Artifacts of the Damned: A Comprehensive Guide to Phylacteries and Their Rumored Applications
An Excerpt from the Chapter: Musings and Ruminations
It is noted often in the scraps of recovered information we have curated for this tome that the usage of a phylactery can differ between Liches and various dark practitioners. In some accounts, various Liches have been able to (allegedly) achieve several differing methods of soul binding, including, but not limited to:
- Binding their soul in fractions, over several profane objects or devices
- Bonding their own existing phylactery to a greater magical device for a power supply, or to elicit a corrupting effect on said device (although information regarding this is spotty at best)
- Attaching their soul to a construct such as a golem, or some other means of creating false life, as an extension of themselves\
- In one particularly rare case, partial translations of ancient Netherese scripts reveal an unexplained method of bonding [the] fraction[s] of one’s soul to constructs, and even other magical beings or devices. The end goal of this method has not been revealed to us in our research
An Excerpt from the Chapter: The Process
It befuddles the mind to imagine what life paths lead to the road of Lichdom for those frail wizards who seek this cursed form of longevity, but we have ascertained the method for this transformation. Listed below are the steps one must take to fully become a Lich, as well as possible side effects (assuming the caster already has the requisite knowledge for such a ritual). Any research with conclusive information regarding the chemical or magical composition of the substances and methods mentioned below have been redacted by the Ordos Hereticus where we have cloistered while penning this tome.
- One must attain the highest control of the weave, and be able to cast the most potent of said spells before attempting the process
- Next, the caster must craft a magical phylactery to contain the power of their soul (this process can take anywhere from a tenday or longer, given various factors)
- The caster must then create the “potion” or “draught” of Transformation, which is made of various disturbing ingredients and used as a catalyst for the ritual to come
- Finally, the caster must then perform the Ascension Ritual on themselves after consuming the catalyst. This process involves specially preparing the phylactery to receive the caster’s soul, as well as a complex Ritual involving many higher level wards and abjurations.
- And at last…hope for a good outcome. Various notes we have collected state that the process can outright kill, maim, madden, or otherwise adversely affect the target of the ritual.
Preview of high-level Lich abilities with soul manipulation. Time will tell