Lich

The Lich is an iconic monster, for good reason. It has a great narrative built into it—cheating death through (most often) dubious means for (most often) dubious reasons. So, you have an undead that is extremely hard to kill, is in all likelihood ancient, and possesses knowledge on an unimaginable scale. Not only that, but even if you manage to kill them, they come back as long as their phylactery stays intact.

This is where my gripe with liches comes into play; they have unlimited learning time for all intents and purposes, but for some reason, they are only ever used as pure spellcasters. That doesn't make a lot of sense if you think about it. If you contemplate your setting and a party that goes from level one to level twenty, it doesn't take more than a lifetime to master a specific set of abilities. Like, for instance, spellcasting. Lich has at least several lifetimes to spare. So why wouldn't this undead baddie use it to their advantage and master as many abilities as possible? Yeah, the baseline lich has some neat spells and whatnot, but imagine what would happen if your party charged the bugger expecting to stomp him, only to find that he is even scarier in melee. That's how you get a memorable encounter.

Moving on from their battle prowess, let us think of a good reason for becoming a vile undead. The obvious quest for power or fear of death is low-hanging fruit and doesn't make for too complicated a villain, does it? Maybe they didn't want to become a lich? Perhaps they did it to protect the ones they love? Thought that the dark ritual was the only way to save the world? Liches are always interesting, but there are ways to make them even more so and to make them feel unique. Remember, they are not mindless monsters, they are characters—ones that possess great intellect and knowledge. Make sure they use both.

- Max

Hook 1 (Max) - Do You Doubt Me, Traitor?

There is something foul in the air that permeates the ashen waste that was once called The Blackgrove. A few unfortunate travelers that had to make their way through that wicked place tell stories of two specters locked in eternal combat that brought the land to ruin. Not much is known about them, outside of a few tales passed down amongst the locals. Shrike, the smaller of the two, is so fast that the naked eye can barely register its movements, darting around its adversary. Behemoth on the other hand is a towering warrior who could probably bring down an entire building with a single swing of his blade.

They weren't always like this, although few know the real story. Once upon a time, they were friends, maybe even something more, but they would never admit it to each other's faces. They both were disciples of a powerful magus that had his study there and believed that their work was to better the world. This was not, unfortunately, the case, as their master was looking for a way to make himself immortal. Worse even, he found the secret and decided to test it on one of his students—the one known now as Behemoth—turning him into a vile undead. Mad with rage, he killed his old master, after which Shrike found them. Before any explanation could take place, Shrike struck Behemoth down, not knowing he could no longer be killed and would return soon after.

Once Shrike learned this, they dedicated their entire life to stopping him, not knowing the only thing he wants is to reconcile. They too, much to Behemoth's dismay, discovered the dark ritual needed to become as he has. So now, they are locked in an eternal struggle, filled with heartbreak and bitterness, sure it is the other that's to blame for all this.

It's quite possible that there's no path to rest or solace for them, but hope dies last, doesn't it?

Hook 2 (Nemanja) - The Powderheart Pioneer

Ol' Cragalag was a pioneer in so many ways that listing them all would take more than a night's worth of storytelling. He was among the first to go westward from the Colonies, into the Widelands. He was among the first to carry gunpowder weapons with him, and the first one to discover gunpowder's magical qualities. He was nearly the first one to find a way to use gunpowder to treat diseases were it not for the fact that, by then, his health and strength were already failing him. So, he became the first powder mage to use gunpowder to achieve unholy eternal life.

Now, this boomstick carrying lich controls a piece of territory in the Envadan plains. Those who pass through his territory bearing weapons of old are usually left alone, but anyone with the scent of sulfur to them is hunted, to be captured and interrogated, as the once-great frontiersman unlocks even more secrets of black powder...

Hook 3 (TJ) - The Heart and Soul of the Dwarven Guilds

Tharrum Platefury, head of the Armorsmith's Guild in Uthen, has been around for centuries. Given that dwarves are long-lived in general, seeing little in the way of leadership shakeups doesn't come as a surprise. Tharrum's unique longevity, and the manner in which he hides it, however, aren't common knowledge, even within the Platefury clan.

The Forge of the Steel Kings—the seat of power for Uthenni guilds—has also been around for centuries. The anvil at its center, the Heart of Firststeel, holds a secret key to Tharrum's long life. He often jokes that maintaining his guild and running a country takes his very heart and soul. This is more true than anyone knows.

Tharrum was present when the Heart was cast from Firststeel. He was there the day the comet fell, bringing that alien metal to Tharodros. And there he will remain, so long as his soul remains within the anvil as it has, undisturbed for centuries.