Should a Lich's phylactery be on the same plane?

[Shin Okada]

Or can it be on another plane? I am wondering if a patron demon or something can "secure" a lich's phylactery. That way, the opposing adventurers should brave into the castle of the demon in an infernal plane.

 

[Shayuri]

Or can it be on another plane? I am wondering if a patron demon or something can "secure" a lich's phylactery. That way, the opposing adventurers should brave into the castle of the demon in an infernal plane.

In theory, I guess...but I imagine most liches like to keep them close at hand. I mean...the totality of your essence is in that thing. You're going to give it to a DEMON? For safekeeping?!

That said, a demon might steal a phylactery, to extort service from a lich. Or perhaps the lich had no choice... There are scenarios where it could work, and there's nothing mechanically wrong with the idea.

 

[gfunk]

In Green Ronin's "Legions of Hell" supplement, there is a Pit Fiend Lich who stores his Phylactery in a Leomund's Secret Chest. This is located in the Astral (or is it Ethereal?) plane. Very hard to get to.

Personally, I think it is an excellent idea to safeguard your immortality.

Another option would be to use the 9th level Psion/Wizard/Sorcerer spell Genesis. Then you could put your Phylactery on your own demiplane.

 

[Nightchilde-2]

Liches and other planes..

I don't think there is a reason, mechanics-wise, why they couldn't. Yeah, the safety of one's immortaility is at hand, and thus most liches probably would keep them close.

In my last campaign, the BBEL (Big Bad Evil Lich) had hidden her phylactery on the Shadow Plane.

Inside of her vampiric son.

That was fun.

 

[Ferret]

I'd hide it in a copper coin. With a bunch of other coins. In a Leomund's Secret Chest. If your fighting a lich why would you want copper coins?

 

[Darklone]

Yeah, phylacteries in vampire heads (especially if the vampire didn't know it) were one of my favorite hiding places...

 

[hong]

I'd hide it in a copper coin. With a bunch of other coins. In a Leomund's Secret Chest. If your fighting a lich why would you want copper coins?

Now that's just plain not fair.

 

[Wolffenjugend]

I think the point is to have the phylactery be something unique and special. I don't know what's special about a copper coin, especially if it looks like all the others (now, maybe the lich used magic to disguise the coin/phylactery...). Othewise, why not just disguise the phylactery as a grain of sand and leave it on the beach?

As for Leomund's Secret Chest, I wouldn't leave it there - too risky. Who knows who will stumble upon it on the ethereal plane. And what if some kind of dimensional anchor is placed on the lich or its lair? So much for getting back to its phylactery. As for a demon, you've got to be kidding. Probably the least reliable scenario that could be conceived. I'd keep it close, in as safe an area as possible, with an alternate body at hand for me to possess should my other form be destroyed.

The DM should also remember that the point of the game is for everyone to have fun - and players aren't going to have much fun if the lich enemy has a phylactery that's hidden in such an obscure location/manner that it's unlikely they'll be able to find it.

My 2 cents.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I
As for Leomund's Secret Chest, I wouldn't leave it there - too risky. Who knows who will stumble upon it on the ethereal plane. And what if some kind of dimensional anchor is placed on the lich or its lair? So much for getting back to its phylactery. As for a demon, you've got to be kidding. Probably the least reliable scenario that could be conceived. I'd keep it close, in as safe an area as possible, with an alternate body at hand for me to possess should my other form be destroyed.

I agree.

The point of becoming a lich is to live forever. Leomund's Secret Chest is a fine way to keep something safe for a couple hundred years or so. You can bet someone will find it given a milleniun or two.

Ditto with the demon.

 

[hong]

The point of becoming a lich is to live forever.

The point of becoming a lich is whatever the DM says the point is.

Leomund's Secret Chest is a fine way to keep something safe for a couple hundred years or so. You can bet someone will find it given a milleniun or two.

Given the distinct lack of empirical evidence for people existing on the ethereal plane in real life, the DM has plenty of latitude to decree that nobody exists on the ethereal plane in fantasy as well.

Ditto with the demon.

The lich can order the demon to keep it safe, and the demon will obey, because the lich is JUST THAT BADASS.

Yeesh.