A Lich's Best Friend [Template]

[The Demented One]

Lichbound Construct
Liches are vile undead mages who bind their souls in items knows as phylacteries, in order to prevent their own death. However, not all liches make use of phylacteries for storing their souls. There are a cunning few who have found a way, through unspeakable magic and skillful artifice, to bind their souls to constructs, creating animate phylacteries capable of defending themselves.

Creating a Lichbound Creature
Lichbound is an inherited template that can be added to any construct.

Size and Type
Size and type remain unchanged.

Special Attacks
A Lichbound construct retains all the special attacks of the base creature and also gains the following special attacks.

Fear Aura (Su)
A Lichbound construct shares the frightful aura of its master. Creatures with less than 5 HD that look on a Lichbound construct while within 60 ft. of it must make a Will save, DC 10 + ½ the construct’s HD + the construct’s Charisma modifier, or be affected as by the fear spell, with caster level equal to the construct’s HD.

Paralyzing Slam (Su)
A creature damaged by a natural attack of a Lichbound construct must make a Fortitude save, DC 10 + ½ the construct’s HD + the construct’s Constitution modifier (if it has one), or be paralyzed for 1d4 rounds. This effect cannot be dispelled, although remove paralysis, remove curse, and similar effects can negate the paralysis.

Special Qualities
A Lichbound construct retains all the special qualities of the base creature and also gains the following qualities.

Damage Reduction (Ex)
A Lichbound construct gains damage reduction 15/magic.

Living Phylactery (Ex)
A Lichbound construct serves as its creator’s phylactery. As long as it exists, its lich master will regenerate its body if it is destroyed. If the Lichbound construct is destroyed, however, then its master cannot regenerate, and its death will be permanent. If a destroyed Lichbound construct is somehow recreated, then it resumes its status as its master’s phylactery. However, once a Lich’s construct phylactery has been destroyed, it cannot construct another Lichbound construct. In addition, due to the link between Lich and construct, they can communicate telepathically as long as they are within one mile of each other. In addition, either one can heal the other. As a standard action, either the Lich or the construct may give up any amount of hp to heal the other the same amount. They must be within at least a mile of each other to do this.

Necropotence (Su)
A Lichbound construct is tainted by the negative energy used in creating it. It is healed by effects that channel negative energy, such as inflict light wounds or harm, as if it were undead, and is damaged by effects that channel positive energy, such as cure light wounds or heal. A Lichbound construct can be turned as if it were an undead creature, though its cannot be destroyed through turning. Its strong bond to its master prevents it from being rebuked or controlled as an undead creature.

Abilities
Increase from the base creature as follows: Int +2, Wis +2, Cha +2.

Challenge Rating
Same as base creature +2.

Alignment
If the Lichbound construct is intelligent, then same as creator. Otherwise, it is Neutral Evil.

Level Adjustment
None.

[The Demented One]

Creating a Lichbound Construct
The process of a creating a Lichbound construct combines the rituals and procedures of creating a phylactery with those for creating a construct. To begin with, the potential lich must create the body of his construct. He must then perform both the procedures needed to animate it as a construct, and the unspeakable rites needed to bind his soul in a phylactery. Adding the Lichbound template to a construct increases its creation cost by 120,000 gp and 4,800 xp. Although not all constructs have rules for creating them, those that do not have creation rules can still be made Lichbound constructs, at the DM’s digression.

[The Demented One]

Sample Lichbound Constructs

[b]Lichbound Iron Golem[/size]
Size/Type: Large Construct
Hit Dice: 18d10+30 (129 hp)
Initiative: -1
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 30 (-1 size, -1 Dex, +22 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 30
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+28
Attack: Slam +23 melee (2d10+11)
Full Attack: 2 Slams +23 melee (2d10+11)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, fear aura, paralyzing slam
Special Qualities: Construct traits, damage reduction 15/adamantine and magic, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to magic, living phylactery, low-light vision, necropotence
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +7
Abilities: Str 33, Dex 9, Con Ø, Int Ø, Wis 13, Cha 3
Skills: —
Feats: —
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 15
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral Evil
Advancement: 19-24 HD (Large); 25-54 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: —

Breath Weapon (Su)
10-foot cube, cloud of poisonous gas lasting 1 round, free action once every 1d4+1 rounds; initial damage 1d4 Con, secondary damage 3d4 Con, Fortitude DC 19 negates. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Fear Aura (Su)
Creatures with less than 5 HD that look on a Lichbound Iron Golem while within 60 ft. of it must make a DC 15 Will save, or be affected as by the fear spell, caster level 18th.

Paralyzing Slam (Su)
A creature damaged by the slam attack of a Lichbound Iron Golem must make a DC 19 Fortitude save, or be paralyzed for 1d4 rounds. This effect cannot be dispelled, although remove paralysis, remove curse, and similar effects can negate the paralysis.

Immunity to Magic (Ex)
A Lichbound Iron Golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature, as noted below. A magical attack that deals electricity damage slows an Lichbound Iron Golem (as the slow spell) for 3 rounds, with no saving throw. A magical attack that deals fire damage breaks any slow effect on the golem and heals 1 point of damage for each 3 points of damage the attack would otherwise deal. If the amount of healing would cause the golem to exceed its full normal hit points, it gains any excess as temporary hit points. An Lichbound Iron Golem gets no saving throw against fire effects. An Lichbound Iron Golem is affected normally by rust attacks, such as that of a rust monster or a rusting grasp spell.

Living Phylactery (Ex)
A Lichbound Iron Golemserves as its creator’s phylactery. In addition, due to the link between Lich and construct, they can communicate telepathically as long as they are within one mile of each other. In addition, either one can heal the other. As a standard action, either the Lich or the construct may give up any amount of hp to heal the other the same amount. They must be within at least a mile of each other to do this.

Necropotence (Su)
A Lichbound Iron Golem is tainted by the negative energy used in creating it. It is healed by effects that channel negative energy, such as inflict light wounds or harm, as if it were undead, and is damaged by effects that channel positive energy, such as cure light wounds or heal. A Lichbound Iron Golem can be turned as if it were an undead creature, though its cannot be destroyed through turning. Its strong bond to its master prevents it from being rebuked or controlled as an undead creature.

[Fax Celestis]

Great minds think alike, D1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47431) :smallbiggrin:

One thing I don't get is the Necropotence feature. Constructs aren't usually affected by cure/inflict spells. Why are they now?

[The Demented One]

The basis behind that was that, being a lich's phylactery, the construct was powered by negative energy, rather than just plain magic, and is thus all undead-y.

[Fax Celestis]

The basis behind that was that, being a lich's phylactery, the construct was powered by negative energy, rather than just plain magic, and is thus all undead-y.

Got it. Everything checks out then.

[EvilElitest]

I really like the idea all around, concept of the player, exchausted after defeating the lich only to find its sould gem can fight as well
from,
EE

[Nebo_]

That is really cool, if I ever run a lich BBEG, he's having one of these. One thing though, all the save DCs for the abilities say 10 + 1/2 HD + ability score. If that isn't just an oversight, it's far too powerful.

[The Demented One]

That is really cool, if I ever run a lich BBEG, he's having one of these. One thing though, all the save DCs for the abilities say 10 + 1/2 HD + ability score. If that isn't just an oversight, it's far too powerful.
Ah, nice catch.