Homebrew eldritch lich Species Details

The Eldritch Lich

An Eldritch Lich is not merely a lich; it is a twisted echo of ancient power and forbidden knowledge, drawn from the darkest corners of the multiverse. Unlike typical liches who seek immortality through necromantic magic and the preservation of their mortal forms, the Eldritch Lich has transcended such boundaries, merging their essence with alien, otherworldly forces. They stand as a terrifying symbol of decay, madness, and cosmic horror, embodying the very nature of forgotten gods and eldritch beings that exist beyond the stars.

Physical Appearance:

Eldritch Liches are often unrecognizable as their once-living selves, their physical forms warped by the horrors they have bargained with. Their skin, if it can even be called skin, may be a mottled, translucent sheen, tinged with unnatural hues that shift like the night sky. They might seem to have no real body, but rather an ever-changing, semi-corporeal form composed of ethereal tendrils, flickering shadows, and glowing veins of eldritch energy. Their eyes are hollow, blackened voids that seem to consume the light around them, and when they do gaze upon a mortal, it often feels as though time and space themselves twist in response.

Many Eldritch Liches wear tattered robes, though these garments are often sewn with symbols of cosmic significance, or crafted from materials that seem to writhe and pulse with an unnatural life of their own. Their presence often exudes an aura of malevolence that distorts the air, making the world around them feel unreal, as if reality itself is in danger of collapsing.

Some Eldritch Liches wear the remains of their former body as a dark crown—a crown of bone, sinew, and corrupted flesh, bound together by their own willpower and the malign influence of the forces they've aligned themselves with. This crown might pulse with energy that causes their form to flicker between dimensions, rendering them even more impossible to fully perceive.

Origins and Powers:

The Eldritch Lich is a creature of paradox, someone who sought immortality and knowledge beyond comprehension but found only an unending spiral into madness. Their origins often lie in a reckless thirst for forbidden knowledge. These liches were once powerful sorcerers, scholars, or sages who delved too deeply into the forbidden realms of the cosmos—be it through the study of unspeakable tomes, ancient alien rituals, or pacts with entities that exist outside the normal fabric of the multiverse.

In their quest to ascend beyond mortality, the Eldritch Lich was forced to make unholy bargains with beings of unimaginable power—Great Old Ones, cosmic horrors, or even the very forces that govern the void between worlds. These entities, vast and incomprehensible to mortal minds, offered power beyond measure, but at the cost of the Lich's humanity, soul, and sanity. The transformation into an Eldritch Lich is not simply a matter of turning their body into a vessel for dark magic but involves a complete reconstitution of their essence, a shedding of all that is mortal, until they are no longer entirely of this world.

In terms of abilities, the Eldritch Lich's powers are often centered on manipulating the fundamental forces of reality itself. They may draw upon their connection to the Far Realms, warping time and space, summoning strange creatures from distant dimensions, or even causing the minds of lesser beings to fracture in the wake of their presence. They wield eldritch spells that twist the laws of magic, creating effects that defy logic, gravity, and reason. Their magic has a deep, unnatural aura to it, as if it’s not just power drawn from the weave of the world, but from places where no weave exists.

An Eldritch Lich’s very existence warps reality around them. Their mere presence causes the laws of the natural world to bend, creating distortions in space, time, and thought. The air becomes thick with the scent of decay, and the sounds of the world seem muted, as if muffled by an unseen barrier. The minds of those nearby may feel sluggish or disjointed, as though they are being observed by a presence too vast to comprehend.

Mental State and Personality:

The minds of Eldritch Liches are not what they once were. While they may still retain the memories of their mortal lives, these memories are often distorted by the incomprehensible knowledge they’ve gained. Many suffer from bouts of madness, driven by their constant exposure to the eldritch forces they have merged with. Some lose all sense of individuality and become nothing more than vessels for the will of the ancient entities they serve, while others retain fragments of their former selves, but with these fragments are twisted by the endless horrors they’ve witnessed.

Emotionally, Eldritch Liches are cold, calculating, and alien. The hunger for knowledge that once drove them has been replaced with a detachment from all mortal concerns. While they may still possess some sense of personal ambition or desire for power, they are more concerned with the greater, more terrifying mysteries of the cosmos. Their perception of time may be warped, so they think in millennia rather than days or years. They may see mortals as little more than fleeting creatures, with little relevance in the grand, eternal scheme of the universe.

To an Eldritch Lich, the idea of life and death is inconsequential—merely a blip in the vast, unfathomable scope of existence. They no longer seek to create or destroy in the traditional sense, but instead manipulate and experiment. Perhaps, in their twisted mind, they are working to expand the boundaries of what is possible or to unlock the secrets of the universe in ways that no one could understand.

Relationships with Others:

Other races view the Eldritch Lich with a mix of terror, awe, and suspicion. Most civilizations have little understanding of these creatures, other than that they are to be avoided at all costs. Their alliances are rare, as the Eldritch Lich’s cold, alien nature makes it difficult for them to connect with other beings. However, there are those who may seek them out for forbidden knowledge or power, such as cultists, arcane researchers, or other power-hungry individuals who desire to tap into the forbidden secrets the Eldritch Lich has uncovered.

The Lich may tolerate or even manipulate these beings, depending on whether it furthers their arcane and cosmic goals. However, most mortals can never truly understand the depths of an Eldritch Lich’s mind, and as such, they are usually seen as inevitable threats, as the Lich’s whims can be both unpredictable and terrifying.

Weaknesses:

Despite their immense power, the Eldritch Lich is not invulnerable. Their soul has been fractured and reshaped, and as such, it may be vulnerable to specific types of magic or artifacts designed to deal with the supernatural, the cosmic, or the divine. The more alien and powerful the force they’ve allied themselves with, the more unpredictable their weaknesses can be. Some may be vulnerable to psychic attacks or be driven insane by certain forbidden rituals. Others may experience physical pain when exposed to ancient relics or artifacts that draw on the divine forces that oppose the eldritch.

Moreover, the very forces that sustain them can also be their undoing. The Eldritch Lich’s connection to the Far Realms or cosmic horrors may open cracks in their essence, which can be exploited by those who understand the dark magics and ritualistic practices necessary to sever these bonds.

eldritch lich Traits

the eldritch lich has

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Reality Bender

As an action, you can temporarily warp the fabric of reality around you. You may use Misty Step once per short rest without expending a spell slot. At 5th level, you can cast Teleportation Circle once per long rest without expending a spell slot.

Cosmic Resilience

You have resistance to necrotic damage and psychic damage, as your body has been partially detached from mortal realms.

Soul Drain

As an action, you can drain the life force of a creature within 30 feet of you that is below half its hit point maximum. The creature must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier) or take necrotic damage equal to your level, and you regain hit points equal to half the damage dealt. This feature can be used once per short or long rest.

Lich’s Blessing

You are immune to poison and disease, and you do not need to eat, drink, or sleep. However, you must still rest for 4 hours to gain the benefits of a long rest.

Eldritch Presence

You can use an action to emanate an aura of unsettling energy. All creatures within 30 feet of you must succeed on a Charisma saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier) or become paralyzed with fear for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Telepathic Communication

 

• You can communicate telepathically with any creature within 60 feet of you that understands a language. This telepathic connection is not blocked by physical barriers, though you cannot transmit complex emotions or deep thoughts—only simple messages.