Vastonia's Monster Gallery!

LICH, OCCULT (By WebWarlock)

Appearance: Few creatures strike as much fear into people as the undead, a fewer still than the horrifying creature known as the lich. Life beyond death and twisted by dark desires and fell magick, the lich stands for all that is dark and evil. In life few people are as feared by others as the witch, mistress of hidden and occult forces. The Occult Lich is one of these witches that has obtained lichdom.

Like the Arcane or Psionic Lich, the Occult Lich can appear as a withered corpse, a skeleton or as a normal human. The lich often appears clothed as she did when she died. There is no known way to tell the difference between an Occult Lich and any other type on appearances alone.

Combat: The Occult lich also will rarely engage in combat. She prefers to spend her time pondering and researching great occult secrets. This disinterest in combat is not due to the Lich's fear of battle (if anything could cast fear into it) but rather a complete disregard as the living as anything else than a mere nuisance.

If prompted or if it's lair is threatened the Occult Lich will fight. She will only attack once per round, but her attack is very effective. The hit or even the mere touch of this fell creature causes 1d12 points of damage. Plus each touch will drain 2 points of Strength.

The most dangerous aspect of the Occult Lich is her spell-casting abilities. She retains whatever knowledge of her spells and occult powers that she had in life. Typically at the 18th level of experience, but some are much higher. Added to this is the array of magical items that she might still have. In additon to this the Occult Lich can cause Fear 3 times per day as per the spell.

Destroying the Occult Lich is a difficult undertaking. They can only be effected by magical items of +2 or better. Priests can attempt to turn or destroy them as per a normal Lich, but any attack that does not destroy it's talisman will ultimately fail. An Occult Lich talisman is similar to the Arcane Lich's phylactery; it is where the life force of the lich resides. The talisman will always be very well protected and often by magic, a guardian familiar or guardian yugoloth. The only way to truly destroy the lich is to destroy this talisman.

Habitat/Society: Occult Liches are very similar to their Arcane brothers with a couple of important distinctions. First only witches of at least 18th level can become an Occult Lich. Unlike the Arcane Lich, there is no set formula to become an Occult Lich. It is believed by many sages that the creation of the Occult Lich is a near accident. Several factors seem to have to come together. First the prospective Lich needs to have the Longevity occult power. Secondly, and perhaps most important, the witch needs to be investigating some occult secret or knowledge that she currently does not know. It is speculated by the same sages that if the lich were to discover the secret she would immediately fall into dust. Having an evil alignment in life may not be necessary to become an Occult Lich, but it is not likely that a good aligned witch would allow herself to become so twisted in her own desires.

Ecology: Occult Liches contribute nothing to the local ecology and they typically take nothing from it. The Occult Lich is even loath to animate any lesser undead or do anything that will distract her from her studies. A tale is told of haggard old woman who came to the great library in Glantri City who sat a read tome after tome for nearly a week. People were uncomfortable around her, but she bothered no one directly and made no demands on anyone. When it was noticed that she did not eat, drink or sleep the entire time she was there the word got out that she might be a supernatural creature. But before anyone could investigate further, she left as abruptly and as quietly as she came. The stack of her books remained. A quick inspection revealed them to be books on histories, magic and the nature of the multiverse. It was only suspected much later that she had been in fact an Occult Lich.

It is unknown if the Occult Lich can continue long enough in life to become a demi-lich. So few actual cases have been reported to make any guesses.

Variants: None