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<blockquote data-quote="ElectricDragon" data-source="post: 7519723" data-attributes="member: 10778"><p><strong><span style="font-size: 12px">II. Ritual of Lichdom*</span></strong></p><p> The ritual for becoming a lich is described in the Core Rules; making it both the best known of Nethrancor's rituals and the easiest to obtain without going through <em>The Death Father</em> [It can be researched for time and cost as if it were an 8th level spell].</p><p><strong>Prerequisites:</strong> Ritual of lichdom*, devourers essence, lich’s phylactery recipe, phylactery, ritual master’s lifeforce; <strong>Costs:</strong> 120,000 gp and 4,800 xp; <strong>Time:</strong> 1 day (8 hours).</p><p>*A ritual of lichdom has been documented in several cases to require a potion of lichdom to fuel the transformation. As each lich transmogrification is different and personal to the transformed being, such a potion is neither required nor standard.</p><p></p><p><strong>The Lich's Phylactery</strong></p><p>An integral part of becoming a lich is creating a magic phylactery in which the character stores its life force. As a rule, the only way to get rid of a lich for sure is to destroy its phylactery. Unless its phylactery is located and destroyed, a lich reappears 1d10 days after its apparent death.</p><p></p><p>Each lich must make its own phylactery, which requires the Craft Wondrous Item feat. The character must be able to cast spells and have a caster level of 11th or higher. The phylactery costs 120,000 gp and 4,800 XP to create and has a caster level equal to that of its creator at the time of creation. It normally takes 120 days to make.</p><p>Creating the phylactery is how the ritual is begun. The ritual must tie together the actual form of the phylactery and the caster’s lifeforce. Poisons are common requirements as are sharp pointy things or hot fires in which to douse the ritual master’s lifeforce; but the ritual must focus in some way on the phylactery as a receptacle of the ritual master’s lifeforce.</p><p></p><p>The most common form of phylactery is a sealed metal box containing strips of parchment on which magical phrases have been transcribed. </p><p>If it is a box, the box is Tiny and has 40 hit points, hardness 20, and a break DC of 40. </p><p></p><p>Such a ritual could include a pedestal of ebony on which to set the phylactery set in an obsidian pool wherein the ritual master slits his own throat as he finishes the last word of the chant.</p><p></p><p>Other forms of phylacteries can exist, such as rings, amulets, or similar items.</p><p></p><p>Spellcasters must discover the recipe for making the phylactery themselves (each phylactery is unique to the individual) or trade a service for the recipe to Nethrancor if they plan to become a lich (Warning: this entails letting Nethrancor know what the phylactery is to be). This trade would be in addition to the trade for the ritual of lichdom, completion of the phylactery recipe finishes the lichdom ritual. There are rumors of a <em>potion of lichdom</em>, which would be a another recipe and a different ritual that tied all three together; but some sages insist suicide in some form is an important step of the process (though drinking the potion is equivalent to death also).</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><em><strong>Excerpt from Ramiel’s Journal, Year 1.</strong></em></span></p><p><strong>Ramiel’s Recipe for Lich’s Phylactery:</strong></p><p><em>Strong Necromancy</em>; <strong>CL</strong> 11+; Craft Wondrous Item, devourer essence, magic jar, ritual of lichdom, phylactery recipe; <strong>Price:</strong> 120,000 gp and 4,800 xp; <strong>Weight:</strong> 1-5 lbs.</p><p> <em>Devourer Essence is the required component of the ritual/recipe, becoming part of the phylactery through the use of some magic. I decided on</em> fabricate <em>as a means of combining the substances.</em></p><p><em>After years of study, I have finally discovered a way to gain the devourer essence to fuel the ritual and finish the phylactery. It seems so simple now that I’ve thought of it. Store the essence in a gem from a successful</em> trap the soul <em>spell…I found it useful to provide a trigger object with</em> sympathy <em>attuned to the former essence creature’s alignment… In practice, it was much harder; no less than 10 gems at once just to be sure</em>…telekinesis...<em>My companions fear this ritual is breaking me: 225,000 gp of gems, 18,000 gp of pearl dust, 120,000 gp for my phylactery, a life’s worth of experience poured into the thing, and still I haven’t started the ritual proper. I tell them, “It will all be worth it for both the ability to converse, personally, with death and to be able to plumb its secrets without fear of mortality.” Besides, the ritual only ends with my death.</em></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Example Phylacteries</strong></span></p><p></p><p><strong>A. Linen Arm Wrappings</strong>, painted with arcane symbols in gold</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Tiny; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 15; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 12; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 20</p><p></p><p><strong>B. Wrought Mithral Ring</strong>, in the shape of a skull with ruby eyes</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Fine; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 20; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 25; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 50</p><p></p><p><strong>C.</strong> [Only for Colossal and larger sized liches] <strong>Polished Silver Mirror</strong>, with Illusion*</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Huge (12'x12'); <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 200; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 15; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 35</p><p>*The illusion shows the surrounding room like a normal mirror, but each creature reflected in the mirror appears as a skeleton, ghost, or shadow that mimics its movements.</p><p></p><p><strong>D. Metal Box</strong> (Tied to the Upper Arm), containing parchment inscribed with magical phrases (Draconic for “immortality thru undeath”)</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Tiny; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 40; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 20; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 40</p><p></p><p><strong>E. Beating Human* Heart </strong></p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Diminutive; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 10; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 5; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 10</p><p>*Or other intelligent creature. This phylactery is still inside the chest of the living vessel. This type of phylactery requires extra intelligent creatures and a repeating of the ritual for further resurrections because the first body is used up as the host body for the resurrected lich. [Also requires runes branded on the living vessel.]</p><p></p><p><strong>F. Jeweled Dagger</strong>, engraved with Arcane Symbols along the Blade</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Diminutive; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 30; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 25; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 40</p><p></p><p><strong>G. Crystal Amulet</strong>, in the shape of a Pentagram etched with Glowing Runes</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Fine; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 15; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 20; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 30</p><p></p><p><strong>H. Ebony Wand</strong>, with Emerald Tip</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Diminutive; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 10; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 12; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 30</p><p></p><p><strong>I. Adamantine Coffer</strong>, with mithral lock and fittings, an arcane circle is engraved on the lid which is also set with rubies and emeralds.</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Tiny; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 10; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 20; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 40</p><p></p><p><strong>J. Brass Urn</strong>, used to catch the blood of the ritual master as it drains away, engraved with a lich commanding skeletons and zombies.</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Tiny; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 20; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 15; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 34</p><p></p><p><strong>K. Silver-tipped Quill Pen</strong>, engraved with runes.</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Fine; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 14; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 15; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 20</p><p></p><p><strong>L. Volcanic Glass Ink Well</strong>, always looks like it is in shadow.</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Diminutive; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 30; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 10; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 32</p><p></p><p><strong>M. Journal</strong>, embossed leather covers, thick tome.</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Tiny; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 40; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 5; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 35</p><p></p><p><strong>N.</strong> [Only for Large or larger sized liches] <strong>Iron Brazier</strong>, containing the ashes of the ritual master.</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Small; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 40; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 10; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 35</p><p></p><p><strong>O.</strong> [Only for Gargantuan or larger sized liches] <strong>Battle Standard</strong>, of the lich’s sigil or battle flag.</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Large; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 40; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 10; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 25</p><p></p><p><strong>P. Compass</strong>, indicates magnetic north, lodestones affect it.</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Diminutive; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 30; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 20; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 40</p><p></p><p><strong>Q. Sextant</strong>, brass.</p><p><strong>Size:</strong> Diminutive; <strong>Hit Points:</strong> 40; <strong>Hardness:</strong> 20; <strong>Break DC:</strong> 40</p><p></p><p>The actual size and shape of a lich’s phylactery could also relate to its personality or goals in unlife. A lich whose immortal life is filled with research would find a pen, ink well, or even a book, a worthy phylactery. One whose unlife revolved around raising an undead army would find a standard, a brazier, or a compass a good phylactery. A lich captain of a ghost ship might have a sextant for a phylactery. Size of a phylactery, though, should never be larger than two sizes smaller than the lich’s base creature.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ElectricDragon, post: 7519723, member: 10778"] [b][size=3]II. Ritual of Lichdom*[/size][/b] The ritual for becoming a lich is described in the Core Rules; making it both the best known of Nethrancor's rituals and the easiest to obtain without going through [i]The Death Father[/i] [It can be researched for time and cost as if it were an 8th level spell]. [b]Prerequisites:[/b] Ritual of lichdom*, devourers essence, lich’s phylactery recipe, phylactery, ritual master’s lifeforce; [b]Costs:[/b] 120,000 gp and 4,800 xp; [b]Time:[/b] 1 day (8 hours). *A ritual of lichdom has been documented in several cases to require a potion of lichdom to fuel the transformation. As each lich transmogrification is different and personal to the transformed being, such a potion is neither required nor standard. [b]The Lich's Phylactery[/b] An integral part of becoming a lich is creating a magic phylactery in which the character stores its life force. As a rule, the only way to get rid of a lich for sure is to destroy its phylactery. Unless its phylactery is located and destroyed, a lich reappears 1d10 days after its apparent death. Each lich must make its own phylactery, which requires the Craft Wondrous Item feat. The character must be able to cast spells and have a caster level of 11th or higher. The phylactery costs 120,000 gp and 4,800 XP to create and has a caster level equal to that of its creator at the time of creation. It normally takes 120 days to make. Creating the phylactery is how the ritual is begun. The ritual must tie together the actual form of the phylactery and the caster’s lifeforce. Poisons are common requirements as are sharp pointy things or hot fires in which to douse the ritual master’s lifeforce; but the ritual must focus in some way on the phylactery as a receptacle of the ritual master’s lifeforce. The most common form of phylactery is a sealed metal box containing strips of parchment on which magical phrases have been transcribed. If it is a box, the box is Tiny and has 40 hit points, hardness 20, and a break DC of 40. Such a ritual could include a pedestal of ebony on which to set the phylactery set in an obsidian pool wherein the ritual master slits his own throat as he finishes the last word of the chant. Other forms of phylacteries can exist, such as rings, amulets, or similar items. Spellcasters must discover the recipe for making the phylactery themselves (each phylactery is unique to the individual) or trade a service for the recipe to Nethrancor if they plan to become a lich (Warning: this entails letting Nethrancor know what the phylactery is to be). This trade would be in addition to the trade for the ritual of lichdom, completion of the phylactery recipe finishes the lichdom ritual. There are rumors of a [i]potion of lichdom[/i], which would be a another recipe and a different ritual that tied all three together; but some sages insist suicide in some form is an important step of the process (though drinking the potion is equivalent to death also). [size=3][i][b]Excerpt from Ramiel’s Journal, Year 1.[/b][/i][/size][i][/i] [b]Ramiel’s Recipe for Lich’s Phylactery:[/b] [i]Strong Necromancy[/i]; [b]CL[/b] 11+; Craft Wondrous Item, devourer essence, magic jar, ritual of lichdom, phylactery recipe; [b]Price:[/b] 120,000 gp and 4,800 xp; [b]Weight:[/b] 1-5 lbs. [i]Devourer Essence is the required component of the ritual/recipe, becoming part of the phylactery through the use of some magic. I decided on[/I] fabricate [I]as a means of combining the substances. After years of study, I have finally discovered a way to gain the devourer essence to fuel the ritual and finish the phylactery. It seems so simple now that I’ve thought of it. Store the essence in a gem from a successful[/I] trap the soul [I]spell…I found it useful to provide a trigger object with[/I] sympathy [I]attuned to the former essence creature’s alignment… In practice, it was much harder; no less than 10 gems at once just to be sure[/I]…telekinesis...[I]My companions fear this ritual is breaking me: 225,000 gp of gems, 18,000 gp of pearl dust, 120,000 gp for my phylactery, a life’s worth of experience poured into the thing, and still I haven’t started the ritual proper. I tell them, “It will all be worth it for both the ability to converse, personally, with death and to be able to plumb its secrets without fear of mortality.” Besides, the ritual only ends with my death.[/i] [size=3][b]Example Phylacteries[/b][/size] [b]A. Linen Arm Wrappings[/b], painted with arcane symbols in gold [b]Size:[/b] Tiny; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 15; [b]Hardness:[/b] 12; [b]Break DC:[/b] 20 [b]B. Wrought Mithral Ring[/b], in the shape of a skull with ruby eyes [b]Size:[/b] Fine; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 20; [b]Hardness:[/b] 25; [b]Break DC:[/b] 50 [b]C.[/b] [Only for Colossal and larger sized liches] [b]Polished Silver Mirror[/b], with Illusion* [b]Size:[/b] Huge (12'x12'); [b]Hit Points:[/b] 200; [b]Hardness:[/b] 15; [b]Break DC:[/b] 35 *The illusion shows the surrounding room like a normal mirror, but each creature reflected in the mirror appears as a skeleton, ghost, or shadow that mimics its movements. [b]D. Metal Box[/b] (Tied to the Upper Arm), containing parchment inscribed with magical phrases (Draconic for “immortality thru undeath”) [b]Size:[/b] Tiny; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 40; [b]Hardness:[/b] 20; [b]Break DC:[/b] 40 [b]E. Beating Human* Heart [/b] [b]Size:[/b] Diminutive; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 10; [b]Hardness:[/b] 5; [b]Break DC:[/b] 10 *Or other intelligent creature. This phylactery is still inside the chest of the living vessel. This type of phylactery requires extra intelligent creatures and a repeating of the ritual for further resurrections because the first body is used up as the host body for the resurrected lich. [Also requires runes branded on the living vessel.] [b]F. Jeweled Dagger[/b], engraved with Arcane Symbols along the Blade [b]Size:[/b] Diminutive; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 30; [b]Hardness:[/b] 25; [b]Break DC:[/b] 40 [b]G. Crystal Amulet[/b], in the shape of a Pentagram etched with Glowing Runes [b]Size:[/b] Fine; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 15; [b]Hardness:[/b] 20; [b]Break DC:[/b] 30 [b]H. Ebony Wand[/b], with Emerald Tip [b]Size:[/b] Diminutive; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 10; [b]Hardness:[/b] 12; [b]Break DC:[/b] 30 [b]I. Adamantine Coffer[/b], with mithral lock and fittings, an arcane circle is engraved on the lid which is also set with rubies and emeralds. [b]Size:[/b] Tiny; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 10; [b]Hardness:[/b] 20; [b]Break DC:[/b] 40 [b]J. Brass Urn[/b], used to catch the blood of the ritual master as it drains away, engraved with a lich commanding skeletons and zombies. [b]Size:[/b] Tiny; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 20; [b]Hardness:[/b] 15; [b]Break DC:[/b] 34 [b]K. Silver-tipped Quill Pen[/b], engraved with runes. [b]Size:[/b] Fine; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 14; [b]Hardness:[/b] 15; [b]Break DC:[/b] 20 [b]L. Volcanic Glass Ink Well[/b], always looks like it is in shadow. [b]Size:[/b] Diminutive; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 30; [b]Hardness:[/b] 10; [b]Break DC:[/b] 32 [b]M. Journal[/b], embossed leather covers, thick tome. [b]Size:[/b] Tiny; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 40; [b]Hardness:[/b] 5; [b]Break DC:[/b] 35 [b]N.[/b] [Only for Large or larger sized liches] [b]Iron Brazier[/b], containing the ashes of the ritual master. [b]Size:[/b] Small; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 40; [b]Hardness:[/b] 10; [b]Break DC:[/b] 35 [b]O.[/b] [Only for Gargantuan or larger sized liches] [b]Battle Standard[/b], of the lich’s sigil or battle flag. [b]Size:[/b] Large; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 40; [b]Hardness:[/b] 10; [b]Break DC:[/b] 25 [b]P. Compass[/b], indicates magnetic north, lodestones affect it. [b]Size:[/b] Diminutive; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 30; [b]Hardness:[/b] 20; [b]Break DC:[/b] 40 [b]Q. Sextant[/b], brass. [b]Size:[/b] Diminutive; [b]Hit Points:[/b] 40; [b]Hardness:[/b] 20; [b]Break DC:[/b] 40 The actual size and shape of a lich’s phylactery could also relate to its personality or goals in unlife. A lich whose immortal life is filled with research would find a pen, ink well, or even a book, a worthy phylactery. One whose unlife revolved around raising an undead army would find a standard, a brazier, or a compass a good phylactery. A lich captain of a ghost ship might have a sextant for a phylactery. Size of a phylactery, though, should never be larger than two sizes smaller than the lich’s base creature. [/QUOTE]
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