Help for an aspiring lich


Advice


I'm playing in a 3.x campaign right now, were using the pathfinder rules, but we are making use of 3e and 3.5e d&d stuff as well. I'm playing a character who's goal is to attain Lichdom. We are currently in Greyhawk, and my character knows that the cult of orcus has a presence in the city and needs to find them. However, he cant just go around asking people if they know any orcus cultists for obvious reasons. My DM told me that I need to, "start hatching out plots about how you're going to research Orcus, his cult, his cultists, also independently researching lichdom because you don't really want to be dependent on a CE demon lord's word as truth" and that with "the appropriate research materials you could start to try to track them down or at least know who to ask." I'm at a little bit of a loss of what to do to advance his plot. I feel like I'm in a catch 22 situation, I need to ask someone for information, but I need the information to know who to ask. So, I'm looking for some ideas about how I might go about finding the information I need.


You could always hunt down another lich and reverse-engineer their phylactery.


The Sideromancer wrote:
You could always hunt down another lich and reverse-engineer their phylactery.

I'm not too worried about making the phylactery right now, I'm trying to figure out the best way to get in touch with the Orcus cultists in town without being found out myself


I would check every library I could find, particularly wizard ones. Might become an anti hero and go around beating criminals to death asking where the cult is. Even if you don't find a member word will get to them about this new potential recruit that shows so much promise ^_^. Might check funeral places, local cemeteries, etc particularly at night for suspicious activity. Use your adventuring combat ability to join the guard and become a "deep cover" operative. Check into the local wizards guild and see about any members or former members that had an interest in necromancy.


Well, knowing that the favored weapon is a heavy mace is likely a simple knowledge religion check (maybe even a DC 10).

Following guys with maces seems like a wild goose chase, but hey... it was likely not followed up by the local guards because of that.

Adventurers are an odd sort: they can follow strange, painful, and inane repetive tasks without feeling true burden or inconvenience from it (See: 5 men and a tiger all huddled in an single inn room, sleeping in shifts while looking out for assassins...even if they have absolutely no reason to believe there would be any). You could spend weeks on this without much trouble.

Eventually, either the guards will ask you why you are creeping on people... or the cultist will try to corner you in a back alley because they know you are trying to follow them (...perhaps accidentally, since you actually managed to follow one)


I'd check out areas abundant with corpses, such as cemeteries, mausoleums, or morgues, which are areas where a primarily necromantic cult of the patron of undeath would probably hang out. Checking it out at night, in a stealthy manner, would probably be wise as well. I wouldn't mention this to certain party members, if they're of the pesky "Good aligned" variety, like paladins or, eugh, clerics of good gods, like Sarenrae. That or mask the informaion gathering as some sort of crusade against the cult. You could also establish yourself as some sort of necromancer, or other type that works with the undead, and hope that they approach you. There's also the "Beat people up until they tell you what you want to know" approach, but beating up possible underlings of said cult likely wouldn't put you in their good graces.

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Maybe ask your DM if you can use this:

The Lich
Unlike Vampirism, lichdom is always a choice. No one has ever accidentally started down the road of lichdom. Even if you are aided by an outside power, you only receive this aid because you have made a deal with a powerful outside agency. Such a compact should only occur as a result of a major plot point and is beyond the scope of this section. The more traditional road to lichdom is a three step process:

Step One: The Secret of Immortality
There is no such thing as a “typical lich”. Everyone who takes this journey does it on their own terms. The first step along this road is deciding that it is something the character wants and then finding the method. In other campaigns, there may be divergent methods. Perhaps ancient moldering scrolls left behind by a malevolent witch-king related the method so that his minions may join him in wicked immortality. Whatever the method, finding the secret of lichdom is always a plot moment. It never occurs accidentally but rather when a Game Master agrees that a lich would be appropriate to the campaign. There are three ironclad requirements that must be met in addition to finding the secret. First, the seeker must be able to cast 5th level arcane or divine spells, they must not have necromancy as a prohibited school (if an arcane caster) or as an abomination of their faith (if a divine caster) and they must be evil. There is no such thing as a good or neutral lich. Why that is will become apparent soon.

Step Two: The Crafting of the Phylactery
Every lich needs a phylactery and this is by far the most time-consuming part of the ritual. The lich must possess the craft wondrous item feat or have an assistant with the feat willing to aid him. The phylactery takes 120 days and 120,000gp in materials. There is a magical item that will decrease the time (see the onyx chalice) but nothing can decrease the cost. Once the phylactery is crafted, it is a dangerous item for a wizard to possess. The phylactery counts as part of his own flesh for the purpose of scrying. Anyone who possesses the unfinished phylactery can cast spells against the maker with greater efficacy. The maker takes a -2 penalty to any such spell. Further if the phylactery is destroyed not only is all that work lost, but the maker takes 6d6 damage thanks to the close bond to the object.

Step Three: The Self-Excruciation Ritual
Finally the lich is ready to perform the ritual of self excruciation. This long and arduous ritual takes 24 hours of elaborate chanting and invoking. It begins at midnight and ends at midnight the next day. The great culmination of the ritual is the ritual suicide of the seeker. If everything has been done correctly, the seeker will rejuvenate and rise from his own death beside the phylactery. If there are any flaws in the phylactery then the ritual of self-excruciation is merely a particularly morbid and elaborate form of suicide. Obviously this ritual is a moment of terrible vulnerability for the caster. They must have trusted agents and a base to carry out this ritual. The best time to destroy a lich is when it is first created. After that, they are almost indestructible. Many versions of the lichdom ritual require that the caster not die alone. Some versions require the sacrifice of an immortal creature or a celestial. Some require the sacrifice of one whom the caster loved at some point in his life in order to cut his connection to mortality. Some require the sacrifice of one to three “escorts” who will, with their own deaths, distract the Harvester of Souls long enough for the lich’s soul to move into the phylactery. And some of the rituals are content merely for the caster cut out his own heart and place it within the phylactery itself.

After 1d10 days the lich reforms and is reborn into undeath. Once the ritual is finished, the lich must use of one its feats to gain the special feat “Lich”. If the caster has no free feats, then the next time they gain a feat slot, this one is used for this purpose. Lich You have undergone the rigorous and blasphemous ritual of lichdom and emerged as an undead creature of legend. Prerequisites: You have completed the ritual of attaining lichdom, evil alignment, must be able to cast 5th level arcane or divine spells. Benefits: You gain the template “lich”


JonathonWilder wrote:

Maybe ask your DM if you can use this:

The Lich
Unlike Vampirism, lichdom is always a choice. No one has ever accidentally started down the road of lichdom. Even if you are aided by an outside power, you only receive this aid because you have made a deal with a powerful outside agency. Such a compact should only occur as a result of a major plot point and is beyond the scope of this section. The more traditional road to lichdom is a three step process:

Step One: The Secret of Immortality
There is no such thing as a “typical lich”. Everyone who takes this journey does it on their own terms. The first step along this road is deciding that it is something the character wants and then finding the method. In other campaigns, there may be divergent methods. Perhaps ancient moldering scrolls left behind by a malevolent witch-king related the method so that his minions may join him in wicked immortality. Whatever the method, finding the secret of lichdom is always a plot moment. It never occurs accidentally but rather when a Game Master agrees that a lich would be appropriate to the campaign. There are three ironclad requirements that must be met in addition to finding the secret. First, the seeker must be able to cast 5th level arcane or divine spells, they must not have necromancy as a prohibited school (if an arcane caster) or as an abomination of their faith (if a divine caster) and they must be evil. There is no such thing as a good or neutral lich. Why that is will become apparent soon.

Step Two: The Crafting of the Phylactery
Every lich needs a phylactery and this is by far the most time-consuming part of the ritual. The lich must possess the craft wondrous item feat or have an assistant with the feat willing to aid him. The phylactery takes 120 days and 120,000gp in materials. There is a magical item that will decrease the time (see the onyx chalice) but nothing can decrease the cost. Once the phylactery is crafted, it is a dangerous item for a wizard to possess. The...

Ive never seen this before and Ive been looking around a lot for Lich stuff. Where did it come from?


The character I am currently playing is also looking to become a lich. No idea if it'll help you but I plan on using the Eternal Apotheosis Ritual, located here: Link


Find a non-cultist whom you would ask for information if you dared. Kidnap, interrogate, kill, dispose of.

You can lather, rinse and repeat but that'll get lots of people investigating the disappearances fast, so try to get someone really knowledgeable the first time. Commune is an excellent way to figure out who's best from a bunch of candidates.


Flying Grayson wrote:

The character I am currently playing is also looking to become a lich. No idea if it'll help you but I plan on using the Eternal Apotheosis Ritual, located here: Link

This is great I didn't know about this.


Tammy doesn't help the competition.


JonathonWilder wrote:

Maybe ask your DM if you can use this:

The Lich
Unlike Vampirism, lichdom is always a choice. No one has ever accidentally started down the road of lichdom. Even if you are aided by an outside power, you only receive this aid because you have made a deal with a powerful outside agency. Such a compact should only occur as a result of a major plot point and is beyond the scope of this section. The more traditional road to lichdom is a three step process:

Step One: The Secret of Immortality
There is no such thing as a “typical lich”. Everyone who takes this journey does it on their own terms. The first step along this road is deciding that it is something the character wants and then finding the method. In other campaigns, there may be divergent methods. Perhaps ancient moldering scrolls left behind by a malevolent witch-king related the method so that his minions may join him in wicked immortality. Whatever the method, finding the secret of lichdom is always a plot moment. It never occurs accidentally but rather when a Game Master agrees that a lich would be appropriate to the campaign. There are three ironclad requirements that must be met in addition to finding the secret. First, the seeker must be able to cast 5th level arcane or divine spells, they must not have necromancy as a prohibited school (if an arcane caster) or as an abomination of their faith (if a divine caster) and they must be evil. There is no such thing as a good or neutral lich. Why that is will become apparent soon.

Step Two: The Crafting of the Phylactery
Every lich needs a phylactery and this is by far the most time-consuming part of the ritual. The lich must possess the craft wondrous item feat or have an assistant with the feat willing to aid him. The phylactery takes 120 days and 120,000gp in materials. There is a magical item that will decrease the time (see the onyx chalice) but nothing can decrease the cost. Once the phylactery is crafted, it is a dangerous item for a wizard to possess. The...

this just really makes me want to make a character that does just accidentally become a lich and has an ooops im a lich now moment


Tammy the Lich wrote:
Tammy doesn't help the competition.

no wai we should be lich bffs

Dark Archive

Chrion wrote:
I've never seen this before and Ive been looking around a lot for Lich stuff. Where did it come from?

I got it from here, they even have a progression for Vampire characters in the way of five feats.

The Lich - Way of the Wicked (Obsidian Portal)

The Vampire - Way of the Wicked (Obsidian Portal)

Undead Feats (Both Lich and Vampire).


Lady-J wrote:
JonathonWilder wrote:

Maybe ask your DM if you can use this:

The Lich
Unlike Vampirism, lichdom is always a choice. No one has ever accidentally started down the road of lichdom. Even if you are aided by an outside power, you only receive this aid because you have made a deal with a powerful outside agency. Such a compact should only occur as a result of a major plot point and is beyond the scope of this section. The more traditional road to lichdom is a three step process:

Step One: The Secret of Immortality
There is no such thing as a “typical lich”. Everyone who takes this journey does it on their own terms. The first step along this road is deciding that it is something the character wants and then finding the method. In other campaigns, there may be divergent methods. Perhaps ancient moldering scrolls left behind by a malevolent witch-king related the method so that his minions may join him in wicked immortality. Whatever the method, finding the secret of lichdom is always a plot moment. It never occurs accidentally but rather when a Game Master agrees that a lich would be appropriate to the campaign. There are three ironclad requirements that must be met in addition to finding the secret. First, the seeker must be able to cast 5th level arcane or divine spells, they must not have necromancy as a prohibited school (if an arcane caster) or as an abomination of their faith (if a divine caster) and they must be evil. There is no such thing as a good or neutral lich. Why that is will become apparent soon.

Step Two: The Crafting of the Phylactery
Every lich needs a phylactery and this is by far the most time-consuming part of the ritual. The lich must possess the craft wondrous item feat or have an assistant with the feat willing to aid him. The phylactery takes 120 days and 120,000gp in materials. There is a magical item that will decrease the time (see the onyx chalice) but nothing can decrease the cost. Once the phylactery is crafted, it is a dangerous item for

...

whoops i tripped over that phylactery and my soul fell into it. guess im a lich now.


At least you know when you're liched.

Dark Archive

Actually, another way to become a lich is to make a deal Kyubey, who can grant any wish.

For those that don't understand the reference or how this relates to liches, well ask and I can explain. Major spoilers for Puella Magi Madoka Magica though.

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