Liches

Liches, much like ghouls are the spawn of necromancy magic. In short they are skeletal beings whom's lifeforce is bound to a phylactery, a crystal of pure lifeforce that once shattered, kills the lich that it is bound to.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Lich

Strengths:

Immortality.

Liches are immortal for as long as their phylactery does not break and remains filled. When a lich's skeletal frame is destroyed they will simple rise again in a new location, akin to of how the mortal races get revived by the Temple Monks. Inability to Feel Pain. Liches, due to their lack of senses are unable to feel pain until they come into contact with gold. This trait leads to most liches being formidable opponents. Weaknesses:

Mental Instability.

When one becomes a lich they may not be able to fully comprehend the change. When one becomes a Lich they lose most of their senses, only retaining the ability to see and hear. With this may come the yearning for the ability to feel 'alive' again, a sensation that the lich will likely never feel again. While not observed within all liches, it is possible that a freshly-created lich may not be fully sane.

Weakness against gold.

Gold with it's odd battery-like behavior against life-force can harm a Lich. Unlike iron/steel weaponry (which only maims the lich) Gold is capable of not only physically injuring a lich, but killing it, forcing it to rise in the form of another skeleton. Any form of gold may frighten or weaken a lich, with golden swords/weaponry being most common.. Holy magic

Dependence on a Phylactery.

A lich's very existence thrives on it's phylactery, for if it is destroyed the lich dies.

The ‘Phylactery’

Liches are known for this crystal, a part of them that keeps them alive. In essence, it is pure lifeforce. When Liches are created, a large amount of lifeforce is prepared and focused into such a compact state, it comes into a physical form. During this creation, a pathway is established between the Phylactery and the Lich.

Lifeforce, when put in a state such as this, is different than normal.

It cannot be altered by Necromancers after being made, essentially, it cannot be refueled, drained, or anything such as this. After it is created, it is locked in that state, and will continue supplying the lich until it dissipates. Due to this, Liches themselves are unable to perform Necromancy, due to a side-effect of this action that prevents the manipulation of lifeforce. The exception to this was Cataris and Everard, who were altered by Iblees to be able to harness his power.

With the creation of a lich, a ‘timer’ must be set, this dedicates the time it would take the phylactery to run empty. This will usually be set by the creator of the Lich.

The Creation of Liches

Due to the disappearance of Iblees and his large source of power, there is no one alive who alone has enough life-force to create a lich. Due to this, a middle-ground was needed. As demonstrated by the Undead, Gold can serve as a battery for lifeforce, and is vital for the creation of a lich. The Necromancers who attempts to raise a lich must first create an Obelisk of Gold (Gold blocks). (Note this cannot act as a mana battery of any sort) They must then begin fueling this, taking individuals and draining them completely, he will be required to store their life-force within this obelisk. Since so much lifeforce is required, a team of three necromancers is needed to create a lich.

After this task is succeeded, the corpse that will be raised unto lichdom must be discovered. This corpse cannot be older than one Elven week, if it is, the ritual will not work.

This corpse must be placed near the filled obelisk, and then raised by the Necromancers to it’s fullest extent. After it has been raised, the process of creating the Phylactery must begin. The Necromancers will begin pulling the life-force from the Obelisk, focusing it into a point between himself and the soon-to-be-lich. With careful precision and focus, he will slowly begin to establish the Phylactery. During this, he must establish a reversed Tether between the Lich and the Phylactery. If this is not done before the Phylactery is finished, the ritual will fail.

Due to this life-force being channeled from the Necromancer, it carries an imprint of him with it. This will permanently affect the lich aslong as it remains. The lich from this point onwards may only be recreated by the necromancer that first made him. Due to the strong powers necessary to create a lich, three necromancers are needed to come together to create the creature. In this case, two of the three necromancers are necessary to recreate a fallen Lich.

Due to this, the lich would be very hesitant to harm or kill its creator, as they control the Phylactery and are needed to be recreated. It does not need to follow their orders to the letter. Due to the inability to cast Necromancy, a lich may never create another lich.

Clarifying Points

Physiology of the Lich

Mentality of Liches

The “Red Lines” of Liches

Liches typically live for up to six months, but this may be increased/decreased slightly depending on the will of the creators. This is chosen when the Lich is made. Liches can not be mass produced, only one every few months. When a Lich is to be created, a Lore Master must be contacted and the new lich approved. When a lich runs out of time to live, it may be brought back again but at the expense of the Necromancers not being able to create another lich for a few months. Two of the three original necromancers are necessary to recreate the lich. When the Lich’s Phylactery is destroyed, it may not be brought back. A lich may not cast necromancy. A lich also may not learn any magic as a lich, so choose who you turn into a lich very carefully. A lich's Phylactery is durable and will take effort to break, but a MC item must exist IG. Gold obelisks may not be used as mana batteries. An expert necromancer may not create a lich by themselves. They must gather as a group of at least three.