Reincarnation

Samsarans are an ancestry of beings who remember their many past reincarnations.

See also: Resurrection, Sangpotshi, and transmigration

Reincarnation is the reimplantation of a deceased mortal's soul into a new body. Similar to resurrection, reincarnation restores the soul to mortal life without receiving Pharasma's judgement; unlike resurrection, the new body differs from their previous form, sometimes dramatically so.

Magic

A soul can be incarnated into a new body through a ritual, which requires a part of the deceased mortal's remains. It can restore life to a soul only if it has not been judged by Pharasma, and only if the soul wishes to return.

The most basic form of the ritual can reincarnate the soul if less than a week has passed since their death. More powerful versions can extend that limit to up to a decade.

In such a ritual, the reincarnated soul typically assumes a new form of a random sapient ancestry but retains the knowledge and talents accumulated from its mortal life. While a failed reincarnation typically accomplishes nothing, a particularly thorough failure can instead reincarnate the soul into the body of an unintelligent animal.

In extreme circumstances, ritualistic reincarnation can also be used as a form of disguise.

Ancestry

Serpentfolk of the Coils of Ydersius intentionally practice reincarnation in order to infiltrate hated mammalian societies.

Certain ancestries have a special relationship with reincarnation.

Duskwalkers are the manifestation of souls whose lives ended prematurely. Due to a bargain between psychopomps, only a limited number of duskwalkers exist at any given time, and they can reincarnate as a duskwalker only once. Such souls reincarnate as an adolescent duskwalker in a sanctified place associated with death.

Rakshasas who abandon their duties as spiritual avatars of unholiness can reincarnate into a mortal form, which can be referred to by the wide-ranging term of "janavata".

Samsarans of Tian Xia typically follow the philosophy of Sangpotshi, which teaches a path to enlightenment through reincarnation. They reincarnate many times throughout their existence—sometimes thousands of times over—and remember all of their past reincarnations. In natural samsaran reincarnations, they always begin life anew as a baby born to a non-samsaran humanoid couple typically located in a place that held great importance to their previous life. If reincarnated through magic or other supernatural effects, they always reincarnate into a samsaran form.

Serpentfolk of the Coils of Ydersius pursue reincarnation as a means of infiltrating hostile mammalian societies for gathering intelligence or sabotaging them.

Powerful sprites who follow Sangpotshi or hail from Tian Xia can control their reincarnation to automatically reincarnate once per year as in a new sprite form.

Other means

If an especially powerful beastlord and their animal companion are both killed, they can reincarnate after a year's time as children near where they first forged their bond.

In culture

Reincarnation sometimes provides a person who died from a communal injustice another chance at living without being burdened by their past. Humanitarians might aid such reincarnated people in reconnecting to people known to their previous form and making amends.

Vudrani cultures often include a belief in reincarnation linked to cycles of self-improvement.

In religion

Shyka, shifting between incarnations.

Reincarnation is part of the areas of concern for Shyka, an Eldest who frequently changes form in a similar manner.

Angazhan demands that his followers eschew resurrection in favor of reincarnation as part of his anathema.

In magic items

Using knowledge of sprites from the Embeth Forest, Mother Nightmoss created a topical salve that can reincarnate a deceased mortal after applying it to their remains. The salve is particularly effective when applied during the night of a new moon.

Known or claimed reincarnations

• After the Godsrain of 4724 AR, a warspawn minotaur emerged on the Isle of Kortos claiming to be the reincarnation of the conquerer Voradni Voon.
• The Cult of Namzaruum in Ezida, served by the ancient Knights of the Aeon Star, seek the reincarnation of the legendary Ninshaburian king Namzaruum in Casmaron.

This list item contains spoilers for the following products: major plot points of the Spore War Pathfinder Adventure Path, particularly A Voice in the Blight..
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• The Python of the Amaranthine Oubliette.