River of Life

The River of Life is the Reim death mechanics where your body is transported out of the material plane of existence and ultimately resurrected. It is witnessed as "a river of energy" surrounded by ethereal beings, and these beings are malevolent and filled with hatred. However, they will undergo a process of resurrecting you with your wounds left in tact, unlike the reincarnation of Lorminstra herself. This comes at the cost of ethereal energy from slaying the denizens of Reim. It is left ambiguous whose voice you hear in your head, but the messaging is reminiscent of Lorminstra in other death mechanics.

Transit

A collection of ethereal hands slowly grasp and explore your body.  The world grows cold and dark as you feel yourself slipping from this plane of existence.  Hollow faces of beings drift by your face, passing you as you sink into the earth.

[Darkness Below]
You find yourself floating in a river of energy and drifting out of your control.  Ethereal beings lurk beneath the current all around you, the shapeless forms of light with shifting faces grasping at your lifeless flesh as you pass by.
Obvious paths: none

[You are currently set to use the REIM DEATH system.  To change this use the REIM DEATH command.]
 [You may also DEPART while within the ethereal river.  This will remove you forcibly to where you entered Reim from still dead.  You will be automatically transported to the river in 60 seconds.
 NOTE: THIS WILL NOT MAKE YOU DECAY WHILE ON THE RIVER.]

A vessel rises up from the darkness around your body, carrying you further down the ethereal river.

[The River of Life]
Your body is surrounded by a blackened vessel drifting down with the flow of energy.  It dawns on you that you are not alone, as opposite from your body is a hooded figure.  Ethereal flames burn from where there would be eyes; his arms hold a slender pole pushing the vessel onward.
Obvious paths: none

Small ethereal coins appear in a dizzying haze of light in front of your face.  Within moments they sink down over your eyes, temporarily blinding you.
The hooded figure aboard your vessel propels you further with a mighty shove of his pole.

[The Cavern of Life]
Illuminating the chamber overhead are a countless number of ethereal bolts of energy, swimming effortlessly across the sky.  On either side of the ethereal river are humanoid shapes, their eyes burning with hatred towards you.  Helpless on your quest along the river, a strange tingling sensation fills your body from within your core.
Obvious paths: none

Pulses of energy crackle across the surface of your body as the figure aboard your vessel begins to chant.
A thunderous voice reverberates through your mind as your extremities twitch in response.

The hooded figure aboard your vessel pulls forth a small glowing flask.  Glancing over your body it leans forward and pours a bit of its flask on your neck.
The figure smirks before slamming its hand into your chest.  You feel your body twitch involuntarily as you feel drained.

The hooded figure aboard your vessel pulls forth a small glowing flask.  Glancing over your body it leans forward and pours a bit of its flask on your right arm.

The figure speaks in a harsh tone, "You will know suffering!"  You watch in horror as the figure drives an ethereal fist down into your chest fishing around a moment before pulling out something glowing.

The hooded figure aboard your vessel pulls forth a small glowing flask.  Glancing over your body it leans forward and pours a bit of its flask on your chest.
The figure speaks in a harsh tone, "You will know suffering!"  You watch in horror as the figure drives an ethereal fist down into your chest fishing around a moment before pulling out something glowing.

The hooded figure aboard your vessel propels you further with a mighty shove of his pole.

[Energy Falls]
The thunder of a waterfall of energy booms throughout the chamber as it narrows.  The figure once in the vessel with you stands to the side, the sleeves of its baggy robe folded across its chest.  Your vision swimming in a sea of light, you submit to your end.
Obvious paths: none

You find yourself blinded by an intense light as you tumble down the energy falls.

A soft voice whispers into your ear, "It is not yet your time, XXXXX; however, you must pay the price to live again."

The figure reaches into your pockets and takes your silvers, which he tosses into the energy river.
The figure places its hand on your chest.  You watch as some of your gathered energy evaporates from your body.

[A Cavernous Approach]
The path ends on a small platform, where hanging just out of reach over the crater are some massive chains, swaying back and forth.  The ceiling of the cavern is carved out in a circular shape surrounding the chains as they continue skyward.  Dense banks of clouds cling to the opening in the ceiling, blotting out any light from above.  You also see a large camp and a decrepit old man.
Obvious exits: out

Your ears are pummeled by the sound of howling wind.  You blink rapidly as you become aware of your surroundings.  Staring up upward you see a thin trail of ethereal energy rise up from your body, dissipating into the sky above.

Your vision turns white as a strangely familiar voice enters your thoughts, "You may only travel the river once a day."  The voice echoes slightly before continuing, "Be more careful wanderer."

SK>health
You have minor bruises about the head, snapped bones and serious bleeding from the neck, a fractured and bleeding right arm, some minor cuts and bruises on your left arm, deep gashes and serious bleeding from your chest, and minor cuts and bruises on your abdominal area.

    Maximum Health Points: 115
  Remaining Health Points: 71
  You are feeling light headed.

    Maximum Spirit Points: 6
  Remaining Spirit Points: 1

    Maximum Stamina Points: 60
  Remaining Stamina Points: 60

Behind the Scenes

This is possibly a modern retcon of its meaning in Shadow World, where in later books the soul drifted along the flows of essence between the world and the Gates of Oblivion. In Shadow World Master Atlas Addendum (1990), page 67, the water of the River of Life has wide healing powers, including: resurrection of any reasonably intact body, heal any wound or organ damage, remove any poison or disease, make any non-evil weapon holy, and destroy or incapacitate any unholy weapon. In the Order of Vult (Modern: Voln) monastery the cleansing pool in the courtyard is implied to be waters gifted from the river, but for us it only cleanses "worldly pollutions". However, the "River of Life" as a phrase was itself borrowed, as it is Biblical. In the Book of Revelation it flows from the altar of God to the Garden of Eden.