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Hello all,
I have a question about lich regeneration.
My party is in a spot where, for various reasons, they can't destroy the lich's phylactery (which they have in their possession). so it is inevitable that the lich reform on them.
The d20 srd is kind of vague about what happens next. "Unless its phylactery is located and destroyed, a lich reappears 1d10 days after its apparent death."
So here are my questions:
1) This is a cleric lich. Will it come back with all of its spells? Will they be the spells it had when it was "killed", or will it get a fresh shot at a new set of spells?
2) Will it be able to cast them (given that it doesn't have its holy symbol?)
3) What happens during the reformation? Does it slowly appear, skeletal-like, until its whole body forms? Does it zing into existence fully formed? Does it just take over, say, a nearby animal skeleton?
I read the goodman games complete lich book, and it seemed to say basically "this is all up to the DM."
Looking forward to your thoughts!
Honestly, I would do whichever choice makes for a better story. If the players can SEE the phylactery but can't GET TO it, I'd let the lich slowly form from a vapor to a solid skeleton, perhaps over the entire course of its regeneration, torturing the characters with the knowledge of their own helplessness. If they can get to it but cannot (for whatever reason) destroy it, I'd have the lich burst into existence through a blinding flash of (harmless, but cool-looking)negative energy, at the worst possible time for the characters, and give him a surprise round to start slinging nasty spells.
What are the circumstances, exactly, that prevent the characters from acting? I could probably come up with better ideas if I knew more.
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What are the circumstances, exactly, that prevent the characters from acting? I could probably come up with better ideas if I knew more.
They put the phylactery into the bow of a plane-hopping funeral barge, which transported them to a different plane. If they destroy the phylactery, they destroy their ability to return to their home plane.
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What are the circumstances, exactly, that prevent the characters from acting? I could probably come up with better ideas if I knew more.They put the phylactery into the bow of a plane-hopping funeral barge, which transported them to a different plane. If they destroy the phylactery, they destroy their ability to return to their home plane.
Ok, how about the Lich reforms as mist that surrounds the funeral barge, messing with the characters onboard as it regains its powers. Small minor things at first, growing in frequency and lethality as it is restored. A progression of spells being restored as the body reforms. I don't know the exact construction of the barge, but maybe have the body reform on a lower deck near the front of the barge, close to the phylactery?
I am assuming that the characters know that the item that they placed in bow of the barge is the phylactery. Sounds like they need to defeat the Lich again, and travel back to their home plane during the second reforming period. Once back, destroy the phylactery for good.
I think Order of the Stick has actually dealt more with this topic than any other. Xykon took quite a while to regenerate, piece by piece, but was cognizant the entire time. Of course, you certainly aren't bound to follow the example of a comic strip (I doubt you'll want your regenerating lich pulled around in a little red wagon). But it's certainly the model for my interpretation of lich regeneration.
This is a cleric lich. Will it come back with all of its spells? Will they be the spells it had when it was "killed", or will it get a fresh shot at a new set of spells?
As it has been unable to prepare new spells, it will keep the spells it had when it was killed.
...2) Will it be able to cast them (given that it doesn't have its holy symbol?)...
No. A cleric needs a holy symbol to cast cleric spells.
No. A cleric needs a holy symbol to cast cleric spells.
Not all of them.
Ive not delt with Liches much but I have a interseting thought. Will the Lich reform at the phlactry or where it's physical form was?" If it forms at the phylactry then you have an instant fight. If it refroms where they left his "coprse" then you have on pissed off reocurring villian that wants his soul back. When the PC's get back to thier own plane they are going to find him waiting with x days, weeks, or years to gather minions to aid him in his goals of getting the party.
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This has brought up a question for some of the stuff I'm working on. When my campaign gets up and running, the party will face a lich at one point, and I am starting the story out at First Level, with the characters being completely new to this adventuring life they've taken on. This basicly means that while the players know that liches have phylacteries, the characters may not, and am wondering what would be an appropriate DC for Know(Arcana) and (Religion) to determine whether or not a character would be aware of phylacteries and their purpose.
I was also wondering if destroying the phylactery without harming the body side-steps the whole fight. I can see two sides to this: after all, I like rewarding players who fight smart; but sometimes hiting the self destruct button can be anti-climatic.
These are my opinions:
So here are my questions:
1) This is a cleric lich. Will it come back with all of its spells? Will they be the spells it had when it was "killed", or will it get a fresh shot at a new set of spells?
No; the lich would need to prepare its spells as would any character who would be resurrected. Of course, it could prep an entirely new spell list.
2) Will it be able to cast them (given that it doesn't have its holy symbol?)
If the lich is smart, it would have more than one holy symbol available to it, perhaps several that are hidden (see below).
This begs the question, "where does it reappear?"
- Next to the phylactery?
- At the spot where it was destroyed originally?
- At a magically prepared location in its lair? (see below)
This question is left up to the DM and is open to interpretation; it also affects the question below.
3) What happens during the reformation? Does it slowly appear, skeletal-like, until its whole body forms? Does it zing into existence fully formed? Does it just take over, say, a nearby animal skeleton?
That much is left up to the DM; in my world, it would reform gradually from mist over several minutes.
My lich would be prepared enough to ensure that he reformed in a safe, secure haven (such as a hidden chamber/lab/library in which to prepare spells before re-emerging for bloody vengeance) *hint*
I read the goodman games complete lich book, and it seemed to say basically "this is all up to the DM."
Exactly!
Remember: Liches make good use of all that extra life span - they have had centuries to plot, prepare and plan for defending their sanctums and for their own longevity; my liches will have had ample time to prepare a safe haven within its lair that not only holds his phylactery (can't do anything about that now) but allows him to reform in safety and provides a secure area to prepare spells. A truly ingenious DM would stock the safe room with a secondary set of magic items, assuming that its original equipment may have been lost!
In my game, Liches rank at the top of the Undead world and are not far behind Dragons as the most feared encounter for an adventuring party in the realms. They have attained enough power and knowledge to challenge GODS and deny them its soul to their servitude in the higher planes. Run them that way!
Happy hunting,
Marc
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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My Attempt to Make a Memorable Lich Reappearance
T minus 48 hours: PC's uneasy, as if they're being scried upon, or observed from the Ethereal plane or somesuch.
T minus 36 hours: one PC has a nightmare; continually mutters the lich's evil god's name. If the afflicted PC is a cleric, upon waking, her own god blocks her memories of the nightmare.
T minus 18 hours: occaissional minor manifestations of evil magic begin. A chacter is subjected to chill touch. The barbarian's rations animate as undead for a few minutes. A hissing laugh eminates from the fighter's shadow. at the beginning of combat, the PC's draw their weapons, which are all covered in fresh, sticky blood.
T minus 6 hours: feeling that they're being watched becomes oppressive. PC's keep seeing someone (the lich, when he or she was alive) out of the corner of their eyes.
The cleric prays for spells, but all she receives is "cause wounds" spells, filling all her slots. (If good aligned, she can spontaneously swap them for "cure wounds" spells.)
T minus 18 seconds: The feeling of being observed suddenly stops.
T: The lich shows up, behind them. Unclothed.
My Take on Spells
It needs an hour to pray and regain spells. Given that, it probably tries to scare the PC's witless and then retreat to a secure location.