Death curse

The death curse was an event that occurred in the late years of the 15 century DR. The curse prevented the raising of the dead, even when using resurrection spells, and caused creatures that were previously raised from death to wither and die.

Cause
The death curse was caused by a necromantic artifact called the Soulmonger within the Tomb of the Nine Gods beneath the ruins of Omu. Built by the lich Acererak, the Soulmonger absorbed the souls of the dead and those who had been raised from the dead in order to siphon them into an atropal.

Effects
While the death curse was in effect, humanoids on Toril that had been brought back from the dead began to waste away and eventually to die. Traveling to another plane or world did nothing to halt the wasting effect once it began.

If a humanoid died anywhere on Toril while the death curse was in effect, its soul became trapped inside the Soulmonger, where it began to be devoured by Acererak's atropal. Only the destruction of the Soulmonger could free the trapped souls.

Notable Individuals Affected

 * The warlord Ras Nsi.
 * The merchant prince Jessamine of Port Nyanzaru.
 * The Archmage Syndra Silvane of Baldur's Gate.