Lich (5e Race)
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This page is of questionable balance. Reason: +5 total ASI, and a boatload more spells known for casters. Oh, also the "Inability to Die" in age. That's also there.
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Lich
Physical Description
A lich has a rotting, undead humanoid body, often with the skeleton trying to pry out of its flesh at one point or another. They are often draped in robes, without any substantial armor on their bodies.
History
Liches are a type of undead that gain their immortality by creating a lich's phylactery that holds their souls. Only the most skilled mages can make them, and they often could cause many gold pieces. A lich's phylactery can be anything from something important to them when they were human, a magic item, etc. A lich is immortal until their phylactery is destroyed, but can be temporarily killed for 1-10 days before they revive themselves to full. Since these humanoid undead beings where once extremely smart and wise mages, they retain that knowledge and use it to learn greater spells, hiding their phylactery where no one can destroy it, and even creating powerful armies.
Liches typically lose their humanity over time, or whatever made them who they were and adopt a more hellish one. This is because most liches hide away from life when they ascend, but some stay around people and other friendly humanoid races, keeping them close to their old forms and minds. When this happens, they barely look undead for the most part. Some of their body will have withered of course, usually a limb or somewhere on the torso. No two liches are the same when it comes to their motivations, purpose, identity, and what remains of their rotting immortal form.
Society
Liches have no society, most of the time being complete loners with the occasional undead army or acquaintances. Liches can't reproduce as well, so finding love isn't a priority either. Liches only occasionally find comfort in the living, typically of people from the race they use to be.
Lich Names
Liches often take on names separate from their living forms. What they pick tends to rarely have a correlation to their past lives, as they come up with them very on the spot. There are few cases where they kept their dead name in favor of a new one.
Male: Szenquc, Vrosgadh, Vraemdik, Phelak, Putradh, Uloc, Qras'qagher, Shos'qugox, Suggaroog, Czadzuagi
Female: Del'qol, Yrrug, Prekter, Vhic'mar, Tsaed'zid, Paqnal, Qhouth'gygiz, Nuz'dhilo, Zhean'ghagniz, Drut'zakur
Lich's Traits
Lich's were once powerful mages, so they are often suited as wizards or sorcerers.
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 3 and your Wisdom score increases by 2. As usual, you can’t increase an ability beyond 20 using this trait.
Age. Typically they become liches at a much older age back when they were alive. They are immortal until their phylactery is destroyed, but if killed in combat, roll a 1d10 to see how many days it will take for them to come back in full
Alignment. Most liches are undeniably evil, having a past greed for wanting to be immortal, but some are more sympathetically good or neutral if given the chance.
Size. Your lich will be the exact same height they were when they were alive, give or take a few inches. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Natural Truesight. You can, out to a range of 120 ft, see in normal and magical darkness, see invisible creatures and objects, automatically detect visual illusions and succeed on saving throws against them, and perceives the original form of a shapeshifter or a creature that is transformed by magic.
Greater Undeath. Because of your immortal, undead body, you do not need to eat, sleep, drink, or breathe. You are always fully awake and do not require a long or short rest, just for that off time to pass. Additionally, you are immune to poison damage along with the poisoned condition and immune to all forms of disease.
A Mage's Study. If you have the Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature, you can learn a number of additional spells equal to your level. In addition, when you reach 4th level, and again at 10th and 17th, you gain an extra 1st-level spell slot. You do not gain this spell slot if you do not have the Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature.
Master Linguist. You know up to 2 other languages of your choice as long as they have a written script, not including common.
False Appearance. While you remain motionless, you can become stone-like, and at that point become indistinguishable from an inanimate statue. This trait cannot be used more than twice (resets after a time equal to a long rest, but does not need to be resting).
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and 2 other languages of your choice as long as they follow the "Master Linguist" Racial Trait.
Random Height and Weight
| Base Height |
Height Modifier* |
Base Weight |
Weight Modifier** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′ 7'' | +1d10 | 2d10 lb. | × (1d4) lb. |
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*Height = base height + height modifier | |||
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