The Voldemort Solution: Making Multiple Phylacteries

[Altair_the_Vexed]

Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series had many of the characteristics of a D&D Lich. Sort of. You know what I mean.
He had a bunch of nearly indestructable thingies that he kept bits of his soul in to avoid destruction - sort of like the Lich's Phylactery.

Inspired by this, I was wondering - is there any reason why a lich in D&D can't make multiple Phylacteries, and thus increase his chances of survival?

Obviously, i could just make something up - this is D&D, and I'm a DM - but I'd rather use existing material if there is any.

Is there a core solution?
Is there a splatbook solution?
Has anyone already homebrewed this idea?

(Brushing aside such objections as "Horcruxes are not phylacteries", and other Potter nit-picking, of course.)

[hamishspence]

Yes- Champions of Ruin has an epic spell allowing a lich to make multiple phylacteries, or possibly split one into multiple objects- either way, enemy must destroy them all.

Aumvor's fragmented phylactery is the name of the spell.

[Obrysii]

Dry Liches, from Sandstorm, do not have ordinary phylacteries. Instead they split their souls into 8 ceramic jars that have Hardness 20.

Demiliches, from the Epic Level Handbook, have 8 soul gems instead of a single phylactery, in addition to its original phylactery.

Lich Kings, one of my creations, can use the phylacteries of the eight Lich minions it has, in addition to its own phylactery.

So a Dry Demilich King would have 25 phylacteries. :p

[Tulio d Bard]

Dry Liches, from Sandstorm, do not have ordinary phylacteries. Instead they split their souls into 8 ceramic jars that have Hardness 20.

Demiliches, from the Epic Level Handbook, have 8 soul gems instead of a single phylactery, in addition to its original phylactery.

Lich Kings, one of my creations, can use the phylacteries of the eight Lich minions it has, in addition to its own phylactery.

So a Dry Demilich King would have 25 phylacteries. :p

What's the thing with number eight?

[Obrysii]

What's the thing with number eight?

No idea. Maybe it's just a coincidence?

[Optimystik]

What's the thing with number eight?

It might actually be the number 9 there, if you count the lich itself as being a soul location.

Also, in biblical lore, the number 8 signifies a new beginning. The 8th day is the first day of the new week, Noah was the 8th person to leave the ark after the flood, circumcision was performed on the 8th day etc.

[Eloel]

No idea. Maybe it's just a coincidence?

It's Acererak playing games on your mind.

There's no mind control, citizen. Go back to your fun.

[hamishspence]

8 appears to be the signature number (and unlucky number) of Discworld- 8 colours of magic, 8 levels of wizardry- the 8th son of an 8th son will be a wizard, and so on.

[AstralFire]

The following are common numbers in magic:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13...

[SolkaTruesilver]

The following are common numbers in magic:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13...

I see what you did there

[Emmerask]

What's the thing with number eight?

And eight can also be interpreted as the infinity symbol as in will have infinite life.

[Altair_the_Vexed]

And eight can also be interpreted as the infinity symbol as in will have infinite life.

Only if you, or the numeral, have fallen over.

Thanks for the help, chaps and chapettes! It's good to know I'm not breaking too many rules with my terrible plans to Riddle up my BBEG.

[Magnor Criol]

Dr. Wily had a thing for 8 robot masters. Perhaps he was a lich.

So a Dry Demilich King would have 25 phylacteries. :p

What if all of his minions were Dry Liches too?

[Arakune]

Dr. Wily had a thing for 8 robot masters. Perhaps he was a lich.



What if all of his minions were Dry Liches too?

Please don't. Now the world have more phylacteries than liches.

[valadil]

I've always wanted to run a lich with false phylacteries that are identical to the real one. Have the lich use something common, like say, 1gp as his phylactery. Then drop it in a dragon's hoard. Have fun sorting all that gold.

[Jarrick]

Please don't. Now the world have more phylacteries than liches.

I think I just had an evilgasm...

[Optimystik]

I've always wanted to run a lich with false phylacteries that are identical to the real one. Have the lich use something common, like say, 1gp as his phylactery. Then drop it in a dragon's hoard. Have fun sorting all that gold.

I think a coin between 1 and 2 feet across wouldn't be that hard to spot.

Regardless of the phylactery’s form, its game statistics remain the same: size Tiny, hp 40, hardness 20, break DC 40.

[Lycanthromancer]

I think a coin between 1 and 2 feet across wouldn't be that hard to spot.

An aurorum or riverine tower shield built for a Tiny creature? There aren't that many creatures that would be wielding that in battle, meaning that the chances of its being sundered are slim (even if anybody is able to actually do so).

[Eloel]

What if all of his minions were Dry Liches too?

That is, brilliant!

26 Demiliches, all phylacteries of the other 26, all on a different plane.

Gotta catch 'em all! In 1d4 days too...

[Tyndmyr]

I think a coin between 1 and 2 feet across wouldn't be that hard to spot.

Could we then cast Shrink Item, then undetectable aura on it?

[Optimystik]

Could we then cast Shrink Item, then undetectable aura on it?

Undetectable/Magic Aura yes, Shrink Item no.

You are able to shrink one nonmagical item...

As a magic item, it receives saving throws against magical effects that can affect objects.

[Tyndmyr]

Hmm, I suppose then, barring finding some other means to shrink it...I'll have to find a common tiny object. It would have been hilarious, though, to see a gold coin expand immensely in combat when a random dispel goes off. Instant crazy hook.

Yknow, corpses are objects. Raise dead isn't too expensive. Could you make tiny creatures your phylacteries? Preferably of a good, incredibly long lived or immortal race.

[Optimystik]

Make a Tiny corpse your phylactery, then raise it? Interesting.

Though he might wonder why he has 40 HP and Hardness 20.

[Lycanthromancer]

Undetectable/Magic Aura yes, Shrink Item no.

Isn't the rule that spells only check for applicability when they're cast, and affect the target afterward even if something renders it inapplicable? Although gained immunities (such as through mind blank) may render the effect null while in...err...effect...?

[Mordokai]

That is, brilliant!

26 Demiliches, all phylacteries of the other 26, all on a different plane.

Gotta catch 'em all! In 1d4 days too...

Thus beggins the most wacky race of all times...

Awesome idea

[valadil]

I think a coin between 1 and 2 feet across wouldn't be that hard to spot.

Coin was just an example. If a phylactery has size requirements, use a rock. Put it in an abandoned dwarven mine. The whole point is to hide it in plain site by surrounding it by many, many identical objects.

[hewhosaysfish]

What's the thing with number eight?

I think they're just trying to one-up Voldemort.

"Only 7? You *****! And you call yourself a Dark Lord!"

[Optimystik]

Coin was just an example. If a phylactery has size requirements, use a rock. Put it in an abandoned dwarven mine. The whole point is to hide it in plain site by surrounding it by many, many identical objects.

True, but there are two problems with that:

1) It's still a magical (and very evil) rock;

2) No matter what precautions you take, Legend Lore and Metafaculty can find you out.

Quite simply, it's impossible for a lich to hide his actions completely, due to needing to be level 11+.

Isn't the rule that spells only check for applicability when they're cast, and affect the target afterward even if something renders it inapplicable? Although gained immunities (such as through mind blank may render the effect null while in...err...effect)...?

Not sure what you mean... the rules text is that a phylactery is Tiny, and magical. You could shrink it down below that before making it your phylactery, and even permanency it, but once it becomes a phylactery it will be Tiny again (and immune to further shrinkage.)

[Zanatos777]

Dry Liches have 5 canopic jars, not 8.

[absolmorph]

True, but there are two problems with that:

1) It's still a magical (and very evil) rock;

2) No matter what precautions you take, Legend Lore and Metafaculty can find you out.

Quite simply, it's impossible for a lich to hide his actions completely, due to needing to be level 11+.

Undetectable Alignment, Magic Aura, Nondetection
Make 'em permanent. Your rock is now extremely difficult to find.