Draft LIch (repost cannonfire)

Suel Lich
CLIMATE/TERRAIN:
Any/Southern Oerth
FREQUENCY:
Very Rare
ORGANIZATION:
Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE:
Any
DIET:
Nil
INTELLIGENCE:
Supra
-
genius
TREASURE:
A
ALIGNMENT:
Neutral Evil
NO.
APPEARING:
1
ARMOR CLASS:
7
MOVEMENT:
12
HIT DICE:
15+
THAC0:
16 base
NO. OF ATTACKS:
1
DAMAGE/ATTACK:
By weapon
SPECIAL ATTACKS:
See Below
SPECIAL DEFENSES:
+1 weapon to hit
MAGIC RESISTANCE:
1%
per hit die
SIZE:
M
MORALE:
Fanatic (17
-
18)
XP VALUE:
10,000 +1,000 per level


When the empire of the Suel was destroyed by the Rain of Colorless Fire
more than a
millennia ago, one of the few creatures to survive this destruction was the Suel
-
lich.  This
powerful wizard, similar to the common lich, endures the centuries by transferring its life
force from one human host to the next.  A Suel
-
lich appear
s as a human with coarse, 
leathery skin and eyes which glow an ominous black fire.  As the Suel
-
lich grows in power,
the skin becomes a thick hide, and the fire in its eyes becomes more pronounced.  At the
peak of its power, the Suel
-
lich is little more t
han wrinkled husk whose head is bathed in
black fire.  Those who meet a Suel
-
lich are in for more than they likely can handle.
Combat
Unlike the common lich, the Suel
-
lich revels in combat against weaker foes.  Although it
normally doesn't
go looking for a fight, the creature will often fight to the death against
superior forces (and usually wins).  Any creature with fewer than 3 Hit Dice that gazes into
the fiery eyes of the Suel
-
lich must save vs death magic at +3 or die of fright.  Those
who
make their save are paralyzed with terror for 1d4 turns, and are at the mercy of the evil
creature.  The touch of a Suel
-
lich causes black flame to erupt from the victim, inflicting 1
-
10
points of damage upon contact.  The victim must also make a savi
ng throw vs paralysis or be
unable to move.  This paralysis lasts until dispelled or until 24 hours pass.  This attack ignores
all armor, and any item touched in this way must make a save vs.  magical fire or be
damaged. 
The Suel
-
lich can be hit onl
y by +1 or better weapons or by monsters with 7 or more Hit
Dice and/or magical properties.  In addition to their natural magic resistance, the Suel
-
lich is
immune to all mind
-
affecting spells, death spells, and wizard and clerical spells below 3rd
level.
Because of its unique connection with the Negative Material Plane, the spell negative
plane protection inflicts 5d10 points of damage to the creature if it gets past its magic
resistance.  A Suel
-
lich casts spells as it did before its transformation, but,
due to its dark
nature and years of magical research, does not require material components.  A Suel
-
lich is
considered a special for purposes of turning. 
Habitat/Society
Several Suel
-
liches escaped the Rain of Colorless Fire and migrate
d into the Flanaess from
what is now the Sea of Dust.  Some of these liches still roam the world, vying for wealth and
power, while others exist in hidden strongholds continuing their ageless research. 
Regardless of its intentions, the Suel
-
lich always at
tempts to hide its true nature.  Since little
knowledge (written or oral) survived the Colorless Fire, only a handful of sages and
loremasters have even heard of such creatures. 
Ecology
The Suel
-
lich is an unholy amalgamation of the huma
n body and energy from the
Negative Material Plane.  Upon transformation into a Suel
-
lich, the essence of the wizard is
converted to negative energy that needs a human body to inhabit.  While possessing a body,
the essence of the lich causes the body to ag
e at three times the normal rate, burning it out
after a short time.  Each time a Suel
-
lich gains a level, burns out a host, or is reduced to zero
hit points, it must find a new body to inhabit. 
When it comes time to seek a new body, the essence of
the lich must take a host with Hit
Die or levels equal to the liches level minus 15.  Thus, a 19th level Suel
-
lich must take the
form of a 4th level human.  If the victim is unconscious, unable to resist, or gives his or her
body willingly, no saving throw
is allowed verses the transformation.  If the victim is
conscious or able to resist, a saving throw vs. death magic at
-
1 is allowed to resist possession. 
The essence of the victim is destroyed when possessed; the spirit is annihilated and cannot be
rais
ed or restored by a wish spell.  If the host body is destroyed, the lich has one hour to
inhabit another body or its essence disperses into nothingness.  While without a host body,
the essence of the lich appears as fiery black energy.  While in this form,
a dispel evil or holy
word destroys the lich forever.