Fantasy Core RPG: Lichcraft

FANTASY CORE RPG

UNDEAD AND DEMONICALLY POSSESSED CREATURES

(c) Jerry Harris, 2016

Published here under as Open Game Content.

Creature Index

Lichcraft

A 10^th level Wizard or Warlock performs a forbidden rite to become a skeletal undead and thus immortal.  Its soul is contained in a small object, a Phylactery.  They cannot be permanently killed as long as their soul object is intact (they will reform within a day if killed otherwise).  They mostly shun human contact and work through intermediaries.  This procedure is usually done to allow the spellcaster an unlimited amount to time to study the arcane and work on long-range plans.  Wizards who become Liches would be outlaws, but not necessarily evil, perhaps only very neutral and indifferent to others.  Warlock Liches would certainly be evil.  There is rumored to be a Council of Elders composed of hidden Liches that only the Magnus (chief wizard) of the Wizard Council knows about.  The Elders may be consulted by or give orders to the Magnus.

Lich

HD 10 (d6), Hp 60, AC 18* (Natural, Magic to hit)    

Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +10

Melee: Life Draining Touch +5 to hit, DC 18 Will Sv or lose 1d4 Negative Hp

Spawn: Those killed by a Lich’s energy drain will rise as a Zombie 1 rd later.

(They later become Skeletons as they decompose.)  The Lich will control any such undead directly.  They may also have more powerful undead in their service, created by ceremony spells. 

Ranged: On their initial appearance, those in its Frightful presence must make a DC 18 Will Sv or be paralyzed 1d4 rds. 

Immunities: Liches are immune to fear and charm effects.

Banes and Habits: Nothing specific, but most Liches are shy and/or outright cowardly.  Certainly they have agendas and can defend themselves, but they came to this state from an obsessive compulsive desire or fear of death to begin with.  In other words, they don’t deal with confrontation or interruption well.  They’re not likely to be good or smart fighters either.  Liches may well want to negotiate instead, or perhaps shooting off their most powerful spells first, hoping to scare intruders off.  Given their anti-social nature, a Lich likely only has undead bodyguards, along with traps and permanent illusions protecting their lairs.

Final Destruction: Destruction of their Phylactery is the only way to finally kill them, which is why they keep them well hidden.  However, it is a highly magical item whose aura can’t be masked (except by a magical Artifact), also it must be kept within a mile of the Lich or it will go dormant.

Lich Spells

Spellcheck: +11, Save Against: DC 17, 3 cumulative failures in a turn/encounter.

Liches may well know all standard spells (0 to 5^th level), many high-level spells, and even special spells that only they know and have created.  Their spellbook would be tempting prize for Wizards to go after.  This is a listing of common spells they might use.

1ST-LEVEL WIZARD SPELLS (DC 13 to cast)

Magic Missile: 15 impact damage + Knocked down. (Ref Sv all damage) Short range.

2ND-LEVEL WIZARD SPELLS (DC 14 to cast)

Acid Arrow: 15 acid damage + -1 to non-Dex bonus/magic AC. (Ref Sv all damage) Short range.

3RD-LEVEL WIZARD SPELLS (DC 15 to cast)

Clairaudience/Clairvoyance: Hear or see at a distance for 1 turn.  Line of sight, through 1 wall.

Dispel Magic: Cancels magical spells and effects. Roll a normal Spellcheck to cast, then also compare that to DC 11 + ½ the original caster’s level.  Both must be successful to dispel the magic.  If the just the Spellcheck is successful, it doesn't count as a spell failure (Caster Check)

Fireball: 17 fire damage + 1d6 continuing damage until extinguished, 20-ft. radius. (Ref Sv ½ damage) Medium range. Note that this spell does have the capacity to set off flammable objects in the area, especially on successful saves, and go out of control quickly.

Fly: Subject flies at speed of 60 ft./rd, 10 turns. Disrupted by any hit.

Gaseous Form: Subject becomes insubstantial and can fly slowly. 10 turns.

4TH-LEVEL WIZARD SPELLS (DC 16 to cast)

Arcane Eye: Invisible floating eye moves 30 ft./round. 10 turns

Invisibility, Greater: As Invisibility, but subject can attack and stay invisible. 0 Bonuses to hit by melee or ranged, +4 Saving Throws vs spells, disrupted by any hit.  Encounter.

Wall of Fire: 19 fire damage + 1d8 continuing damage until extinguished out to 10 ft. and 1d6 out to 20 ft. Passing through wall deals x2 damage. Lasts 1 turn per ½ level. (Ref Sv ½ damage to avoid initial appearance.) Short range. Note that this spell does have the capacity to set off flammable objects in the area and go out of control quickly.

Wall of Ice: Ice plane creates wall with 25 hp, or hemisphere can trap creatures inside. (Ref Sv to avoid being trapped.  Can batter their way out in 10 less HD rds.) Short range.

5TH-LEVEL WIZARD SPELLS (DC 17 to cast)

Baleful Polymorph: Transforms subject into harmless animal.  Permanent.  Requires physical presence of target and a Sympathy, Forbidden spell. (Will Sv, Caster Check to break.)

Cone of Cold: 23 cold damage + Stun 1 rd + dropped to last in Initiative cold damage. (Ref Sv ½ damage) Medium range.

Cloudkill: Kills 3 HD or less individuals (No Save); 4-6 HD (Fort Sv or die), 6+ HD stunned 1 rd and flee 1 turn.  Immediate area or 30' sq.  Lasts 1 turn.

Summon Monster V: Calls 5HD extraplanar creature to fight for you.  Encounter. Forbidden spell. Ceremony Spell.  5 HD (1d8), 40 hp, +5 BAB, AC 15, damage 1d6+5, Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +1

6TH-LEVEL WIZARD SPELLS (DC 18 to cast)

Antimagic Field: Negates magic within 10 ft. Encounter. (Will Sv)

Chain Lightning: 21 electrical damage + Stun 1 rd + Knocked Down + Two secondary bolts 15 electrical damage + Stun 1 rd. All three bolts may be aimed at different targets. (Ref Sv ½ damage) Medium range main bolt, Short range, secondary.

Geas/Quest: Lasts 1 day/level or until discharged. (Will Sv to victim, Caster Check to dispel)

Liches can cast Ceremony spells and spells from Levels 6 to 9.  Evil Liches always use sacrificial victims to enhance their Ceremony spells.  Many Liches are quite demented from the after effects of blown Ceremony spells.  Given their reclusive nature, Liches typically accumulate XP very slowly, but will still do so to be able to cast high-level spells that burn XP.  (Lucky they’re immortal and have plenty of time.)