I am trying to develop a character both as an NPC in another character's backstory and possible player character. The core idea of this character is this person was in a past life, some typical powerful evil lich lord who was slain by heroes centuries ago. So said evil lich lord refused to die so much he instead came back the conventional way-through reincarnation as a mortal. Maybe some pact was involved, but even if that happened the character certainly does not remember it.
Keep in mind, this character has no memory of his(or maybe even her) past life as an evil lich lord, and is mortal, and grew up in a loving family etc etc and might even be neutral or good-aligned to give a bigger contrast. However, I still want to include some way of echoing the sins of their past life, or even some fragment of the power of undeath or some evil force. I considered shadow sorcerer but it seems more tied with shadowy stuff, but I do like the quirks flavor. So any ideas?
The best way I feel to do it is to reveal it in parts, a little show here, a bit of memory flashes. ect. and as this goes on maybe they show some lich like features or can cast magic like a lich can
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Marvarax andSora (Dragonborn) The retired fighter and WIP scholar - Glory
Brythel(Dwarf), The dwarf with a gun - survival at sea
Jaylin(Human), Paladin of Lathander's Ancient ways - The Seven Saints (Azura Claw)
Urselles(Goblin), Cleric of Eldath- The Wizard's challenge
Viclas Tyrin(Half Elf), Student of the Elven arts- Indrafatmoko's Defiance in Phlan
What if the character is a warlock and he is his own patron? That's not far off what Fistandantilus did.
I personally don't like the idea of changing the alignment of the character, although as a certain Prince of Thieves once said "Please allow that 5 lifetimes burning in hell can change a man" or something similar.... OK, I've changed my mind on that too....
I was born Chaotic Dumb, and I will be reborn that way - it doesn't mean everybody will be though. :)
And just because he doesn't remember his past life, that doesn't mean that everybody else has forgotten. Or forgiven.....
You could also write in some sort of thematic that happens, maybe folks always feel a slight chill when he's around but they don't necessarily catch on that it's his character causing it. Would be even more fun if the other players didn't know and the DM was onboard so that everytime your character entered a room or something they thought somebody left a door open.
Always a fan of the ol' "palm reader who is actually able to divine real stuff about a characters past digs way to deep and finds something she doesn't like about you and kicks you out" trope.
Could go with the opposing side of things on the warlock side and go celestial, then every time you use your power it physically hurts you but you don't know why. Being on earth as a mortal, and being drawn into adventures or drama where you have to use your powers is your penance for all the evil you cause....but then plot twist you figure out if you become a Lich you might not have to deal with the pain any longer and thus complete the circle back to Lichdom again.
If we have any Stars Wars: Knights of the Old Republic fans among us you will understand me when I say I'm getting all sorts of Revan vibes.
That aside, the Shadow Sorcerer would be an excellent choice. The Shadowfell is associated with death, and several liches reside there as well as other undead.
Edit: An idea struck as I was typing about the Shadow Sorcerer. Consider Warlock as the class, and Undying as the patron. The Undying patron can be a lich. What if the lich had a contingency plan in place before it was destroyed? Perhaps it took part of its power and secreted it away, and on the lich's demise this power sought out its reincarnated form. Effectively it would be an echo of the lich reaching out to its new form, granting it a fraction of its former power. Alternatively it could be a rival lich reaching out, hoping to learn the secrets of your character's lich's past.
Edit: An idea struck as I was typing about the Shadow Sorcerer. Consider Warlock as the class, and Undying as the patron. The Undying patron can be a lich. What if the lich had a contingency plan in place before it was destroyed? Perhaps it took part of its power and secreted it away, and on the lich's demise this power sought out its reincarnated form. Effectively it would be an echo of the lich reaching out to its new form, granting it a fraction of its former power.
Wow, it's like you literally reincarnated the post two above yours! :)
Another idea that comes to mind is that you could make him as the barbarian class, path of the ancestral guardian. You could re-skin the spectral warriors that come to his aid as ghostly minions from his time as a lich. He may no longer have the memory of his past life as a lich, but these undead are still bound to his soul and come to his aid when he goes all-out in battle.
Thanks for the ideas! The warlock ideas are great, but it would be interesting to somehow include one where the character's patron is a celestial but also drawing power from their past self, I am aiming for some kind of character who has to deal with this and either choose to become who they once where or forge their own path and become something else.
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I am trying to develop a character both as an NPC in another character's backstory and possible player character. The core idea of this character is this person was in a past life, some typical powerful evil lich lord who was slain by heroes centuries ago. So said evil lich lord refused to die so much he instead came back the conventional way-through reincarnation as a mortal. Maybe some pact was involved, but even if that happened the character certainly does not remember it.
Keep in mind, this character has no memory of his(or maybe even her) past life as an evil lich lord, and is mortal, and grew up in a loving family etc etc and might even be neutral or good-aligned to give a bigger contrast. However, I still want to include some way of echoing the sins of their past life, or even some fragment of the power of undeath or some evil force. I considered shadow sorcerer but it seems more tied with shadowy stuff, but I do like the quirks flavor. So any ideas?
The best way I feel to do it is to reveal it in parts, a little show here, a bit of memory flashes. ect. and as this goes on maybe they show some lich like features or can cast magic like a lich can
Marvarax and Sora (Dragonborn) The retired fighter and WIP scholar - Glory
Brythel(Dwarf), The dwarf with a gun - survival at sea
Jaylin(Human), Paladin of Lathander's Ancient ways - The Seven Saints (Azura Claw)
Urselles(Goblin), Cleric of Eldath- The Wizard's challenge
Viclas Tyrin(Half Elf), Student of the Elven arts- Indrafatmoko's Defiance in Phlan
What if the character is a warlock and he is his own patron?
That's not far off what Fistandantilus did.
I personally don't like the idea of changing the alignment of the character, although as a certain Prince of Thieves once said "Please allow that 5 lifetimes burning in hell can change a man" or something similar....
OK, I've changed my mind on that too....
I was born Chaotic Dumb, and I will be reborn that way - it doesn't mean everybody will be though. :)
And just because he doesn't remember his past life, that doesn't mean that everybody else has forgotten. Or forgiven.....
Roleplaying since Runequest.
You could also write in some sort of thematic that happens, maybe folks always feel a slight chill when he's around but they don't necessarily catch on that it's his character causing it. Would be even more fun if the other players didn't know and the DM was onboard so that everytime your character entered a room or something they thought somebody left a door open.
Always a fan of the ol' "palm reader who is actually able to divine real stuff about a characters past digs way to deep and finds something she doesn't like about you and kicks you out" trope.
Could go with the opposing side of things on the warlock side and go celestial, then every time you use your power it physically hurts you but you don't know why. Being on earth as a mortal, and being drawn into adventures or drama where you have to use your powers is your penance for all the evil you cause....but then plot twist you figure out if you become a Lich you might not have to deal with the pain any longer and thus complete the circle back to Lichdom again.
If we have any Stars Wars: Knights of the Old Republic fans among us you will understand me when I say I'm getting all sorts of Revan vibes.
That aside, the Shadow Sorcerer would be an excellent choice. The Shadowfell is associated with death, and several liches reside there as well as other undead.
Edit: An idea struck as I was typing about the Shadow Sorcerer. Consider Warlock as the class, and Undying as the patron. The Undying patron can be a lich. What if the lich had a contingency plan in place before it was destroyed? Perhaps it took part of its power and secreted it away, and on the lich's demise this power sought out its reincarnated form. Effectively it would be an echo of the lich reaching out to its new form, granting it a fraction of its former power. Alternatively it could be a rival lich reaching out, hoping to learn the secrets of your character's lich's past.
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My homebrew: [Subclasses] [Races] [Feats] [Discussion Thread]
Oooo I like the echo from the past bit, that speaks to me!
Roleplaying since Runequest.
I missed your post, great idea though!
Another idea that comes to mind is that you could make him as the barbarian class, path of the ancestral guardian. You could re-skin the spectral warriors that come to his aid as ghostly minions from his time as a lich. He may no longer have the memory of his past life as a lich, but these undead are still bound to his soul and come to his aid when he goes all-out in battle.
Site Rules & Guidelines - Please feel free to message a moderator if you have any concerns.
My homebrew: [Subclasses] [Races] [Feats] [Discussion Thread]
Thanks for the ideas! The warlock ideas are great, but it would be interesting to somehow include one where the character's patron is a celestial but also drawing power from their past self, I am aiming for some kind of character who has to deal with this and either choose to become who they once where or forge their own path and become something else.