CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any/Southern Oerth FREQUENCY: Very Rare ORGANIZATION: Solitary ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any DIET: Nil INTELLIGENCE: Supra-genius TREASURE: A ALIGNMENT: Neutral Evil NO. APPEARING: 1 ARMOR CLASS: 7 MOVEMENT: 12 HIT DICE: 15+ THAC0: 16 base NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 DAMAGE/ATTACK: By weapon SPECIAL ATTACKS: See Below SPECIAL DEFENSES: +1 weapon to hit MAGIC RESISTANCE: 1% per hit die SIZE: M MORALE: Fanatic (17-18) XP VALUE: 10,000 +1,000 per levelWhen the empire of the Suel was destroyed by the Rain of Colorless Fire more than a millennium ago, one of the few creatures to survive this destruction was the Suel-lich. This powerful wizard, similar to the common lich, endures the centuries by transferring its life force from one human host to the next. A Suel-lich appears as a human with coarse, leathery skin and eyes which glow an ominous black fire. As the Suel-lich grows in power, the skin becomes a thick hide, and the fire in its eyes becomes more pronounced. At the peak of its power, the Suel-lich is little more than wrinkled husk whose head is bathed in black fire. Those who meet a Suel-lich are in for more than they likely can handle.
Unlike the common lich, the Suel-lich revels in combat against weaker foes. Although it normally doesn't go looking for a fight, the creature will often fight to the death against superior forces (and usually wins). Any creature with fewer than 3 Hit Dice that gazes into the fiery eyes of the Suel-lich must save vs death magic at +3 or die of fright. Those who make their save are paralyzed with terror for 1d4 turns, and are at the mercy of the evil creature. The touch of a Suel-lich causes black flame to erupt from the victim, inflicting 1-10 points of damage upon contact. The victim must also make a saving throw vs paralysis or be unable to move. This paralysis lasts until dispelled or until 24 hours pass. This attack ignores all armor, and any item touched in this way must make a save vs. magical fire or be damaged.
The Suel-lich can be hit only by +1 or better weapons or by monsters with 7 or more Hit Dice and/or magical properties. In addition to their natural magic resistance, the Suel-lich is immune to all mind affecting spells, death spells, and wizard and clerical spells below 3rd level. Because of its unique connection with the Negative Material Plane, the spell negative plane protection inflicts 5d10 points of damage to the creature if it gets past its magic resistance. A Suel-lich casts spells as it did before its transformation, but, due to its dark nature and years of magical research, does not require material components. A Suel-lich is considered a special for purposes of turning.
Several Suel-liches escaped the Rain of Colorless Fire and migrated into the Flanaess from what is now the Sea of Dust. Some of these liches still roam the world, vying for wealth and power, while others exist in hidden strongholds continuing their ageless research. Regardless of its intentions, the Suel-lich always attempts to hide its true nature. Since little knowledge (written or oral) survived the Colorless Fire, only a handful of sages and loremasters have even heard of such creatures.
The Suel-lich is an unholy amalgamation of the human body and energy from the Negative Material Plane. Upon transformation into a Suel-lich, the essence of the wizard is converted to negative energy that needs a human body to inhabit. While possessing a body, the essence of the lich causes the body to age at three times the normal rate, burning it out after a short time. Each time a Suel-lich gains a level, burns out a host, or is reduced to zero hit points, it must find a new body to inhabit.
When it comes time to seek a new body, the essence of the lich must take a host with Hit Die or levels equal to the liches level minus 15. Thus, a 19th level Suel-lich must take the form of a 4th level human. If the victim is unconscious, unable to resist, or gives his or her body willingly, no saving throw is allowed verses the transformation. If the victim is conscious or able to resist, a saving throw vs death magic at -1 is allowed to resist possession. The essence of the victim is destroyed when possessed; the spirit is annihilated and cannot be raised or restored by a wish spell. If the host body is destroyed, the lich has one hour to inhabit another body or its essence disperses into nothingness. While without a host body, the essense of the lich appears as fiery black energy. While in this form, a dispel evil or holy word destroys the lich forever.