How does a lich make a phylactery?
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To create a phylactery, a lich must undergo a highly complex and expensive process, requiring a significant amount of spellcasting ability and magical materials valued at 100,000 to 120,000 gold pieces. The process involves selecting a suitable object, typically made of a solid material and of high-quality craftsmanship, and then performing a magic jar spell to bind the lich’s soul to the object, effectively creating a phylactery that serves as a repository for the lich’s vitality and consciousness.
Understanding Phylacteries
Creating a phylactery is a crucial step in the process of becoming a lich, as it allows the lich to transfer its soul into the object, thereby achieving a form of immortality. The phylactery serves as a focal point for the lich’s magical energy, allowing it to regenerate and reconstitute itself even if its physical body is destroyed.
Properties of Phylacteries
A phylactery is a unique and powerful magical object that is tied to the lich’s soul, and its destruction can have significant consequences for the lich. Some key properties of phylacteries include their ability to bind a lich’s soul, regenerate a lich’s body, and require periodic feeding to sustain the lich’s magical energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following FAQs provide additional information about phylacteries and liches:
- Can a lich make a new phylactery?: Yes, a lich can create a new phylactery, but the process requires significant time and resources.
- Can a lich make multiple phylacteries?: Yes, with the help of epic level magic, a lich can create multiple phylacteries, although this is extremely rare and highly complex.
- Does a lich know if its phylactery is destroyed?: A lich may immediately sense the destruction of its phylactery, or it may gradually become aware of the degradation of its physical form.
- Does a lich know where its phylactery is?: While a lich does not have an innate sense of its phylactery’s location, it can use its magical abilities and resources to track it down.
- How hard is it to destroy a phylactery?: Destroying a phylactery is extremely challenging and often requires a special ritual, item, or weapon.
- What is higher than a lich?: Dracoliches and lichfiends are examples of powerful undead creatures that are more powerful than liches.
- Can a phylactery be on another plane?: No, a phylactery must be on the same plane as the lich for the spell to work.
- Do Dracoliches have a phylactery?: Yes, a dracolich is a dragon that has voluntarily tied its soul to a phylactery.
- Does Vecna have a phylactery?: Yes, Vecna’s soul was placed in a phylactery, which was hidden to prevent its destruction.
- Is Voldemort technically a lich?: Yes, Voldemort can be considered a lich, as he created horcruxes to anchor his soul to the mortal realm.
- Can a lich become a God?: Yes, it is theoretically possible for a lich to become a god, although this would require significant worship and magical power.
- What are the requirements for a phylactery?: Creating a phylactery requires high-quality materials, significant spellcasting ability, and a large amount of gold.
- Do Demiliches have a phylactery?: When found outside the human plane, demiliches do not often have a phylactery, as it is stored on their home realm.
- How often does a phylactery need to be fed?: The frequency of feeding a phylactery depends on the narrative purposes of the story, but it is generally required to sustain the lich’s magical energy.
- Where would a lich hide its phylactery?: A lich would likely hide its phylactery in a secure location that is accessible only to itself, such as a dimensional pocket or a hidden vault.
Conclusion
In conclusion, creating a phylactery is a complex and highly magical process that requires significant resources and spellcasting ability. Understanding the properties and limitations of phylacteries is crucial for lich characters and Dungeon Masters alike, as it can have significant implications for the story and gameplay. By mastering the art of phylactery creation, characters can unlock the secrets of immortality and achieve ultimate power.