The Lich, a classic and powerful undead entity in fantasy folklore. Liches are typically former mortal spellcasters who have achieved eternal unlife through dark magic to pursue forbidden knowledge and power.
Key Characteristics
- Origin: A lich was once a powerful, living magic-user (usually a wizard or sorcerer) who willingly underwent a vile ritual to defy death.
- Appearance: They usually appear as withered, skeletal humanoids, often clad in tattered robes, with eyes that glow with malevolent energy.
- Phylactery: The lich's soul is magically bound to a non-living object, known as a phylactery. This is the source of their immortality; as long as the phylactery remains intact, the lich's body will regenerate near it even if destroyed. Common phylactery forms include amulets, rings, or rune-scribed metal boxes.
- Powers: Liches possess vast magical knowledge and abilities, including powerful necromancy, immunity to most mortal afflictions (disease, poison, fatigue), a chilling touch that paralyzes victims, and the ability to command legions of lesser undead.
- Personality: The transformation often strips away their humanity, leaving them emotionless, jealous, and obsessed with the acquisition of more power and arcane secrets. They can scheme for centuries to achieve their goals because time is meaningless to them.
The moniker "Undying Lord of Forbidden Power" perfectly encapsulates the nature of a lich: an immortal ruler of the dead who wields magic that is often considered too dangerous or evil for mortals to use. They represent the ultimate price paid for the selfish pursuit of eternal existence and dominion.