Lich

A lich is an undead being who attains immortality, and subsequently, undeath through "ascension" of magical means, typically a wizard or sorcerer but also at times Clerics, lich are often feared by the mortal beings of the realms due to their evil disposition after hundreds of years alive and experiencing the harsh reality of the choices in their previous life. But it is not just their vileness that strikes fear among those across the mortal planes but also their powerful magic, sharp intellect, and disdain for their condition as for most lich their ascension to undead was unintentional with the wanted result of immortality with no consequences.

## Physical Information

### Resistance

* Necromantic Magics
* Necrotic Damage
* Psycic

## Sociocultural Information

### Distinction(s)

* Skeletal Form
* Necromantic Abilities

### Place of Origin

* Various Livable Realms

*"For years I studied the ways of the arcane arts with hopes of eventual immortality, my life as a human was simply not long enough; but this would become I choice I would regret as now everyone I loved is gone and I cursed to never die but at the hands of another."*

## Physical Description

The physical appearance of a lich can vary depending the type and, in many cases, age of the lich; most commonly lich are portrayed in the later stages of life known as the Elder-twilight age in which the lich is skeletal in form with their flesh stretched taunt over their sharpened features. But lich of a certain type may retain the appearance they had in life through their undeath.

## Life Stages of Lich

Through their time as a lich one's power will increase the longer that the live, not entirely dissimilar to that of the dragon. A liches power can often be categorized alongside their age though there are those of them that are 'prodigies' among the other lich as they were extremely powerful during life and as such, their power is elevated past that of even the average lich.

### Newly Ascended

For a portion of their undead life, 500 yrs to be exact, the newly ascended lich was treated as a child and inferior to the elder lich around them. This was often a time of learning for a newly made lich in which they acquainted themselves with the extension of their life, learned of the hidden woes of lich society, and even; if they were lucky; studied under an elder lich. In this stage of life their power is essentially the same at it was in life though they find a new or perhaps greater adeptness with necromantic magic.

## Culture

There is a section of society which remains hidden to most, a network of liches and other such undead creatures in a line of information. Lich will often trade or pool information with others of their kind to ensure the survival of the knowledge, if only for lich eyes to see, with lich being friendlier to others of their kind it is commonplace for networks of information to be formed in which lich trade information on the goings-on in their different societies and generally discuss information and theories.

Though a lich is friendlier to others of their kind they will often still remain jagged, guarded, and ever aware of their surroundings as lich are often paranoid beings haunted by thousands of years of life which reflects in how they so desperately fight to preserve their immortality. With warm-folk, a nickname for those with beating hearts, lich are cautious, expecting that all the living want from them is the information on how to ascend to lichdom, but if the living is willing to prove them wrong; and even prove to be a useful asset; the lich may acquaint themselves further or even offer the warm-folk jobs in gathering knowledge.

## Types of Lich

### Dracolich

A dracolich is a dragon which has achieved lichdom, the process of doing so is different than what the average humanoid would have to go through and is often much more physically taxing on the dragon.

### Archlich

An Archlich is the most powerful of all the lich with only a few existing in a single realm at a time due to the power and influence one holds, they will often cut down other Archlich in order to attain higher power in lich society.

### Stordaulich

In the rare case of a Noidic creature becoming a lich they are known as a Stordaulich *(pronounced St-oor-dah-ow Lit-ch)*, these lich are particularly dangerous due to the immense residual strength which remains into their undeath which they to wield heavy Noidic weaponry in addition to their spellcasting.

### Etherlich

When one of the races which hail from the ether surrounding any given realm attain lichdom, they are known as an Etherlich *(pronounced Ee-th-ur Lit-ch)*; powerful lich which often have the power to transport through the various realms at will due to their Ethereal abilities.

### Tirlich

A spirit race that attains lichdom through means of nefarious deeds are known as Tirlich *(pronounced Teh-ir Lit-ch)*, they retain the magical abilities gained from their race in addition to the necromantic powers gained through lichdom.

## A Lich's Soul

When the lich ascend to the higher state of being their soul no longer fully belongs to them. Part of the ritual one has to preform to become a lich requires the use of what most call a phylactery, which the aspiring wizard must put their life essence into, their soul. But this doesn't mean that their soul is necessarily still theirs as while the phylactery contains the essence of the soul and therefore is the only means to be permanently rid of a lich, their soul belongs to the lich deity, Livist. So when a lich dies, permanently, their soul goes to Livist's domain known as the Realm of Screaming Waves.

Because a lich's phylactery is the only means to permanently kill a lich, it is closely guarded by means of traps, constructs; be they flesh or stone; employing decoys to trick whomever seeks to fell them, or putting it where it cannot be reached but by the most powerful of spellcasters on another realm or within a personal pocket realm.

## Notable Lich

* Ebber Wesk, the Fallen King, who was banished to the realm of Uncharted Sands and swiftly killed by the local lording deity.

## Trivia

* Lich is often used as both plural and singular; on occasion Liches is used as plural when it fits more grammatically.