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Knowledge is power, they say... but even more, knowledge is knowledge.

The Libararian's Books

Deade as Ad Avis? Thy Undeade yn alle theyre Gory (excerpt)

Rusalki are drowned maidens whose death occurred under suspicious circumstances. Typically, a Rusalka is betrayed by her lover, very often such a betrayal occurring on the wedding night. She may be murdered, or she may have committed suicide, but the concensus is that the lover is the betrayer.

Rusalki are bound by the very nature of their Undead being to remain in the lake or body of water in which they perished, such lakes often acquiring the reputation for being haunted. There, a Rusalka will typically lure any men she sees into the water, her allurement increased by the Unnatural beauty gained upon becoming a Rusalka. When a man kisses a Rusalka, his life force is drained, and he dies almost immediately. A Rusalka's power is increased with every man who thus perishes.

Being Undead, Rusalki have no souls… but they long to regain the soul that was lost at the time of their death, even though in most cases the desire is quite unconscious. A Rusalka can only be released if her betrayer is punished, or if the wrong that has been done to her is righted – followed by the Release Rusalka ceremony. (See below.)

As has been said, Rusalki are bound to the lake in which they died – unless they have access to Wlita leaves. The consumption of Wlita leaves enables Rusalki to leave the lake and to walk among men like ordinary women. Their powers remain, although their memory is affected quite significantly. In this form, they are all the more dangerous for their lack of conscious realisation. There is no doubt that unbound Rusalki seek to free themselves from their Undead state, but only two successful instances of this are known. Other cases are almost certain to have occurred, however.

A man must beware of the Kiss of the Rusalka, whether she is in her Lake or unbound… unless he himself partakes of Wlita leaves. This aspect of the Wlita leaves is relatively unknown, and care must be taken in ingesting the leaves, as addiction and hallucinations shall occur over a prolonged period of time.

The betrayer of a Rusalka may in many instances be long dead... but his mere death is not sufficient to release a Rusalka. If he is dead, his bones must be given to Yird-swine, and his heart must be utterly destroyed by fire. If this is not possible, there is only one solution, and that is for a hero to go into the very depths of the Realm of the Dead, and bring the betrayer's soul up to the Land of the Living, in order for him to face the Rusalka whom he betrayed. Vengeance is usually swift in such an instance. (Ideally, for the best results, both the body and the soul should be obtained.)

To enter The Realm of the Dead is the quest of a brave hero indeed. High level magic users may have up-to-date information on how to reach the Realm.

* The Release Rusalka ceremony entails three steps. Firstly, the Rusalka's physical corpse must be found. This is usually a highly unpleasant and difficult job, and may entail travelling to the past. The Archmage Spelucetia's assistance may be sought in such a case.
The second step entails the placing of the Rusalka's corpse upon the Altar of Eternity, in the Temple of Ichbin, just outside Pallmor. (Note: this Temple is on no map… it is difficult to find, but not impossible.)
The third step is the reciting of the words below, accompanied by prayer and the sprinkling of blessed water upon the corpse. "Mighty Ichbin, behold this sufferer, an innocent victim of the betrayal of man. Grant her release from the state of Undead twilight, that the night may pass, and the dawn of new life come. Restore her soul from the starry expanses, where it has long dreamed. Bless her now, that life may fill her, and the long age of chilled Undead be forgotten. This I ask, Ichbin, in the knowledge of my own regard for this maiden, and my own blamelessness."
Upon completion of this ceremony, the Rusalka Undead will immediately collapse into a pool of water, and the Rusalka's corpse will be restored. She will be quite human, with only a few extra "powers" to differentiate her from any human maiden.