Lichwarpers are among the most powerful and dangerous forms of undead, as they draw their power not only through the mastery of necromantic energies and undeath but also through careful study and manipulation of alternate realities and timelines. The unnatural lifespan of undeath combined with the expansive mindsets of a witchwarper makes these undead particularly patient, canny, and persistent foes.
Rumors posit that the first lichwarpers were bone sages who began to explore alternate realities where Eox averted the disasters that ravaged the planet. However, rather than seek ways to restore their planet, their corruption led the lichwarpers to instead seek to push those timelines down the same path, spreading the curse of undeath into realities that had otherwise avoided the extreme measures. Debate rages within fringe Pact World academia as to whether this reality’s Eox was originally beset by disaster and undeath, or whether the crisis was manufactured by another reality’s lichwarper.
The most successful lichwarpers form cabals with their alternate-reality selves, all splitting their undead essences and rebinding different beings' fragments together into specially-designed electroenchephalons that they then bring back to their own realities, effectively spreading the means to their destruction across multiple realities. Parties who seek to kill a lichwarper may find themselves fighting alternate-reality variants of the same enemy over and over again trying to destroy all of the bonded electroencephalons - or find themselves ambushed by multiple lichwarpers who have peered across realities to determine that the party poses a threat to their shared continued existences. These collectives share resources and information over different realities, making them implacable and epic foes to even the most well-prepared opponents.
Lichwarper CR 18
XP 153,600
CN Medium undead
Init +6; Senses blindsight (life) 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +31
DEFENSE HP 320
EAC 31; KAC 32
Fort +18; Ref +16; Will +20
Defensive Abilities fast healing 15, rejuvenation (1d8 days); Immunities Cold, electricity, undead immunities
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (average)
Melee molecular rift dueling sword +26 (10d6+18 S)
Ranged vault-class bone pistol +28 (5d8+18 C)
Offensive Abilities alternate outcome (3/day), infinite worlds (3/day), undead mastery
Spells Known (CL 18th; ranged +28)
6th (3/day) - ethereal jaunt (DC 27), summon creature
5th (6/day) - crush skull (DC 26), dismissal (level 5) (DC 26), dispel magic (greater), wall of force
4th (at will) - dimension door (DC 25), invisibility (greater) (DC 25)
STATISTICS
Str +0; Dex +6; Con -; Int +8; Wis +0; Cha +11
Skills Bluff +36, Computers +36, Mysticism +36, Sense Motive +36
Languages Common, Eoxian, Sarcesian
Other abilities unliving
Gear officer grave mantle, molecular rift dueling sword, Vault-class bone pistol
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Alternate Outcome (Su) This ability functions as the witchwarper class feature of the same name.
Infinite Worlds (Su) This ability functions as the witchwarper class feature of the same name. Because an NPC spellcaster doesn’t receive the same number of spell slots as a PC spellcaster at higher CRs, a witchwarper NPC only expend spell slots to power their infinite worlds ability for spell levels at which they receive specific numbers of spell slots per day. For spell levels they can cast at will or don’t have listed, the NPC effectively has three spell slots of each level that can only be used to power their infinite worlds ability. For example, a CR 10 witchwarper NPC effectively has three 2nd-level spell slots and three 1st-level spell slots for their infinite worlds ability.
Rejuvenation (Su) When a lichwarper is destroyed, its electroencephalon immediately begins to rebuild the creature’s body nearby and download the lichwarper’s consciousness into it. After 1d8 days, the lichwarper wakens fully healed (albeit without any gear it left behind on its old body). For rules on electroencephalons, see the Alien Archive.
Undead Mastery (Su) As a standard action, a lichwarper can cause one undead creature within 50 feet to fall under its control as per control undead (Will DC 21 negates). This control is permanent for unintelligent undead; an undead creature with an Intelligence score can attempt an additional saving throw each day to break free. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the lichwarper's undead mastery for 24 hours. A lichwarper can control a group of undead whose total CR is no greater than twice its CR (26 for the typical lichwarper).
