Death on the Highland Mesa
Death is waiting for everyone. In this paradise of the highland death is implacable as ever, and ever-near.
The heroes who have settled in this wild country face far more danger than those people who live in the settled nations. In fact, all of the worst dangers throughout the world can be found in the highland as well; demons, trolls, the undead, poisonous serpents and plants, strange cultists, angry animal spirits, shades of those who died in past wars, bandits, trap-filled ruins, and who knows what else.
In addition to the dangers of the mesa, there will no doubt be some enmity among those traveling to this place; memories of old wars, old grudges between peoples from blacker times. Squabbles may spring up over the wealth to be had - fighting over spoils, advantages, deals, and politics.
Death will happen.
This is how things are likely to happen to these unfortunates:
Those who are struck down with normal blows will recover after five minutes of lying unconscious. They are Stable and are unaffected by any chance blows as they lie there. If they receive even the slightest healing to their Vitality they will immediately gain consciousness.
Those felled by skilled, mighty, or called damage will fall unconscious but will be Unstable; that is they are bleeding to death from their injuries. In one minute’s time they will Die unless one heals them or stabilizes their condition with some sort of care, binding their wounds.
The rare hero can cling to life such that instead of dying after one minute they lapse into a Fallen swoon. Those with this ability may hover on the brink of death, remaining barely alive for hours. These Fallen are helpless, cannot defend themselves, and can barely crawl if they must and if there is no one in sight who might aid them. Once reaching a common area or in sight of a fellow human being the hero collapses and cannot move further. Whereas a normally injured person is restored to activity with the smallest portion of healing, the Fallen is unable to do any more until he has been Cured of the Fallen trait. This great healing can be performed by master healers. Outside of this great knowledge healing magic may be used but, where as a person may be save from bleeding to death by the smallest amount of healing, removing the Fallen trait requires ten times that amount before it does any good whatsoever. If the Fallen receives this great healing or someone is able to Cure the hero of the Fallen condition, he lapses into normal unconsciousness. Although lying Fallen upon the field, helpless, is a fate none would wish to have, it is Far better than the alternative.
If a person falls unstable for a full minute, or lies Fallen when the night falls or sun rises, they Die.
In this mysterious land the dead lie for only five minutes before rising as a Shade, and move as if drawn by a lodestone to a strange place. All other things of this world have no effect upon it, neither may it communicate, touch, move things, nor tarry to observe events around them. Once a companion has risen as a Shade, one hopes he will find eternal rest. Shades are dangerous, whether a former friend or loved one or no. Stories of those who have treated with Shades all speak of terrible endings for the foolish meddler.