Rodriguez
Disability in the Afterlife
In 1 Corinthians 15:42-49, Paul briefly ponders what bodies will look like when we awaken in the spiritual realm, saying “there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one thing, and that of the earthly is another.” Basically, no one knows what our bodies will look like in the world to come, but it is reasonable to assume they will be an “idealized version of ourselves,” whatever that means to the individual. For many people, this likely means an end to their physical and mental disabilities.
However, our minds and bodies have a way of shaping our identity - our sense of who we are. For example, one person may feel that their reliance on a prosthetic is a hindrance, another person may feel that their prosthetic is an extension of their own body, and an integral part of their physical identity. As a result, the diversity of human bodies in the afterlife is likely to be diverse as it is in the Physical Realm, with some people choosing to be freed from aspects of their physical form that they did not like, and others choosing to embrace their disability as an eternal part of who they are. This is why some people (like Rodney or Rodriguez) may appear in this adventure with a disability, even though they have already entered the afterlife.
Rodriguez
Rodriguez always dreamed of growing up to be a pilot, and when she was old enough, she enlisted in the military, becoming a combat pilot. During a training mission early in her career, an accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. This injury led to a dark period in her life as she reevaluated everything she had once believed in. However, these years of reflection also led her to a renewed appreciation of her faith. Rodriguez went on to use her talents as a pilot to support various charity organizations. Her new aircraft (which was modified to allow her wheelchair to integrate with the cockpit) went on to save many lives by delivering medical supplies to hospitals in remote locations, and evacuating victims of natural disasters from danger zones.
Rodriguez as an Elder. In keeping with the re-imagined mission for her life, Rodriguez has desired to remain behind as an Elder to serve as a pilot for, as she imagines it, the “final air evacuation.” Rodriguez’s specialized aircraft, which she always considered an extension of her body, is also along for the ride.
Rodriguez
Medium Humanoid, Lawful Good
Armor Class: 9
Hit Points: 72 (16d8)
Speed: 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 (-1) | 9 (-1) | 10 (+0) | 16 (+3) | 16 (+3) | 12 (+1) |
Saving Throws: Dex +4, Int +8, Wis +8
Skills: Medicine +8, Perception +8, Survival +8
Senses: passive perception 13
Languages: Common, English, Spanish
Challenge: 9 (5,000 XP) Proficiency: +5
Features
Special Equipment: Rodriguez is always accompanied by a specially modified aircraft (Rotorcraft stats). She can pilot this aircraft as normal by docking her wheelchair with the cockpit; however, she can also pilot the aircraft remotely using the controls on her wheelchair and a specialized display on her glasses.
Tech Specialist: Rodriguez has expertise in vehicles and modern technology. She gains a +13 bonus to any checks that involve vehicles or manipulating technology systems.
Wheelchair: Rodriguez uses a specially designed wheelchair for mobility, which has the following features:
- She has advantage on saving throws made against
effects that would knock her prone.
- Moving in difficult terrain costs her 2 extra feet of
movement speed (moving 1 foot costs 4 feet of speed).
Actions
Air Strike (4/Day): Rodriguez signals her aircraft to launch a missile at a point she can see within 240 feet, where the projectile explodes in a 40-foot-sphere. Each creature in this area must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw, taking 27 (6d8) piercing damage plus 18 (5d6) fire damage on a failed saving throw, or half as much on a success.
Azrael's Guide to the Apocalypse, printed page 245.