Resurrect

Resurrect is a true wonder of a healing spell, as it brings back the dead.

Spell Description
Death is a truly horrible thing, and only a wonder can return life where death once was. A wonder isn't needed once the Resurrect spell is learned! The spellcaster needs much mana, strength and experience to cast it, but if being successful, every wound heals and the deceased will return to life as if awakening from a bad dream. This makes this spell one of the most powerful ever recorded, but also one of the most taxing ones a mage can cast. Resurrect however doesn't work on victims whose bodies have been turned to ashes, or otherwise destroyed.

History
Resurrection was in the Age of Darkness not something known yet. It was not until Ultima III that healers learned the art and a spell named Surmandum became available. Even then, the process was not yet perfected and it could happen the body would burn to ashes, in which case only the spell Anju Sermani could help. With the beginning of the Age of Enlightenment, resurrection became safe with the now existing experience. Not only was it a standard service of healers - though at a hefty price - the spell, though first kept secret, allowed resurrections on the field. Strangely, the spell did vanish after Ultima VII.

Other Worlds
The ease with which Britannia discovered the power of resurrection is unknown in other worlds. On the Serpent Isle it is a well-kept secret of the Xenkan Monks and otherwise the art of resurrection is unknown. On Pagan, Stratos guards her power of resurrection jealously and only channels it through Stellos and no one else, making the process more difficult than needed to keep her monopoly.

Ultima Saga
In Lynn Abbey's Ultima Saga, the Inquisitor Lohgrin threatens to use this spell against Althea. It is said that this spell could have metaphysical repercussions.

Quote

 * "I'd die first. I'd kill myself before I'd let you touch me."


 * His smile broadened. "Such a waste, Althea." He touched her arm lightly with his smooth, dry fingers, then seized it. "A virtuous magician can restore life, at a price. Death need not be permanent."


 * "You wouldn't," Althea whispered. "You wouldn't dare." The Avatar has discovered the secret of Resurrection but the spell confounded destiny in ways neither virtue nor magic could repair. Since the Avatar's withdrawal from Britannia the spell has not been cast.

- from The Temper of Wisdom (Ultima Saga)

Trivia

 * In Ultima IV, the spell is given by Nigel, with a hint to him given by Shazom
 * After Ultima VII, the spell falls into disuse, and other methods of resurrection are found.
 * The Ultima III spell Anju Sermani is a more powerful version of this spell, to be used on bodies that have been burnt to ashes.
 * Care has to be taken to empty a dead party member's corpse of items in Ultima VII before resurrecting them, since it is entirely possible due to a bug that items can get lost. Weapons are especially prone to this bug and it's very annoying when a unique magical weapon just vanishes into nothingness.