My character, Njal, is working his way towards Transcendent Necromancy. However, before I invest the lessons I’d like to know the roleplay ramifications of becoming a lich. It would be absurd to say that there would be no effect on personality and appearance from the transformation. On the other hand, Lusternia (thankfully) breaks fantasy stereotypes- I doubt many Lusternia liches fit the D&D vision of shambling, skeletal magi. My question is: How much leeway do players have in roleplaying lichdom while staying consistent to Lusternia’s setting and theme? I want the transformation to suit my character concept.

I would appreciate feedback on the issue.

From a perspective outside Magnagora, I've never seen anyone roleplay a difference in their character liched and not liched.

Not many people are ever not liched if they have the skill anyways.

Its really up to you, there is plenty of leeway for how you would want to roleplay your lichdom with the setting and theme, as was mentioned before this most don't usually change their roleplay when liched or not. It is perfectly fine for you to roleplay that with the act of dieing and become an undead lich with the skeletal mageish that you mention, or that you are a little bit insane by the act, or however you like. Personally writing an alternate 'lichish' description thats a small/moderate variation of mine has been on my todo list, I don't really see myself as looking exactly the same being an undead lich or not

That is too bad. I hope your observation turns out to be the exception, not the rule. Why miss out on a great roleplay opportunity?

Well, Magnagora is rather casual when it comes to the undead. Instead of some special 'occult' practice, it's an example of thier power: the power to overcome death..at least better than others can. I'm HORRIBLE with history, but I always had the feeling that the matter of the undead came before the Taint and is somewhat different from it. Correct me if I'm wrong there.

In any case, you do have ALOT of leeway. Many people consider it a VERY important step, a 'comming of age' if you will. How it affects you physicaly.. not sure, I say a range between how necromancers tend to look and how holywood vampires tend to look (not suddenly looking prettier, just almost normal).

The fact that you're a Mag takes all of the 'strangeness' out of being Undead realy. How YOU feel about it will depend on your character, but as far as those around you see it, you're just another Mag doing their thing. Look how Magic is treated here: Undeadness is treated the same way.

Yeah, we don't really acknowledge them as different, more as normal citizens, as they are more common. Of course, in the Ur'Guard, those who become undead take the title of 'Death Trooper'. Or if they've been knighted, 'Death Marshal'

Your not, Urlach used large amounts of undead in battles with the soulless in the vernal wars, it just happens that some dieing and becoming undead was also a visible byproduct of the taint before Kethuru's will was seperated from it.

I think it'd be interesting of the guilds that had it, or the city had a special event for when someone becomes undead and overcomes death for the first time, an individual special rite per se, don't really see it happening but it would be fascinating to me

I know, at least when I still had necromancy and thus lichdom, I had a different description for when I was a lich from when I was non-lichified. Then, I don't see tons of people around with big descriptions all that often, so it might not be that big.

That's a good thing. If one uses clear, succinct writing three to five lines should suffice.

Thats about the size I mean for 'big'. The standard is one half-hazard line, or nothing at all.

That's actually one thing that the Nihilists are working on: placing more importance upon the gift of Undeath, and the rammifications thereof. I was actually drawn into a very fun debate with a few Serens and Elcyrion about the relationships of the races and their origins, and Lichdom came out and was discussed as part of that.

It is interesting to note that Lichdom in Lusternia does not conform to standard fantasy themes of Undeath: In Lusternia the Undead need to breathe (they drown in water), they need food (or at least some form of sustenance, it could also conceivably be through Feed in Necromancy), sleep, etc. They are very much not the shambling skeleton mages of typical lore.

I do have a description that is altered for Undeath, and I know several others do as well. It isn't as blatant as bones poking out of my decaying flesh, because Magnagora values physical beauty, and those that let themselves go either conceal their imperfections or are shipped of to Angkrag to work in the mines.

Anyway, I agree it's a great RP potential, and Ashar and I have been doing a ton of work to explore that a whole lot more. The Nihilist ghelps reflect this a lot more than they used to, speaking of the "True Death" vs. Undeath, and so on. It does tend to be a more personal philosophy than a blatant one, however. While many of us are condescending and haughty towards mortals, or feel pity for them, it isn't usually something that's spoken of often in public.

Good post, Nokraenom. It gave me food for thought. Basically, I want to stay consistent with Lusternia's setting and theme. That being said, I desire to add my own to spin to how lichdom effects my character. Thanks. Keep the ideas coming, people.

=====================================================

I really don't get how Magnagora can focus upon beauty when the Taint twists and corrupts things into twisted/ugly manifestations of its former self. Almost everything that describes the Taint does so in a fashion that makes it out to be *everything* but attractive. Hell, the help scroll for the Nihilists even makes it clear that the priesthood is more concerned with greed than catering to the Demon Lords... again, I don't see anything that remotely signifies beauty.

I suppose one could argue that they wear lots of makeup, thick cloaks, and just claim to be beautiful when they are in fact hideous (what's kinda funny is that they walk about with "hideous archdemons too"...). However, I've always gotten the impression that this would be Viravain-ish and as such, it doesn't happen.

All of you are thus banished to Angkrag.

EDIT:

I think its funny the Viscanti basically ended up as a race of its own by interbreeding. That's just sick.

It could be largely a matter of perception, or of simple comparisons. If one person looks demonic, and the other looks like some horrid half rotten zombie, guess who gets shipped to Ankrag?

You can't honostly convince me that you never heard about beauty being relative? That beauty to the one is foul to the other, and vice versa.. or does only your version of beauty count?

As juvenile as Thorgal's reply is, he has a point.

The game limits us, giving only one interpretation of what we see, so we must allow for some room to move when defining our roles and their take on beauty and surroundings.

There is only one universal trait of beauty. Health, in a word. For humans, it comes down to bright eyes, symmetrical features, a supple body, clear skin, good teeth, glossy hair and proportion. Pretty much everything else is personal kink and culture.

If you don't want to be insulted yourself, you should cease those comments.

As the admin said, we should try and lay off the insults, which I am going to try, but you're not making that any easier.

I believe there have been others who have tried to argue that they actually ARE beautiful, in the standard sense, which always confused me.