Lich

For the Warcraft III hero unit, see Lich (Warcraft III).

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A lich is a powerful undead sorcerer who possesses tremendous magical power. During his mortal life as the warchief of the orcish Horde of Draenor, Ner'zhul commanded a number of orcish warlocks, shamans, and even some of Gul'dan's death knights. When these wicked sorcerers were captured by Kil'jaeden and the Burning Legion after the destruction of Draenor, they were transformed into twisted aberrations of their former selves. Ner'zhul became the Lich King at this time. The sorcerers' new, undead bodies, though immortal, were bound to the iron will of Ner'zhul. Since the liches showed unswerving loyalty to their master, Ner'zhul granted them control over the furious elements of the cold north. Now, the liches wield frost magic along with their own considerable necromantic spells. Other liches are former humans and important members of the Cult of the Damned (Kel'Thuzad is one such example).

Service to the Scourge

A Lich from Warcraft III.

Liches are among the most powerful spellcasters and allies of the undead Scourge, serving their master with evil intent and great power. Often, they command armies as generals, surrogates for the Lich King himself. They are deeply entwined with the cold power of the grave. As a rule, these creatures are power-hungry, devious, and vicious. They utilize their great intellect and dark powers not only to serve the Lich King, but also to defeat each other in subtle political machinations, gaining strength and renown from each opponent's death. A lich resembles a skeleton with a chill blue glow emanating from within its bones. Liches often dress in flowing robes. These creatures are fond of pageantry and deception; they will often dress in the robes of a king or priest and expect their followers to call them by powerful-sounding names. Sometimes, they claim extraordinary powers granted directly from Ner'zhul himself, acting as though Ner'zhul were a god and they were his chosen priests or prophets. Instead of walking on the ground as mortals do, liches float above it on frosty mist. A lich floats from 6 -12 inches above the ground. Liches cannot trigger pressure plates or similar traps, nor do they leave footprints. Most difficult terrain does not inhibit liches, and they can cross calm water and other liquids with this ability. This movement is otherwise similar to normal movement, so liches can still fall down pits, for instance.

Typically, the Lich King elevates only necromancers to lichdom, but rumors speak of the occasional mage or shaman who also attains this status. Some tales imply that a spellcaster with enough personal and magical strength can willingly turn himself into a lich, but these reports are unsubstantiated. Some powerful necromancers can temporarily transform themselves into a lich.

Following the defeat of the Burning Legion at Mount Hyjal and the weakening of the Lich King's hold over the Scourge, a few liches, such as Ras Splinterspine and Morbent Fell, chose to serve the Burning Legion and sided with the dreadlord Balnazzar during the uprising of Sylvanas Windrunner.

Every lich has a physical amulet, phylactery, that contains its soul. As long as a lich's phylactery remains intact and undamaged, the lich will eventually regenerate its body and return to life. It's unclear if the mechanics of phylacteries are common knowledge; if they aren't, then liches thought dead may still return.

A lesser type of lich may be known as a lichling. Although, lichlings may just be minions or spawn of liches. Many Highborne Lichlings — who are wraiths — can be found in Azshara.

Rogue Liches

The rogue liches walk Kalimdor with no intention of raising an army as when they were under the command of the Legion. Even a single undead draws attention; putting together a large group will surely get the local populace upset. Instead, these liches harbor a single, driving goal; revenge. They seek out those who helped bring about their downfall, first destroying all that they held dear and then bringing ultimate retribution upon the target.

Human lich

Human necromancers are the most likely candidates for liches. Chilling mist billows from this skeletal figure. It floats in a cloud of mist, and black robes flow from its evil form. These liches are evil, cunning and loyal to the Lich King. They serve as generals of armies and as advisors to other powerful members of the Scourge. These liches are somewhat inexperienced and probably new to undead existence, but they are filled with power and arrogance. Liches prefer to have hordes of undead minions surrounding them. These lesser undead creatures protect the lich while he casts spells from a distance. Liches have no qualms about fleeing if the situation warrants.

Notable

Name	Role	Allegiance	Condition	Magical Field
Kel'Thuzad	Prime Servant of the Lich King and majordomo of King Arthas	Scourge	Killable	Frost Shadow Unholy File:APB Warlock Demonology.pngDemonic
Lady Deathwhisper	Supreme Overseer of the Cult of the Damned	Scourge	Killable	Frost Shadow Unholy
Rage Winterchill	Fought for Archimonde at Mount Hyjal	Burning Legion	Dead	Frost Unholy File:APB Warlock Demonology.pngDemonic
Ras Splinterspine	Fought against rebel undead during the siege of Lordaeron.	Burning Legion	Dead	Frost Unholy
Morbent Fell	Fought the side of Balnazzar during the siege of Lordaeron.	Burning Legion	Dead	Frost Unholy
Scorn	Scourge Invasion mob in the Scarlet Monastery, Tirisfal Glades	Scourge	Killable	Frost Shadow
Amnennar the Coldbringer	Rules Razorfen Downs, Barrens	Scourge	Killable	Frost Unholy
Ras Frostwhisper	Overseer of the Scholomance, Western Plaguelands	Scourge	Killable	Frost
Balzaphon	Scourge Invasion mob in Stratholme, Eastern Plaguelands	Scourge	Killable	Frost
Araj the Summoner	Commands Scourge forces in Andorhal, Western Plaguelands	Scourge	Killable	Frost Unholy
Naberius	Found in Chapel Yard, Netherstorm	self	Killable	Frost
Lich-Lord Chillwinter	Found in Talramas, Borean Tundra	Scourge	Killable	Frost
Tanathal	Prisoner of Thassarian in the Wailing Ziggurat, Borean Tundra	Scourge	Alive	Frost
Thel'zan the Duskbringer	Found in Wintergarde Mausoleum, Dragonblight	Scourge	Killable	Frost
Novos the Summoner	Commands Scourge in Drak'Tharon Keep, Grizzly Hills	Scourge	Killable	Frost Arcane
Artruis the Heartless	Commands Scourge at The Sundered Shard, Sholazar Basin	Scourge	Killable	Frost
Amal'thazad	Death knight trainer in Acherus, Scarlet Enclave	Knights of the Ebon Blade	Alive	Frost
Master Summoner Zarod	Oversees the assembling of constructs in the Fleshwerks, Icecrown	Scourge	Killable	Frost Shadow
Thexal Deathchill	Wanders Corp'rethar: The Horror Gate, Icecrown	Scourge	Killable	Frost Shadow
Kirkessen the Zealous	Led the Siege of the Sanguine against the Light's Hope Chapel	Scourge	Incorporeal

Other liches

File:ScourgeLichMoM.PNG

Artwork of a lich from Manual of Monsters.

Abrakkar the Wretched, Ordin Frostbane, Kali'naj Dethknell, Din Frostfire, Naze the Eternal, Calis Wraithson, Coldreaver, Cho'Nammoth, Kryptikk Soulslayer, Rak Coldskull, Venim Iceblade, Alandil Lieng, Ra'Sal, Gunther Arcanus.

Note

"Lich" is an acquired template in the Warcraft RPG and World of Warcraft RPG.

References

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