When a noble is killed in battle or dies, the body is moved into the province as an item which may be found with EXPLORE. An executed noble's body is given to the character who performed the execution.
A dead body exists for one and one half game years, at which point it fully decomposes, and the dead noble's spirit passes on.
Example: A dead body rots after twelve months have passed, so if a noble dies in turn 20, his body will decompose at the end of turn 32.
The bodies of nobles lost at sea will wash ashore somewhere.
Bodies decompose after one and one half years regardless of whether they remain in the province or are possesions of another.
Priests may learn a skill Lay to rest, hastening the passing of the dead noble's spirit. Some exceptionally skilled priests possess the ability to resurrect dead characters.
In general, NP's invested in characters are returned to the character's player if the character deserts or his body decomposes.
Characters which renounce service becaused of lapsed contract or fear loyalty do not immediately return the NPs to the previous owner. The previous owner of these characters will not receive NPs for them until they swear to a new player faction or die.
When a body decomposes, the number of NP's which were invested in the character are returned to the original owner.