Lich Transformation questions

[DarkLord Of DForce]

Lich Transformation

You call upon Orcus, the Demon Prince of Undeath, to transform your body into a skeletal thing, undead and immortal, and bind your life force within a specially prepared receptacle called a phylactery.
Component Cost: 100,000 gp
Market Price: 250,000 gp
Key Skill: Arcana, ReligionLevel: 14
Category: Creation
Time: 1 hour; see text
Duration: Permanent; see text
At the conclusion of this ritual, you die, transform into a lich, and gain the lich template.
An integral part of becoming a lich is creating a phylactery, a magical receptacle containing your life force. When you are reduced to 0 hit points or fewer, you and your possessions crumble to dust. Unless your phylactery is located and destroyed, your reappear in a space adjacent to the phylactery after 1d10 days.
You must construct your phylactery before the ritual can be performed. The phylactery, which takes 10 days to create, usually takes the form of a sealed metal box containing strips of parchment on which magical phrases have been transcribed in your blood. The box measures 6 inches on a side and has 40 hit points and resist 20 to all damage. Other kinds of phylacteries include rings and amulets, which are just as durable.
If your phylactery is destroyed, you can build a new one; the process takes 10 days and costs 50,000 gp.


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I have a player in our home campaign who wants to use this. I think it raises all kinds of problems. First, there are good and lawful good players in our party. I mean, this player cries out to Orcus, Prince of Undeath, and becomes a Lich? Hmm...


Then, he wants to make his phylactery a ring that he wears. Well, the text says that when you die all your possessions crumble to dust. Wouldn't this destroy the ring as well?


My inclination is just to say "no". As DM what would you all do?


Thanks for any advice/suggestions!

 

[Wednesday Boy]

What alignment is the character who wants to use it? If they're evil and this is just going to exemplify their evilness, I'd lean towards saying no since it's a potential party splitting issue. Still, I'd speak with the group together to get their thoughts.

If the character is good, you could have their lichhood emulate the old baelnorns (Lawful Good elven liches) and reskin the ritual appropriately (remove the Orcus fluff with something else).

 

[Arctic Wolf]

Aside from his alignment, what class is he and what level are you guys at? I am sure you know that there is a lich epic destiny in the arcane power book, so if he wants to do it maybe try to make him hold off till then? If not follow what Wednesday boy said I'd say.

 

[Danzauker]

Regarding the phylactery: when the characteris reduced to 0- HP, all he wears crumbles to dust - except for a ring. Guess what's the phylactery?

Wearing the phylactery is a very bad idea.

Plus, note that following the ritual RAW the character does not benefit from death saves and negative HP.

 

[FreeXenon]

This sounds like a great time for you to just ignore the fluff and/or rewrite the fluff. In 2E there were good liches.

 

[bargle0]

Consider asking the player to hang on and just wait until level 21 for the Archlich Epic Destiny.

 

[Ryujin]

Using the Lich Transformation ritual results in an insane NPC lich. The only 'safe' way to obtain the Lich transformation, is to take the Epic Destiny at level 21.

The first thing, that I would do, is deny access to the Lich Transformation ritual at all. Just because it exists, that doesn't imply that the character can obtain it. If you choose to make it available I would state, without equivocation, that the character will become a NPC.

*EDIT* Option #3 - Tell the player that his character would have to FIND the ritual. This then becomes a side quest, that you insert into every other adventure, and that is completed when the character obtains level 21

 

[DarkLord Of DForce]

Regarding the phylactery: when the characteris reduced to 0- HP, all he wears crumbles to dust - except for a ring. Guess what's the phylactery?

Wearing the phylactery is a very bad idea.

Plus, note that following the ritual RAW the character does not benefit from death saves and negative HP.

Hmm, I missed that part. Why does he not benefit? Thanks.

 

[DarkLord Of DForce]

He is a Good Male Eladrin Bladesinger, Level 8.

He claims he's going to use an item, "Hat of Disguise" to keep the Good and Lawful Good characters in the party from knowing that he is a Lich.

I looked at this item. Its a standard action to use, but there is no limits on it whatsoever? Ugh.

I'm still inclined to not allow this. Letting him take the Epic Destiny path seems much safer and less disruptive.

Thanks for all the replies gang.

 

[OhGodtheRats]

Just to chime in:

The Archlich epic destiny in Arcane Power talks about "Good" Liches, and Orcus hates each and every one of them. Apparently there's a quick way to become a Lich (Orcus) and if you're clever and patient, there's another way. So while even the canon "good lich" thing is vague, it's still there. The implication is, however, that if you don't want to serve Orcus, you've got to wait until level 21.

In my game I play an ArchLich Hexblade who's doesn't have Arcana & is more a pirate than a warlock....and in our game my implement is a tooth from an Aspect of Orcus. My DM made it so only something linked to Orcus would let the loophole in infernal law swing. I'm sure you can have fun with it in your own way. Fluff has evolved as 4E's unfolded...one of the things that made Orcus kinda spooky in the early year was that every Lich was sworn to him. That's kind of gotten fuzzy as things have progressed.

Now of course I want to introduce this into my game only after the person dies, the Lich that comes back is NOT them. Fun times.