| Lich | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Illustration of a lich byDavid A. Trampier from the 1st editionMonster Manual | |
| First appearance | Greyhawk (1975) |
| In-universe information | |
| Type | Undead |
| Alignment | Any evil |
Thelich/lɪtʃ/[1] is anundead creature found in theDungeons & Dragons (D&D)fantasyrole-playing game. Liches arespellcasters[2] who seek to defy death by magical means.
The term derives fromlich, an archaic term for acorpse.Dungeons & Dragons co-creatorGary Gygax stated that he based the description of alich included in the game on the short story "The Sword of the Sorcerer" (1969) byGardner Fox.[3][4][5]
The lich was one of the earliest creatures introduced in theDungeons & Dragons game.
For theoriginalD&D rule set, the lich was introduced in its first supplement,Greyhawk (1975).[3][6] It is described simply as a skeletal monster that was formerly amagic-user or a magic-user/cleric in life and retains those abilities, able to send lower-level characters fleeing in fear.
The lich's interaction with the Psionics rules and the iconic lichVecna were described inSupplement III:Eldritch Wizardry (1976).
InAD&D 1st edition, the lich appears in the first editionMonster Manual (1977),[7] where it is given more detailed description; including a brief, cryptic note of having reached "a non-human, non-living existence through force of will. It retains this status by certain conjurations, enchantments, and a phylactery." The nature and function of this phylactery was not explained,[7]: 61 though the word exists in the real world, wherephylactery has several meanings, including a box of Jewish prayer verses or Christian relics.
Len Lakofka's article "Blueprint for a Lich," inDragon #26 (1979), describes a formula for transforming a spellcaster into a lich. This introduced the idea that the Lich stored its soul in a "jar", although the word phylactery was not used.[8]
Another form of lich, thedemilich, was introduced inTomb of Horrors (1978) and later appeared inThe Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (1982)[9] and thenMonster Manual II (1983).[10]
Endless Quest gamebookLair of the Lich (1985) combines this phylactery and soul jar concept.[citation needed]
Detailed description of a Potion of Lichdom used to create liches was given inLords of Darkness (1988). Though similar to the description in "Blueprint For a Lich", this version is described as preparing a "magical phylactery" rather than simply a "jar".[11]
TheD&D Basic Set included its own version of the lich, in theD&D Master Rules (1985), in the "Master DM's Book". This version has no mention of a device such as a phylactery, but can be a cleric.[12] This entry was duplicated in theD&D Rules Cyclopedia (1991).[13]
InAD&D 2nd edition, the lich and the demilich appear first in theMonstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), and are reprinted in theMonstrous Manual (1993). This version is explicitly described as storing its "life force" in a "phylactery".[14][15]
TheSpelljammer campaign setting accessoryLost Ships (1990) introduced the archlich,[16] which also later appeared in theMonstrous Manual. The master lich appeared inLegend of Spelljammer (1991). A creature called the firelich is introduced in the 2nd Spelljammer Monstrous Compendium appendix (MC9).
The psionic lich for theRavenloft campaign setting first appeared inDragon #174 (October 1991), and then appeared inVan Richten's Guide to the Lich (1993),Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness (1994),Monstrous Compendium Annual One (1994),[17] andVan Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium (1999). Several other lich variants were also introduced in theRavenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III, including the defiler lich and demi-defiler lich, the drow lich (and the drow demilich, the drider lich, the drow priestess lich, and the drow wizard lich), and the elemental lich and demi-elemental lich.
The dracolich, a dragon lich, first appeared in theMonstrous Manual (1993).[15]
The baelnorn, anelven lich of good alignment, was introduced inThe Ruins of Myth Drannor (1993), and then appeared inMonstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), andCormanthyr: Empire of Elves (1998). The banelich, a version of the lich created by the godBane in theForgotten Realms campaign setting, first appear in theRuins of Zhentil Keep boxed set (in the Monstrous Compendium booklet) in 1995, and then appears in theMonstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996).[18]
TheSuel lich for theGreyhawk campaign setting was introduced inPolyhedron #101 (November 1994), and then appeared inMonstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995).
A description of Potion of the Dracolich used to create Dracoliches was given in theForgotten Realms Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1991). It was reprinted alongside the Potion of Lichdom inEncyclopedia Magica Volume III (1995).[11]
The inheritor lich for the Red Steel campaign setting first appeared inRed Steel Savage Baronies (1995), and then in theSavage Coast Monstrous Compendium (1996).
InD&D 3rd edition, the lich appears in theMonster Manual as a template. This version describes the lich's phylactery as resembling a Jewishtefillin but notes it can also be a ring, amulet etc.[19]
The banelich, as well as the good liches, the archlich and the baelnorn, appeared inMonsters of Faerun (2000).[20]
The demilich appeared again in theEpic Level Handbook (2002).
InD&D version 3.5, the 3.0 entry for the lich is duplicated in the revisedMonster Manual (2003).
Thegood lich and thelichfiend appeared inLibris Mortis: The Book of Undead (2004).[21] The lichfiend also appeared inDungeon #116 (November 2004), as part ofThe Shackled City Adventure Path.
Thedry lich was introduced inSandstorm: Mastering the Perils of Fire and Sand (2005).[22]
The Suel lich returned in the "Campaign Classics" feature inDragon #339 (January 2006).
InD&D 4th edition, the lich appears in theMonster Manual (2008). This version describes the phylactery in similar terms to the 3e version, but without describing it as being wearable. A ritual is given which allows players to become liches. It also outlines thelich vestige, a weakened, ghostly lich that cannot re-form.[23] The lich also appears as a template in theDungeon Masters Guide (2008).[24]
Rules in 4th edition allow a player to opt to become an arch-lich via an epic destiny found inArcane Power.
InD&D 5th edition, the lich appears in theMonster Manual (2014). This version of the lich is said to store its soul in a phylactery (every one of which is unique) which it feeds captured souls to sustain itself. The demilich and dracolich also appear.[25]
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A mage becomes a lich by means ofnecromancy, using a magical receptacle called aphylactery[26] to store the lich's soul.[26][27] A lich is emaciated in appearance.[28] In some sources the method of becoming a lich is referred to as the Ritual of Becoming or Ceremony of Endless Night.[29] The process is often described as requiring the subject to create and consume a deadly potion, the Elixir of Defilation, which is to be drunk on a full moon; although the exact details of the potion are described differently in various sources, the creation of the potion almost universally entails acts of utterevil, such as using as an ingredient the blood of an infant slain by the potential lich's own hand, or other, similarly vile components. The potion invariably kills the drinker but if the process is successful it rises again some days later as an undead Lich. Occasionally, this metamorphosis occurs by accident as a result of life-prolonging magic.
Unlike most other forms of undead creatures, the Lich retains all of the memories, personality, and abilities that it possessed in life — but it has a virtual eternity to hone its skills and inevitably becomes very powerful. Like other powerful forms of undead (such as avampire ormummy), a Lich has unnatural powers owing to its state. For example, it can put mortals in a paralyzed state of hibernation with their minds, making them seem dead to others, and can, through its typically powerful magical spells, summon other lesser undead to protect it. A Lich's bones do not decay. The Lich is capable of sustaining tremendous physical damage, and is immune to disease, poison, fatigue and other effects that affect only the living. However, despite all its undead "gifts", a lich's most valuable resources are its vast intellect, its supreme mastery of sorcery and limitless time to research, plot and scheme.
Since a lich's soul is mystically tied to itsphylactery, destroying its body will not kill it. Rather, its soul will return to the phylactery, and its body will be recreated by the power keeping it immortal. Thus the only way to permanently destroy a lich is to destroy the phylactery as well. Therefore, the lich will generally be extremely protective of the priceless item. The phylactery, which can be of virtually any form (the default form is a metal box filled with rune-covered papers, but it usually appears as a valuable amulet or gemstone), will often be hidden in a secret place and protected by powerful spells, charms, monsters and/or other servants; the phylactery itself is usually of magical nature, meaning its destruction will generally be no easier than obtaining it.
Depending on the method of becoming a lich, a lich can be of anyalignment, retaining whatever alignment it had in life.
TheD&D version 3.5Monster Manual, a coreD&D rule book, emphatically states that liches are always evil, but there are references to good liches in other manuals.[15] Good liches are presented inMonster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn, a supplementary rule book for theD&D 3rd edition rules. Good liches differ in that they have sought undeath for a noble cause, to protect a place, a loved one, or to pursue an important quest. In a typicalD&D campaign, liches are evil, power-hungry spell casters who have cheated death.
TheAD&DSpelljammer accessoryLost Ships also introduced the good archlich, who are able to memorize spells through intuitive nature and do not need spellbooks. The archlich also does not become a demilich, but remains in its form for eternity. The fourth edition bookArcane Power includes the epic destiny archlich, which is intended for good, lawful good, or unaligned heroes. In theForgotten Realms, arch-liches are liches from mortals who were divine casters of good alignment. Baelnorns are ancient elven liches who head noble families and aid communities through sage advice. While there are some records of these, they are extremely rare, and evil liches are far more prevalent. The abilities of good liches are somewhat diminished as well.
A demilich is an advanced form of lich that has sought other avenues to attain knowledge, turning away from the physical realm, usingastral projection to travel across otherplanes of existence. Due to traveling across planes of existence, its body gradually deteriorates until only a skull or even a single skeletal hand remain, but stays a creature of enormous powers.[30]Cracked.com author Tylor Linn included the demilich in his 2009 list of "The 15 Most Idiotic Monsters In Dungeons & Dragons History". He humorously commented that it "seems to possess no tactical advantages of any kind. It just kind of floats around, waiting for a party of heroes to smack it out of the air like a pinata."[31] To the contrary it was rated 8th among the 10 strongest D&D creatures by Scott Baird fromScreen Rant, saying "You might think that a floating skull would be easy to smash to pieces, but you would be wrong, as demiliches are some of the most resilient creatures in the game."[32]
Other races also have their own special versions of the lich, which are not necessarily evil; for example, anElf from theForgotten Realms setting can become abaelnorn (often elves who take upon themselves the duty of overseeing and/or protecting their house), or anIllithid can become anillithilich, also known as analhoon. Adragon can also become a dracolich. Dracoliches are greatly feared, for they are far more powerful than ordinary liches. A dracolich that became a demilich would be an extremely powerful monster, even by dragon standards. Lichfiends are evil outsiders that achieve lichdom.
Other variant liches exist. Baneliches, extremely powerful priests of theForgotten Realms deityBane, grow in power every 100 years of their continued existence. Dry liches are desert-dwelling liches, the end result of the Walker in the Wastes prestige class. Psiliches are powerful users of psionic powers, who have used non-magical means to achieve this state of undeath. TheSuel Imperium also had its own form of liches, theSuel lich—powerful wizards who learned the secrets of transferring their souls from one body to the next—at the cost of the bodies burning out in brief periods.
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Liches are usually among the most powerful undead creatures in almost any setting in which they appear, and are one of the most powerful non-unique undead creatures in theD&D game.
SeveralD&D gods were liches before becoming deities; these gods include:
Josh Hrala, forGeek & Sundry, reported that "liches really took off in modern gaming and fiction whenD&D co-creator Gary Gygax officially added it to the game back in 1975 in the supplement calledGreyhawk. Gygax wasn't the first person to conceive the idea of a lich, though. Instead, he lifted most of the idea from a short story from the late-1960s by fantasy authorGardner Fox".[3] Henry Glasheen, in his review of theMonster Manual (2014) forSLUG Magazine, wrote that "Fifth Edition has taken some of its most imposing creatures and given them an undeniable ambience" and highlighted the lich as an example monster that would use "her whole lair in a desperate attempt to annihilate the party".[35]
Rob Bricken ofio9 named the lich as the 7th most memorable D&D monster,[36] whileBackstab [fr] reviewer Philippe Tessier called it a "classic ofD&D".[28] In 2018,SyFy Wire called it one of "The 9 Scariest, Most Unforgettable Monsters From Dungeons & Dragons", saying that "Liches are classic monsters not just inD&D, but when you face one in the tabletop game you better be ready for a tough fight and more."[37]CBR, similarly in 2018, called it one of the "13 Most Powerful D&D Monsters", saying that "they are immortal spellcasters who are almost impossible to kill seeing as you need to locate their Phylactery and destroy it. That's not something the Lich will just let a party do without some trouble, which makes a Lich one of the deadliest monsters in the game".[38]
Eric Silver, forAlma, criticized the use of the word phylactery in the game and highlighted talisman as a more neutral term. Silver wrote, "I don’t know about you, but phylactery is a word I’ve only ever seen used as the English translation of the Jewish ritual object,tefillin. The phylactery is specifically described as 'a charm or amulet, or repository used to store small parchments bearing holy scripture or arcane writings.' [...] Even stranger, the lich was created by Gygax, someone fascinated with historical religious study. He made the choice that an undead wizard king would keep his soul in something that Jews use for daily prayers. Recent editions backtrack from those origins, but Wizards has stuck with 'phylactery.' They bury the Jewish coding of the lich, but much like the lich itself, allow it to live on".[39]
Perhaps the closet counterpart to a Horcrux comes from the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons. Known as a phylactery, it is a magical receptacle for storing the life force of a supremely evil spell-caster called a lich [...]. As with Horcruxes, the only way to foil these plans is to find and destroy the phylactery, then kill the lich.