Archlich
Archliches are a type of Lich that is good and noble, both in life and undeath. In life, they were wizards that devoted their existence to whatever noble purpose motivates their transformation into lichdom.
Description
Archliches appear almost indistinguishable from normal liches. THey have skeletal appearances and blank eye sockets containing only points of light, and their bodies show no signs of life. They do not eat, sleep, or breathe unless they wish to. Unlike common liches, their bodies and minds do not deteriorate with time. As such, they have a virtual eternity to hone their skills, and will inevitably become very powerful.Personality
Archliches retain all of the memories, personality, and abilities that they possessed in life. They are driven by the noble goals that have led them to seek undeath, generally a strong desire to protect someone or something, but occasionally their motivations are loftier. They might exist to serve a particular individual or organization, or even to pursue revenge. They generally avoid interjecting themselves into mortal affairs directly, instead preferring to monitor situations from afar and offer aid to those in need or information to those fighting to make the world a better place. They try to avoid compelling or controllig others, whether by magic or with fear. While archliches are known to make friends with the living, to engage in earthly pleasures like eating and smoking, and even to fall in love, they are irrevocably undead and ultimately these showings of humanity are fleeting. Patience, cunning, and intelligence are defining features of an archlich, and they are known for their great depths of knowledge. This is at least in part because they have perfect memories, which is both a blessing and a curse. Many archliches feel that their ever-lengthening pasts are a burden, however they nver spurn or disregard their old friends. Most pr eons in private study and contemplation.Abilities
The unique circumstances surrounding an archlich's creation means that they have several unique powers. For one, upon the moment of their creation, an archlich is able to permanently affix up to nine spelsl in their memory, allowing them to cast these spells without the need for normal preparation or memorization. Most opt for a few offensive spells alongside dispel magic, fly, invisibility, and teleport. They can also walk on water and see perfectly clearly even in complete darkness. An archlich has the ability to know if its name has been spoken anywhere on the same plane as it. Knowing an archlich's true name affords no special power over it. Despite their noble natures, archliches often make use of zombies and skeletons as minions as they have the ability to animate such creatures at will. Still, they typically have no interest in raising armies.Combat
In general, archliches prefer to avoid combat. Like other powerful forms of undead, such as a vampire or mummy, an archlich has unnatural powers owing to its state. For example, they can put mortals in a paralyzed state of hibernation with a touch, making them seem dead to others. An archlich is capable of sustaining tremendous physical damage, and is immune to diseases, poisons, fatigue, and other things that affect only the living. Owing to the unique methods by which an archlich achieves undeath, they are additionally immune to all mind-affecting charms or enchantments, most shape-altering magics, and any mundane injuries. Despite all these undead "gifts", an archlich counts its vast intellect, its supreme mastery of wizardry and limitless time to research and plan, as its greatest resources. Simply being near an angry archlich can be dangerous for its foes. Living enemies might have to brave an aura of necrotizing energy that drives them to flee in terror, while undead enemies are bombarded with positive energy or can be repelled at will. Some archliches have such a mastery over the forces of life and death that they are energized by the deaths of their enemies and—on occasion—even by their own deaths, allowing them to continue fighting when they ought to have been defeated. If destroyed, an archlich's remains will instantly teleport to the site or item where its essence is hidden.Society
Archliches are so rarely encountered that some sages disbelieve that they exist. They are generally solitary, and sequester themselves in secluded or extraplanar hideouts to allow the world to live its life without them. However, they always keep an eye on things—either bia scrying or spies—and work to manipulate afairs from behind the scenes.Relationships
Archliches exist for the sole purpose of achieving their noble goals and will often seek to partner with goodly adventurers, particularly rangers, bards, and wizards (whom they sometimes accept as pupils). Most archlichs conceal their true nature from the living in order to avoid confrontation or attack. Due to their goodly nature and activities, institutions normally dedicated to eradicating the undead often seek to coax them into restful death rather than destroy them outright. This potentially includes aiding an archlich in its pursuits if this will persuade it to pass on.Creation
Archliches do not create phylacteries as normal liches do, and instead use practical magic items that can serve as more than just a repository for their souls, typically taking the form of a small spellbook. If this item is destroyed, so too is the archlich. The first step in achieving archlichdom is to create the item that will house their soul. It then requires them to brew a special potion, which has to be augmented with the spells animate dead, chill touch, contingency, pass without trace, teleport, trap the soul, and wraithform. The prospective archlich then has to drink the potion while holding the created item—which is to be at least partially covered in the spellcaster's blood—while a secret spell is cast. THis rite carries a small chance (less than one-in-ten) of possibly killing the prospective archlich and ruining the process. Otherwise, it puts the drinker into a deathlike slumber for four to sixteen minutes. If the sleeper survives, they will wake up as an archlich. At that point, only divine intervention can reverse the transformation. This process does not need to be completely wholly by the archlich on their own. They do need to have a direct hand in the creation of their magic ite, but work on the item, the brewing of the potion, or the casting of the spell can all be performed by another. That said, the mark of an individual who is sufficiently noble and strong-willed to become an archlich—and not lose their sanity as do so many evil liches—is having the patience to recognize that the transformation should only be undertaken once they are ready to complete it themselves. Only a willing participant can undergo the transformation process and survive. While the demilich type exists among liches, there is no equivalent among archliches.Notable Archliches
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AD&D 2e Statistics
Size
Same as in life; Typically Medium
Alignment
Any Good
3.5th Edition Statistics
4th Edition Statistics
Size
Same as in life; Typically Medium
Origin
Same as in life; Typically
Type
Animate
Keyword(s)
Alignment
Any Good
Level
24
5th Edition Statistics
Pathfinder 2e Statistics
Level
12
Size
Typically Medium
Alignment
Any Good
Traits
,
General Information
Movement
Walking
Vision
Darkvision, Lifesense
Activity Cycle
Any
Diet
None
Intelligence
Supra-genius
Language(s)
Any
Favored Climate
Any
Favored Terrain
Any
Appearance
Skin Color(s)
Skeletal
Eye Color(s)
Motes of Light
Typical Build
Typically Humanoid
Distinctions
Skeletal Appearance
Comments