[Epic] Backlash and Languages, Oh My!

[Thistleknot]

I have a couple of questions, and I would appreciate any help I could get.

Firstly, would the Polyglot feat allow someone to learn Dark Speech from the Book of Vile Darkness without taking the Dark Speech feat?

And if a Lich or Demilich is taken to zero hitpoints by backlash damage, do they lose a level, or do they just reform back around their phylactery in 1d10 days without a level loss?

Please let me know what you think.

Thank you.

 

[Pax]

I have a couple of questions, and I would appreciate any help I could get.

Firstly, would the Polyglot feat allow someone to learn Dark Speech from the Book of Vile Darkness without taking the Dark Speech feat?

I would tend to say no; IMO, Polyglot gives you 1 "virtual" rank in every language skill, so you'd probably kow some OF the Dark Speech itself. But youw ouldn't know enough to apply it, without taking the Feat itself.

And if a Lich or Demilich is taken to zero hitpoints by backlash damage, do they lose a level, or do they just reform back around their phylactery in 1d10 days without a level loss?

Per the ELH:

[...] no spell or method exists that will return the caster to life without costing the caster a level -- not even wish, true resurrection miracle, or epic spells that return life to the deceased. Spells that normally penalise the recipient one level when they return him to life, such as raise dead, penalise a caster killed by backlash two levels.

So, a lich or demilich destroyed by backlash form an epic spell reforms around their phylactery in 1d10 days ... less one level. IOW, the answer is both: they reform, and they lose a level. Note, the Worm that Walks would also lose a level, if they were somehow able to avoid utter obliteration by the backlash.