Archlich's - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Archlich's

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Mulhull
Apr 08, 2007 21:57:25 I read on wikipedia that the archlich (a good lich character) is first mentioned in a spelljammer product, which one? And, can a lich be of any alignment, thus you could have a true neutral lich as well.

Is there a minimum level needed to become a lich? And I wondered if there is anything that interferes with the lich's soul in his phylactery and planar/other boundries, like if he leaves the plane his phylactery is on, or goes on the astral, where he would form an astral cord connecting his soul to his body, but how could you have his soul on the astral plane with a cord, if it's back in his phylactery in the plane he left?
#2
Silverblade_The_Enchanter
Apr 09, 2007 1:30:11 It's in one of the 2 spelljammer Monstrous compnediums, which I'd need to dig out of my cupboard to find ;)

They are NOT normal lich's, they are good aligned.
#3
nightdruid
Apr 09, 2007 6:29:06 Lost Ships is the product that introduced the Archlich.
#4
Mulhull
Apr 09, 2007 8:48:02
They are NOT normal lich's, they are good aligned.

I know, though rotting flesh and undeath aren't usually something you'd associate with a good character.

Doesn't it say also that archlich's do not ever degrade into demi-lich form like normal evil lich's, and that they get thier spells intuitively, and don't need spellbooks.
#5
nightdruid
Apr 09, 2007 9:27:01 Not much different than Baelnorn (CG elf liches), though. There could be a number of reasons a good-aligned wizard could seek lichdom, many of which are the same as those elves who become baelnorns.
#6
Mulhull
Apr 14, 2007 2:13:24
Not much different than Baelnorn (CG elf liches), though. There could be a number of reasons a good-aligned wizard could seek lichdom, many of which are the same as those elves who become baelnorns.

Makes me wonder also, would archlich's be powered by positive rather than negative energy? And, why exactly is a lich considered undead. Perhaps because it's soul doesn't occupy it's body, so for all intents and purposes it's dead.
#7
locustechpriest
Dec 04, 2007 20:04:36 I envision negative energy as the physical void left when positive energy is stripped away. I would think that the reason liches are sustained by negative energy is that the absence of the spirit (in the body) leaves this void behind. The void is filled by positive energy, thus destroying the lich's body, and expanded by negative, thus strengthening it.

Naturally, another mechanism must be in the works for a positive energy lich to exist. I am essentially running off of core DnD though, so it is entirely possible for my theory to be incomplete...
#8
bigmac
Mar 02, 2008 9:09:55
I know, though rotting flesh and undeath aren't usually something you'd associate with a good character.

Doesn't it say also that archlich's do not ever degrade into demi-lich form like normal evil lich's, and that they get thier spells intuitively, and don't need spellbooks.

An archlich isn't quite the same thing as a lich. When a spellcaster converts themselves into a lich they become evil - even if they are not already evil.

The process for converting your body into an archlich does not change your alignment. However, an archlich looks pretty much identical to a lich and will probably be assumed to be a lich.

The description of the archlich says that they are good people who deliberately transform themselves into an undead in order to protect a person or place.

Here are the main features I picked up from Lost Ships:

* Arch liches are immune to clerical turning or disruption.
* They are immune to mental magic.
* They can never be magically controlled or influenced by another being.
* They have an "aura of power" that causes creatures of less than blah to flee in terror.
* They have a chill touch that causes living things and causes paralysis.
* They can repel undead by touch or will.
* They can animate dead by touch and will.
* They can only be hit by magical weapons or spells.
* Unlike liches they don't forget things.
* They can hear their name anywhere on the same plane (although this does not give people power over them).
* They can walk on water.

BTW: An archlich does not have a phylactery. The would be archlich creates a magical item instead. If their body is destroyed they are teleported to this magical item and then slowly form a new body. The only way to permanently destroy them is to destroy that magic item.
#9
loki_de_carabas
Mar 23, 2008 10:37:02 Terrigamar, the lich encountered in Lost Ships, is good (or at least neutral in alignment. I'm not sure if he's and archlich or not, but certainly one to bring up.

I've used him consistently in my various campaigns over the years. The distracted wizard studying the Flow, so focussed on his research he did not even notice his own death. Great stuff.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Mulhull Apr 08, 2007 21:57:25	I read on wikipedia that the archlich (a good lich character) is first mentioned in a spelljammer product, which one? And, can a lich be of any alignment, thus you could have a true neutral lich as well. Is there a minimum level needed to become a lich? And I wondered if there is anything that interferes with the lich's soul in his phylactery and planar/other boundries, like if he leaves the plane his phylactery is on, or goes on the astral, where he would form an astral cord connecting his soul to his body, but how could you have his soul on the astral plane with a cord, if it's back in his phylactery in the plane he left?
#2 Silverblade_The_Enchanter Apr 09, 2007 1:30:11	It's in one of the 2 spelljammer Monstrous compnediums, which I'd need to dig out of my cupboard to find ;) They are NOT normal lich's, they are good aligned.
#3 nightdruid Apr 09, 2007 6:29:06	Lost Ships is the product that introduced the Archlich.
#4 Mulhull Apr 09, 2007 8:48:02	They are NOT normal lich's, they are good aligned. I know, though rotting flesh and undeath aren't usually something you'd associate with a good character. Doesn't it say also that archlich's do not ever degrade into demi-lich form like normal evil lich's, and that they get thier spells intuitively, and don't need spellbooks.
#5 nightdruid Apr 09, 2007 9:27:01	Not much different than Baelnorn (CG elf liches), though. There could be a number of reasons a good-aligned wizard could seek lichdom, many of which are the same as those elves who become baelnorns.
#6 Mulhull Apr 14, 2007 2:13:24	Not much different than Baelnorn (CG elf liches), though. There could be a number of reasons a good-aligned wizard could seek lichdom, many of which are the same as those elves who become baelnorns. Makes me wonder also, would archlich's be powered by positive rather than negative energy? And, why exactly is a lich considered undead. Perhaps because it's soul doesn't occupy it's body, so for all intents and purposes it's dead.
#7 locustechpriest Dec 04, 2007 20:04:36	I envision negative energy as the physical void left when positive energy is stripped away. I would think that the reason liches are sustained by negative energy is that the absence of the spirit (in the body) leaves this void behind. The void is filled by positive energy, thus destroying the lich's body, and expanded by negative, thus strengthening it. Naturally, another mechanism must be in the works for a positive energy lich to exist. I am essentially running off of core DnD though, so it is entirely possible for my theory to be incomplete...
#8 bigmac Mar 02, 2008 9:09:55	I know, though rotting flesh and undeath aren't usually something you'd associate with a good character. Doesn't it say also that archlich's do not ever degrade into demi-lich form like normal evil lich's, and that they get thier spells intuitively, and don't need spellbooks. An archlich isn't quite the same thing as a lich. When a spellcaster converts themselves into a lich they become evil - even if they are not already evil. The process for converting your body into an archlich does not change your alignment. However, an archlich looks pretty much identical to a lich and will probably be assumed to be a lich. The description of the archlich says that they are good people who deliberately transform themselves into an undead in order to protect a person or place. Here are the main features I picked up from Lost Ships: * Arch liches are immune to clerical turning or disruption. * They are immune to mental magic. * They can never be magically controlled or influenced by another being. * They have an "aura of power" that causes creatures of less than *blah* to flee in terror. * They have a chill touch that causes living things and causes paralysis. * They can repel undead by touch or will. * They can animate dead by touch and will. * They can only be hit by magical weapons or spells. * Unlike liches they don't forget things. * They can hear their name anywhere on the same plane (although this does not give people power over them). * They can walk on water. BTW: An archlich does not have a phylactery. The would be archlich creates a magical item instead. If their body is destroyed they are teleported to this magical item and then slowly form a new body. The only way to permanently destroy them is to destroy that magic item.
#9 loki_de_carabas Mar 23, 2008 10:37:02	Terrigamar, the lich encountered in Lost Ships, is good (or at least neutral in alignment. I'm not sure if he's and archlich or not, but certainly one to bring up. I've used him consistently in my various campaigns over the years. The distracted wizard studying the Flow, so focussed on his research he did not even notice his own death. Great stuff.