Dragonomicon: Dracolich Mongrel

[Protagonist]

How can this creature even have a consciousness considering that it is a patchwork out of multiple, already long dead creatures?

I did my PhD thesis on magical science and I have to agree with my fellow colleagues assessement

 

[Mouseferatu]

How can this creature even have a consciousness considering that it is a patchwork out of multiple, already long dead creatures?

Right, because nowhere in fantasy or horror literature are there any examples of such a Frankenstein-like creature ever existing.

 

[Phaezen]

I did my PhD thesis on magical science and I have to agree with my fellow colleagues assessement

The Skull Lord and Dread Wraith would like a word with you.

Phaezen

 

[Derren]

Right, because nowhere in fantasy or horror literature are there any examples of such a Frankenstein-like creature ever existing.

Except that we are not talking about literature, but about D&D, and the idea of a lich put together from many creatures which weren't even alive at the time when the ritual started does not fit.

 

[justanobody]

Except that we are not talking about literature, but about D&D, and the idea of a lich put together from many creatures which weren't even alive at the time when the ritual started does not fit.

What is a Golem again? A flesh golem would be?

 

[Cadfan]

Haven't we had undead composite monsters since, like, forever? Just sayin'.

 

[Derren]

What is a Golem again? A flesh golem would be?

If that monster would be a golem (or a generic undead) I wouldn't have a problem with it. But its a lich which is something very different.

 

[Phaezen]

Except that we are not talking about literature, but about D&D, and the idea of a lich put together from many creatures which weren't even alive at the time when the ritual started does not fit.

The Skull Lord and Dread Wraith would like a word with you too.

On the otherhand, if it disturbs you, a small refluff:

The Dracolich Mongrel is formed during a vile ritual where a still living dragon is disected, it's limbs removed and replaced with the remains of long dead dragons, its pain fueling the magic, driving the unfortunate dragon insane. The Evil cults who perform these rituals prefer using good dragons as the base for the Mongrel.

Phaezen

 

[Mouseferatu]

Except that we are not talking about literature, but about D&D, and the idea of a lich put together from many creatures which weren't even alive at the time when the ritual started does not fit.

Doesn't fit why?

Seriously, can you give me any reason other than that you don't like it? There are plenty of examples in D&D of creatures with more than one mind/persona, be they living, undead, or constructs. Just off the top of my head and counting undead alone, we have skull lords in 4E (three heads) and the dream vestige in 3E. And that's without 10 seconds' thought and not opening a book; I guarantee you I can find others.

Nobody's claiming you have to like the concept, but claiming that it "doesn't fit," or expressing faux shock as you did in the post I originally replied to, is just silly.

Edit: Just saw your prior post. Why is being a lich any different? It's just another form of undead whose essence is linked to a phylactery. The fact that there haven't been "multi-part" liches before hardly makes the concept innately unsound.

 

[justanobody]

If that monster would be a golem (or a generic undead) I wouldn't have a problem with it. But its a lich which is something very different.

You have a problem with an undead lich?

Or the undead becoming a lich?