ArmorArmadillo
2007-07-06, 07:43 PM
I've always been fascinated by systems which try to work with shadows (actual shadows, not strength stealing undead) and I decided that the key to really effectively using the flavor of the shadow is to focus on the duality, the split between the real and the reflection.
Going into the existing D&D canon, the monster most focused around such a duality is the Lich, in that his essence is split between himself and his phylactery. So, without further introduction, the Shade Lich.
Shade Lich
The Lich is a creature feared by all, but even the basics of its existence, beyond their undeniable evil, are a mystery to all but the most astute scholars of arcana.
Among the few relatively widely known truths of the Lich's being is the severing of its soul into a phylactery.
However, just like the lore of the Lich itself, lore of the phylactery is vague, and barely understood beyond the very basics of storing a soul.
Amid this vast mystery, an arcane secret of the phylactery exists, a method by which a Lich can, rather than pushing his soul into an inanimate phylactery, can use the evil energies of the process of becoming a Lich to corrupt his soul as he separates it from his body, turning it instead into a powerful embodiment, a personal avatar of the Lich's dark power.
The housing for that power? The Lich's shadow.
Creating a Shade Lich
"Shade Lich" is an acquired template that can be applied to any sorcerer, wizard, or cleric of at least 12th level (referred to hereafter as the base creature).
A shade Lich uses all of the base creature's statistics and abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type: A base creature's type changes to undead, do not recalculate it's base attack bonus, saves, or skills. All of its hit die become d12s, and it no longer has a Constitution score. Its size does not change.
Armor Class: The base creature's natural armor bonus increases by 5, reflecting its loss of biological vulnerabilities.
Special Attacks: Betrayal of Shadow (Su): With a touch, a Shade Lich can force an enemy's shadow against them. With a successful melee touch, a Shade Lich can force an opponent to make a fortitude save (DC=10+Cha Modifier+1/2 HD) or be forced to make a single melee attack against himself at his full attack bonus each round, for a number of rounds equal to the Shade Lich's HD. Remove curse or break enchantment both cancel this effect.
Special Qualities: Shadow Phylactery (Su): A Shade Lich's shadow contains the essence of his soul, severed from his physical form. A Shadow Phylactery is an incorporeal Outsider with a number of HD equal to half the Shade Lich's HD, rounded down. They have the same ability scores as the Shade Lich, including the absence of a Constitution score (this is an exception to the rule that Outsiders have a Constitution score), and can act independently of the Shade Lich, although it always acts on the same Initiative as the Shade Lich. The Shadow Phylactery gains a deflection bonus equal to the Lich's Natural Bonus is If the Shadow Phylactery is ever more than 100 ft. from the Shade Lich, it will immediately reappear adjacent to the Shade Lich.
A Shadow Phylactery has the same spellcasting capabilities as the Shade Lich, although all spells allow are made of quasi-real shadowstuff, and allow a Will Save to be seen as 20% real (as per shadow conjuration.
Shadow Renewal (Su): The separation of the Lich's soul between himself and his shadow allows him to regenerate himself so long as one aspect survives. If either the Shade Lich or his Shadow Phylactery is destroyed, it reappears at the beginning of the next round with 1 hit point.
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Dex +2, Int +4, Cha +4
Challenge Rating: As the Base Creature, +4.
Level Adjustment: +6
Alignment: Always Evil.
Becoming A Shade Lich: Becoming a Shade Lich requires an unspeakably evil ritual, which requires the sacrifice of a number of sentient creatures equal to twice the base creature's HD. In addition, the ritual requires exotic reagents costing an amount of gold equal to 1,000 times the base creature's HD, and a n amount of Xp equal to 200 times the base creature's HD.
Going into the existing D&D canon, the monster most focused around such a duality is the Lich, in that his essence is split between himself and his phylactery. So, without further introduction, the Shade Lich.
Shade Lich
The Lich is a creature feared by all, but even the basics of its existence, beyond their undeniable evil, are a mystery to all but the most astute scholars of arcana.
Among the few relatively widely known truths of the Lich's being is the severing of its soul into a phylactery.
However, just like the lore of the Lich itself, lore of the phylactery is vague, and barely understood beyond the very basics of storing a soul.
Amid this vast mystery, an arcane secret of the phylactery exists, a method by which a Lich can, rather than pushing his soul into an inanimate phylactery, can use the evil energies of the process of becoming a Lich to corrupt his soul as he separates it from his body, turning it instead into a powerful embodiment, a personal avatar of the Lich's dark power.
The housing for that power? The Lich's shadow.
Creating a Shade Lich
"Shade Lich" is an acquired template that can be applied to any sorcerer, wizard, or cleric of at least 12th level (referred to hereafter as the base creature).
A shade Lich uses all of the base creature's statistics and abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type: A base creature's type changes to undead, do not recalculate it's base attack bonus, saves, or skills. All of its hit die become d12s, and it no longer has a Constitution score. Its size does not change.
Armor Class: The base creature's natural armor bonus increases by 5, reflecting its loss of biological vulnerabilities.
Special Attacks: Betrayal of Shadow (Su): With a touch, a Shade Lich can force an enemy's shadow against them. With a successful melee touch, a Shade Lich can force an opponent to make a fortitude save (DC=10+Cha Modifier+1/2 HD) or be forced to make a single melee attack against himself at his full attack bonus each round, for a number of rounds equal to the Shade Lich's HD. Remove curse or break enchantment both cancel this effect.
Special Qualities: Shadow Phylactery (Su): A Shade Lich's shadow contains the essence of his soul, severed from his physical form. A Shadow Phylactery is an incorporeal Outsider with a number of HD equal to half the Shade Lich's HD, rounded down. They have the same ability scores as the Shade Lich, including the absence of a Constitution score (this is an exception to the rule that Outsiders have a Constitution score), and can act independently of the Shade Lich, although it always acts on the same Initiative as the Shade Lich. The Shadow Phylactery gains a deflection bonus equal to the Lich's Natural Bonus is If the Shadow Phylactery is ever more than 100 ft. from the Shade Lich, it will immediately reappear adjacent to the Shade Lich.
A Shadow Phylactery has the same spellcasting capabilities as the Shade Lich, although all spells allow are made of quasi-real shadowstuff, and allow a Will Save to be seen as 20% real (as per shadow conjuration.
Shadow Renewal (Su): The separation of the Lich's soul between himself and his shadow allows him to regenerate himself so long as one aspect survives. If either the Shade Lich or his Shadow Phylactery is destroyed, it reappears at the beginning of the next round with 1 hit point.
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Dex +2, Int +4, Cha +4
Challenge Rating: As the Base Creature, +4.
Level Adjustment: +6
Alignment: Always Evil.
Becoming A Shade Lich: Becoming a Shade Lich requires an unspeakably evil ritual, which requires the sacrifice of a number of sentient creatures equal to twice the base creature's HD. In addition, the ritual requires exotic reagents costing an amount of gold equal to 1,000 times the base creature's HD, and a n amount of Xp equal to 200 times the base creature's HD.