Lich
The lich is an odd creature. Originally the name is derived from the Old English “lych” or from the Germanic “leiche” meaning corpse. (Sector24) There is very little written on the subject but the lich was simply a name for a corpse that had risen from the dead.
However, J.R.R Tolkien wrote about liches in his book, Lord of the Rings. These were the kings who possessed magical rings and turned into undead, skeletal Nazgul by Sauron, an undead human wizard. Tolkien was an expert on norse mythology and this is likely where he got his inspiration for these creatures.
Dungeons and Dragons™, the role playing game, took the idea of the undead corpse and mixed it with the Russian legend of Koschei the Deathless. Koschei is an undead wizard king who appears in many Russian stories, much like Baba Yaga. In the stories he is described as “bony” or being a skeleton. (Gregg) Dungeons and Dragons borrowed this idea and the word “lich” and created the modern image of the lich.
Today the lich is seen as an undead wizard or king who has surrendered his life in exchange for power and immortality. While a new lich may have some rotting flesh, the typical lich is a living skeleton and has no flesh. This undead is highly intelligent and that may be it’s signature feature. It is able to call on other, lesser members of the undead, such as zombies or ghouls, to do its bidding.
However, J.R.R Tolkien wrote about liches in his book, Lord of the Rings. These were the kings who possessed magical rings and turned into undead, skeletal Nazgul by Sauron, an undead human wizard. Tolkien was an expert on norse mythology and this is likely where he got his inspiration for these creatures.
Dungeons and Dragons™, the role playing game, took the idea of the undead corpse and mixed it with the Russian legend of Koschei the Deathless. Koschei is an undead wizard king who appears in many Russian stories, much like Baba Yaga. In the stories he is described as “bony” or being a skeleton. (Gregg) Dungeons and Dragons borrowed this idea and the word “lich” and created the modern image of the lich.
Today the lich is seen as an undead wizard or king who has surrendered his life in exchange for power and immortality. While a new lich may have some rotting flesh, the typical lich is a living skeleton and has no flesh. This undead is highly intelligent and that may be it’s signature feature. It is able to call on other, lesser members of the undead, such as zombies or ghouls, to do its bidding.