View source for Lich

{{Short description|Undead creature from fantasy literature}}
{{About|the undead creature}}
{{distinguish|lichen}}
{{Infobox mythical creature
|AKA               = Liche
|image             = Wesnothlich.png
|image_size        = 200px
|caption           = A lich from the game ''[[The Battle for Wesnoth]]''
|Folklore         =
|Grouping          = [[Legendary creature]]
|Sub_Grouping      = [[Undead]]
|Country           =
|Region            =
|Habitat           =
|Similar_entities = [[Zombie]], [[Magician (paranormal)|magician]], [[revenant]], [[Skeleton (undead)|skeleton]]
}}

In [[fantasy fiction]], a '''lich''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ɪ|tʃ}}<ref>{{cite OED|lich|access-date=15 January 2020}} This entry includes only obsolete senses of "dead body".</ref>) is a type of [[undead]] creature with magical powers.

Various works of fantasy fiction, such as [[Clark Ashton Smith]]'s "[[The Empire of the Necromancers]]" ([[1932 in literature|1932]]), had used ''lich'' as a general term for any corpse, animate or inanimate, before the term's specific use in fantasy role-playing games.  The more recent use of the term ''[[Lich (Dungeons & Dragons)|lich]]'' for a specific type of undead creature originates from the 1976 ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[role-playing game]] booklet ''[[Greyhawk (supplement)|Greyhawk]]'', written by [[Gary Gygax]] and [[Robert J. Kuntz|Rob Kuntz]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gygax |first=Gary |title=Grewhawk |publisher=TSR Rules |year=1976 |pages=35 |quote="LICHES: These skeletal monsters are of magical origin, each Lich formerly being a very powerful Magic-User or Magic-User/Cleric in life, and are now alive only by means of great spells and will because of being in some way disturbed."}}</ref>

Often such a creature is the result of a willful transformation, as a powerful [[Magician (paranormal)|wizard]] skilled in [[necromancy]] who seeks eternal life uses rare substances in a magical ritual to become undead. Unlike [[zombie]]s, which are often depicted as mindless, liches are [[wikt:sapient|sapient]] [[revenant]]s, retaining their previous intelligence and magical abilities. Liches are often depicted as holding power over lesser mindless undead soldiers and servants.

A lich’s most commonly depicted distinguishing feature, compared to other undead in fantasy fiction, is the method by which it achieves immortality: liches surrender their souls to create "soul-artifacts" (often called a "soul gem" or
"[[Phylactery (Dungeons & Dragons)|phylactery]]" in other fantasy works), which serve as the source of their magic and immortality. Many liches take precautions to hide and/or protect one or more of these soul-artifacts, which anchor parts of their souls to the material world. If a lich’s corporeal body is destroyed, the portion of its soul that remained in the body does not pass on to the afterlife; rather, it persists in a non-corporeal form capable of being reconstituted or resurrected. However, if all of a lich’s soul-artifacts are destroyed, its only remaining anchor to the material world becomes its corporeal body—meaning that its destruction would result in permanent death.

==Etymology==
The word "lich" is derived from the [[Old English]] {{lang|ang|līċ}}, meaning "corpse". It is cognate with modern German ''Leiche'' and modern Dutch ''lijk'', both of which also mean "corpse".

==Historical background==
''Lich'' is an archaic English word for "corpse"; the gate at the lowest end of the cemetery where the coffin and funerary procession usually entered was commonly referred to as the [[Lychgate|lich gate]]. This gate was quite often covered by a small roof where part of the funerary service could be carried out.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/lych-gate |title=Encyclopædia Britannica |website=britannica.com |access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref>

==In literature==
The literary lich developed from monsters found in earlier classic [[sword and sorcery]] fiction, which is filled with powerful [[Magic (supernatural)|sorcerers]] who use their magic to triumph over death. Many of [[Clark Ashton Smith|Clark Ashton Smith's]] short stories feature powerful wizards whose magic enables them to return from the dead. Several stories by [[Robert E. Howard]], such as the novella ''[[Skull-Face]]'' (1929) and the short story "Scarlet Tears", feature undying sorcerers who retain a semblance of life through mystical means, their bodies reduced to shriveled husks with which they manage to maintain inhuman mobility and active thought.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard |date=July 2007 |publisher=Cosmos Books |isbn=978-0-8095-6236-7 |edition=Vol 1 |pages=194–320}}</ref> 

The term ''lich'', used as an archaic word for corpse (or body), is commonly used in these stories. [[Ambrose Bierce]]'s tale of possession "[[s:The Death of Halpin Frayser|The Death of Halpin Frayser]]" features the word in its introduction, referring to a corpse. [[H. P. Lovecraft]] also used the word in "[[The Thing on the Doorstep]]" (published 1937) where the narrator refers to the corpse of his friend possessed by a sorcerer.<ref>[http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/td.aspx Hplovecraft.com]</ref> Liches are sometimes depicted using a magical device called a ''[[amulet|phylactery]]'' to anchor their souls to the physical world so that if their body is destroyed they can rise again over and over, as long as the phylactery remains intact.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Kronzek, Allan Zola.|title=The Sorcerer's Companion: A Guide to the Magical World of Harry Potter, Third Edition|date=2010|publisher=Broadway Books|others=Kronzek, Elizabeth, 1969-|isbn=978-0-307-88514-2|edition=3rd|location=New York|pages=131–132|oclc=821922969}}</ref> Other imagery surrounding [[Demilich (Dungeons & Dragons)|demiliches]], in particular that of a jeweled skull, is drawn from the early [[Fritz Leiber]] story "Thieves' House".<ref>[http://rpg.crg4.com/originsL.html D&D Monster Origins (L-M)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514002849/http://rpg.crg4.com/originsL.html |date=2011-05-14 }}</ref> 

[[Gary Gygax]], one of the co-creators of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', said that he based the description of a lich included in the game on the short story "The Sword of the Sorcerer" (1969) by [[Gardner Fox]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.enworld.org/showpost.php?p=3308636&postcount=63 |title=Morrus' D&D / 4th Edition / d20 News - View Single Post - The Lich (Origins) |date=2007-01-29 |publisher=[[EN World]] |access-date=2009-06-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.enworld.org/showpost.php?s=5c0a1b2c1eced259e4f2a6544db14a00&p=3813928&postcount=34 |title=Morrus' D&D / 4th Edition / d20 News - View Single Post - Gygaxian Monsters |date=2007-10-05 |publisher=EN World |access-date=2009-06-15}}</ref>

==In popular culture==

===In print===
* [[Acererak]] is the final boss of the classic ''Dungeons and Dragons'' adventure module ''[[Tomb of Horrors]]'';<ref name="acererak">{{Cite book |last=Strohm, Keith Francis |title=The Tomb of Horrors |date=2002 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |isbn=978-0-7869-6477-2 |location=Renton, WA |oclc=842270166}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-20|title=Dungeons & Dragons: Acererak, the Menacing Zombie Wizard, Explained|url=https://www.cbr.com/dungeons-dragons-acererak-zombie-wizard-explained/|access-date=2022-01-26|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref> Acererak was also featured as the guardian of the Copper Key in the book ''[[Ready Player One]]'' by [[Ernest Cline]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/books/ready-player-one-by-ernest-cline-review.html |title=A Future Wrapped in 1980s Culture |author=Janet Maslin |date=14 August 2011 |work=The New York Times |access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref>
* In the [[webcomic]] ''[[The Order of the Stick]]'', the main villain Xykon is a lich.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicoll |first=James Davis |date=2020-06-10 |title=Five SFF Works Inspired by RPGs |url=https://www.tor.com/2020/06/10/five-sff-works-inspired-by-rpgs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701203954/https://www.tor.com/2020/06/10/five-sff-works-inspired-by-rpgs/ |archive-date=2020-07-01 |access-date=2020-07-30 |website=[[TOR.com]]}}</ref>
*In the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series, the main antagonist [[Lord Voldemort|Voldemort]] commands armies of undead [[Inferius|inferi]] and uses magical devices called [[horcruxes]] to store fragments of his soul in order to allow him to resurrect himself in the event that his body dies.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Chaudhari|first1=Charu|last2=Tanenbaum|first2=Theresa Jean|date=2016|editor-last=Nack|editor-first=Frank|editor2-last=Gordon|editor2-first=Andrew S.|chapter=Phylactery: An Authoring Platform for Object Stories|chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-48279-8_36|title=Interactive Storytelling|series=Lecture Notes in Computer Science|volume=10045 |language=en|location=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|pages=403–406|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-48279-8_36|isbn=978-3-319-48279-8|quote=In more recent popular culture, this idea has appeared in Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, and within JK Rowling's Harry Potter stories under the name "horcrux".}}</ref>

===Film and television===
* In the ''[[Adventure Time]]'' television series, the main antagonist is an evil, powerful undead being known simply as "The Lich".<ref name="adventuretime">{{Cite web |last=Di Placido |first=Dani |date=2018-09-06 |title=The 3 Best Stories 'Adventure Time' Ever Told |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2018/09/06/the-3-best-stories-adventure-time-ever-told/#289ca5fe1fea |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109075246/https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2018/09/06/the-3-best-stories-adventure-time-ever-told/ |archive-date=2019-11-09 |access-date=2020-07-30 |website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-22|title=Adventure Time: 10 Most Dangerous Villains Finn & Jake Fought Against|url=https://www.cbr.com/adventure-time-finn-jake-dangerous-villains/|access-date=2022-01-27|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Schindel|first=Dan|date=2018-08-31|title=An ode to Adventure Time, one of TV's most ambitious — and, yes, most adventurous — shows|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/8/31/17799830/adventure-time-series-finale-retrospective|access-date=2022-01-27|website=Vox|language=en}}</ref> He describes himself as an ancient, cosmic being who is the [[Personifications of death|manifestation of the inevitable death of all things]].

===Tabletop===
{{Main|Lich (Dungeons & Dragons)}}
* In the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' game, a lich is a [[Magic of Dungeons & Dragons|spellcaster]] who seeks to defy death by magical means.<ref name="d&d">{{Cite book |last=Witwer |first=Michael |title=Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana : A Visual History |publisher=[[Ten Speed Press]] |year=2018 |isbn=978-0-399-58094-9 |location=California |pages=48 |oclc=1033548473}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Hrala|first=Josh|date=2017-03-13|title=A Brief History of Liches, Everyone's Favorite Undead Wizards|url=https://nerdist.com/article/a-brief-history-of-liches-everyones-favorite-undead-wizards/|access-date=2020-04-27|website=[[Nerdist]]|language=en}}</ref>
*Liches also appear in other fantasy settings that draw upon ''D&D'' for inspiration, such as:
**''[[13th Age]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=13th Age RPG delivers an incredible fantasy storytelling experience|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/13th-age-rpg-is-an-incredible-fantasy-storytelling-expe-1201550758|access-date=2020-04-28|website=io9|date=26 August 2013 |language=en-us}}</ref>''
**''[[Pathfinder Roleplaying Game]]''<ref>[[Eric Cagle|Cagle, Eric]], Brian Cortijo, Brandon Hodge, [[Steve Kenson]], Hal Maclean, [[Colin McComb]], Jason Nelson, Todd Stewart, and Russ Taylor. ''Undead Revisited'' (Paizo, 2011)</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=October 29, 2021|title=Pathfinder Drops Phylactery From In-Game Terminology|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/pathfinder-paizo-phylactery-lich-soul-cages/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-31|website=ComicBook.com|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031225611/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/pathfinder-paizo-phylactery-lich-soul-cages/|archive-date=2021-10-31}}</ref>
**''[[Warhammer Fantasy (setting)|Warhammer Fantasy]]''<ref name="warhammerfantasy">{{Cite magazine |last=Donnelly |first=Joe |date=2018-01-17 |title=Total War: Warhammer 2 raises the dead in new Tomb Kings footage, full roster named |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/total-war-warhammer-2-raises-the-dead-in-new-tomb-kings-footage-full-roster-named/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209162915/http://www.pcgamer.com/total-war-warhammer-2-raises-the-dead-in-new-tomb-kings-footage-full-roster-named/ |archive-date=2018-02-09 |access-date=2020-07-30 |magazine=[[PC Gamer]]}}</ref><!-- As examples of this, the following are not especially notable:
** In the Balance Arc of D&D-based podcast and fantasy series ''[[The Adventure Zone]]'', the characters of Lup and Barry Bluejeans as well as antagonists Lydia and Edward are all known liches.
** In the D&D-based webcomic ''[[The Order of the Stick]]'', one of the main antagonists, Xykon, is a lich with several lackeys, though most are not undead. [Mentioned in "Comics" above] -->

===Video games===
* Liches are prominent in the ''[[Might and Magic]]'' series of video games, appearing primarily as enemies, but also as playable characters in several installments. They are equally prevalent in the spin-off series ''[[Heroes of Might and Magic]]'', where they appear in most installments as recruitable creatures, but also as heroes. One of the most prolific liches in [[New World Computing]]'s old continuity was Sandro, appearing in many titles and referenced in many more.<ref name="mightandmagic">{{Cite web |last=Sandrey |first=Ryan |date=2012-08-23 |title=Might & Magic: Heroes VI Gets Gold Edition and 'Danse Macabre' Adventure Pack This September |url=https://www.godisageek.com/2012/08/magic-heroes-vi-gold-edition-danse-macabre-adventure-pack-september/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618201923/https://www.godisageek.com/2012/08/magic-heroes-vi-gold-edition-danse-macabre-adventure-pack-september/ |archive-date=2013-06-18 |access-date=2020-07-30 |website=GodisaGeek.com}}</ref> The primary antagonist of ''[[Heroes of Might and Magic III|Heroes of Might and Magic III: Restoration of Erathia]]'' is also a lich: the former king of Erathia raised by necromancers.
* The ''[[Baldur's Gate (series)|Baldur's Gate]]'' series of video games includes several liches, as powerful but optional boss fights.<ref name="baldursgate">{{Cite web |last=Reuben |first=Nic |date=2020-03-06 |title=Baldur's Gate 2's Athkatla is still one of the best RPG cities ever made |url=https://www.vg247.com/2020/03/06/baldurs-gate-2-athkatla-best-rpg-city/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408043200/https://www.vg247.com/2020/03/06/baldurs-gate-2-athkatla-best-rpg-city/ |archive-date=2020-04-08 |access-date=2020-07-30 |website=[[VG247]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Andy Kelly published|date=2019-01-18|title=How the monsters of Baldur's Gate brought combat to life|language=en|work=PC Gamer|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/how-the-monsters-of-baldurs-gate-brought-combat-to-life/|access-date=2022-01-26}}</ref>
* ''[[Warcraft III]]'' and ''[[World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King]]'' features the continent of Northrend, the realm of the eponymous Lich King and his undead minions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath/features/deathknight/lore.xml |title=Champions of the Lich King |publisher=Blizzard Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124173500/http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath/features/deathknight/lore.xml |archive-date=November 24, 2010 |access-date=November 14, 2014}}</ref> [[Arthas Menethil]], also known as the Lich King, one of the most prominent antagonists in ''Warcraft'' lore, appears as a raid boss in the ''Wrath of the Lich King'' expansion, as well as a playable character in the crossover video game ''[[Heroes of the Storm]]''.
* In the ''[[Dota]]'' series of video games, Lich is one of the playable heroes.<ref name="dota2">{{Cite web |last=Rothery |first=Jen |title=The best Dota 2 heroes for beginners |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/dota/best-dota-2-heroes-beginners#Lich |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716233120/https://www.pcgamesn.com/dota/best-dota-2-heroes-beginners |archive-date=2020-07-16 |access-date=2020-07-30 |website=[[PCGamesN]]}}</ref>
* In ''[[League of Legends]]'', the champion Karthus embraced the gift of death and became a lich.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Fraser |date=2014-06-14 |title=League of Legends' Karthus shows off his new look in his Champion Spotlight |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/league-legends/league-legends-karthus-shows-his-new-look-his-champion-spotlight |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719184538/https://www.pcgamesn.com/league-legends/league-legends-karthus-shows-his-new-look-his-champion-spotlight |archive-date=2016-07-19 |access-date=2020-07-30 |website=[[PCGamesN]]}}</ref>
* In the video game ''[[Enter the Gungeon]]'', a lich is the final boss located in Bullet Hell.<ref name="gungeon">{{Cite web |last=Stretch |first=Andrew |title=Exit the Gungeon Review |url=https://techraptor.net/gaming/reviews/exit-gungeon-review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328104926/https://techraptor.net/gaming/reviews/exit-gungeon-review |archive-date=2020-03-28 |access-date=2020-07-30 |website=TechRaptor|date=27 March 2020 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Div col}}
* [[Mummy (undead)]]
* [[Lyke-Wake Dirge]]
* [[Koschei]]
* [[Mumm-Ra]]
* [[Nazgûl]]
* [[Thulsa Doom]]
* [[Lord Voldemort|Voldemort]]
* [[Wight]]
* [[Wraith (Dungeons & Dragons)|Wraith]]
* [[Skeletor]]
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Wiktionary-inline|lich}}

{{Fantasy fiction|state=collapsed}}
{{Horror fiction|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Fictional liches| ]]