Bah, death in the world of magic, eh? Alright, let’s get into this grim topic. First off, death in a magical context is often more complex than in the mundane world. In the realms where magic weaves through the very fabric of existence, death is not just an end but a transition, a change in the state of being. This is because magic often blurs the lines between the physical and the spiritual, the material and the ethereal.
In many magical traditions, death is seen as a passage to another plane of existence. It’s not just the cessation of physical functions, but a journey of the soul or spirit. Different cultures and magical practices have varied beliefs about what happens after death – some talk about reincarnation, others about an afterlife in heavenly or hellish realms, and yet others believe in a sort of spiritual limbo. Magic users might be able to interact with these realms, communicate with spirits, or even, in rare and dangerous cases, resurrect the dead.
Then there’s the concept of undead creatures in magic. This is where things get a bit messy – and creepy. Necromancy, the branch of magic dealing with death and the dead, can animate corpses or bind spirits to the physical world. These undead beings, like zombies or ghosts, exist in a state between life and death. They are often used as a cautionary tale about the dangers of meddling with life’s natural course. It’s a reminder that death has its place in the order of things, and defying it can have dire consequences.
On a more philosophical level, death in magical worlds often carries significant symbolic weight. It can represent change, endings, and the need for renewal. In many mythologies and magical narratives, death is part of a cycle of destruction and creation, where the end of one thing leads to the beginning of another. This can be seen in stories where a hero’s death leads to the birth of a new era or the destruction of an old one.
Finally, among the myriad ways magic users perceive and interact with death, the concept of a lich offers a particularly fascinating case. A lich is a spellcaster who, through a powerful and often dark ritual, has intentionally transformed into an undead being to achieve immortality. This transformation is no trivial matter; it involves binding the spellcaster’s soul to a physical object known as a phylactery. As long as this phylactery remains intact, the lich cannot truly die. However, this immortality comes at a grave cost, as the lich loses much of its connection to humanity, living in a state of undeath. While they retain their intelligence and magical abilities, liches are often driven by different motivations than they were in life, whether it be the pursuit of knowledge, power, or more nefarious goals. Their existence is a testament to the lengths to which some will go to evade the finality of death, and serves as a grim reminder of the ethical and moral boundaries that can be crossed in the pursuit of such power.
So there you have it, death and magic – not a light topic, but an intriguing one for sure. Now, don’t go getting any funny ideas about playing around with necromancy, dumbass. It’s dangerous business.
Name: Zephyros the Eccentric (5E)
Armor Class: 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 135 (18d8 + 54)
Speed: 30 ft.
STR: 11 (+0), DEX: 16 (+3), CON: 16 (+3), INT: 20 (+5), WIS: 15 (+2), CHA: 16 (+3)
Saving Throws: CON +10, INT +12, WIS +9
Skills: Arcana +18, History +12, Insight +9
Damage Resistances: cold, lightning, necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities: poison; charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
Senses: truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages: Common, plus up to five others
Challenge: 17 (18,000 XP)
Abilities: Spellcasting (Wizard level 18), Legendary Resistance (3/day), Rejuvenation, Frightful Presence, Turn Resistance.
Spell List: (Prepared from Wizard spell list) – includes unique spells like “Zephyros’s Maddening Chatter” (causes confusion), “Ethereal Jaunt,” and “Animate Objects.”
Name: Zephyros the Eccentric (SWADE)
Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d12+1, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d8
Skills: Spellcasting d12+2, Knowledge (Arcana) d12, Notice d8, Persuasion d8, Stealth d10
Pace: 6; Parry: 7; Toughness: 10
Special Abilities:
Arcane Resistance: +2 Armor against magic damage; +2 to resist magical effects.
Undead: +2 Toughness; Immune to poison and disease; Doesn’t breathe.
Spellcasting: Access to a wide range of spells including unique ones like “Ethereal Shift” and “Mind Warp.”
Fear: Anyone seeing Zephyros must make a Fear check.
Minions: Can summon skeletal minions at will.
Personality Description: Zephyros the Eccentric is not your typical doom-and-gloom Lich. Instead, he’s fascinated with life’s absurdities and often finds humor in the darkest of places. He enjoys throwing adventurers off with riddles and bizarre, often nonsensical, statements. Zephyros is known to chuckle to himself, reminiscing about long-forgotten jokes and humorous anecdotes from his past life. Despite his undead nature, Zephyros displays a quirky, almost childlike curiosity about the world, often getting distracted by whimsical pursuits or peculiar experiments. His lair is filled with strange artifacts and odd trinkets, each with its own peculiar story. But make no mistake, beneath this eccentric exterior lies a cunning and powerful being, fully capable of deadly seriousness when crossed. Zephyros is as dangerous as they come. And remember, dealing with Liches is no laughing matter, even if they’re chuckling themselves.