silvermane
Explorer
This is an article by user "KingOfChaos" posted on May 8, 2005 on the Chaos Wastelands board (now defunct). I am reposting it from Google cache for the good of the community, before it is lost in the abyss of the net. Formatting is lost unfortunately.
Dire Lich (Template)
The dire lich is a special creature crafted from divine influence. Unlike normal liches, the dire lich status can only be bestowed upon a mortal creature by an evil deity of undeath, death, or other evil portfolio. Also, unlike liches, the dire lich does not possess a phylactery and cannot be easily slain by destroying a magical item containing their soul. A dire lich’s existence is fueled by divine power and it only exists because a higher power wishes it to.
A dire lich shares a similar appearance to a lich, except that its bones are black and reflect no light or show any age. Dire liches are clean in appearance, as if their bones never supported any flesh and their chest cavity and pelvic area contain a storm of stygian energy which sends tendrils of divine power outward to corrupt everything the dire lich touches. Their eyes contain a purple spark of intelligence and power and when they speak, dark flames belch forth from their mouth, lending intimidation to everything they say.
Creating a Dire Lich
“Dire Lich” is a template that can be added to any humanoid or monstrous humanoid (hereafter referred to as the “character”) of at least 15th level in a divine spellcasting class that worships a deity. Dire liches speak any language they knew in life.
Size and Type: Character’s type changes to undead. Do not recalculate base attack bonus, saves, or skill points. Size remains unchanged.
Hit Dice: Increase all current and future hit dice to d12.
Armor Class: A dire lich has natural armor +5. They also add their charisma modifier (if any) to their armor class as a profane bonus.
Attack: A dire lich has a touch attack that it can use once per round. If the base creature can use weapons, the dire lich retains this ability. A creature with natural weapons retains those natural weapons. A dire lich fighting without weapons uses either its touch attack or its primary natural weapon (if it has any). A dire lich armed with a weapon uses its touch or a weapon, as it desires.
Full Attack: A dire lich fighting without weapons uses either its touch attack (see above) or its natural weapons (if it has any). If armed with a weapon, it usually uses the weapon as its primary attack along with a touch as a natural secondary attack, provided it has a way to make that attack (either a free hand or a natural weapon that it can use as a secondary attack). They will usually start battle by using their Killing Breath ability to weaken opponents.
Damage: A dire lich without natural weapons has a touch attack that uses negative energy to deal 1d10+10 points of damage to living creatures; a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 dire lich’s HD + dire lich’s Cha modifier) halves the damage. A dire lich with natural weapons can use its touch attack or its natural weaponry, as it prefers. If it chooses the latter, it deals 1d10+10 points of extra damage on one natural weapon attack.
Special Attacks: A dire lich has all the special attacks of the base character plus the following.
Traumatize (Su): The dire lich is surrounded by a 20 ft. aura of divine power of the most profane imaginable. This aura forces all who enter the area of effect to make a Will save (DC 10 + ½ dire lich’s level + charisma modifier) or flee from the lich as if it had cast Fear. Those who fail this save must immediately make a second Fortitude save (Same DC) or suffer the loss of half their hit points with 1d4 of those hit points being lost permanently. This aura only works once per combat. If a character flees, but makes the secondary save, they can still be affected again should they return to battle the dire lich after the effects of the Fear effect wear off.
Paralyzing Touch (Su): Any living creature whom a dire lich makes a successful touch attack against must roll a fortitude save (DC 10 + ½ dire lich’s level + charisma modifier) or be permanently paralyzed.
Killing Breath (Su): A dire lich can breathe forth a cloud of negative energy and killing divine influence to fill a 20 ft. by 20 ft. cube directly in front of it. Living creatures caught within the confines of this cloud must roll a Fort save (DC 10 + ½ dire lich’s level + charisma modifier) or die immediately. Creatures killed in this way cannot be resurrected unless brought back with a Miracle spell. Creatures which pass the fort save are still temporary blinded by the exposure for 1d6 minutes. A lich can breathe forth such an attack once a day plus an additional time per day per point of charisma modifer they possess.
Special Qualities: A dire lich has all the special qualities of the base character plus the following.
Immunities (Ex): Dire liches are immune to cold, electricity, polymorph (though they can still polymorph themselves), and mind influencing effects. They are immune to all spells and spell-like abilities below 3rd level in power.
Rejuvenation (Su): A dire lich cannot be permanently destroyed unless a miracle spell is cast dictating that a good aligned deity make it so. Otherwise, the dire lich reforms 1d4 days after its apparent destruction.
Saves: Same as character except a +2 profane bonus to Will.
Abilities: +2 Int, +2 Wis, +2 Cha
Feats: Same as character
Organization: Solitary or trio (1 dire lich plus 2 normal liches)
Alignment: Always evil
Level Adjustment: +15
Advancement: Same as character
Treasure: Double coins, double goods, double items.
Dire Lich (Template)
The dire lich is a special creature crafted from divine influence. Unlike normal liches, the dire lich status can only be bestowed upon a mortal creature by an evil deity of undeath, death, or other evil portfolio. Also, unlike liches, the dire lich does not possess a phylactery and cannot be easily slain by destroying a magical item containing their soul. A dire lich’s existence is fueled by divine power and it only exists because a higher power wishes it to.
A dire lich shares a similar appearance to a lich, except that its bones are black and reflect no light or show any age. Dire liches are clean in appearance, as if their bones never supported any flesh and their chest cavity and pelvic area contain a storm of stygian energy which sends tendrils of divine power outward to corrupt everything the dire lich touches. Their eyes contain a purple spark of intelligence and power and when they speak, dark flames belch forth from their mouth, lending intimidation to everything they say.
Creating a Dire Lich
“Dire Lich” is a template that can be added to any humanoid or monstrous humanoid (hereafter referred to as the “character”) of at least 15th level in a divine spellcasting class that worships a deity. Dire liches speak any language they knew in life.
Size and Type: Character’s type changes to undead. Do not recalculate base attack bonus, saves, or skill points. Size remains unchanged.
Hit Dice: Increase all current and future hit dice to d12.
Armor Class: A dire lich has natural armor +5. They also add their charisma modifier (if any) to their armor class as a profane bonus.
Attack: A dire lich has a touch attack that it can use once per round. If the base creature can use weapons, the dire lich retains this ability. A creature with natural weapons retains those natural weapons. A dire lich fighting without weapons uses either its touch attack or its primary natural weapon (if it has any). A dire lich armed with a weapon uses its touch or a weapon, as it desires.
Full Attack: A dire lich fighting without weapons uses either its touch attack (see above) or its natural weapons (if it has any). If armed with a weapon, it usually uses the weapon as its primary attack along with a touch as a natural secondary attack, provided it has a way to make that attack (either a free hand or a natural weapon that it can use as a secondary attack). They will usually start battle by using their Killing Breath ability to weaken opponents.
Damage: A dire lich without natural weapons has a touch attack that uses negative energy to deal 1d10+10 points of damage to living creatures; a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 dire lich’s HD + dire lich’s Cha modifier) halves the damage. A dire lich with natural weapons can use its touch attack or its natural weaponry, as it prefers. If it chooses the latter, it deals 1d10+10 points of extra damage on one natural weapon attack.
Special Attacks: A dire lich has all the special attacks of the base character plus the following.
Traumatize (Su): The dire lich is surrounded by a 20 ft. aura of divine power of the most profane imaginable. This aura forces all who enter the area of effect to make a Will save (DC 10 + ½ dire lich’s level + charisma modifier) or flee from the lich as if it had cast Fear. Those who fail this save must immediately make a second Fortitude save (Same DC) or suffer the loss of half their hit points with 1d4 of those hit points being lost permanently. This aura only works once per combat. If a character flees, but makes the secondary save, they can still be affected again should they return to battle the dire lich after the effects of the Fear effect wear off.
Paralyzing Touch (Su): Any living creature whom a dire lich makes a successful touch attack against must roll a fortitude save (DC 10 + ½ dire lich’s level + charisma modifier) or be permanently paralyzed.
Killing Breath (Su): A dire lich can breathe forth a cloud of negative energy and killing divine influence to fill a 20 ft. by 20 ft. cube directly in front of it. Living creatures caught within the confines of this cloud must roll a Fort save (DC 10 + ½ dire lich’s level + charisma modifier) or die immediately. Creatures killed in this way cannot be resurrected unless brought back with a Miracle spell. Creatures which pass the fort save are still temporary blinded by the exposure for 1d6 minutes. A lich can breathe forth such an attack once a day plus an additional time per day per point of charisma modifer they possess.
Special Qualities: A dire lich has all the special qualities of the base character plus the following.
Immunities (Ex): Dire liches are immune to cold, electricity, polymorph (though they can still polymorph themselves), and mind influencing effects. They are immune to all spells and spell-like abilities below 3rd level in power.
Rejuvenation (Su): A dire lich cannot be permanently destroyed unless a miracle spell is cast dictating that a good aligned deity make it so. Otherwise, the dire lich reforms 1d4 days after its apparent destruction.
Saves: Same as character except a +2 profane bonus to Will.
Abilities: +2 Int, +2 Wis, +2 Cha
Feats: Same as character
Organization: Solitary or trio (1 dire lich plus 2 normal liches)
Alignment: Always evil
Level Adjustment: +15
Advancement: Same as character
Treasure: Double coins, double goods, double items.
