The Undying Seekers: Liches and their Perilous Quest for Immortality

The Dark Pact of Lichdom
Liches, those eerie remnants of once-great sorcerers, make a dark pact with undeath to ensure their perpetual existence. Their pursuit of power knows no bounds, as they readily sacrifice morality for personal gain, often disregarding the affairs of the living unless those affairs infringe upon their own wicked designs. Driven to madness and fueled by an insatiable hunger for long-buried secrets, liches are untethered from the looming specter of death, enabling them to craft intricate plans that unfold over years, decades, or even centuries.

The Macabre Countenance of Liches
A lich presents a ghastly visage, a gaunt and skeletal humanoid swathed in desiccated flesh tightly drawn across their bones. Where their eyes once radiated life, now only embers of light glimmer within their hollow sockets. They are often clad in the tattered remnants of opulent clothing and jewelry, their former grandeur tarnished by the relentless march of time.

Guardians of Forbidden Knowledge
The eldritch elixir that bestows lichdom remains shrouded in secrecy, zealously guarded, especially by those of their own kind. It is widely regarded as a forbidden sorcery by most circles of wizards, intertwined with the darkest arts of necromancy.

The Path to Lichdom: A Treacherous Journey
Becoming a lich is not a choice to be made lightly. Aspiring individuals must possess the ability to cast the formidable "Magic Jar" spell, a sixth-level incantation, in order to tether their soul to a phylactery. The process of imbibing the potion of Lichdom carries a perilous risk, demanding a Fortitude Defensive Roll, DC 5, failure of which can result in instant death.

Defying Death and Healing
Once transformed into a lich, conventional healing methods prove futile on these undead beings. Instead, liches typically master the art of necromancy, capable of siphoning life force from the living to restore their own vitality. Many liches regard "death" lightly, for they can safely store their soul in a phylactery and return within a span of 1d10 days. Traditional healing techniques remain ineffective on any creature classified as undead.

The Pariah of the Living World
Liches, along with the broader undead category, face disdain from the general populace. Adventurers may actively seek out these sinister entities to vanquish them, hoping to acquire magical treasures and earn renown. Conversely, ambitious scholars and followers might pursue liches in search of profound arcane knowledge, and perhaps, the enigmatic secret of Lichdom itself.