Amulet of Returning

This amulet changes shape when someone dies nearby.

The amulet can be used to cast a resurrection ritual, a modified version of Raise Dead. However, in addition to the 500 gp diamond that is consumed as part of the spell, the resurrection ritual requires additional sacrifices. Up to 3 things can be successfully done or sacrificed to lower the DC of the ritual, which starts at 10. Up to 5 things can be attempted in total. These 5 things can be done by individuals or by groups, and will each require an appropriate check. Each successful check lowers the DC or the ritual by 3. Each failure increases the DC by 2. For each time that a person has been brought back to life, including by Revivify or Raise Dead, the DC increases by 1.

Examples: sacrificing the dead's most treasured possession would be a straight roll of easy difficulty. Making an oath to sacrifice something on behalf of the dead would be a straight roll of varying difficulty, depending on the oath. Praying to the god of the devout, fallen character may require an Intelligence (Religion) check at an easy to medium difficulty, where loudly demanding the soul of the fallen to return from the aether may require a Charisma (Intimidation) check at a very hard or nearly impossible difficulty. Advantage and disadvantage can apply here based on how perfect, or off base, the contribution offered is.

If the ritual succeeds, then the dead is returned to life in the same manner as Raise Dead. The amulet instantly attunes to the wearer, granting them +1 to AC as long as they remain attuned. 

If the resurrection ritual fails, the amulet breaks. It can only be repaired at a place of magical forging and requires the sacrifice of 2d12 levels of spell slots.

This item draws inspiration and language from Matthew Mercer's resurrection rules.

Notes: Bonus: Armor Class, the last person resurrected by the amulet, Healing