Lich
In old english, "Lich" simply meant "corpse." In fact, cemetary gates are also known as lichgates.
In D&D, partly drawn from legends such as Koschei the Deathless, a Lich is a sorcerer who made himself undead and stored his soul in a separate object known as a phylactery. Yes, yes, I know Voldemort did the same thing, but he did it like twenty years later.
Liches are some of the ultimate D&D villains for many reasons, the most immediately obvious one being that you can't permanently kill them unless you find that phylactery, which could be anything. but there's a bigger one, too. Most baddies are confronted at the end of their very own dungeon or fortress or traphouse or what-have-you. A Lich is no different. But see, a Lich is the kind of guy who is so desperate to cling to life that he will kill himself and tear out his soul just to fend off the reaper a little longer. And you are storming his fortress, with the type of protection he thinks is adequate.
You are so doomed.
Lich
In old english, "Lich" simply meant "corpse." In fact, cemetary gates are also known as lichgates.
In D&D, partly drawn from legends such as Koschei the Deathless, a Lich is a sorcerer who made himself undead and stored his soul in a separate object known as a phylactery. Yes, yes, I know Voldemort did the same thing, but he did it like twenty years later.
Liches are some of the ultimate D&D villains for many reasons, the most immediately obvious one being that you can't permanently kill them unless you find that phylactery, which could be anything. but there's a bigger one, too. Most baddies are confronted at the end of their very own dungeon or fortress or traphouse or what-have-you. A Lich is no different. But see, a Lich is the kind of guy who is so desperate to cling to life that he will kill himself and tear out his soul just to fend off the reaper a little longer. And you are storming his fortress, with the type of protection he thinks is adequate.
You are so doomed.