Lich

A lich is a type of undead creature. The term itself is derived from the old Istvanistani word for corpse and is cognate with the Saxon Leiche. Liches are distinguished from other forms of revenant by their use of a phylactery, a magical anchor or container binding the lich's soul to the mundane world. If a lich's physical body is destroyed, the portion of their soul housed in the phylactery will allow them to completely regenerate.

Variant liches

• A lichgrave (Saxon: Leichengraf) or lichgravine (Saxon: Leichengräfin) is a rare and powerful greater lich whose soul is bound to their ancestral domain. Lichgraves are invariably attended by an extensive retinue of lesser liches, and are almost exclusively members of the House of Rossheim and their matrilinear descendants, the Rossheim-Etzeterras.

• A lich-adept, lich-adeptus (male) or lich-adepta (female) is a lich who is also a Machinarian technological-adept. One of the rarest types of lich, these strange individuals boast extensive cybernetic enhancements and are masters of arcane technology; somewhat confusingly, all current lich-adepts would also be considered lichgraves. The most famous lich-adept is Mondo Etzeterra.

• A lichguard, also known as a lichnik or lichcarl, is a lesser lich bound in service to a lichgrave or lichgravine. These individuals comprise the military-administrative caste who exercise the will of their master or mistress.

• A lichbeast is a non-human creature that has been elevated to lichdom. Such creatures are often employed as semi-sentient weapons by their creators.