher-level adventures spanning weeks or months might require multiple castings or permanent preservation solutions.

Resource scaling becomes important as parties accumulate valuable NPCs or allies whose preservation matters. The minimal copper cost allows routine casting, but tracking multiple preserved corpses can become a logistical challenge requiring careful campaign management.

Narrative Flavor

Gentle Repose manifestation should reflect the caster's magical tradition and cultural background. Divine casters might invoke peaceful rest and divine protection, while arcane users could create preservative energy fields. The copper coins traditionally placed on eyes create strong visual elements.

The preservation effect appears as suspended animation rather than mummification. Bodies retain their appearance at the moment of death, creating potentially emotional moments when allies view preserved companions. Describe the unnatural stillness and perfect preservation.

Different cultures might have unique traditions around Gentle Repose application. Some societies might require ritual preparation, while others view it as standard medical practice. These cultural elements can add depth to campaign settings while highlighting the spell's significance in death-conscious societies.