killing the Lich

[wildstarsreach]

Liches don't lose levels when they reform. It's a phylactery, not a Raise Dead.

Since I haven't read the MM since I was playing 1st/2nd ed, Lichs lost a level every time that they had to reform. It was the penaltyfor their body being defeated.

 

[Raspen]

well it seems that we still cant find a way to kill the lich for good and its not that im afraid of the lich coming after my party but more on the lines of getting me by myself when im a sleep.

Elf (with long life) kills Lich (with longer life) = Elf (with life like kolbold)

 

[Imruphel]

Since I haven't read the MM since I was playing 1st/2nd ed, Lichs lost a level every time that they had to reform. It was the penaltyfor their body being defeated.

No they didn't. Maybe it was a house rule for your group but that never appeared in any of the MMs.

 

[Thorindale]

Quote:
Originally Posted by wildstarsreach
Since I haven't read the MM since I was playing 1st/2nd ed, Lichs lost a level every time that they had to reform. It was the penalty for their body being defeated.

It was an article in Dragon many years ago (reprinted the Best of Dragon #2) called "The Blueprint of the Lich". A very good article, IMHO.

 

[pawsplay]

Well, you can hope he was too paranoid to let it get far, in which case locate object would work. If and when it doesn't, figure out some means of detecting lead. At worst, detect magic and a glowing rock can be used as a sort of X-ray. Likewise, search for running water.

You could travel to another plane and gate him in when he reforms.

Contact outer plane is always good for a laugh.

If he was too paranoid to leave it lying around, you'll need a long list of minions, bosses, and allies who might be holding it. It's a given that the protector is either completely thralled to him or owns him completely.

It's also likely he would stick it in an extradimensional space, so be alert for transmutation magic.

If you could somehow capture him, repeated castings of command undead will get you there, eventually.

 

[Dark Dragon]

well it seems that we still cant find a way to kill the lich for good and its not that im afraid of the lich coming after my party but more on the lines of getting me by myself when im a sleep.

Elf (with long life) kills Lich (with longer life) = Elf (with life like kolbold)

Ever thought of taking the Hunter of the Dead PrC (see CW)? If the character gets at level 5, every undead he destroys will be dead forever. Yes, that includes a lich

 

[hanniball]

I would think so. The AMF around his phylactery would help though.

From the SRD:

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.

As you can see, it specifically states that the phylactery must be destroyed, not merely 'surpressed' as by an Antimagic Field. While it seems reasonable that the magic infused within the phylactery is what allows for this reformation, and that surpressing it's magical properties would prevent the Lich from reappearing, nowhere does it mention this. Thoughts?

To the OP:
Obviously very potent magics such as Wish or Miracle would have the potential to locate a phylactery, but this falls under DM discretion. Discern Location is another high level spell capable of learning the exact location of any object or creature. Finally, Legend Lore can provide you with clues to it's location.

Either way...just my 2 cp

 

[Salthorae]

Don't forget Vision! It's a little faster/more accurate than Legend Lore even...

 

[Amitiel]

Don't forget this fun fact from the SRD

Other forms of phylacteries can exist, such as rings, amulets, or similar items.

Anyone who played the Grand Conjunction Ravenloft adventures should remember Azalin's Phylactery, a 2 ton gold dragon skull, spelled to resist virtually all magic, and be nearly indestructable.

I personally had a Lich who stuck it inside an Iron Golem crafted with a tiny hallow space inside and had it guard an abandoned cemetary miles away from his lairs. He spent some time every century having bards spread rumors the cemetaries 'inhabitants' were imprisoned undead and the golem was there to keep them in. Since the golem was under orders not to attack the living unless attacked and to destroy any ghouls, ect that would eat the corpses (it weilded a +3 Ghost touch, undead bane, great sword) no one questioned it. The PC's even went there once before they even heard of the lich. The paladin and cleric felt an unholy aura but couldn't pin it down. (a Darkskull was buried under the golem's standing spot. They failed to locate it or ident it as an unhallow, taking 10 is not always your friend)