Lich

Liches are one of the legendary pinnacles of necromancy. The ultimate prize, sought by many, achieved by few. A way of mastering one's mortality and shedding the weaknesses of the flesh, without having to give up the pleasures of life. For people besieged by fears and doubts, to become a lich is tempting.
The road is long and arduous, however. Only a mastery of necromancy can allow one to discern the methods and this might very well take entire generations of work, many dying long before they even have a shot at achieving it. Once the intricacies of the process is understood, a customized ritual must be created and then successfully performed. If succesful, the newly created lich transfers their soul to a object knows as a phylactery, as their flesh withers to dust in seconds, to be replaced with mist-infused ectoplasm. If not succesful... Horrible things can happen.
History if full of fables and legends of those who sought shortcuts to this power, who made bargains with demons and sought the aid of aberrations. These tales are tragedies about ambition and the unwillingness to work for great power. Most liches warn against such shortcuts, as the price is often dire. But some do reach these lofty heights of power by their willingness to do whatever it takes.
Empowered by magic, liches are fortified by their mastery of spellcraft. Their mastery of necromancy means they are usually surrounded by disposable minions who can bog down their enemies while the lich flings their devastating spells. Any minion lost or sacrificed allows the lich to cannibalize their necrotic energy to strengthen themselves. In close up battle, they wield powerful staves imbued with their magic and fire even their most devastating spells without hesitation, knowing their own magic will never harm themself. As long as their phylactery is safe, they often fight to their destruction, knowing their body will be reconstituted.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Liches resemble the skeleton of whatever they were in life, bathed in a blue ectoplasm. Despite their relatively frail appearances, liches are sustained by magic and a deceptively tough. The magical ectoplasm is a semi-real substance that envelops them and functions like an extra limb or sensory organ. Liches can feel through the ectoplasm as shape it into basic appendages to assist, like a third hand or a tongue to taste something, as all senses in their original body has withered away. This eerie aura can also drain the life and magic out of anyone they touch, if they so choose, converting the husk into a zombie once all life has been siphoned.  Being infused with arcane energy, spells of that nature just slide off their being.

Genetics and Reproduction

The closest liches get to reproduction is passing their teachings on to students. Their ectoplasm does allow them to mimic intercourse if they so desire, but this is purely recreational.

Ecology and Habitats

Liches tend towards being urban, as these are the areas where enough knowledge gather for them to learn how to become liches.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Liches do not eat

Additional Information

Social Structure

Liches tend to retain the social drives of their original species. In areas where necromancy is illegal or frowned upon, they often take up fake identities, but in areas where they are tolerated or accepted, they often proudly show off their ascended form.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

While rare, the secrets of lichdom are not contained to any one sphere

Average Intelligence

Due to the demands to become one, liches are highly educated and wickedly intelligent, with a quick with and force of personality. Lacking these qualities often results in the wannabe lich failing to transcend, though some have managed despite these handicaps.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Seeing through the ectoplasmic sheen, liches can perceive their surroundings at any level of light. Shaping their ectoplasmic aura also allows them to hear, taste and feel as if they were alive.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Some liches retain their original names, whereas others choose new, dramatic ones to go with their new identity.

Scientific Name

Mortis Magister

Origin/Ancestry

Undead

Lifespan

Liches do not age

Average Height

Varies depending on original species, but the average lich is somewhere in the 1.2 to 2.4 meter range.

Average Weight

Varies depending on original species, but the average lich weighs somewhere between 25 to 175 kilo

Average Length

Varies depending on original species, but the average lich is somewhere in the 1.2 to 2.4 meter range.

Average Physique

Whatever their physique in life, undeath grants liches above human strength and toughness bolstered by a complete lack of vital organs. Their movements, however, tends to have a very careful and deliberate quality to them, being now fully directed by their conscious mind, which leaves them rather average in this regard.