Undead Origins
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Voadam
Legend
Dragon 63
Dragon 63
1e
Shoosuva: Yeenoghu long ago developed a specialized form of demonic undead for use as an intermediary between him and his shaman and witch doctors, and as a guardian for himself and those followers of exceptional merit. The creatures are called shoosuvas; their name means “returners” in the gnoll tongue, a reference to the belief that shoosuvas are the incarnations of the spirits of the greatest of Yeenoghu’s shamans.
Dragon 63
1e
Shoosuva: Yeenoghu long ago developed a specialized form of demonic undead for use as an intermediary between him and his shaman and witch doctors, and as a guardian for himself and those followers of exceptional merit. The creatures are called shoosuvas; their name means “returners” in the gnoll tongue, a reference to the belief that shoosuvas are the incarnations of the spirits of the greatest of Yeenoghu’s shamans.
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Voadam
Legend
Dragon 66
Dragon 66
1e
Animal Skeletons: Animal skeletons are created from small vertebrates via the spell animate dead, which produces 1 skeleton per level of the casting cleric or magic-user. Animals smaller than squirrels or larger than hyenas cannot become animated skeletons.
Dragon 66
1e
Animal Skeletons: Animal skeletons are created from small vertebrates via the spell animate dead, which produces 1 skeleton per level of the casting cleric or magic-user. Animals smaller than squirrels or larger than hyenas cannot become animated skeletons.
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Voadam
Legend
Dragon 76
Dragon 76
1e
Undead: A death master of 13th level who is killed on the feast day of Orcus (sometimes called Halloween) will become an undead under Orcus. direction. Some death masters will even commit suicide on that date when they are 13th level, so as to better serve the demon prince. Orcus is 45% likely to notice this action and to animate the death master with all of the character's powers intact.
Undead Production spell.
Ghast: Ghast Production spell.
Ghost: Ghost Production spell.
Lich: Lichdom spell.
Mummy: Mumy Production spell.
Skeleton: Animate Skeletons spell.
Spectre: Vampire Production spell.
Vampire: Vampire Production spell.
Wight: Wight Production spell.
Wraith: Wraith Production spell.
Zombie: Animate Zombies spell.
Animate skeletons is simply an animate dead spell that produces one skeleton for every level of the death master. The death master must prepare a special salve to rub on the bones to make the skeleton receptive. This takes one round per skeleton. The magic to animate them then takes only a segment to cast. The rubbed skeletons can be so animated anytime within 24 hours after their rubdown. The salved costs 10 gp per skeleton. Spell range is 30 feet plus 10 feet per effective level of the death master.
Animate zombies is simply an animate dead spell that produces one zombie for every effective level of the death master. The corpse must be immersed in a bath of special salts for 1 full turn prior to spell casting. Such a bath can soak ten corpses for a cost of 200 gp. The corpses then so soaked can be animated in two segments at a range of 50 feet plus 10 feet per effective level of the death master.
Ghast production requires a ghoul to be at hand. The death master may animate only one ghast per spell. The body must be infused with a special liquid that costs 400 gp to produce. The process takes 1 hour to prepare the body and 1 turn to cast the spell. Such ghasts cannot procreate themselves but are like ghasts in every other way. Someone killed by one of these ghasts has a minus 1% to the chance to be raised from the dead for each hour the figure is dead. Thus, after 70 hours a victim with a constitution of 13 would have only a 20% chance to be successfully raised. If raised, however, subsequent raises would be allowed at the figures full constitution score. Note: Magics like remove curse, limited wish, etc. can remove the onus on such a corpse so that raising is normal.
Mummy production requires an embalming fluid that costs 1,400 gp. The body must be wrapped and prepared, which will require six full hours. The spell then takes but 4 segments to complete by a simple command word issued within 24 hours of the embalming. One mummy is thus produced. It will obey the death master and do his bidding, but is allowed a saving throw of 17 (attempted daily) to become independent of the death master's control.
Wight production requires a corpse and a bone from a wight. If a cubic gate or amulet of the planes (or a similar device) is available, the wight bone is not required, since the death master can then actually touch the Negative Material Plane to gain the necessary power. For every wight so produced, the death master will lose one hit point permanently unless he saves vs. death magic. The wight so produced will always have maximum hit points, and it can “procreate” itself and command those wights to its service. Note that only the common wight produced by the spell is “friendly” to the death master. Lesser wights will attack the death master if they fail the aforementioned saving throw (recall that an undead will not attack a death master unless it fails a saving throw of 8).
One in five wights produced by this spell is atypical. It cannot drain energy levels. Instead, it drains hit points permanently with its touch. This type of wight will cause the living victim to fight at -1 per touch for 1 full hour after each touch. For example, consider a victim of 4th level with 30 hit points. On the first touch, the victim takes 5 points of damage. His new hit-point total is 25, and he will fight as 3rd level for 1 hour. If a second touch occurs (for, say, 2 points of damage), his permanent hit-point total will be 23 and he will fight as 2nd level for 1 hour, then 3rd level the next hour, and then is back to being 4th level. The lost hit points can be gained back by restoration at the rate of 3-12 points per application of the spell, but if the victim gains a level (or levels) of experience prior to such restoration, then the hit points are forever lost, even if the power of a wish is used. A limited wish will restore 2-12 hit points and a full wish 3-18 hit points if the casting is done before the victim gains a level. No other magic will restore lost hit points. This sort of atypical wight can “procreate” to produce lesser undead with the same power.
Wraith production is identical to wight production in all respects. An atypical wraith is produced one time in seven as above.
Ghost production is unlike other death master spells in that the death master will have no control over the ghost once it fully forms 48 hours after the spell is cast. The ghost so produced will not know how it was created and will be fully free-willed. It would attack the death master if it met him again (if it failed the saving throw of 8 allowed to the death master). The victim must have had an intelligence of 14 or more and have been at least 9th level (in any class) prior to death. Hit points for such a ghost are maximum.
Lichdom can be cast on a willing high priest or magic-user of at least 18th level, or a death master of 13th level. The death master must make a potion for the spell caster to consume. Its cost will be 6,000 gp. The spell caster is allowed his normal unadjusted saving throw vs. death magic. If the victim makes the saving throw, he becomes a lich in 24 hours. If he fails the saving throw, then he is merely dead. The spell caster can be raised in the usual manner and the process tried again. However, the spell caster will have lost a level of experience and may have to requalify to become a lich. The death master can cast this spell on himself.
Undead production is designed to produce the vast number of evil (but not neutral) undead listed in the FIEND FOLIO Tome. This spectrum is very diversified. Only one undead, regardless of hit dice, can be so manufactured. That undead cannot procreate itself but will conform to the statistics and abilities given in the FIEND FOLIO book in all other ways. Its hit points will always be maximum. The undead, to rise up from being a corpse, must make its “in-life” Saving throw vs. poison or the spell will fail.
Vampire production will also produce a spectre if the death master so chooses. The corpse must have been killed by a vampire or spectre, but in a way that would not allow the corpse to rise as one of those undead (i.e., killed from damage, not from levels being drained). The corpse is allowed a saving throw vs. spell, and if it fails it becomes a vampire or spectre. The undead so produced is answerable to the death master for one year, but thereafter is free-willed, bearing no animosity toward the death master. The potions required cost 6,000 gp for a vampire and 4,500 gp for a spectre. This undead will have maximum hit points but cannot procreate until it is free-willed.
Dragon 76
1e
Undead: A death master of 13th level who is killed on the feast day of Orcus (sometimes called Halloween) will become an undead under Orcus. direction. Some death masters will even commit suicide on that date when they are 13th level, so as to better serve the demon prince. Orcus is 45% likely to notice this action and to animate the death master with all of the character's powers intact.
Undead Production spell.
Ghast: Ghast Production spell.
Ghost: Ghost Production spell.
Lich: Lichdom spell.
Mummy: Mumy Production spell.
Skeleton: Animate Skeletons spell.
Spectre: Vampire Production spell.
Vampire: Vampire Production spell.
Wight: Wight Production spell.
Wraith: Wraith Production spell.
Zombie: Animate Zombies spell.
Animate skeletons is simply an animate dead spell that produces one skeleton for every level of the death master. The death master must prepare a special salve to rub on the bones to make the skeleton receptive. This takes one round per skeleton. The magic to animate them then takes only a segment to cast. The rubbed skeletons can be so animated anytime within 24 hours after their rubdown. The salved costs 10 gp per skeleton. Spell range is 30 feet plus 10 feet per effective level of the death master.
Animate zombies is simply an animate dead spell that produces one zombie for every effective level of the death master. The corpse must be immersed in a bath of special salts for 1 full turn prior to spell casting. Such a bath can soak ten corpses for a cost of 200 gp. The corpses then so soaked can be animated in two segments at a range of 50 feet plus 10 feet per effective level of the death master.
Ghast production requires a ghoul to be at hand. The death master may animate only one ghast per spell. The body must be infused with a special liquid that costs 400 gp to produce. The process takes 1 hour to prepare the body and 1 turn to cast the spell. Such ghasts cannot procreate themselves but are like ghasts in every other way. Someone killed by one of these ghasts has a minus 1% to the chance to be raised from the dead for each hour the figure is dead. Thus, after 70 hours a victim with a constitution of 13 would have only a 20% chance to be successfully raised. If raised, however, subsequent raises would be allowed at the figures full constitution score. Note: Magics like remove curse, limited wish, etc. can remove the onus on such a corpse so that raising is normal.
Mummy production requires an embalming fluid that costs 1,400 gp. The body must be wrapped and prepared, which will require six full hours. The spell then takes but 4 segments to complete by a simple command word issued within 24 hours of the embalming. One mummy is thus produced. It will obey the death master and do his bidding, but is allowed a saving throw of 17 (attempted daily) to become independent of the death master's control.
Wight production requires a corpse and a bone from a wight. If a cubic gate or amulet of the planes (or a similar device) is available, the wight bone is not required, since the death master can then actually touch the Negative Material Plane to gain the necessary power. For every wight so produced, the death master will lose one hit point permanently unless he saves vs. death magic. The wight so produced will always have maximum hit points, and it can “procreate” itself and command those wights to its service. Note that only the common wight produced by the spell is “friendly” to the death master. Lesser wights will attack the death master if they fail the aforementioned saving throw (recall that an undead will not attack a death master unless it fails a saving throw of 8).
One in five wights produced by this spell is atypical. It cannot drain energy levels. Instead, it drains hit points permanently with its touch. This type of wight will cause the living victim to fight at -1 per touch for 1 full hour after each touch. For example, consider a victim of 4th level with 30 hit points. On the first touch, the victim takes 5 points of damage. His new hit-point total is 25, and he will fight as 3rd level for 1 hour. If a second touch occurs (for, say, 2 points of damage), his permanent hit-point total will be 23 and he will fight as 2nd level for 1 hour, then 3rd level the next hour, and then is back to being 4th level. The lost hit points can be gained back by restoration at the rate of 3-12 points per application of the spell, but if the victim gains a level (or levels) of experience prior to such restoration, then the hit points are forever lost, even if the power of a wish is used. A limited wish will restore 2-12 hit points and a full wish 3-18 hit points if the casting is done before the victim gains a level. No other magic will restore lost hit points. This sort of atypical wight can “procreate” to produce lesser undead with the same power.
Wraith production is identical to wight production in all respects. An atypical wraith is produced one time in seven as above.
Ghost production is unlike other death master spells in that the death master will have no control over the ghost once it fully forms 48 hours after the spell is cast. The ghost so produced will not know how it was created and will be fully free-willed. It would attack the death master if it met him again (if it failed the saving throw of 8 allowed to the death master). The victim must have had an intelligence of 14 or more and have been at least 9th level (in any class) prior to death. Hit points for such a ghost are maximum.
Lichdom can be cast on a willing high priest or magic-user of at least 18th level, or a death master of 13th level. The death master must make a potion for the spell caster to consume. Its cost will be 6,000 gp. The spell caster is allowed his normal unadjusted saving throw vs. death magic. If the victim makes the saving throw, he becomes a lich in 24 hours. If he fails the saving throw, then he is merely dead. The spell caster can be raised in the usual manner and the process tried again. However, the spell caster will have lost a level of experience and may have to requalify to become a lich. The death master can cast this spell on himself.
Undead production is designed to produce the vast number of evil (but not neutral) undead listed in the FIEND FOLIO Tome. This spectrum is very diversified. Only one undead, regardless of hit dice, can be so manufactured. That undead cannot procreate itself but will conform to the statistics and abilities given in the FIEND FOLIO book in all other ways. Its hit points will always be maximum. The undead, to rise up from being a corpse, must make its “in-life” Saving throw vs. poison or the spell will fail.
Vampire production will also produce a spectre if the death master so chooses. The corpse must have been killed by a vampire or spectre, but in a way that would not allow the corpse to rise as one of those undead (i.e., killed from damage, not from levels being drained). The corpse is allowed a saving throw vs. spell, and if it fails it becomes a vampire or spectre. The undead so produced is answerable to the death master for one year, but thereafter is free-willed, bearing no animosity toward the death master. The potions required cost 6,000 gp for a vampire and 4,500 gp for a spectre. This undead will have maximum hit points but cannot procreate until it is free-willed.
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Voadam
Legend
Dragon 79
Dragon 79
1e
St. Kargoth, King of the Death Knights: Kargoth was a great paladin, until he unleashed a demonic terror on the Prime Material Plane in a mad bargain for personal power. The grateful demon prince transformed Kargoth into the first and most powerful Death Knight.
Dragon 79
1e
St. Kargoth, King of the Death Knights: Kargoth was a great paladin, until he unleashed a demonic terror on the Prime Material Plane in a mad bargain for personal power. The grateful demon prince transformed Kargoth into the first and most powerful Death Knight.
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Voadam
Legend
Dragon 101
Dragon 101
1e
Gu'Armoru: Gu'armori (singular: gu'armoru) are animated suits of armor constructed through the combined efforts of a magic-user of at least 16th level and a cleric of at least 11th level. The creation of a single gu'armoru requires the fabrication of a suit of adamantite-alloyed armor, the life energy of a fallen fighter of at least 12th level, and the casting of the following spells: animate dead, animate object, enchant an item, geas, magic jar, and raise dead. The exact procedure is performed according to a jealously guarded arcane ritual. Only three written copies of the instructions are known to exist. The process takes at least four months to complete, at a cost of 35,000 gp for each gu'armoru.
Lhiannan Shee: A lhiannan shee is thought to be the undead spirit of a woman who killed herself for unrequited love (generally for some particular bard).
Dragon 101
1e
Gu'Armoru: Gu'armori (singular: gu'armoru) are animated suits of armor constructed through the combined efforts of a magic-user of at least 16th level and a cleric of at least 11th level. The creation of a single gu'armoru requires the fabrication of a suit of adamantite-alloyed armor, the life energy of a fallen fighter of at least 12th level, and the casting of the following spells: animate dead, animate object, enchant an item, geas, magic jar, and raise dead. The exact procedure is performed according to a jealously guarded arcane ritual. Only three written copies of the instructions are known to exist. The process takes at least four months to complete, at a cost of 35,000 gp for each gu'armoru.
Lhiannan Shee: A lhiannan shee is thought to be the undead spirit of a woman who killed herself for unrequited love (generally for some particular bard).
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Voadam
Legend
Dragon 102
Dragon 102
1e
Semi-Lich: This is all that remains of the high priest, who tried and failed to turn himself into a lich. He was a 12th-level cleric/11th-level magic-user. His soul has gone on to its punishment, but his undead body remains, possessing all the physical characteristics of a lich, but none of the mental ones.
The high priest was not insane; he was a very calculating, determined man who made only one mistake.
Wight Unusually Powerful: It was once the huntsman warlord, who entered the barrows looking for the missing high priest and wound up as an undead; the wight that killed him was slain in the fight, so the warlord is now free-willed.
Undead: The corpse of a mortal creature placed in the cauldron will emerge as a random undead monster, under the control of the cauldron's current owner. The undead type will be one with a corporeal, physical form, and less than 7 HD. A living creature who enters the cauldron must save vs. death magic at -4, or its soul or life force will be devoured and forever gone. Those who make the save will take 2-8 points of damage and lose two life levels. The cauldron has a magical link with the Negative Material Plane. Those who try to possess it will quickly turn evil, if they were not already. Eventually, the possessor of it will, by a DM-arranged “accident” or his own cauldron-influenced desire, become undead himself. The cauldron can only be destroyed by washing it in the Waters of Life.
Dragon 102
1e
Semi-Lich: This is all that remains of the high priest, who tried and failed to turn himself into a lich. He was a 12th-level cleric/11th-level magic-user. His soul has gone on to its punishment, but his undead body remains, possessing all the physical characteristics of a lich, but none of the mental ones.
The high priest was not insane; he was a very calculating, determined man who made only one mistake.
Wight Unusually Powerful: It was once the huntsman warlord, who entered the barrows looking for the missing high priest and wound up as an undead; the wight that killed him was slain in the fight, so the warlord is now free-willed.
Undead: The corpse of a mortal creature placed in the cauldron will emerge as a random undead monster, under the control of the cauldron's current owner. The undead type will be one with a corporeal, physical form, and less than 7 HD. A living creature who enters the cauldron must save vs. death magic at -4, or its soul or life force will be devoured and forever gone. Those who make the save will take 2-8 points of damage and lose two life levels. The cauldron has a magical link with the Negative Material Plane. Those who try to possess it will quickly turn evil, if they were not already. Eventually, the possessor of it will, by a DM-arranged “accident” or his own cauldron-influenced desire, become undead himself. The cauldron can only be destroyed by washing it in the Waters of Life.
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Voadam
Legend
Dragon 104
Dragon 104
Marvel Super Heroes
Vampire: If Baron Blood is able to make a Red FEAT roll on the Grappling table, he can bite his held victim and drain him or her of blood. The bite inflicts Typical damage every round, but if the hold isn't broken before the victim dies, the victim's body will arise in three days as a vampire. Anyone who suffers a loss of over half his or her Health to a vampire's bite will develop into a vampire in 2-20 weeks, being under the complete influence of the attacking vampire until then. The lost Health cannot be recovered, and the medical science of the 1940s cannot stop the onset of vampirism. Note that aliens, robots, androids, and nonhumans (including Jack Frost) cannot become vampires and cannot be drained of blood in this manner.
Baron Blood: Baron Blood was a member of the British aristocracy, a young nobleman who sought the tomb of Dracula in hopes of reviving and controlling him. Unfortunately, Dracula bit and killed Lord Falsworth, turning him into a vampire.
Dragon 104
Marvel Super Heroes
Vampire: If Baron Blood is able to make a Red FEAT roll on the Grappling table, he can bite his held victim and drain him or her of blood. The bite inflicts Typical damage every round, but if the hold isn't broken before the victim dies, the victim's body will arise in three days as a vampire. Anyone who suffers a loss of over half his or her Health to a vampire's bite will develop into a vampire in 2-20 weeks, being under the complete influence of the attacking vampire until then. The lost Health cannot be recovered, and the medical science of the 1940s cannot stop the onset of vampirism. Note that aliens, robots, androids, and nonhumans (including Jack Frost) cannot become vampires and cannot be drained of blood in this manner.
Baron Blood: Baron Blood was a member of the British aristocracy, a young nobleman who sought the tomb of Dracula in hopes of reviving and controlling him. Unfortunately, Dracula bit and killed Lord Falsworth, turning him into a vampire.
Voadam
Legend
Dragon 110
Dragon 110
1e
Dracolich: The traditional initial step in preparation for lichdom is the imbibing of a potion. The potion for dragons differs from that used by humans in both ingredients and effects –but, as with the latter, it must all be imbibed in one dose for it to work at all, and it does not always cause the desired effect.
The ingredients are as follows:
Two pinches of pure arsenic
One pinch of belladonna
One measure of fresh (less than 30 nights old) phase-spider venom (at least one pint)
The blood (at least one quart) of a virgin of a demi-human individual, of a long-lived race (or, alternatively, a gallon of treant sap; this ingredient must have been drawn seven or less nights previously)
The blood (at least one quart) of a vampire or a person infected with vampirism (this ingredient must have been drawn seven or less nights previously)
One complete potion of evil dragon
One complete potion of invulnerability
The seven ingredients must be mixed control together in an inert vessel (such as one of stone) by the light of a full moon, adding the ingredients to the vessel in the order listed, stirring all the while with the blade of an undamaged, magically whole sword +2, dragon slayer (which may be of any alignment, and strikes for triple damage against any sort of dragon). It may be imbibed at any time thereafter; the mixture will only lose its efficacy if it is touched by direct sunlight while uncovered, or if it is mixed with other liquids.
When such a potion is drunk by any sort of true dragon, it will have the following effects:
Dice Result
01-46 Potion does not work. The dragon suffers 2-24 hp damage, is helpless with convulsions for 1-2 rounds, and loses any spells memorized.
47-66 Potion works. The dragon lapses into a coma for 1-4 rounds, and when it rouses knows that the potion has worked.
67-96 Dragon slain instantly, but potion works. If the “host” has been prepared, the dragon's spirit will go there and continue the process of becoming a dracolich.
97-00 Dragon slain instantly; potion does not work. A full wish is needed to restore dragon to life. (A wish to transform it to undead, dracolich status will cause another roll on this table, instantly.)
If any creature other than a true dragon imbibes any portion of a dracolich potion, use the following table to determine the potion's effects:
Dice Result
01-44 Painful death in 1-2 rounds. The victim shrieks and has convulsions.
45-67 The imbiber is dealt 3-36 hp damage, as the potion corrodes his internal tissues.
68-72 The imbiber is feebleminded and affected by a withering disease (treat as the “rotting disease” inflicted by a mummy).
73-80 The imbiber goes into a coma for 1-6 turns, and is driven insane (as per the DMG).
81-84 The imbiber goes into a coma for 1-6 turns, and upon awakening can speak all evil dragon tongues.
85-90 The imbiber goes into a coma for 1-6 turns, and thereafter nothing appears to occur. (DM's note: The imbiber has been rendered forever immune to vampirism, the disease. but can still be life-drained and physically damaged by any vampire(s) encountered.)
91-00 The imbiber goes into a coma for 1-6 turns, and nothing more occurs.
No charm, aura reading, or similar spell or mental test will reveal that a dragon has successfully drunk such a potion.
The Cult of the Dragon always prepares the dragon's “spirit-host” before administering the potion, in case the potion slays the dragon instantly. This host must be a solid item of not less than 2000 gp value that will resist decay (wood, for instance, is unsuitable) and was magically prepared. Gems are commonly used, particularly specimens of carbuncle and jet – although peridot, sard, ruby, and sometimes even fragile black pearls or obsidian have been employed. It is desirous that the host item be often close to corpses (as explained below); for this reason, such a gem is often set in a sword-hilt.
The host first has enchant an item cast upon it (and must save vs. spell as though of the caster's level for this to be successful). If desired, glassteel can then be cast upon it, to protect the host, and then trap the soul must be cast upon it. Upon the speaking of the dragon's truename during the casting, the dragon will instantly lose 1 hp per hit die it currently possesses; these pass forever into the host. (The host should not have a maze spell cast on it; it is not a “Soulprison”.) The dragon will fall instantly into a coma for 1-4 days, and during this time its mind cannot be contacted or attacked by magic or psionics. Its mind is unreachable, as it's spirit flits back and forth constantly between the host and its dragon body. (Any spells memorized by the dragon at the time trap the soul was cast are lost.)
If the dragon dies or is slain at any time after this, and it has before death imbibed the aforementioned potion, its spirit will go into the host, regardless of the distance between dragon body and host (which can even be on different planes of existence) or the presence of prismatic spheres, lead boxes, cubes of force, or similar obstacles. At this time, the host will levitate for 1-6 rounds, rising two or three inches upward.
Cult mages (or any other mage wishing to aid a dragon in attaining lichdom) must then provide a reptilian corpse, ideally that of a dragon or related creature. The body of an ice lizard, firedrake, wyvern, or fire lizard is ideal; that of a dragonne, dragon turtle, or dracolisk has only a small chance of successful use by the dragon's spirit. The corpse of a pseudo-dragon, pterandon, or other non-draconian creature is extremely unlikely to work. The body must be freshly killed (or, at least, dead within the period of the current moon, or 30 days), and within 90' of the host. The mage must then touch the host, cast a magic jar spell that includes the true name of the dragon, and then touch the corpse. In effect, the mage carries the dragon's spirit from host to corpse within his or her own body.
The corpse must fail a save vs. spell for the dragon's spirit to successfully possess it; if it saves, it will never accept the spirit. For this saving throw, the corpse is treated as a fighter of the same level as the dragon had hit dice when alive, with the following modifiers (any that apply) to the roll:
-4 if the corpse is of the same alignment as the dragon
-4 if the corpse is that of a true dragon (any type)
-3 if the corpse is that of a firedrake, ice lizard, wyvern, or fire lizard
-1 if the corpse is that of a dracolisk, dragonne, pterandon, or dragon turtle
+3 if the corpse is that of a nonreptile (i.e., not a lizard man, snake, ophidian, or the like)
-10 if the corpse is the dragon's own former body (which can be dead any length of time)
If the dragon's spirit cannot enter the body, it will take over the magic-user's own body, unless the magic-user returns it to the host by touching the host again within 2-12 rounds. It can remain in the host for any length of time without harm – unless the host is itself destroyed.
If the corpse accepts the dragon's spirit, it becomes animated by the spirit, and has the dragon's own mind and its dracolich immunities (see below). It will be telepathic if the dragon could speak in life, but unless it is the dragon's own former body, cannot speak. and therefore cannot cast spells with verbal components. (If your campaign rules dictate that dragons must use their forepaws to manipulate material and somatic components, then the dracolich may meet further difficulties if the corpse has no usable forepaws.) It can learn spells if they are available to be memorized, until its roster is full, whereupon it can never learn spells again. If the Cult of the Dragon is involved, the Cult will see that powerful and useful magics are learned.
The “proto-dracolich” has but one goal: If it is not itself the body of the dragon, it hungers for the original body, and will seek out and devour that corpse. (For this reason, Cult members favor using the dragon's own body – i.e., keeping the host near it – or else providing corpses with wings, to make any journey to the original body as rapid and easy as possible.) The dragon's spirit can sense the direction and distance of its own former body, regardless of distance (although it cannot pass without aid to another plane of existence to reach it), and will tirelessly seek it out, not needing other meals for sustenance, nor rest.
If the dragon's own body has been burned or dismembered, the proto-dracolich need only devour the ashes or pieces. Total destruction of the dragon's body is possible only through use of a disintegrate spell (the body gets a normal save vs. the spell). If a Cult mage or other magic-user casts a limited (or full) wish, the body can be reincorporated if it was disintegrated on the Positive, Negative, or Prime Material Plane, as long as the wish is cast in the same plane as that disintegration occurred. Typically, various teeth and organs of a dragon are carried off by magic-users, alchemists, or adventurers wishing to sell such remains to mages or alchemists, and the proto-dracolich need only wait until such individuals are asleep or engaged in other activity (such as combat or spellcasting) to seize and devour the parts.
Only 10% or so of the body must be so devoured for the proto-dracolich to achieve its aim (it will know when this has occurred). Thereafter, within seven days, the proto-dracolich will metamorphose into a body resembling the dragon's original body in life – able to speak, cast spells, and employ the breath weapon just as the dragon could when it was alive. (If the dracolich possesses its own former body, it regains speech and the use of its breath weapon within seven days of possession.) It is then a dracolich.
A dracolich is an undead creature, an unnatural transformation of evil dragonkind by powerful magic known to be practiced only by the mysterious Cult of the Dragon.
Dragon 110
1e
Dracolich: The traditional initial step in preparation for lichdom is the imbibing of a potion. The potion for dragons differs from that used by humans in both ingredients and effects –but, as with the latter, it must all be imbibed in one dose for it to work at all, and it does not always cause the desired effect.
The ingredients are as follows:
Two pinches of pure arsenic
One pinch of belladonna
One measure of fresh (less than 30 nights old) phase-spider venom (at least one pint)
The blood (at least one quart) of a virgin of a demi-human individual, of a long-lived race (or, alternatively, a gallon of treant sap; this ingredient must have been drawn seven or less nights previously)
The blood (at least one quart) of a vampire or a person infected with vampirism (this ingredient must have been drawn seven or less nights previously)
One complete potion of evil dragon
One complete potion of invulnerability
The seven ingredients must be mixed control together in an inert vessel (such as one of stone) by the light of a full moon, adding the ingredients to the vessel in the order listed, stirring all the while with the blade of an undamaged, magically whole sword +2, dragon slayer (which may be of any alignment, and strikes for triple damage against any sort of dragon). It may be imbibed at any time thereafter; the mixture will only lose its efficacy if it is touched by direct sunlight while uncovered, or if it is mixed with other liquids.
When such a potion is drunk by any sort of true dragon, it will have the following effects:
Dice Result
01-46 Potion does not work. The dragon suffers 2-24 hp damage, is helpless with convulsions for 1-2 rounds, and loses any spells memorized.
47-66 Potion works. The dragon lapses into a coma for 1-4 rounds, and when it rouses knows that the potion has worked.
67-96 Dragon slain instantly, but potion works. If the “host” has been prepared, the dragon's spirit will go there and continue the process of becoming a dracolich.
97-00 Dragon slain instantly; potion does not work. A full wish is needed to restore dragon to life. (A wish to transform it to undead, dracolich status will cause another roll on this table, instantly.)
If any creature other than a true dragon imbibes any portion of a dracolich potion, use the following table to determine the potion's effects:
Dice Result
01-44 Painful death in 1-2 rounds. The victim shrieks and has convulsions.
45-67 The imbiber is dealt 3-36 hp damage, as the potion corrodes his internal tissues.
68-72 The imbiber is feebleminded and affected by a withering disease (treat as the “rotting disease” inflicted by a mummy).
73-80 The imbiber goes into a coma for 1-6 turns, and is driven insane (as per the DMG).
81-84 The imbiber goes into a coma for 1-6 turns, and upon awakening can speak all evil dragon tongues.
85-90 The imbiber goes into a coma for 1-6 turns, and thereafter nothing appears to occur. (DM's note: The imbiber has been rendered forever immune to vampirism, the disease. but can still be life-drained and physically damaged by any vampire(s) encountered.)
91-00 The imbiber goes into a coma for 1-6 turns, and nothing more occurs.
No charm, aura reading, or similar spell or mental test will reveal that a dragon has successfully drunk such a potion.
The Cult of the Dragon always prepares the dragon's “spirit-host” before administering the potion, in case the potion slays the dragon instantly. This host must be a solid item of not less than 2000 gp value that will resist decay (wood, for instance, is unsuitable) and was magically prepared. Gems are commonly used, particularly specimens of carbuncle and jet – although peridot, sard, ruby, and sometimes even fragile black pearls or obsidian have been employed. It is desirous that the host item be often close to corpses (as explained below); for this reason, such a gem is often set in a sword-hilt.
The host first has enchant an item cast upon it (and must save vs. spell as though of the caster's level for this to be successful). If desired, glassteel can then be cast upon it, to protect the host, and then trap the soul must be cast upon it. Upon the speaking of the dragon's truename during the casting, the dragon will instantly lose 1 hp per hit die it currently possesses; these pass forever into the host. (The host should not have a maze spell cast on it; it is not a “Soulprison”.) The dragon will fall instantly into a coma for 1-4 days, and during this time its mind cannot be contacted or attacked by magic or psionics. Its mind is unreachable, as it's spirit flits back and forth constantly between the host and its dragon body. (Any spells memorized by the dragon at the time trap the soul was cast are lost.)
If the dragon dies or is slain at any time after this, and it has before death imbibed the aforementioned potion, its spirit will go into the host, regardless of the distance between dragon body and host (which can even be on different planes of existence) or the presence of prismatic spheres, lead boxes, cubes of force, or similar obstacles. At this time, the host will levitate for 1-6 rounds, rising two or three inches upward.
Cult mages (or any other mage wishing to aid a dragon in attaining lichdom) must then provide a reptilian corpse, ideally that of a dragon or related creature. The body of an ice lizard, firedrake, wyvern, or fire lizard is ideal; that of a dragonne, dragon turtle, or dracolisk has only a small chance of successful use by the dragon's spirit. The corpse of a pseudo-dragon, pterandon, or other non-draconian creature is extremely unlikely to work. The body must be freshly killed (or, at least, dead within the period of the current moon, or 30 days), and within 90' of the host. The mage must then touch the host, cast a magic jar spell that includes the true name of the dragon, and then touch the corpse. In effect, the mage carries the dragon's spirit from host to corpse within his or her own body.
The corpse must fail a save vs. spell for the dragon's spirit to successfully possess it; if it saves, it will never accept the spirit. For this saving throw, the corpse is treated as a fighter of the same level as the dragon had hit dice when alive, with the following modifiers (any that apply) to the roll:
-4 if the corpse is of the same alignment as the dragon
-4 if the corpse is that of a true dragon (any type)
-3 if the corpse is that of a firedrake, ice lizard, wyvern, or fire lizard
-1 if the corpse is that of a dracolisk, dragonne, pterandon, or dragon turtle
+3 if the corpse is that of a nonreptile (i.e., not a lizard man, snake, ophidian, or the like)
-10 if the corpse is the dragon's own former body (which can be dead any length of time)
If the dragon's spirit cannot enter the body, it will take over the magic-user's own body, unless the magic-user returns it to the host by touching the host again within 2-12 rounds. It can remain in the host for any length of time without harm – unless the host is itself destroyed.
If the corpse accepts the dragon's spirit, it becomes animated by the spirit, and has the dragon's own mind and its dracolich immunities (see below). It will be telepathic if the dragon could speak in life, but unless it is the dragon's own former body, cannot speak. and therefore cannot cast spells with verbal components. (If your campaign rules dictate that dragons must use their forepaws to manipulate material and somatic components, then the dracolich may meet further difficulties if the corpse has no usable forepaws.) It can learn spells if they are available to be memorized, until its roster is full, whereupon it can never learn spells again. If the Cult of the Dragon is involved, the Cult will see that powerful and useful magics are learned.
The “proto-dracolich” has but one goal: If it is not itself the body of the dragon, it hungers for the original body, and will seek out and devour that corpse. (For this reason, Cult members favor using the dragon's own body – i.e., keeping the host near it – or else providing corpses with wings, to make any journey to the original body as rapid and easy as possible.) The dragon's spirit can sense the direction and distance of its own former body, regardless of distance (although it cannot pass without aid to another plane of existence to reach it), and will tirelessly seek it out, not needing other meals for sustenance, nor rest.
If the dragon's own body has been burned or dismembered, the proto-dracolich need only devour the ashes or pieces. Total destruction of the dragon's body is possible only through use of a disintegrate spell (the body gets a normal save vs. the spell). If a Cult mage or other magic-user casts a limited (or full) wish, the body can be reincorporated if it was disintegrated on the Positive, Negative, or Prime Material Plane, as long as the wish is cast in the same plane as that disintegration occurred. Typically, various teeth and organs of a dragon are carried off by magic-users, alchemists, or adventurers wishing to sell such remains to mages or alchemists, and the proto-dracolich need only wait until such individuals are asleep or engaged in other activity (such as combat or spellcasting) to seize and devour the parts.
Only 10% or so of the body must be so devoured for the proto-dracolich to achieve its aim (it will know when this has occurred). Thereafter, within seven days, the proto-dracolich will metamorphose into a body resembling the dragon's original body in life – able to speak, cast spells, and employ the breath weapon just as the dragon could when it was alive. (If the dracolich possesses its own former body, it regains speech and the use of its breath weapon within seven days of possession.) It is then a dracolich.
A dracolich is an undead creature, an unnatural transformation of evil dragonkind by powerful magic known to be practiced only by the mysterious Cult of the Dragon.
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