Is there an afterlife in Dungeons and Dragons?
Yes, there is an afterlife in Dungeons and Dragons, where the soul of a character departs the Material Plane, travels through the Astral Plane, and goes to abide on the plane where the creature’s deity resides, or to the plane corresponding to its alignment if it didn’t worship a deity. The afterlife in D&D is a complex and multifaceted concept, with various planes of existence and deities playing a crucial role in determining the fate of a character’s soul after death.
Understanding the Afterlife in D&D
Overview of the Afterlife
The afterlife in D&D is shaped by a character’s actions, beliefs, and alignment during their lifetime, influencing their ultimate destination and experience in the afterlife.
FAQs about the Afterlife in D&D
1. What happens when a character dies in D&D?
When a character dies, their soul departs the Material Plane, travels through the Astral Plane, and goes to abide on the plane where the creature’s deity resides, or to the plane corresponding to its alignment if it didn’t worship a deity.
2. Is there a heaven in D&D?
The Celestial Heavens, or simply Heaven, was a realm in the Spirit World, the domain of the Celestial Empire of Kara-Tur, and can be considered a form of heaven in the D&D universe.
3. Do dragons have an afterlife?
Yes, dragons also believed in reincarnation, and their traditions of the afterlife taught that the anima of a dragon remained on the plane of its deity for a time equal to its mortal life.
4. What happens when a god dies in D&D?
When a god dies, their corpse will appear on the Astral Plane as a giant stone statue of them, serving as a basis for the Githyanki to build their cities.
5. What is the death rule in D&D?
A dying character is unconscious and near death, and must make a Fortitude save to become stable, or risk dying if the save is failed.
6. What’s the afterlife in D&D?
The afterlife in D&D involves the soul traveling to various planes of existence, including the Astral Plane, and ultimately residing on a plane corresponding to their deity or alignment.
7. What is the resurrection rule in D&D?
The resurrection spell can bring a dead creature back to life, provided its soul is free and willing, and it has been dead for no more than a century.
8. What is the 65% rule in D&D?
The 65% rule refers to the idea that if a character’s abilities and attack bonus are not at least 65% of the expected value, they are less effective than intended.
9. Can gods be killed in D&D?
According to the rules, only other gods can slay gods, and mortals are generally unable to kill a god.
10. Can you become immortal in D&D?
Immortality can be achieved through various means, including becoming a lich, using the clone spell, or playing a character with access to immortality-granting abilities.
11. Can I be a god in D&D?
Becoming a god in D&D is generally subject to the DM’s discretion, and there are no set rules for achieving godhood.
12. Where do souls go after death in D&D?
Souls go to the plane where the creature’s deity resides, or to the plane corresponding to its alignment if it didn’t worship a deity, after traveling through the Astral Plane.
13. What would dragons eat if they existed?
Dragons would likely eat large prey such as pigs, sheep, buffalo, and deer, as well as seafood like fish, octopus, and lobster.
14. Who are the gods of the afterlife in D&D?
The gods of the dead include Jergal, Myrkul, Cyric, and Kelemvor, who have held sway over the afterlife in various D&D settings.
15. Where do atheists go in D&D?
Atheists are thrown into the Wall of the Faithless that surrounds Kelemvor’s City of Souls, where their souls are melded together in agony until they are either taken by demons or resurrected.