[✗] [Rewrite] Archlich, The Venerable Gravelords

[Damnit_Delmar 1028]

Spoiler

I would like to preface, that should this rewrite come to pass that all current Archlichs would retain their current CA. Should there be any liches that desire to drop the CA, they may however choose to do so, reverting back to a T5 Necromancer or even gaining the ability to completely drop Necromancy.

Spoiler

Music

Throes of Ascension - Solas Composer

 

Archlich

The Venerable Gravelords

“Let me show you the countenance of the HEITH-HEDRAN, born of conjunction, whose sons breathe air of long darkness. We stand now, in unbound breadth, and take sight of shadows once banished between sky and earth.” - the Red Prophet, Geitheros

 

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Most mortal’s have sought to escape the cold clutches of death, from those humans who sought to escape their short lives, to the elves that sought eternal power. Each one bore a reason to escape their own mortality, and so when the mad attempted to become something greater, they turned to the very creations they rose, the undead, the infallible and cursed. Through cannibalizing the bodies and reagents of the greater and weak, mortal descendents were able to subvert death. Yet, as one grows older, they learn to enhance the ritual and gift. Hone their once weakened bodies, to achieve feats that they had not considered prior. Initially pioneered during Geitheros' tutelage before being banished from Rh'Thor, to eventually raise figures such as the King in Crimson, Ostromir, the Rat King, Ludwig and the mad jester, Azkholdun. Every lich holds a desire, and thus every lich holds a unique strain to their immortality. Through further tinkering with their body, soul, and mind., so does the once mortal weaver; ascend to Arch Lichdom.

 

 

Physiology

“'We are born, Feeble and weak, given nothing save languish in the hereafter. Far, far from paradise. Yet such too, is remedied by mine touch'” - The King in Crimson, Ostromir

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The shrewd Archlich can take many shapes; ranging from fleshy half-skeletons draped in ceremonial shrouds, walking corpses covered in linen as mummified demons, or the rotted, gaunt image they held in life. Pinnacles of unliving flesh and bone, an Archllich can choose to even fleshsmith their body so long as it is within average human or elven proportions. That stated however, one would find that as an Archlich, they hold boundless stamina. Making them incapable of being physically tired. Yet, such priests were not meant to fight, this would lead them with the capability of only being able to utilize light weaponry. This is additionally coupled with a unique resistance against all forms of weather. Extreme sources of heat, and likewise the body not succumbing to the extreme duress of frost.

 

Redlines

• Archliches are restricted to strength similar to a voidal mage, making them only capable of fighting with lighter weaponry as well as making them incapable of wearing plate or half-plate armor. 

• Archliches find themselves highly resistant to piercing and slashing attacks. 

  • Should they be attacked with blunt weapons, they would take twice as much damage. 

  • Should they be attacked directly in the head with a hammer, they would find their vessel instantly destroyed. 

• Archliches are immune to all forms of mundane and alchemical heat and cold, due to their bones being composed of Dragons Bone, as well as the magical essence granted by the blood of hags. 

Mentality

More often than not, the Archlich is violent, cruel, and sadistic. Their minds have been perverted by their undeath into the hunger that had consumed them, making use of their twisted bodies and powers to fuel their will. Even the wisest among these powerful undead now are numb to the realities of life. They will find no empathy to the humanity they once bore, often resorting to feigning moral codes if any semblance of who they were remains.

 

Despite this, these beings are not inherently evil, nor do they exist hellbent on seeing the world burn. Regardless of how Archliches have earned a name aberrant monstrosities and coldhearted perversions of undeath, many exist with logical convictions that can give a facetious semblance of morality—forging false identities to feign the idea of life, now lost.

The Infallible Curse

Those afflicted with the Infallible Curse—some in their pursuit of immortality and others against their will—are forever cursed to walk the realm. When the undying are disposed of, their soulbound lifeforce lingers in the world, unable to find peace beyond in the soulstream or the certainty of Ebrietaes. Doomed to the fate of the mortal plane, this energy coalesces over a year before it finds a new host to inhabit. After this time has passed, the residual energy of the slain undead is forced to once again inhabit a random corpse, the soul forcing upon it the burdens of the body the undead once had. Even for those who willingly succumb to the fate of the Infallible Curse, it exists as a hellish purgatory for the damned dead, as one may find undeath is not so easily escaped.

 

Redlines

• Darkstalkers and Archliches can never be truly slain.

  • Normal hard PK rules still apply, such as killing one’s self or otherwise.  An undead that PK’s according to these rules cannot be brought back.

• After 30 IRL minutes from the point of their death, the Archlich or Darkstalker will inhabit a new body.

  • This body takes the augments of one’s soul, whether it be a necromantic modification or the capacity to wield mighty powers of undeath.

  • Dying takes a toll on one’s psyche when the once again awake to find themselves in a new body, capable of causing one to feel numb and disillusioned to reality.

• This process does not require the assistance of a necromancer.  A body is just found, where the undead simply awakes with their new body narratively in Cloud Temple or a soulstone pillar they are mechanically bound to.

 

Abilities

So the lich began to carve and sculpt his next creation, a construct of carnage to aid in a unknown war 

 

---

 

Magical Body

With the body of the Archlich consisting of rare and valuable Dragons Bone, the once mortal would find that the strain upon their soul severely weakened. In fact, almost seeming to add a bountiful source of power within the Archlich. However, not all sources of greater power may enjoy these old beings. 

Spoiler

Mechanics

Archliches gain the capability to not only change Necromancy from a 4-slot Magic to a 3-slot, however, they additionally gain the capability to further augment their body with Necromancer Mutations. 

Redlines

• Archliches hold the inability to learn any Divine Magics(Besides Seer), Soul Altering Magics, or Magics incompatible with Undead. 

  • This may only be bypassed via a MArt with ST Manager Approval. 

• Necromancy changes from a 4 slot Magic, down to a 3 slot magic. 

  • Should a magic be chosen that can summon other entities, such as Conjuration, be chosen. One would only be capable of using summons from one magic, or the other. 

• Archliches are capable of gaining upwards of 3 modifications, rather than the standard 1 modification. 

  • The additional modifications are noted upon the MA, for ease of access. Rather then the CA

Flesh Facade

Being masters of flesh and form, a lich may disguise themselves back to what they once looked like. For the role of a Necromancer is to be a deceiver and manipulator, and with the ability to bear false flesh, it allows such individuals to blend into societies to gather their contacts and disciples. 

Spoiler

Mechanics

Over the course of 4 emotes(2 Conjure Lifeforce + 1 Manipulate and mold flesh + 1 Place it upon yourself), a Lich may fabricate false flesh upon their person, locking away their powers temporarily in order to gain a false body of flesh.

 

Redlines

 

• Flesh Facade takes 4 emotes to conjure, and cannot be conjured in the midst of combat. 

• Flesh Facade will remain active in a combat scenario, however should a lich take 3 or more hits while in it, the disguise will crumble and rot away. 

  • Should the Facade be destroyed. The Necromancer will find their connection to necromancy fully restored. 

• One cannot access their Necromancy powers while within Flesh Facade, however they may forcefully tear it off their form over a course of 2 emotes. 

  • During these two emotes, the Lich may not attack, defend, or cast. 

 

Corpse Courier

An Archlich may choose to use the long deceased as an act of communing with those who happen to be leagues and miles away. Whether it be via an old crumbling skull, or the carcass of a recently slain beast, or even through the mindless husk of one of their fallen soldiers. 

Spoiler

Mechanics

An Archlich may commune through a corpse of their choosing, so long as they know of the body, are near a Rift of the Heith-Hedran,  and so long as it does not bear any sentience. 

 

Redlines

 

• An Archlich may commune through an old and rotten corpse, so long as they know of the corpse they intend to speak through

• This cannot be used to metagame locations, such as randomly speaking out of a recently slain bandit that they have never seen or interacted with

• Archliches may set up areas of communication, should a Lich create such a spot, they must denote such through an rp sign. 

• A Lich must be near a rift of the Heith-Hedran in order to communicate through the corpse. 

• While communicating, a lich must be entirely focused upon the conversation at hand, unable to cast magic, attack, move, ect

• This ability cannot be used in in the midst of combat

• The vessel is unable to move or attack, merely acting as a form of communication between the two parties. 

• This may not be used to temporarily take over Darkstalkers, Archliches, or Drauger. Due to their vessel already being occupied by a spirit

• This may not be used on any living individual, a corpse or skull being required in order to communicate. 

• This is a means of utilizing the /whisper option, that stated all conversations and responses would be able to be heard should someone be within #W. 

 

The Elders Presence

There is a tangible presence to those that have achieved the occult arts of undeath, one such that not only causes respite for the dead, but fear for the living. One may choose to suppress this aura, so as to hide themselves amongst the common folk, or may cause such to show and spread strength for the dead and fear for the living.

Spoiler

Mechanics

Over the course of 6 emotes( 2 Conjure Lifeforce2 + Draining nearby Lifeforce + 2 Spreading Lifeforce), a lich may conjure an aura that affects all those within #RP range one of two effects may occur for those that are not dead or of the Weaving Arts. This Aura lasts for 3 emotes, before the lifeforce disperses back into the Weaver. Stunning the Caster afterwards for 1 emote, due to taking in an overload of Lifeforce.  

 

Living: Living Descendents upon entering  range of the lich, would begin to experience flu-like symptoms and cold chills. Their strength weakened to half, due to the abundance of lifeforce permeating the area. 

 

 

Undead: Where life wanes, the dead do flourish. Undead and Necromancers would find themselves enhanced, their bodies thriving within the dense font of lifeforce within the area. They would gain an additional +2 to movement speed, in addition to granting a sense of relief and comfort to the undead. 

 

 

Redlines

 

• The Elders Presence takes 6 emotes to conjure fully and lasts for 3 emotes once conjured. 

  • The Elders Presence may be used 2 times per ooc day

• After the ability has been utilized, the lich would find themselves stunned for 1 emote, due to the overload of lifeforce

  • One is unable to attack, dodge, or block while within the 1 emote stun

• Living Descendents would find themselves weakened and feeling ill while within the confines of the dense aura. This is due to their lifeforce being negatively impacted. 

  • CA’s that do not have Lifeforce are immune to this Aura, such as Siliti and Automata 

• Undead would find themselves boosted, gaining +2 movement, and grant reprieve and peace to the undead, similar to a Darkstalkers Abyssfire. 

• This aura is centered upon the Caster

• The area around the user should look decayed and shriveled, this is purely for aesthetic purposes. 

 

Strength of the Damned

Archliches are craftsmen, creators, and kings. All who hold the power and respect to take and modify their form as they please. As such, a Gravelord may choose to find some way to further grant themselves power, for every scholar is unique in their desire. 

Spoiler

Mechanics

A Lich may choose to attempt to MArt themselves, granting upwards of three additional benefactory custom abilities.

 

Redlines

 

• The MArt Application  should include screenshots of roleplay creating the lich, how many necromancers aided, obtained necessary reagents, OOC and IC purpose, and any other redlines that the Story Team deems necessary.

• These abilities must fit in with the Lich as well as the magic it possesses or is attempting to possess. 

• One may only MArt their lich once. 

  • This may only be circumvented with direct ST Manager approval. 

• It is suggested that should one add three custom abilities, they should also add an additional custom negative bane. 

• Custom appearances, physicality, and mentality do not count towards an additional ability for the MArt. 

General Redlines

• Archliches exist as undead creatures of necromancy with capabilities to study other magic.

 

• Archliches regain the modification they had as a necromancer, if they had one.

 

• As undead, Archliches are unable to sire living children and FTB romantically 

 

• An Archlich possesses the physical strength similar to a voidal mage, completely unable to adorn metal-plated armor.

 

• Striking an Archlich in the skull instantly kills their current vessel. 

  • Being touched by sunlight is painful, and eventually feels like fire on living skin if unshrouded.

  • Archliches are just as vulnerable to mundane weapons, and are not any more adverse to gold or silver compared to living beings.

Credits

Writer - SilvertheDM

Punctuation - boughtabride

Writing Help - Krunos10, Lockages, Zarsies, femurlord

Art - Pinterest

Original Lore Writer - dard

Spoiler

Original lore

 

 

Purpose

Spoiler

As a former necromancer, and still someone pretty well versed in a portion of the Necromancy community. A lot of people are in agreement about the current state of Lich, and how it is not only something that is extremely difficult to obtain, but also something that gives very little payoff. Not only are you required to get Dragon Bones, which is an ST specific thing only, however you need the Blood of a Witch and Phylactery Dust. Requiring you to both know someone who is a Naztherak or Frostwitch, as well as PK an individual. That, combined with vague wording, lackluster flavor, and overall lack of content within the actual CA itself, lead to me writing, and using the given critiques given to me, to create something fresh for the Necromancy community.

 

[wowj 2744]

 

38 minutes ago, SilvertheGM said:

After one 30 IRL minutes from the point of their death, the Archlich or Darkstalker will inhabit a new body.

 

but.. darkstalker nub a lich!

[Damnit_Delmar 1028]

4 minutes ago, RTFCGYHJKML said:

 

but.. darkstalker nub a lich!

Just using the same wording of the Infallible Curse for this, as the previous write

[Lockages 489]

thank god... something that we can do other than being dead...

[femurlord 2316]

For me? Its Corpse Courier.

[Wizzar 479]

Well written +1.

 

A necessary rewrite for our favorite skeletons. 

 

 

[megavoltar 1110]

Use corpse courier. . .  "My Dear Love, miss Frost Witch, its me, the evil Lich of necromancy. . .  How have you been?"

[Lhindir_ 3436]

Ostromir smiles from his greentag cage. 

[Songwitch 1438]

This lore has been denied. You will be sent a forum PM regarding the reasons for denial within the next 24 hours.