|
Malhavoc
Press
If
Thoughts Could Kill Preview: Psionic Lich Template
 By
Bruce R. Cordell
Psionic
liches are undead psionics users -- usually psions, but
sometimes psionic monsters -- who have interred their mentality
into the necrotic tissue of their once-living bodies, thus
preserving their existence indefinitely.
A
psionic lich appears in some ways as it did in life: Its
flesh remains pliant and soft, and warm to the touch. However,
it has no heart, and no blood flows through its veins --
it is psionic power that animates the flesh. If you cut
a psionic lich, its veins are empty of blood, though stray
sparks of power flash briefly. Its eyes are always completely
silvered and glowing with a faint radiance. A psionic lich
wears clothing for simple modesty or disguise, not to protect
it from the environment. Thus, many wear only simple leggings,
tunics, and sandals, if that.
Psionic
liches speak Common plus any other languages they knew in
life.
Creating
a Psionic Lich
"Psionic
lich" is a template you can add to any aberration,
dragon, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid,
outsider, or shapechanger (referred to hereafter as the
"base creature"), provided it can create the required
phylactery (see "The Psionic Lich's Phylactery,"
below). Following the transformation, the creature's type
changes to "undead." It uses all the character's
statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Hit
Dice: Increase to d12
Speed: Same as the base creature's
AC: The psionic lich has +2 natural armor or the
base creature's natural armor, whichever is better.
Damage: Creatures without natural weapons gain a
touch attack that uses negative energy to deal 1d8+5 points
of damage to living creatures. Creatures with natural attacks
can use their natural weaponry or the touch attack, as they
prefer.
Special
Attacks: A psionic lich retains all the base creature's
special attacks and also gains those listed below. Saves
have a DC of 10 + 1/2 lich's HD + lich's Charisma modifier
unless noted otherwise.
Life-Draining
Touch (Su): Any living creature the lich touches as
a melee touch attack sustains 2 points of temporary Constitution
damage (4 on a critical hit) -- the lich gains drained points
as extra psionic power points on a 1-per-1 basis.
Arcane Spell Bane (Su): The bane of arcane magic,
the mere presence of a psionic lich interferes with arcane
spellcasting. Any arcane spell cast within 30 feet of a
psionic lich requires a successful Concentration check,
or the spell is lost. The Concentration check is versus
a DC of 10 + 1/2 lich's HD + lich's Charisma modifier. Even
if the standard option of psionics and magic affecting each
other is being used, this effect interferes only with arcane
spells (not psionics, other spell-like abilities, divine
spells, etc.).
Powers:
The psionic lich can manifest any power it could manifest
while alive.
Psionic Combat Modes: The psionic lich can manifest
any combat modes it could manifest while alive.
Special
Qualities: A psionic lich retains all the base creature's
special qualities and those listed below, plus it also gains
the undead type.
Power Point Boost (Ex): When first transforming itself
into a psionic lich, the character receives a one-time addition
of power points to its power point total equal to its current
total manifester level. Thus, a 12th-level psion who becomes
a psionic lich has an additional 12 power points more than
it otherwise would have had.
Turn Resistance (Ex): A psionic lich has +4 turn
resistance.
Power Resistance (Su): A psionic lich has a power
resistance equal to its manifester level +5.
Fast Healing (Su): A psionic lich's undead body is
constantly revitalized by the psionic energy coursing through
it, granting it Fast Healing 3.
Immunities (Ex): Psionic liches are immune to cold,
electricity, and polymorph attacks.
Saves:
Same as the base creature's
Abilities: A psionic lich gains +2 to Intelligence,Wisdom,
and Charisma, but being undead, it has no Constitution score.
Skills: A psionic lich receives a +8 racial bonus
to Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, and
Spot checks. Otherwise its skills are the same as the base
creature's.
Feats: Same as the base creature's
Climate/Terrain: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature's + 2
Treasure: Standard coins; double goods; double items
Alignment: Any evil
Advancement: By character class
Psionic
Lich Characters
Characters
can undertake the process of becoming a psionic lich only
through their own free will. Following the transformation,
the lich retains all the class abilities it had in life.
The
Psionic Lich's Phylactery
An
integral part of becoming a lich is creating a psionic phylactery
in which the creature affixes its life force to the mortal
coil. Unless the phylactery is located and destroyed, a
psionic lich reappears 1d10 days after its apparent death
in an area adjacent to its phylactery.
Each
psionic lich must make its own phylactery, which requires
the Craft Universal Item feat. The character must be a psion
of at least 11th level (or be able to manifest at least
one 6th-level power and have at least 11 HD). The phylactery
costs 120,000 gp and 4,800 XP to create and has a manifester
level equal to that of its creator at the time of creation.
Psionic
phylacteries often take the form of costly gemstones set
into rings, amulets, or other adornments. A close look at
such items reveals an inner glow, and phylacteries always
detect as psionic powers in operation. The gemstone is Fine
and has a hardness rating of 20, 40 hit points, and a break
DC of 40.
Read
more about If Thoughts Could Kill!
|
