When a character's Hit Points (HP) drop to 0, they fall unconscious and can no longer take actions when their turn comes. Additionally, their HP gradually deteriorate, which can lead to death if no action is taken!
Deterioration of Health Points
Each round that a character is unconscious (and not yet stabilized), they must roll their hit die (or dice) (as indicated by their class) to determine the deterioration of their health points.
The result of the roll is subtracted from their total health points, and this total is recorded as health points below zero.
If the total HP below zero is strictly greater (and not equal) than twice the maximum value of the character's Hit Dice, they die.
Death = HP below 0 > 2 x Max Value of Hit Dice
For example, a priest with 2d4 hit dice finds themselves in a state of health point deterioration.
On their turn, if no other player has stabilized them, they must roll 2d4 and add this amount to the HP below zero.
If the total HP below zero exceeds 16 (2 x 2d4), they die.
Stabilization
If a character is unconscious but has not yet reached the death threshold, other group members can attempt to stabilize them.
Each round, a character can perform an action to try to stabilize the unconscious character by succeeding in a Healing test (WIS) with a success threshold set by the Game Master (GM).
Successful Stabilization
- Simple Success: The character stabilizes the injured and stops the deterioration of their health points. The character then has 1 HP and can act again.
- Critical Success: The character recovers half of their HP.
Stabilization Failure
- Simple Failure: The character's HP continues to deteriorate when it's their turn to act.
- Critical Failure: The dying character immediately loses an amount of HP equivalent to the level of the PJ providing the aid, thus adding this amount to the deterioration of their HP.
Death and Recall
When a character succumbs, their soul departs the current plane of existence for an ethereal universe. However, they continue to observe their team, allowing them to see and hear each member but without the ability to interact with them.
Preserving the Soul
The soul of the deceased remains connected to its last universe for a maximum of 3 days.
This connection is naturally preserved for 24 hours, however, 40 NX must be sacrificed on the second and third days to maintain this connection. The NX spent belongs primarily to the deceased player but can be supplemented by other players.
If it is no longer possible to maintain the connection due to lack of NX or after the expiration of 3 days, the character's soul permanently loses its connection with the current universe and is no longer playable.
Hero Recall
If the connection with the universe is maintained, the character can be reincorporated or rematerialized through a Recall Ritual, which can be performed during a long rest.
To do this, a living companion must volunteer and sacrifice 1 XP to successfully conduct the ritual. As for the XP and AP of the recalled character, they are reset to 0 and their HP to 1. However, the level of the recalled character as well as the skills acquired remain preserved.
Characters then regain their strength during the rest in a conventional manner (see Long Rest).
Rematerialization is only possible if the body has been completely destroyed, otherwise the soul returns to its original body wherever it may be...
In the event of the death of all characters in the group, no ritual can be performed and their death will be final.