Lich - Revision history

Marcule at 17:30, 28 July 2022

2022-07-28T17:30:29Z

Tao alexis at 03:10, 6 June 2022

2022-06-06T03:10:20Z

Tao alexis at 01:48, 16 April 2022

2022-04-16T01:48:25Z

Tao alexis at 19:50, 11 December 2021

2021-12-11T19:50:33Z

Tao alexis at 21:41, 8 October 2021

2021-10-08T21:41:00Z

Tao alexis at 20:34, 2 October 2021

2021-10-02T20:34:12Z

Tao alexis at 20:51, 6 November 2020

2020-11-06T20:51:23Z

Tao alexis: /* Advantages */

2020-09-02T05:20:06Z

Advantages

Tao alexis at 23:38, 22 August 2020

2020-08-22T23:38:29Z

Tao alexis: /* Advantages */

2020-08-22T23:03:51Z

Advantages

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 The '''lich''', also [https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=lich "litch" or "lych"], meaning a body or a corpse, is sometimes addressed as '''lichama,''' "the undead spirit using the body as a covering."  The lich appears as a skeleton swathed in clothes that have rotted over time, with eyesockets that are black pools, with glowing points of light, from which the undead soul looks outwards.  They are often mistaken at first glance for a [[Wight|wight]].
-[[File:Lich.jpg|left|350px]]
+[[File:Lich.jpg|left|350px|thumb]]
-Due to its appearance and state of mind, a lich must usually retreat to some lost ruin, where it endeavours to surround itself with allies such as minor undead, criminals who fear the lich's power or other evil beings willing to ally themselves.  As the lich is a [[Intelligence (ability stat)|supra-genius]], it knows that having fodder to stand between it and its enemies allows cover, so that the lich can employ its magic from hiding.  Though insane and dangerous, a lich is always guided by its self-interest; it therefore engages with lesser beings in order to keep their support, until such time as it's needful to sacrifice such disposable fools in moments of necessity.  A lich expects to live for centuries; it doesn't care about wealth, so it can afford to be generous; but it feels no duty to any except itself.
 == Origin & Survival ==
@@ Line 47: / Line 48: @@
 See [[Bestiary]]
-[[Category: Don't Review until 2022]]
+[[Category: Don't Review until 2024]]

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 | attack = touch
 | dmg = 1–10
-| special = [[Fear (effect)|fear]], [[Magic to Hit|magic to hit]], [[Magic Defenses|magic defenses]],<br>[[Natural Immunities|natural immunities]], [[Paralysation|paralysation]],<br>[[Demonic Possession|possession]], [[Spellcasting|spellcasting]]
+| special = [[Fear|fear]], [[Magic to Hit|magic to hit]], [[Magic Defenses|magic defenses]],<br>[[Natural Immunities|natural immunities]], [[Paralysation|paralysation]],<br>[[Demonic Possession|possession]], [[Spellcasting|spellcasting]]
 }}

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 A lich has very little reason to attack any creature in hand-to-hand [[Melee|melee]]; however, if it should, the lich has a touch so cold that if it '''lays its hand''' upon a being, it will cause 1-10 damage.  [[Armour List|Armour]] and clothes cannot protect the victim against this touch, and so the lich [[Roll to Hit|need only hit]] [[Armour Class|armour class]] (AC) 10 — which, for a lich, is a natural 4 on a d20.  Dexterity bonuses are applicable, to dodge this touch, but [[Magic Armour|magical armour]] or [[Magic Protection|protection devices]] are useless against the lich, which knows how to subvert these defenses.  Additionally, any touched creature must '''save vs. paralysation''', or be rendered helpless for 2-5 hours.
-Because of the lich's undead nature, though it wears no armour and appears to have no protection, the creature possesses an AC of 0.  It can only be hit with '''magical weapons'''.  It is '''immune''' to [[Charm|charm]], [[Sleep (spell)|sleep]], [[Ray of Enfeeblement (spell)|enfeeblement]], [[Polymorph Other (spell)|polymorph other]] and [[Shape Change (spell)|shape change]], [[Cold-based Attacks|cold-based attacks]], [[Electrical Attack|electricity]], spells that cause damage or [[Death|death]].
+Because of the lich's undead nature, though it wears no armour and appears to have no protection, the creature possesses an AC of 0.  It can only be hit with '''magical weapons'''.  It is '''immune''' to [[Charm|charm]], [[Sleep (spell)|sleep]], [[Ray of Enfeeblement (spell)|enfeeblement]], [[Polymorph Other (spell)|polymorph other]] and [[Shape Change (spell)|shape change]], [[Cold-based Attacks|cold-based attacks]], [[Electro-based Attacks|electricity]], spells that cause damage or [[Death|death]].
 == Spells ==

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 A lich has very little reason to attack any creature in hand-to-hand [[Melee|melee]]; however, if it should, the lich has a touch so cold that if it '''lays its hand''' upon a being, it will cause 1-10 damage.  [[Armour List|Armour]] and clothes cannot protect the victim against this touch, and so the lich [[Roll to Hit|need only hit]] [[Armour Class|armour class]] (AC) 10 — which, for a lich, is a natural 4 on a d20.  Dexterity bonuses are applicable, to dodge this touch, but [[Magic Armour|magical armour]] or [[Magic Protection|protection devices]] are useless against the lich, which knows how to subvert these defenses.  Additionally, any touched creature must '''save vs. paralysation''', or be rendered helpless for 2-5 hours.
-Because of the lich's undead nature, though it wears no armour and appears to have no protection, the creature possesses an AC of 0.  It can only be hit with '''magical weapons'''.  It is '''immune''' to [[Charm|charm]], [[Sleep (spell)|sleep]], [[Ray of Enfeeblement (spell)|enfeeblement]], [[Polymorph Other (spell)|polymorph other]] and [[Shape Change (spell)|shape change]], [[Cold-based Attack|cold-based attacks]], [[Electrical Attack|electricity]], spells that cause damage or [[Death|death]].
+Because of the lich's undead nature, though it wears no armour and appears to have no protection, the creature possesses an AC of 0.  It can only be hit with '''magical weapons'''.  It is '''immune''' to [[Charm|charm]], [[Sleep (spell)|sleep]], [[Ray of Enfeeblement (spell)|enfeeblement]], [[Polymorph Other (spell)|polymorph other]] and [[Shape Change (spell)|shape change]], [[Cold-based Attacks|cold-based attacks]], [[Electrical Attack|electricity]], spells that cause damage or [[Death|death]].
 == Spells ==

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 A lich has very little reason to attack any creature in hand-to-hand [[Melee|melee]]; however, if it should, the lich has a touch so cold that if it '''lays its hand''' upon a being, it will cause 1-10 damage.  [[Armour List|Armour]] and clothes cannot protect the victim against this touch, and so the lich [[Roll to Hit|need only hit]] [[Armour Class|armour class]] (AC) 10 — which, for a lich, is a natural 4 on a d20.  Dexterity bonuses are applicable, to dodge this touch, but [[Magic Armour|magical armour]] or [[Magic Protection|protection devices]] are useless against the lich, which knows how to subvert these defenses.  Additionally, any touched creature must '''save vs. paralysation''', or be rendered helpless for 2-5 hours.
-Because of the lich's undead nature, though it wears no armour and appears to have no protection, the creature possesses an AC of 0.  It can only be hit with '''magical weapons'''.  It is '''immune''' to [[Charm Spell|charm]], [[Sleep (spell)|sleep]], [[Ray of Enfeeblement (spell)|enfeeblement]], [[Polymorph Other (spell)|polymorph other]] and [[Shape Change (spell)|shape change]], [[Cold-based Attack|cold-based attacks]], [[Electrical Attack|electricity]], spells that cause damage or [[Death|death]].
+Because of the lich's undead nature, though it wears no armour and appears to have no protection, the creature possesses an AC of 0.  It can only be hit with '''magical weapons'''.  It is '''immune''' to [[Charm|charm]], [[Sleep (spell)|sleep]], [[Ray of Enfeeblement (spell)|enfeeblement]], [[Polymorph Other (spell)|polymorph other]] and [[Shape Change (spell)|shape change]], [[Cold-based Attack|cold-based attacks]], [[Electrical Attack|electricity]], spells that cause damage or [[Death|death]].
 == Spells ==

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 }}
-The '''lich''', also [https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=lich "litch" or "lych"], meaning a body or a corpse, is sometimes addressed as '''lichama,''' "the undead spirit using the body as a covering."  The lich appears as a skeleton swathed in clothes that have rotted over time, with eyesockets that are black pools with glowing points of light, from which the undead soul looks outwards.  They are often confused at first glance for a [[Wight|wight]].
+The '''lich''', also [https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=lich "litch" or "lych"], meaning a body or a corpse, is sometimes addressed as '''lichama,''' "the undead spirit using the body as a covering."  The lich appears as a skeleton swathed in clothes that have rotted over time, with eyesockets that are black pools, with glowing points of light, from which the undead soul looks outwards.  They are often mistaken at first glance for a [[Wight|wight]].
 [[File:Lich.jpg|left|350px]]
-Due to its appearance and state of mind, a lich must usually retreat to some lost ruin, where it endeavours to surround itself with allies such as minor undead, criminals who fear the lich's power or other powerful evil beings willing to ally themselves.  As the lich is a [[Intelligence (ability stat)|supra-genius]], it realizes that having fodder to stand between it and its enemies allows it to best employ its magical attacks when needed.  Though mad and dangerous, a lich is always guided by its self-interest; it will therefore engage with lesser beings in order to keep their support, until such time as it is needful to sacrifice these as fodder in moments of necessity.  A lich expects to live for centuries; it does not care much about wealth, so it can afford to be generous; but it has no loyalty to any creature except itself.
+Due to its appearance and state of mind, a lich must usually retreat to some lost ruin, where it endeavours to surround itself with allies such as minor undead, criminals who fear the lich's power or other evil beings willing to ally themselves.  As the lich is a [[Intelligence (ability stat)|supra-genius]], it knows that having fodder to stand between it and its enemies allows cover, so that the lich can employ its magic from hiding.  Though insane and dangerous, a lich is always guided by its self-interest; it therefore engages with lesser beings in order to keep their support, until such time as it's needful to sacrifice such disposable fools in moments of necessity.  A lich expects to live for centuries; it doesn't care about wealth, so it can afford to be generous; but it feels no duty to any except itself.
 == Origin & Survival ==
-The existence of a lich derives from the use of powerful and [[Arcane Magic|arcane magics]], which allow a wizard of sufficient power to transfer their own mind into a [[Magic Jar (spell)|magic jar]], while yet retaining consciousness.  From this place — and the jar is indeed well hidden, for once the wizard's consciousness is placed there, it cannot be moved again — the wizard is able to manipulate the body, and feel what the body feels, while remaining safe from harm; for if the body is killed, the wizard cannot be so long as the jar is not discovered and destroyed.
+The existence of a lich derives from the use of powerful and [[Arcane Magic|arcane magics]], which allow a wizard of sufficient knowledge to transfer his or her mind into a [[Magic Jar (spell)|magic jar]], while yet retaining consciousness.  From this place — and the jar is indeed well hidden, for once the wizard's consciousness is placed there, it cannot be moved again — the wizard is able to manipulate the body, and feel what the body feels, while remaining safe from harm; for if the body is killed, the wizard yet survives, so long as the jar isn't discovered and destroyed.
-However, after the passing of a normal lifespan, the magic jarred entity loses all touch with humanity, becoming deranged and darkly malevolent.  While it could exchange its mortal body for another, the new body must be brought into contact with the jarred entity.  This is dangerous for the lich, and worse, demands a body that is strong enough to endure the lich's malignance, which can age a common young body to a corpse in a mere three years.  Over time, then, while a lich may have exchanged bodies many times, it is usually in some state of being a cadaver, as it awaits its next victim.
+However, after the passing of a normal lifespan, the magic jarred entity loses all touch with humanity, becoming deranged and darkly malevolent.  While it could exchange its mortal body for another, the new body must be brought into contact with the jarred entity.  This is dangerous for the lich, and worse, demands a body that is strong enough to endure the lich's malignance, which can age a common young body to a corpse in a mere three years.  Over time, then, while a lich may have exchanged bodies many times, it's usually in some state of being a cadaver, as it awaits its next victim.
-If it should happen that anyone comes within sight of the jar, perhaps intending to destroy it, the lich will be able to drop its present form at once in order to '''possess''' this new at-hand victim.  This process takes place in the same way as [[Demonic Possession|demonic possession]].  If the creature to be possessed makes [[Saving Throws|save against paralysation]], the lich cannot revert to the body it has just abandoned.  If there is no other body that it can immediately attempt to possess (it can make two such attempts per melee round) then the lich will be helpless, as it cannot cast spells without a body.
+If it happens that anyone comes within sight of the jar, perhaps intending to destroy it, the lich will be able to drop its present form at once in order to '''possess''' this new, at-hand victim.  This process takes place in the same way as [[Demonic Possession|demonic possession]].  If the creature to be possessed makes [[Saving Throws|save against paralysation]], the lich cannot revert to the body it's just abandoned.  If there is no other body that it can immediately attempt to possess (it can make two such attempts per melee round) then the lich will be helpless, as it cannot cast spells without a body.
-Naturally, the lich will take every step to put as many obstacles as possible between its jar and others.  The physical presence of the lich, when encountered, may be thousands of miles from its true jarred consciousness; there is no limit as to where the body might go — except that it, too, must be preserved, or else the jar may wait for years, decades or centuries to be stumbled upon by a new victim, before the lich can live again.
+Naturally, the lich will take every step to put as many obstacles as possible between its jar and others.  The physical presence of the lich, when encountered, may be thousands of miles from its true jarred consciousness; there's no limit as to where the body might go — except that it, too, must be preserved, or else the jar may wait for years, decades or centuries to be stumbled upon by a new victim, before the lich can act freely again.
 == Advantages ==
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 Creatures with less than 6 hit dice or levels will be '''unable to affect the lich with magical attacks'''.  This includes monsters that possess these [[Natural Abilities|magics naturally]].  The lich's undead nature defends it against those who are unable to produce magic powerful enough.
-A lich has very little reason to attack any creature in hand-to-hand [[Melee|melee]]; however, if it should, the lich has a touch so cold that if it '''lays its hand''' upon being, it will cause 1-10 damage.  [[Armour List|Armour]] and clothes cannot protect the victim against this touch, and so the lich [[Roll to Hit|need only hit]] [[Armour Class|armour class]] 10 — which, for a lich, is a natural 4 on a d20.  Dexterity bonuses are applicable, to dodge this touch, but [[Magic Armour|magical armour]] or [[Magic Protection|protection devices]] are useless against the lich, which knows how to subvert these protections.  Additionally, any touched creature must '''save vs. paralysation''', or be rendered helpless for a space of 2-5 hours.
+A lich has very little reason to attack any creature in hand-to-hand [[Melee|melee]]; however, if it should, the lich has a touch so cold that if it '''lays its hand''' upon a being, it will cause 1-10 damage.  [[Armour List|Armour]] and clothes cannot protect the victim against this touch, and so the lich [[Roll to Hit|need only hit]] [[Armour Class|armour class]] (AC) 10 — which, for a lich, is a natural 4 on a d20.  Dexterity bonuses are applicable, to dodge this touch, but [[Magic Armour|magical armour]] or [[Magic Protection|protection devices]] are useless against the lich, which knows how to subvert these defenses.  Additionally, any touched creature must '''save vs. paralysation''', or be rendered helpless for 2-5 hours.
-Because of the lich's undead nature, though it wears no armour and appears to have no protection, the creature possesses an armour class of 0.  It can only be hit with '''magical weapons'''.  It is '''immune''' to [[Charm Spell|charm]], [[Sleep (spell)|sleep]], [[Ray of Enfeeblement (spell)|enfeeblement]], [[Polymorph Other (spell)|polymorph other]] and [[Shape Change (spell)|shape change]], [[Cold-based Attack|cold-based attacks]], [[Electrical Attack|electricity]], spells that cause damage or [[Death|death]].
+Because of the lich's undead nature, though it wears no armour and appears to have no protection, the creature possesses an AC of 0.  It can only be hit with '''magical weapons'''.  It is '''immune''' to [[Charm Spell|charm]], [[Sleep (spell)|sleep]], [[Ray of Enfeeblement (spell)|enfeeblement]], [[Polymorph Other (spell)|polymorph other]] and [[Shape Change (spell)|shape change]], [[Cold-based Attack|cold-based attacks]], [[Electrical Attack|electricity]], spells that cause damage or [[Death|death]].
 == Spells ==
+In addition to the above, lichs possess '''spellcasting ability''' as an 18th or greater level mage.  These are the spells it possessed prior to becoming undead, and it retains the use of these spells.  Spellcasting, however, isn't a natural ability; the lich must take the normal number of rounds to cast these spells, discharging them as other caster.
 See [[Bestiary]]
-[[Category: Expand Abilities]]
+[[Category: Don't Review until 2022]]

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 | HD = 11+4
 | AP = 5
-| THAC0 = 13
+| THAC0 = 14
 | hpdie = d8
 | attack = touch

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:20, 2 September 2020
Line 41:		Line 41:
	Because of the lich's undead nature, though it wears no armour and appears to have no protection, the creature possesses an armour class of 0. It can only be hit with '''magical weapons'''. It is '''immune''' to [[Charm Spell\|charm]], [[Sleep (spell)\|sleep]], [[Ray of Enfeeblement (spell)\|enfeeblement]], [[Polymorph Other (spell)\|polymorph other]] and [[Shape Change (spell)\|shape change]], [[Cold-based Attack\|cold-based attacks]], [[Electrical Attack\|electricity]], spells that cause damage or [[Death\|death]].		Because of the lich's undead nature, though it wears no armour and appears to have no protection, the creature possesses an armour class of 0. It can only be hit with '''magical weapons'''. It is '''immune''' to [[Charm Spell\|charm]], [[Sleep (spell)\|sleep]], [[Ray of Enfeeblement (spell)\|enfeeblement]], [[Polymorph Other (spell)\|polymorph other]] and [[Shape Change (spell)\|shape change]], [[Cold-based Attack\|cold-based attacks]], [[Electrical Attack\|electricity]], spells that cause damage or [[Death\|death]].

−	In addition, lichs possess '''spellcasting ability''' equal to 18 levels or greater. These are the spells it possessed prior to becoming undead, and it retains the use of these spells inherently. This power does not, however, resemble a natural ability; the lich must take the normal amount of time to cast these spells, discharging them like any other spellcaster.	+	== Spells ==
		+
		+	In addition to the above, lichs possess '''spellcasting ability''' equal to 18 levels or greater. These are the spells it possessed prior to becoming undead, and it retains the use of these spells inherently. This power does not, however, resemble a natural ability; the lich must take the normal amount of time to cast these spells, discharging them like any other spellcaster.