D&D Lore: Lich - Secrets of Lichdom (Vol 1)

This is part one of an all new Lich series dedicated to discovering and unlocking the secrets of lichdom for this Dungeons and Dragons lord of the undead.
Origins, history, ritual lore, potion of lichdom, the phylactery soul vessel and homebrew creations, all in this multi-part series!
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Timecodes
02:42 Chapter 1 - Meet The Lich
06:42 Chapter 2 - RPG Lich Is Born
13:55 Chapter 3 - Myths And Folk Tales
17:46 Chapter 4 - Osiris Myth
21:23 Chapter 5 - Modern Undead
24:30 Chapter 6 - All Liches Are Not The Same
29:58 Chapter 7 - Role Of The Lich
36:04 Chapter 8 - In Case Of Emergency
Ravenloft Series Part 1 - • D&D Lore Ravenloft: Pa...
Ravenloft Series Part 2 - • D&D Lore Ravenloft: Pa...
Additional Video Links:
D&D Declassified: Spellplague Conspiracy - • D&D Declassified: Spel...
Descent into Avernus Story - • D&D Lore: Descent Into...
The Shadow Series
Part 1: Shadowfell - • D&D Lore: The Shadowfell
Part 2: Sorrowsworn - • D&D Lore: The Sorrowsworn
Part 3: Shadar-kai - • D&D Lore: The Shadar-Kai
Part 4: Raven Queen - • D&D Lore: The Raven Queen
Death of Orcus - • D&D Lore: The Death of...
Forgotten Realms History Vol 1 - • D&D Lore: Forgotten Re...
Forgotten Realms History Vol 2 - • D&D Lore: Forgotten Re...
Forgotten Realms History Vol 3 - • D&D Lore: Forgotten Re...
Forgotten Realms History Vol 4 - • D&D Lore: Forgotten Re...
Forgotten Realms History Vol 5 - • D&D Lore: Forgotten Re...
Forgotten Realms History Vol 6 - • D&D Lore: Forgotten Re...
Forgotten Realms History Vol 7 - • D&D Lore: Forgotten Re...
Forgotten Realms History Vol 8 - • D&D Lore: Forgotten Re...
Nine Hells Vol 1 - • D&D Lore: The Nine Hel...
Nine Hells Vol 2 - • D&D Lore: The Nine Hel...
Nine Hells Vol 3 - • D&D Lore: The Nine Hel...
Nine Hells Vol 4 - • D&D Lore: The Nine Hel...
Nine Hells Vol 5 - • D&D Lore: The Nine Hel...
Nine Hells Vol 6 - • D&D Lore: The Nine Hel...
Nine Hells Vol 6.5 - • D&D Lore: The Nine Hel...
Nine Hells Vol 7 - • D&D Lore: The Nine Hel...
Monster Lab: Aboleth - • D&D Lore: Monster Lab ...
Infernal Story Lore: Asmodeus - • D&D Lore: Asmodeus - H...
Deities and Demigods: Akadi - • D&D Lore: Forgotten Re...
Dragon Gods: Asgorath - • D&D Lore: Dragon Gods ...
Monster Lab: Nupperibo Devil - • D&D Monster Lab: Nuppe...
Monster Makeover: Zombie Lore - • D&D Monster Makeover -...
Monster Lab: Nagpa - • D&D Lore: The Nagpa
Baldur's Gate 1 Story - • D&D Lore: Baldur's Gat...
Baldur's Gate Lore - • D&D Lore: Baldur's Gat...
Baldur's Gate Dead Three - • D&D Lore: Baldur's Gat...
Baldur's Gate Taverns - • D&D Lore: Baldur's Gat...

[@leopoldjenkins]

This is an excellent piece. Hooked on the channel since finding the Ravenloft series. Happily subscribed. Best wishes from England.

[@RichesandLiches]

Thank you very much!

[@Marcus-ki1en]

Well said. As a 1E DM, the Lich is one of my apex foes. The old adage has always been true: Your Table, Your Rules. If you do tinker, and you definitely should, just make sure you don't make yours into a God level monster.

[@RichesandLiches]

@Marcus-ki1en Absolutely agree! It's fun to make your own monsters more interesting, just remember to keep things balanced. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment.

[@blackgoatman.entertainment5288]

You gotta do Video on Tharizdun that be 🔥🔥

[@goatsuckervonsasquatch644]

You make the best D&D Undead videos they're so good even my wife stops and listens for a bit I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas

[@sologamer6863]

Love your videos. The presentaion is top notch. Plus your voice work is entertaining. Thank you for this current series. The Lich is my favorite villain. Always been scared to run one.

[@RichesandLiches]

@sologamer6863 I appreciate you watching! Liches are definitely at the top of my list... I mean i named the channel after them :) Thanks for the kind words my friend!

[@Nikotheos]

This was great! Really looking forward to the phylactery info in particular. I was mostly a player from Red Box thru 4e, and now find myself the senior rpger and primary DM for a whole new generation. Getting to really delve into the other side of the table has been great and I’ve been loving your videos. Thank you!

[@BuboStabbins]

Every RP book, ESP the DMGs and Monster manuals all say at the very beginning of the book that "everything after this page is a loose guide line and everything can and likely should be changed to fit your world and story." People who worry about sticking to the exact rules often, in my experience, over look this *first* and most important rule. If the rules were so perfect, there wouldn't be new additions, and rewrites. There is no balance. The balance is what you make it.

[@tyler420durdenAk]

DnD first gen until current here😂😂😂 thank you for your work great job

[@RichesandLiches]

Awesome! I never played much pre-2e but wish I had! Thank you for sharing.

[@tyler420durdenAk]

@ 3rd and 3.5 were the very best

[@KS-PNW]

​@@tyler420durdenAkI've been playing since 1e (albeit the very end of it) myself and I absolutely agree with you about the channel being great and 3/3.5 being the best. Great minds and all that 😉

[@tyler420durdenAk]

@ agreed miss the golden age

[@tyler420durdenAk]

@ I have a few characters that made the journey to 5 from 1st edition. Trying to break down to a Dm the levels from 3.5 was crazy work😂🤣

[@Sawsan1610]

As an Egyptian let me shed some more light on the Osiris-Isis myth. In the beginning there was Geb God if Earth and Nut Goddess of the sky. They were siblings and mates. Their offsprings were Osiris, Set, Isis and Nephtys. They were Gods not rulers. Osiris and Isis were wed, so were Set and Nepthys. Set was sterile so Nephthys disguised herself as Isis and slept with Osiris because she wanted to conceive. She bore Anubis. Set sought revenge when he discovered this. The rest of your story is fairly accurate.

[@RichesandLiches]

Great feeback, thank you! I was aware of the "affair side story" but chose to not complicate things. :)

[@uzunaruMelonness]

"A mortal seeking immortality by unnatural means... a tale quite familiar to many. Trading their humanity, looks, and anything else of value for the longevity." Set shakes his head. "It would be so funny if tragedy haven't followed these fools." The slender soul slithers with inhuman speeds towards a worn, greenish-rusted blade. Set nods, "Not even immortality can stave off the cold, indifference of Death, itself." Upon the damp, dark wall, lies the mummified flesh of a serpent. "This I knew... all too well."

[@DmSereb]

There is a common character in slavic folklore, the names vary, but there is always the word "immortal" in the name. Usualy he is a king or king-like figure, who commands other forces of evil. The hero of those tales is usualy to know that the death of this creature is at the end of a needle, the needle is kept inside the egg, the eg is inside the duck, the duck is inside the rabbit, the rabbit is........etc, here is your quest, go find it and save the world.

[@archbit9169]

Loved It! 💀👍

[@RichesandLiches]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to comment.

[@KS-PNW]

This was really well done. I mean they always are but in particular this one. Can't wait for the next volume! 👍👍

[@Hakar17]

She doesn't say it explicitly but Tom Riddle in Harry Potter is very much a lich

[@Thom1212]

Well before 3rd ed there was Best of Dragon Vol. 2 which gave the recipe for the Lich potion, plus random tables of effects in the article entitled: "Blueprint for a Lich" p. 62 written by Lenard Lakofka (originally from Dragon #26 June 1979)

[@RichesandLiches]

That is correct, I explictly called out the article and dragon mag #26, thanks for the feedback!

[@CharlesOakes-j4u]

ok LANTERN IM speachless..thank u for the star..lmao. at 50 yrs of age.i tip my hat to u sir..and i agree..its about playing...not killing charters...rules are gide lines..and a D.M. must be on their toes..im mean try runing a group of 6 where poor chris just has to be a black mage ....i had as much fun with it as my players..i love this vedio..EVERY WORD,yall listen now cause rich has it right...❤ u man..this was so great i have no words..and even if you didnt know it..youve covered those reason for arch lichtom as well. THANK YOU RICH.or sir if rich isnt ur real name..lol what else can i say BRAVO..BRAVO

[@That_guy_131]

When i hear lich i think of a few things Samaster, bane of gods, soul eater , Aumvor, Larloch,Baelnorn,paralyze, fear, and the twizted rune. Ive built a boatload of epic monsters for 5e . The lich is a classic arch villain. Ive always liked the thought of their phalactory being niche objects like buildings and artifacts making

[@Jeremy-rp3in]

OHH HELL YES!!!

[@Pnut-wx1ue]

Thanks for all you do and I wish you and yours happy holidays!!

[@RichesandLiches]

Thank you for the kind words, and Happy Holidays to you as well!

[@darkreaper4128]

Love this video and had a blast to listen to it. Thanks keep up the good work

[@rykercabler9756]

On the "dark sponsor" topic, they're not always dark. For instance, just about every incarnation of the Faerun God of magic has not only employed but also protected certain liches, so I think neutral powers could also be used. Love your videos and I'm not trying to be "that guy", I just wanted to add to that part.

[@RichesandLiches]

@rykercabler9756 - that is actually a really good point, I was pretty focused on the "dark fantasy evil" but that was a bit myopic since there are "less than evil" liches like the Archlich. Not to mention that if I am going to say not all liches are the same, means that all alignments and their sponsors should be represented. And you're not being "that guy" at all, I can only get better if i listen to community feedback, so thank you!!!

[@Hakar17]

Good powers can also be used for example in Eberron the elves are ruled by a council of liches all of which are good aligned.

[@rykercabler9756]

@@Hakar17 I'm not too familiar with Eberron, I know in Faurun there are the Baelnorns (spelling? It's been a while since I've read the books) which are somewhat lich like elves, are they different from the ones in Eberron? Either way, this got me a bit excited for the world, I'll have to check it out, thank you!

[@Hakar17]

@rykercabler9756 I don't know about the Faerun elves but that's cool anyway Eberron is an awesome setting. We used to play in it quite a bit in 3rd edition but I don't know if later editions have it.

[@samuelnewton1312]

Just in time for bed! Thanks R&L! ☠💀

[@joephelps9543]

I believe one of the inspirations for the D&D Lich was the character Afgorkon, a Lich that appears in Gardner Fox’s book Kothar, Barbarian Swordsman (published 1969].

[@KS-PNW]

Yes that was one of the main inspirations along with a lich from the Lovecraft verse. I'm blanking on the exact story but I remember seeing Gygax mention that in an old interview..

[@josephsorrendino4920]

OG Tomb of Horrors survivor. OMG! If my character made it out, would it be a win?

[@vechcron]

Every DM needs to aquire the 2nd Ed books Van Richtens Guides the Lich especially

[@KS-PNW]

That's exactly what I was going say. Even if the mechanics require some tweaking the ideas for building unique liches and their layers are still pretty directly applicable. Personally I also love the pseudolich and demilich concepts in that book . That's been done by other books since but the Van Richten's take is always going to be my personal head cannon.

[@dannyakins7677]

Great video, again 🎉 Any chance you'll be discussing more specifically about Vecna (the 1st Lich) or Orcus in your your Lore videos?

[@RichesandLiches]

@dannyakins7677 Vecna for sure, hopefully sooner rather than later. ;) Orcus has a video, its not a full lore volume (which he needs I agree) but it covers his death to Kiaransalee (link below) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGWniGOMg6dlfas

[@austinharris1118]

🎉 badass vid!

[@wesleymclain9146]

Lets GOOOOOOOOOO!

[@smoore6461]

I love the Litch story line, but it feels like I saw this before did you do a remaster of it? it was very good, but I thought we were looking at Ravenloft? Oh well its fine either way, it's a Great video, Litches are some of my favorite D&D monsters in the game! I remember making house Rules years ago that would allow players to become a Litch with a pretty crazy amount of effort.

[@RichesandLiches]

@smoore6461 All excellent questions and great observation! :) This started out as a remaster but then I just kept adding to it, so it is 100% all new art and 100% all new voice recording/audio but I kept about 20% of the script (particularly the Osiris Myth - Chapter 4). That said the rest is brand new chapters or heavily revised and the next volume (homebrew + phylacteries) will be all new except a story revision. As for the Ravenloft question, I put a community post update out explaining that when I do back to back videos of the same subject, the YT alogrithm really penalizes me, so I am starting to alternate content. The Ravenloft vol 3 is coming though and a lot more! :) Great feedback thank you for watching and sharing!

[@AGS363]

Of course, the theme of the Lich comes with one unspoken question: Would YOU, if you could?

[@MickeyJPerez3]

Lol I usually play as a wizard necromancer in games with the goal of becoming a Lich in the end

[@kazzysenpai5906]

My Character is currently working on becoming a Lich

[@icp2724]

I'm new here. Love the content. Couldn't help but notice you haven't done a green dragon episode. Those are my personal favorite lol

[@RichesandLiches]

First... welcome, thank you for stopping by and commenting. And yes I am WAY behind on dragons and the ones up are dated. It is on the roadmap, just not enough hours in the day. :)

[@yuen4817]

I would become a lich so i can watch your lich videos over and over again for the rest of time.

[@archmage_of_the_aether]

You could just become a ghoul or a wight, waaay easier

[@yuen4817]

​@@archmage_of_the_aether Also way less powerful. You sound like a rival lich but I ain't falling for it

[@archmage_of_the_aether]

@@yuen4817 dude, if you have 9th level spells, try for immortality, not undeadery

[@yuen4817]

@@archmage_of_the_aether I don't think you understand what this channel was founded on lol maybe you should try a different lich video

[@archmage_of_the_aether]

@yuen4817 I think I understand. I still think going for immortality (or even godhood) is 10x the baller move

[@lloydnicholls1439]

Here's a hot take that might shake things up: What if the Lichdom wasn't from a single intentional act? What if a powerful wizard or Druid or cleric started out with good intentions and a passionate determination; and over years and years, slowly made small sacrifices here and there. At each turn, a slight, almost imperceptible loss of humanity for the greater good. As each year goes by, the wizard feels slightly closer to their goal but must seek darker and darker means to hold on for just one more decade to find that elusive secret that could be just around the corner. Each tiny sin, each forbidden incantation, each innocent life lost, "it's tragic, but it must be done for the greater good... besides, you've already done so much worse. Should taking those lives have been in vein?" Hundreds of years pass, and the wizard's mind has rotten away, his necritized flesh dripping from his bones, but the magic keeps him going. Consumed by madness, he no longer has any recollection of his own name nor the "good" for which he once dedicated his life and nor does he care. All that remains is the hunger and the hate.

[@KS-PNW]

Pointy Hat (another channel) has done a whole series on lich variants coming from other classes. Many of them, but the druid lich in particular, incorporate that idea of well meaning people getting corrupted along the way. Not saying that's how it has to be done but fyi that might be a useful jumping off point.

[@HandlesAreStupid2025]

Harry Dresden says hello

[@gmradio2436]

Mind if I post a way to long story of a Lich I ran?

[@RichesandLiches]

Not at all! I am sure the community would enjoy it. Thank you for asking. /bow

[@majinsole8554]

Riches and Liches indeed 😁 ~_~

[@t2av159]

Cool

[@jesse3086]

Some people ask: Why would anyone become a Lich? The simple answer is because Liches get Bitc-no no no haha Thank you for the video! Im a DnD noob but im a huge fan of the Undead, I figure its the coolest magic out there so the more I know the happier I am :D

[@blackgoatman.entertainment5288]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@4verse79]

YT Algorithm ❤

[@chadstinson9886]

👆Old Thac0 user 🤚

[@RichesandLiches]

Love this!

[@sethpaine8482]

Brother!

[@KdotLINE]

6:56 - That would be a awesome cover, if it were real.

[@danieldavis6288]

Just a pedantic note, it isn't Draugr. This is a Skyrim mistake. The correct Norse phrase is Aptrganga, which you will note looks much closer to After, or Again, Walker

[@RichesandLiches]

@danieldavis6288 That is a very interesting comment and great feedback, thank you. I have made a note and will look into that for future reference!

[@danieldavis6288]

@RichesandLiches Welcome! The source for this is the Eyrbiggja Saga. Draugr are ghosts, essentially, whereas the Aptrgangr are zombies and whatnot.

[@RichesandLiches]

@@danieldavis6288 If you are a fan of the many Norse Sagas in the Prose and Poetic Edda, you may really like an upcoming video, although now I am scared you may make fun of my old norse pronunciations. :) I don't want to spoil it just yet, but more coming soon!

[@danieldavis6288]

@RichesandLiches Nah, I struggle with pronunciations too I'm just a linguiphile ;) Looking forward to it!

[@Foretelling]

Cant tell if this is AI voice or not lol. I'm leaning yes?

[@RichesandLiches]

I feel like I should be insulted that someone thinks my voice might be AI... but my wife would probably agree with you. >< Voice is all me, good or bad /shrug. Thanks for the feedback!