Resurrection

Resurrection is the process by which the Soul of a deceased mortal re-attaches itself to a body capable of supporting life on the Material Plane. It is different from reanimation (the recreation of a spark of life via necromancy) in that the soul gets to choose whether or not to accept reincarnation, and fully returns without any geas or diminishment imposed upon it by its resurrector.
The vast majority of resurrections are performed by a Cleric. Some simple resurrection methods can be performed by a sufficiently powerful Bard or Paladin, and one particular method is used exclusively by Druid circles (known as Druidic Reincarnation).

Types of resurrection

Simple Resurrection

Any type of magic that heals the basic symptoms of the initial cause of death and invites the soul back into its initial body is considered simple resurrection. Revivify is an example of a simple resurrection spell. Traditionally, certain deaths cannot be healed by simple resurrection alone: namely, any severance of a vital body part (such as the head, the bowels, or the entirety of a limb that connects to a major artery) cannot be a target of simple resurrection. In recent decades, however, some successful resurrections have happened via simple resurrection spells where a vital severed body part was merely held onto the body, and the connection was regrown. Famous examples include Gepopo and Blanche de la Force, both of whom were resurrected via simple resurrection after decapitations (in Y1093 and Y1110, respectively).

Regenerative Resurrection

Any magic that restores entire organs or limbs in order for the body to continue functioning after death is a matter of regenerative reconstruction. Regenerative resurrection methods are much more powerful and involved, and reserved for only the most devout and highly trained of clerics.
The Clone spell is a particularly infamous and gruesome example of regenerative resurrection. It requires an inch of flesh and a mouthful of blood, taken from the person to be cloned and smeared across the bottom of an enchanted, jewel-encrusted coffin. Over three months, the smear of flesh and blood will slowly multiply and fill the coffin, growing a replica body in perfect youth and health. If the owner of the cloned body dies, their soul may immediately jump to the cloned body, at which point it is revived.

Druidic Reincarnation

A notable subtype of regenerative resurrection is Druidic Reincarnation, in which a new body is grown from the essence of the world around the soul before the soul is invited back. These new bodies always align well with the gender of the soul, but rarely match their initial species.
This method is traditionally unique to druids and those who have explicitly studied druidic magic. A notable exception is found in Necromancer Mercédès, a professor at the @wizarding, and her necromancy studio. Professor Mercédès has conducted extensive study into this ritual, writing multiple books on the topic in the 1050s through 1070s. She used the method in Y1110 to resurrect Samuel Stanley, with the help of his boyfriend Brad Minors. Atypically for necromancers, both pursued further instruction in the method, and have since used it over a dozen times to resurrect those who died in the February Y1111 Brightwater tsunami.

Lasting Consequences

Death always leaves at least one indelible scar. —Adventurers' proverb

Death touches a soul, and even the most powerful and seemingly seemless methods of regenerative resurrection do not leave the subject untouched. Scars that relate to the manner of death manifest after all resurrections; a scar from a typically markless death, such as drowning or smoke inhalation, may manifest more symbolically, appearing as anything from an eye color change to a tattoo-like symbol. These physical changes can never quite be covered up with either makeup or illusory magic, though a skilled Illusionist will be able to work the anomaly in one's appearance into an easily-explained part of a believable disguise.
More peculiarly, both first-hand journals and interviews with those who have died and the findings of dedicated sages report changes in personality and habits after death. These Death Changes stack and manifest more strongly the more times someone is resurrected. They can often be predicted and interpreted by a Diviner via a method called the Death Tarot. After a certain number of deaths (which seems to vary, but never exceed five), the target's soul seems to grow too fragmented and scrambled to come back at all.

Localization

Taboos

House Almaviva forbids its members to be resurrected. According to family legend, their willingness to serve King Oberon and Queen Titania during their short mortal lives opens a pathway for them to Arborea in the life beyond, and they would be fools to return.
Resurrection is a felony within the city limits of Dancamort. Once a person dies, their soul legally belongs to the gods of death, and any attempt to return it to the living is both blasphemy and theft. Anyone seen resurrecting a dead body is liable to be killed on sight by the Chain of Charon.

Type

Metaphysical, Divine