The lich cannot be killed without also destroying the phylactery. Should the lich be killed, its body reforms next to the phylactery within days. Examples include the Bronze Lich and the Whispered One.Ī lich stores its soul inside a phylactery, an enruned box or other object which protects the lich's life force. Most liches forget their original names over time, and are known to most only by cryptic aliases or titles.
Liches typically care little to involve themselves in the day-to-day affairs of mortal realms, preferring to sequester themselves in hidden lairs to conduct arcane research or formulate epic plans. They are obsessed with the acquision of power and knowledge, and immortality grants the lich patience to see incredibly long-term plans come to fruition. Liches are highly intelligent, utterly insane by human standards, and almost universally evil. Unusual liches of non-humanoid origin have been known to exist, including mind flayers and dragons. Liches can be mistaken for other skeletal humanoids creatures, including wights, skeletons, and mummies. Liches typically care little for appearances, and wear the tattered and rotten remains of ancient, once fine clothing. Points of light glow in its empty eye sockets. A lich is a decayed, gaunt, mostly skeletal humanoid.
