A race built for a Lich [Archive] - Wizards Community

A race built for a Lich [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lyinginbedmon
09-09-07, 10:24 AM I'm trying to make a new humanoid race that specialises in knowledge and trade, but that meets all the criteria for Lichdom when they start out and therefore only need the gold for it. The race then moves on to voluntarily become Grisgol, meaning they need a total of 130,000 GP before the whole thing starts.

Since the base Lich statted in the Monster Manual (Which, I know, has class levels) is CR 13 and the template adds +2 CR, that would mean that this new race would start out at CR 11.

Okay, so here's what I have so far, and I'm pretty sure I've gone way off-keyMedium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 11d8 (38 HP)
Initiative: +1 (+ Dex)
Speed: 30 ft.
Armor Class: (+1 Dex, + Nat), touch , flat-footed
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+3/+7
Attack: Quarterstaff +7 melee (1d6-1 [20/x2])
Full Attack: Quarterstaff +7/+2 melee (1d6-1 [20/x2])
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Charming Gaze, Spell-like Abilities, Spells
Special Qualities: DR 10/magic, Fast Healing 5, SR 22
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +10
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 12, Con 9, Int 16, Wis 16, Cha 10
Skills: Bluff +9, Diplomacy +14, Intimidate +2, Knowledge (arcana) +12, Knowledge (history) +12, Knowledge (religion) +12, Profession or Craft (any one) +17, Sense Motive +13
Feats: Craft Wondrous Item, Lucky Start, Make Your Own Luck, Supernatural Transformation (repulsion)
Organization:
Challenge Rating: 11
Alignment: Always Neutral

What are now the Grisgol began as a race of humanoids known as the Erenatl. In the course of their cultural development, it became the standard lifestyle to go through the processes of becoming a Grisgol, and so there are few Erenatl in the general population. Typically, a remaining Erenatl is so either because they have not yet generated enough financial reserve to fund their transformation or for some reason have decided not to undergo it at all. Most Erenatl go through the transformation by their 200th year.

Combat
Charming Gaze (Su): All creatures within 30 feet who meet the gaze of an Erenatl become affected as if by charm monster. A Will save (DC 14) negates the effect. Each opponent within range of a gaze attack must attempt a saving throw each round at the beginning of his or her turn in the initiative order. An Erenatl can also actively gaze as an attack action by choosing a target within range, who must then attempt a saving throw. Erenatl are immune to their own gaze and that of others of their kind. The DC is Charisma-based.
Spell-Like Abilities: at will – control water, daylight, darkness, move earth, 3/day – blood to water (DC 17), repulsion (DC 16), shadow walk (DC 16). Caster level 11th.
Spells: An Erenatl casts spells as an 11th level Cleric or Wizard (This choice is made at character creation and cannot be changed).
Summon Swarm (Sp): Each day, an Erenatl can summon and control a swarm of Rapture Locust (FF 170), Spiders, or Plague Ants (FF 167) as a full-round action. Each swarm persists for 2 minutes before dispersing.

Erenatl as characters
+2 Dex, +6 Int and Wis, -2 Str and Con (minimum 1)
Racial Hit dice: An Erenatl begins play with 11 humanoid levels. This gives them 11d8 Hit dice, base save bonuses of Fort +3, Ref +3, and Con +3, four feats, and 14 x (2+Intelligence bonus) skill points. An Erenatl’s class skills (and their associated ability) are: Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (arcana, history, religion)(Int), Profession (Wis), and Sense Motive (Wis)
Special Attacks (see above): charming gaze, spell-like abilities, spells, summon swarm.
Special Qualities (see above): damage reduction 10/magic, spell resistance 22 + class levels.
Automatic Languages:
Favoured Class: Wizard or Cleric. Erenatl clerics worship Bis Anu.
Level Adjustment: -An Erenatl spends much of their life working hard to make enough money to go through with the process (A hefty 130,000 gold pieces). In this process, the client must first construct and determine the design of their phylactery. In the case of Erenatl, this is usually a small metal box holding a piece of parchment crafted finely from mud that bears their name (The conductors of the process apply the necessary magical sigils after this creation), and determine which spells it will be imbued with as a Grisgol. The authorities involved analyse crucial characteristics of the client such as blood type, genetic history, and medical history, in order to produce a suitable quantity (Adjusted by body mass) of Lich Brew. The client then, often with a brief moment of hesitation, downs the brew and dies instantly. Necromantic weavings shunt the soul of the Erenatl into the new phylactery, and it is then passed to a construction yard. At this stage, the Erenatl acquires the Lich template, though it retains its own alignment, but is still in the process of reforming its physical form. The original body is preserved and placed in a transparent casket to be given to the Erenatl at the completion of the process.

At the construction yard, the phylactery is held within an antimagic field to prevent the Erenatl from reforming during the construction process. The phylactery then becomes the focal point of a massive exercise that sees it encased within a large shaped mass of wands, scrolls, tomes, and other miscellaneous magical curios. When the construction process is done (Usually taking a little over six months). The Erenatl have mastered this construction process, allowing the Erenatl Lich within the newborn Grisgol to retain their previous intellectual abilities (Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores).Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Return of the Flumph
09-09-07, 10:35 AM You need to be able to cast spells as an eleventh level wizard, sorcerer, or cleric.
Lyinginbedmon
09-09-07, 11:47 AM Roger, have added 11th level cleric/wizard casting.
Lyinginbedmon
09-09-07, 01:58 PM Ok, so it has the spellcasting, the Craft Wondrous Item, the Humanoid type, everything needed to get to the point of just needing cash to actually become a Grisgol nee Lich.

I've given them control water and move earth as at-will spell-like abilities because it gives them a nice Moses feel, and they're supposed to very much have an Ancient Egypt-feel as a civilisation. Any thoughts on how I could actually make them a contender as a CR 11 creature?
snakeman830
09-09-07, 02:04 PM Cleric/Wizard casting is not what Liches need. Only a caster level of 11. This can be obtained through any class with spells. Even a 22nd level ranger can become a lich, and Bard lichs are an intereting concept IMO.
Lyinginbedmon
09-09-07, 02:19 PM Cleric/Wizard casting is not what Liches need. Only a caster level of 11. This can be obtained through any class with spells. Even a 22nd level ranger can become a lich, and Bard lichs are an intereting concept IMO.

Yes, but A. I'm putting a race together that meets Lich requirements, not a class and B. Wizard/Cleric is their favoured classes, it only makes sense to give them Wizard/Cleric spells racially.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
09-10-07, 12:41 PM Well, they're not LA +0. You probably meant LA -, as they don't seem to be suited to being a PC race. You get casting as a wizard or cleric of your racial HD (the major class feature of those classes) with better HP and spell-like abilities. Not LA+0, not by a long shot. You may also want to add a sidebar or racial ability noting that Erenatl that become grisgols keep their free will and mental stats. The construction section of the grisgol entry requires the maker have destroyed the lich and finished the animation process before the lich regenerates. That'd be tough (though not impossible, if you prepare enough stilled, silent, eschewed materials spells), and even then your body is less directly controlled, requiring you to communicate instructions to it and wait for it to respond. If someone else performs the ritual, they control you. Mind you, that's only a RAW problem that a good DM should wave away. But a sidebar to lay out how it's different (at least with the mental ability scores) might be a prudent addition.

I like it. I've always loved the grisgol. A race of Egyptian grisgols just seems awesome to me.
Lyinginbedmon
09-11-07, 05:00 PM Well, they're not LA +0. You probably meant LA -, as they don't seem to be suited to being a PC race. You get casting as a wizard or cleric of your racial HD (the major class feature of those classes) with better HP and spell-like abilities. Not LA+0, not by a long shot.
Modified.
You may also want to add a sidebar or racial ability noting that Erenatl that become grisgols keep their free will and mental stats. The construction section of the grisgol entry requires the maker have destroyed the lich and finished the animation process before the lich regenerates. That'd be tough (though not impossible, if you prepare enough stilled, silent, eschewed materials spells), and even then your body is less directly controlled, requiring you to communicate instructions to it and wait for it to respond. If someone else performs the ritual, they control you. Mind you, that's only a RAW problem that a good DM should wave away. But a sidebar to lay out how it's different (at least with the mental ability scores) might be a prudent addition.
Added
I like it. I've always loved the grisgol. A race of Egyptian grisgols just seems awesome to me.
Glad to know, thanks :)
Johnnes
09-11-07, 05:27 PM Awesome !

Just today I was thinking about an "egyptian/mayan" magic-user civilization, whit the final stage of an individual life the lichdom caged in a construct (the gorgol is, coincidentionalit, the one I chose), but this guys are far more weck than yours, and lives of the far-north of my homebrew world. ;)

They are de conterpart of a "roman/persian" technology-user civilization (habitants of the far-south iced lands).

Actualy, the "magifolk" seek this "stade" to return to theyre home land, the moon.

(maaan, some day I learn how to write correctly :rolleyes: )
Lyinginbedmon
09-12-07, 03:20 AM Awesome!

Just today I was thinking about an "egyptian/mayan" magic-user civilization, with the final stage of an individual's life the lichdom-caged-in-a-construct (the grisgol is, coincidentally, the one I chose), but these guys are far more weak than your guys, and live in the far-north of my homebrew world. ;)

They are the conterpart of a "roman/persian" technology-user civilization (inhabitants of the far-south iced lands).

Actualy, the "magifolk" seek this "state" to return to their home land, the moon.

Well for me the Erenatl needed motivation, because at present they don't trade much so people wouldn't know about them a lot. So, by filling out all but one requirement for the whole process (The cash), I create a motivation for them to trade with other races. However, now that most of them are Grisgol, trade drops substantially, and they basically fall off the map.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lyinginbedmon 09-09-07, 10:24 AM	I'm trying to make a new humanoid race that specialises in knowledge and trade, but that meets all the criteria for Lichdom when they start out and therefore only need the gold for it. The race then moves on to voluntarily become Grisgol, meaning they need a total of 130,000 GP before the whole thing starts. Since the base Lich statted in the Monster Manual (Which, I know, has class levels) is CR 13 and the template adds +2 CR, that would mean that this new race would start out at CR 11. Okay, so here's what I have so far, and I'm pretty sure I've gone way off-keyMedium Humanoid Hit Dice: 11d8 (38 HP) Initiative: +1 (+ Dex) Speed: 30 ft. Armor Class: (+1 Dex, + Nat), touch , flat-footed Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+3/+7 Attack: Quarterstaff +7 melee (1d6-1 [20/x2]) Full Attack: Quarterstaff +7/+2 melee (1d6-1 [20/x2]) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Special Attacks: Charming Gaze, Spell-like Abilities, Spells Special Qualities: DR 10/magic, Fast Healing 5, SR 22 Saves: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +10 Abilities: Str 8, Dex 12, Con 9, Int 16, Wis 16, Cha 10 Skills: Bluff +9, Diplomacy +14, Intimidate +2, Knowledge (arcana) +12, Knowledge (history) +12, Knowledge (religion) +12, Profession or Craft (any one) +17, Sense Motive +13 Feats: Craft Wondrous Item, Lucky Start, Make Your Own Luck, Supernatural Transformation (repulsion) Organization: Challenge Rating: 11 Alignment: Always Neutral What are now the Grisgol began as a race of humanoids known as the Erenatl. In the course of their cultural development, it became the standard lifestyle to go through the processes of becoming a Grisgol, and so there are few Erenatl in the general population. Typically, a remaining Erenatl is so either because they have not yet generated enough financial reserve to fund their transformation or for some reason have decided not to undergo it at all. Most Erenatl go through the transformation by their 200th year. Combat Charming Gaze (Su): All creatures within 30 feet who meet the gaze of an Erenatl become affected as if by charm monster. A Will save (DC 14) negates the effect. Each opponent within range of a gaze attack must attempt a saving throw each round at the beginning of his or her turn in the initiative order. An Erenatl can also actively gaze as an attack action by choosing a target within range, who must then attempt a saving throw. Erenatl are immune to their own gaze and that of others of their kind. The DC is Charisma-based. Spell-Like Abilities: at will – control water, daylight, darkness, move earth, 3/day – blood to water (DC 17), repulsion (DC 16), shadow walk (DC 16). Caster level 11th. Spells: An Erenatl casts spells as an 11th level Cleric or Wizard (This choice is made at character creation and cannot be changed). Summon Swarm (Sp): Each day, an Erenatl can summon and control a swarm of Rapture Locust (FF 170), Spiders, or Plague Ants (FF 167) as a full-round action. Each swarm persists for 2 minutes before dispersing. Erenatl as characters +2 Dex, +6 Int and Wis, -2 Str and Con (minimum 1) Racial Hit dice: An Erenatl begins play with 11 humanoid levels. This gives them 11d8 Hit dice, base save bonuses of Fort +3, Ref +3, and Con +3, four feats, and 14 x (2+Intelligence bonus) skill points. An Erenatl’s class skills (and their associated ability) are: Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (arcana, history, religion)(Int), Profession (Wis), and Sense Motive (Wis) Special Attacks (see above): charming gaze, spell-like abilities, spells, summon swarm. Special Qualities (see above): damage reduction 10/magic, spell resistance 22 + class levels. Automatic Languages: Favoured Class: Wizard or Cleric. Erenatl clerics worship Bis Anu. Level Adjustment: -An Erenatl spends much of their life working hard to make enough money to go through with the process (A hefty 130,000 gold pieces). In this process, the client must first construct and determine the design of their phylactery. In the case of Erenatl, this is usually a small metal box holding a piece of parchment crafted finely from mud that bears their name (The conductors of the process apply the necessary magical sigils after this creation), and determine which spells it will be imbued with as a Grisgol. The authorities involved analyse crucial characteristics of the client such as blood type, genetic history, and medical history, in order to produce a suitable quantity (Adjusted by body mass) of Lich Brew. The client then, often with a brief moment of hesitation, downs the brew and dies instantly. Necromantic weavings shunt the soul of the Erenatl into the new phylactery, and it is then passed to a construction yard. At this stage, the Erenatl acquires the Lich template, though it retains its own alignment, but is still in the process of reforming its physical form. The original body is preserved and placed in a transparent casket to be given to the Erenatl at the completion of the process. At the construction yard, the phylactery is held within an antimagic field to prevent the Erenatl from reforming during the construction process. The phylactery then becomes the focal point of a massive exercise that sees it encased within a large shaped mass of wands, scrolls, tomes, and other miscellaneous magical curios. When the construction process is done (Usually taking a little over six months). The Erenatl have mastered this construction process, allowing the Erenatl Lich within the newborn Grisgol to retain their previous intellectual abilities (Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores).Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Return of the Flumph 09-09-07, 10:35 AM	You need to be able to cast spells as an eleventh level wizard, sorcerer, or cleric.
Lyinginbedmon 09-09-07, 11:47 AM	Roger, have added 11th level cleric/wizard casting.
Lyinginbedmon 09-09-07, 01:58 PM	Ok, so it has the spellcasting, the Craft Wondrous Item, the Humanoid type, everything needed to get to the point of just needing cash to actually become a Grisgol nee Lich. I've given them control water and move earth as at-will spell-like abilities because it gives them a nice Moses feel, and they're supposed to very much have an Ancient Egypt-feel as a civilisation. Any thoughts on how I could actually make them a contender as a CR 11 creature?
snakeman830 09-09-07, 02:04 PM	Cleric/Wizard casting is not what Liches need. Only a caster level of 11. This can be obtained through any class with spells. Even a 22nd level ranger can become a lich, and Bard lichs are an intereting concept IMO.
Lyinginbedmon 09-09-07, 02:19 PM	Cleric/Wizard casting is not what Liches need. Only a caster level of 11. This can be obtained through any class with spells. Even a 22nd level ranger can become a lich, and Bard lichs are an intereting concept IMO. Yes, but A. I'm putting a race together that meets Lich requirements, not a class and B. Wizard/Cleric is their favoured classes, it only makes sense to give them Wizard/Cleric spells racially.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 09-10-07, 12:41 PM	Well, they're not LA +0. You probably meant LA -, as they don't seem to be suited to being a PC race. You get casting as a wizard or cleric of your racial HD (the major class feature of those classes) with better HP and spell-like abilities. Not LA+0, not by a long shot. You may also want to add a sidebar or racial ability noting that Erenatl that become grisgols keep their free will and mental stats. The construction section of the grisgol entry requires the maker have destroyed the lich and finished the animation process before the lich regenerates. That'd be tough (though not impossible, if you prepare enough stilled, silent, eschewed materials spells), and even then your body is less directly controlled, requiring you to communicate instructions to it and wait for it to respond. If someone else performs the ritual, they control you. Mind you, that's only a RAW problem that a good DM should wave away. But a sidebar to lay out how it's different (at least with the mental ability scores) might be a prudent addition. I like it. I've always loved the grisgol. A race of Egyptian grisgols just seems awesome to me.
Lyinginbedmon 09-11-07, 05:00 PM	Well, they're not LA +0. You probably meant LA -, as they don't seem to be suited to being a PC race. You get casting as a wizard or cleric of your racial HD (the major class feature of those classes) with better HP and spell-like abilities. Not LA+0, not by a long shot. Modified. You may also want to add a sidebar or racial ability noting that Erenatl that become grisgols keep their free will and mental stats. The construction section of the grisgol entry requires the maker have destroyed the lich and finished the animation process before the lich regenerates. That'd be tough (though not impossible, if you prepare enough stilled, silent, eschewed materials spells), and even then your body is less directly controlled, requiring you to communicate instructions to it and wait for it to respond. If someone else performs the ritual, they control you. Mind you, that's only a RAW problem that a good DM should wave away. But a sidebar to lay out how it's different (at least with the mental ability scores) might be a prudent addition. Added I like it. I've always loved the grisgol. A race of Egyptian grisgols just seems awesome to me. Glad to know, thanks :)
Johnnes 09-11-07, 05:27 PM	Awesome ! Just today I was thinking about an "egyptian/mayan" magic-user civilization, whit the final stage of an individual life the lichdom caged in a construct (the gorgol is, coincidentionalit, the one I chose), but this guys are far more weck than yours, and lives of the far-north of my homebrew world. ;) They are de conterpart of a "roman/persian" technology-user civilization (habitants of the far-south iced lands). Actualy, the "magifolk" seek this "stade" to return to theyre home land, the moon. (maaan, some day I learn how to write correctly :rolleyes: )
Lyinginbedmon 09-12-07, 03:20 AM	Awesome! Just today I was thinking about an "egyptian/mayan" magic-user civilization, with the final stage of an individual's life the lichdom-caged-in-a-construct (the grisgol is, coincidentally, the one I chose), but these guys are far more weak than your guys, and live in the far-north of my homebrew world. ;) They are the conterpart of a "roman/persian" technology-user civilization (inhabitants of the far-south iced lands). Actualy, the "magifolk" seek this "state" to return to their home land, the moon. Well for me the Erenatl needed motivation, because at present they don't trade much so people wouldn't know about them a lot. So, by filling out all but one requirement for the whole process (The cash), I create a motivation for them to trade with other races. However, now that most of them are Grisgol, trade drops substantially, and they basically fall off the map.