There is the story of Pyrogenes. After taking a thousand curses, the
craft fell upon him to breathe life into those whom death had stricken
but whose blood still retained some vestige of warmth. Pyrogenes took
no importance in the trappings of renown or status, and so kept quiet
his power, using it only to revive the beloved departed of those
few close to him. Even they he swore to secrecy, and for he was a man
who picked companions worthy of trust, his ability remained hidden
from the craven world.

It was only at the Battle of Thermopyle that Pyrogenes was revealed as
touched. The rivers of blood that stained that day took his closest
friends. Pyrogenes hunted for their bodies, breathing vitae back into
they who had passed the veil, and they rose and were renewed. But
though breathing life could call what was gone back from oblivion, it
did not mend all damages to the body. So when Pyrogenes' brother, a
legionaire, was revived, he lay down to rest, his body still broken
with wounds. When the sun set, Pyrogenes met him again, thinking him
twice dead or forgetting in the horror of that day if he imparted to
his sibling the gift of second life. Pyrogenes breathed life into him
once more, but waking he drew an unworldly scream, and his body turned
blue and shriveled as he convulsed into eternal darkness. So breathing
life a second time was fatal.

The scream shattered the heavens and all had seen what Pyrogenes had
done. The soldiers left alive tried him as a murderer, for though none
were more grieved than he, his breathing life had been seen and
they feared it. Two soldiers restrained him as the crime of
kin-slaying was recounted unto Pyrogenes. Not a word passed his lips
nor expression disturbed his face during the trial. When his guilt was
pronounced, a soldier unsheathed his sword to execute him. But before
the blow could be struck, Pyrogenes became a scarab and flying into
the air vanished from sight of those beholden