So, I'm running a homebrew campaign, and one of the BBEG's I have lined up for the Party to face down the road is a doozy. This guy used to be known as the Pirate Lich-King, and was the terror of a far off ocean before being defeated by a coalition of nations who laid siege to his fortress island.
He escaped though, and discovered a way to reverse his undead condition. he found his way to this continent, where he set himself up as the hero of a young kingdom under attack by hordes of undead colossi.
Anyway they make him king, and he puts the nation on track to be a powerhouse. Each of his heirs supposedly honor him by taking his name the day of their coronation. In reality, each one is being totally dominated and their minds absorbed by the power of this guy. All I know is, like a lich, he has a phylactery which helps him do what he does.
Anyway, my problem is, there's nothing remotely like this in any of the published bestiaries I've bought.
I need help designing a template I can apply to this guy or his prospective heir, in order to fit the story. I'd do it on my own, but I'm a little intimidated by the task. Please help, I'm begging.
That's awesome, I will.
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Why do you need a template for this? It sounds more like a background story something that needs to be covered by a game mechanic. This sounds like a body thief more than a lich. Simply give him a custom spell, or magic item to transfer his mind to a new body. An 8th level version of magic jar could have a permanent duration.
This could also be the way he reversed his undead status. He could still in fact be a lich with a phylactery that simply transfers his mind into a living host. This would allow you to set up multiple fights with him in different bodies before they figure out what is going on. When they finial figure it out they would need to fight him twice. The first time in his living body, and then after they defeat him he comes back a lich.
Having just opened Horror, I am intrigued by this idea. The spell could be linked to only those of his Bloodline, for instance. Another quirk could be how many members of his family are there? What if one is a party member? Can the transfer be saved against?