 |
help > phylactery
Dracolich Phylactery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upon becoming a Dracolich, a dragon's formerly living spirit is
transferred into a small gemstone known as a "phylactery." This receptacle
becomes the animating lifeforce, as it were, of the Dracolich's corpse-like
body. It also permits the dragon to employ necromantic magics.
As the Dracolich gains levels, its former lifeforce inside the
phylactery will also grow in strength. The physical prowess of the dragon
is directly related to the amount of energy currently residing inside the
phylactery. Thus, when the phylactery is at 100%, the Dracolich is the
most physically powerful that it can be.
To cast spells, however, the Dracolich must drain a bit of the
lifeforce inside the phylactery. The amount used with each spell depends
on that particular spell (some use more, some use less). There is no way
to prevent the drain that occurs when casting spells. The phylactery
will continue to fully empower spells even when its current lifeforce
percentage is very low. Thus the current percentage of lifeforce stored
within the phylactery cannot drop below 1%, as a minimal presence of the
energy must remain to keep the Dracolich "alive" -- even though the dragon
will be extremely physically vulnerable at that point.
There are three ways to recharge the phylactery:
- Naturally over time (every other round)
- Dealing damage with combat hits (that is, not from spells)
- Killing a foe (whereby the Dracolich will steal that foe's
lifeforce)
The natural recharge over time is based upon how many souls the
dragon has stolen over the course of its existence. The combat-hit
recharge also considers this, but to a much smaller degree. To view the
current recharge level, the "lifeforce" command may be used.
The energy present in the phylactery will also act like the
invulnerability skill. When the Dracolich would normally be killed, the
lifeforce within the phylactery will attempt to preserve the dragon from
destruction.
NOTE: The Dracolich's phylactery is not to be confused with the
Necromancer's phylactery. They are completely unrelated.
SEE ALSO:
help spell bid
help spell blight
help spell dark
help spell decrepitude
help spell putrify
help spell snuff
help spell vampirism
help spell virulence
----------------------------------------------------------------------------