| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Xar Zarath
Senior Scribe
Malaysia
552 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Jun 2012 : 06:17:06
|
Okay now that's over with shall we continue on with liches?
Does anyone have anything query or somesuch maybe a bit of lore unknown to some of us? |
Everything ends where it begins. Period.
|
 |
|
|
BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jun 2012 : 07:09:23
|
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Karsus
-Not for nothing, but, geeze, does he have to be such a dick about that? No need to be all 'WTF? WTF!?!?!?!?!?'
Hey, it's an extremely informal board over there. We're friends and family over there.
I kid you not. This one guy I had huge flame-fests with years ago over religion and atheism? We're some of the chummiest fellows there, now.
Bob keeps it informal with us. Whether it's sharing behind-the-scenes insights on stories or conventions, or personal stories from book signings, or touching on politics, or teasing us about upcoming plotlines, or just calling us out for being stoopid, he treats us one of the gang.
I certainly didn't take it badly. My comments freaked him out. He probably thought there was some news about his upcoming stories that had not been told directly to him. No author wants to find that sort of thing out from the interweb!!! 
Also, I have repeatedly asked for it. I tell him to call me out if I ever slip up and make a misnake. No need to waste time with formalities.
Context, I guess. |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
|
|
|
Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 06:32:28
|
quote:
Originally posted by Xar Zarath
Does anyone have anything query or somesuch maybe a bit of lore unknown to some of us?
If Ghostrider pisses flames, what does a lich piss? |
Every beginning has an end. |
|
|
|
Xar Zarath
Senior Scribe
Malaysia
552 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 12:47:08
|
Negative energy, duh! |
Everything ends where it begins. Period.
|
|
|
|
BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
|
|
Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3746 Posts |
|
|
Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 23:17:03
|
In a ball/party attended mostly by living people, to put the crowd (relatively) at ease in his august (and fearsome) presence, Szass Tam would normally grab a glass of wine and drink it like a normal living individual would. Where does all that liquid go? |
Every beginning has an end. |
|
|
|
Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3746 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jun 2012 : 23:36:11
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
In a ball/party attended mostly by living people, to put the crowd (relatively) at ease in his august (and fearsome) presence, Szass Tam would normally grab a glass of wine and drink it like a normal living individual would. Where does all that liquid go?
-Depends how far you want to take artistic expression, but all of the illustrations of him (FRCS, Epic Level Handbook, Unapproachable East depict him sans illusions masking his Lichdom, and he seems to still have his intestines intact. So, there. |
(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know)
Elves of Faerūn
Vol I- The Elves of Faerūn
Vol. III- Spells of the Elves
Vol. VI- Mechanical Compendium |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36876 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 00:26:51
|
That's what sucks about lichdom: you just can't hold your liquor like you could when alive!
On a more serious note, I'd imagine that Szassy has some special magic that teleports the liquid elsewhere. Ditto for food. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
|
|
|
Sightless
Senior Scribe
USA
608 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 00:47:47
|
Well iin the other game system, those undead elves made from positive energy seem to still be able to eat and drink. The energy source does the breaking down, but that's all part of the complex ritual that goes into creating them. In cases of other types of undead source material gives an option for an enternal ooze that consumes the food and drink and thus gives the perception that the undead is eating and drinking. In the case of particularly crafty and intelegent liches, I'd think they would either implant magical items or perhaps include some spells with their philactory that would aid them in this area. My old DM had a lich with several magical items connected to his body that allowed him to completely pass for human. Even his wife didn't know that he wasn't actually a living being.
Well, that was until someone discovered that he wasn't and showed it to his wife at a really bad time.
*whistles* |
We choose to live a lie, when we see with, & not through the eye.
Every decision, no matter the evidence, is a leap of faith; if it were not, then it wouldn't be a choice at all. |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 01:30:18
|
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
On a more serious note, I'd imagine that Szassy has some special magic that teleports the liquid elsewhere. Ditto for food.
I've speculated previously, that some powerful and/or ancient liches, especially like Szass, approach this somewhat like how Odo consumes liquids on Deep Space Nine.
The lichdom process enacts specialised internal magicks which, when liquids are imbibed, are converted into magic and consumed by the lich itself. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
|
|
|
Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 01:38:07
|
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
On a more serious note, I'd imagine that Szassy has some special magic that teleports the liquid elsewhere. Ditto for food.
I've similar thoughts. Most likely it's teleported straight to the sewers... |
Every beginning has an end. |
|
|
|
Xar Zarath
Senior Scribe
Malaysia
552 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 05:56:14
|
| Perhaps the negative energy that maintains their bodies also breaks it down? or possibly rots the food and drink away at a very fast rate? |
Everything ends where it begins. Period.
|
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 06:06:21
|
quote:
Originally posted by Xar Zarath
Perhaps the negative energy that maintains their bodies also breaks it down? or possibly rots the food and drink away at a very fast rate?
Possibly.
If nothing else, it could simply be that the lich has a small portal or arcane object which shunts imbibed waste to the Negative Energy plane as a means of "internal" consumption. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
|
|
|
Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 07:17:59
|
I like that idea, Xar and Sage. It's more in sync with a lich's nature. |
Every beginning has an end. |
|
|
|
Xar Zarath
Senior Scribe
Malaysia
552 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 11:17:54
|
| Remember not to get eaten by a lich! |
Everything ends where it begins. Period.
|
|
|
|
Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2012 : 12:18:48
|
Given that a lich's bones are infused with magic, if he chooses to be a cannibal, he can pretty much eat the bones of another lich and grow stronger. I know it's horrible to see Larloch eating Szass Tam's bones...But when I try to imagine it, I can't help but smile. It's weird and funny.  |
Every beginning has an end. |
|
|
|
Xar Zarath
Senior Scribe
Malaysia
552 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2012 : 14:49:51
|
| Cannilich! Hmm now there must be a book about Hannibal Lichter, the infamous enchanter and cannilich! |
Everything ends where it begins. Period.
|
|
|
|
Xar Zarath
Senior Scribe
Malaysia
552 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2012 : 13:42:50
|
| Hmm I wonder why Larloch has not yet become a demilich, or even Szass Tam for that matter...They would become more powerful and be equipped with even more knowledge... |
Everything ends where it begins. Period.
|
|
|
|
Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jun 2012 : 07:47:40
|
Who coined the term 'demilich' anyway? Why is it used to refer to a being more powerful than a lich, when, if we go by its Anglo-French origin, it means 'half.' And therefore, less. Demigod is less than a god. By that, demilich should be less than a lich. |
Every beginning has an end. |
|
|
|
Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jun 2012 : 08:29:50
|
"Metalich" or "Quasilich" or even "Isolich" would be better, I think. Demiliches are half-lich, half-netherworldly beings who've transcended to a different (and presumably superior) order of existence. "Demilich" is technically not incorrect, but as you say, it does suggest inferior instead of superior states of lichdom.quote:
AD&D (1E) MM2
Demilich is a misleading term in that one might assume the "demi" refers to status. However, it refers to the state of the lich. Only a small part of the body of a lich remains - dust, the skull, and possibly a few bones ... A lich is a human magic-user and/or cleric of surpassing evil who has taken the steps necessary to preserve its life force after death. Ultimately, even the undead life force of a lich begins to wane. Over centuries the lich form decays, and the evil soul roams strange planes.
|
[/Ayrik] |
|
|
|
Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jun 2012 : 08:42:54
|
Archlich would have been perfect to replace demilich. They should have chosen a different term for non-evil liches. Lumelich, perhaps. |
Every beginning has an end. |
|
|
|
Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jun 2012 : 12:27:07
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Who coined the term 'demilich' anyway? Why is it used to refer to a being more powerful than a lich, when, if we go by its Anglo-French origin, it means 'half.' And therefore, less. Demigod is less than a god. By that, demilich should be less than a lich.
I'm going to guess it was Gygax that coined Demi-Lich...meaning "little left" and not "half" at all.
As I understand it, he used to like to twist things and be a bit tricky...so calling something "demi" may have been a word trap. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
|
|
|
Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jun 2012 : 12:57:07
|
If the meaning is "left" and not "half" then "sinistrolich" might sound much cooler, I think.
An "archlich" - to me - is one such as Larloch or perhaps even Szass Tam. A lich who has grown to penultimate potency rather than decayed over the passing centuries. |
[/Ayrik] |
|
|
|
Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2012 : 04:04:42
|
I know liches can specialize in any forms or types of magic as they desire. But are there known/famous liches who focus more on shadow magic? Do they have a sub-type term? Shadow liches?
Also, are there known elemental liches? I heard they exist, I just don't know who they are exactly. |
Every beginning has an end. |
|
|
|
Xar Zarath
Senior Scribe
Malaysia
552 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2012 : 05:05:08
|
I think you could call a demilich a essence lich? instead...just my opinion...
As far as shadow liches go, really not a lot, maybe a shade who has undergone lichdom, though that would make a shadow-lich incredibly dangerous, what with self-healing and shadow walking anywhere...
I read the Ravenloft monster conpendium and there is a section on elemental liches, though they are mages who have used their elemental magic to become liches and are still skeletal corpses... |
Everything ends where it begins. Period.
|
|
|
|
Xar Zarath
Senior Scribe
Malaysia
552 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2012 : 05:52:45
|
| Hmm are 4e liches similar to 3e/3.5e liches?? |
Everything ends where it begins. Period.
|
|
|
|
Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2012 : 04:48:22
|
There's a fair number of human liches who do (or used to) control dracoliches... But I've never heard of dracoliches controlling human liches. Any reason for this? |
Every beginning has an end. |
|
|
|
Xar Zarath
Senior Scribe
Malaysia
552 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2012 : 08:56:05
|
| Really where Dennis? I have never heard of human liches controlling dracoliches before, but dracoliches in charge of human liches is much more believable...to think you cheat death only to have a dragon who also cheated death who now calls the shots...man give a necromancer a break... |
Everything ends where it begins. Period.
|
|
|
|
Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2012 : 09:24:46
|
Sammaster controls Dracoliches.
Dragons usually do not have the variety of magic...even once a Dracolich...to control something so powerful as a Lich.
Zhengyi, Witch-King of Vaasa, while not controlling a Dracolich (that I can remember) did control a dragon. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Need to Know: The Lich
