Is this a Liche? (Self-Mummification of the Shingon Buddhist Mummies)

[Tonguez]

Just watched a documentary on the Buddhist Mummies of the Shingon sect in Japan. Anyway this sect beleives that Physical Punishment and Endurance (ie Constitution) gives their bodies 'enlightenment' which is just as important as the meditation to give their minds enlightenment.
Its highest doctrine is the Sokushin-jobutsugi (The Doctrine of Becoming a Buddha with One's Body During One's Earthly Existence) which includes a method of self-mummification (ie while your still alive).

here for the picture

 

[the Jester]

WOW... talk about transcending your physicality!

 

[Geoffrey]

That's fascinating stuff. Sounds like it takes upwards of ten years to achieve mummification. That's much more fantastic than just casting some spell and...presto!...you're a lich.

 

[Mangrum]

They're definitely Ravenloft Ancient Dead.

 

[Nephet]

Maybe they were the inspiration for the Baelnorn.

 

[Angcuru]

Talk about willpower...

First 3 years up just nuts, then 3 years of bark and roots with some sap tea near the end of the 6th year, and then you sit in a stone box lotus-style until you croak. DAMN! Talk about faith...

 

[LoneWolf23]

Those guys would definetly be good-aligned liches or mummies, though.

 

[Angcuru]

Those guys would definetly be good-aligned liches or mummies, though.

Nephet suggested they may have been inspiration for the baelnorn, but I don't know about that. These guys were looking for enlightenment, not to protect anyone.

 

[Spike]

woah

thats really really cool, but what is a baelnorn?

 

[the Jester]

Re: woah

thats really really cool, but what is a baelnorn?

A good-aligned elf-lich from the Realms.