Mastery Beyond Death (Cold Bargain of the Lich Lords)

Steel Realms
Lich Lords

On Helca, the mastery over Undead is controlled by the Lich Lords of the Fallen North; the pacts they make with mortals seeking power is referred to as the Cold Bargain. Using the stolen power of the god of death, they have mastered the “breeding” of the undead and animations. Technically they can exert influence and control over any true undead on Helca – at least until the specter lord unlocked some of their power for himself. The ability to do so seems to have driven the Lich Lords even more mad over time – the voices in their heads never stop and only multiply. Regardless, the lords of undeath have mastery over all and have been able to amplify slightly, their normal powers. It should be assumed that anywhere there are undead, that the Lords of Undeath will be able to see, feel, and hear from their presence.

Mark of Death/Death Tokens

The Lich Kings together can cause an animation or undead servant to carry the Token of Death. Upon striking an Extraordinary (critical) hit, this token is transferred to the victim – there is no save for living creatures of a normal order of being. The accumulation of these tokens make the target more susceptible to disease and poison effects, less likely to survive grievous wounds and many of the lesser mystical remedies for death’s door will cease to function.

The Cold Bargain (The Cold Embrace)

The Lich Lords mingle their Essence and assume some control over their agents, transferring some of their power to them as well – this is The Cold Bargain. It requires the sacrifice of one or more sentient living creatures. It allows the Lich Lords to perceive through their senses. It creates a Mind Schism (Split Mind). As long as the embrace is functioning, they have Disadvantage on sanity checks.


i20™ Cold Bargain Details

i20 [specific] Requirements: Living / Cost 1 CP/1 Essence

The basic Cold Bargain grants the following:

  • Upon taking another level of Wizard, they may take the powers of the School of Necromancy for 5 Character Points
  • They can concentrate on one additional necromancy spell (though must still make appropriate concentration checks).
  • They have Armor of Agathys (minimal; 5pt) that can manifest or renew on their Initiative value each round.
  • When sent on missions from their masters, the Stealth skill will apply to undead who normally just sense life essence.

iCore iCore™ Cold Bargain Details

Impacted by Attribute 1: None | Attribute 2: None | Lore(s): None

iCore [specific] Requirements: / Cost _ CP/_ Essence

iCore Text

Cold Animations

Creating Animations: After 8 hours, any animation has a chance to escape its creators control and begin randomly killing.

  • Suborned Mind: Once animated, they cannot respond to powers allowing the living to communicate or speak with the dead, even after their animating force is destroyed.

i20™ Undeath Mastery Details Details

i20 [specific] Requirements:

Undead and animations gain Advantage on checks against turn or destroy.

Most true undead have a form of Orcish Fury they can use 1/day.

Animations regenerate 1 hp/day (unless dead).

Death Tokens: 3 = Saves vs. poison and disease are made with Disadvantage / 5 = Spare the Dying will not work / 10+ = Death saves are made with Disadvantage - A Greater Restoration will remove 1 token at the end of a Long Rest.

iCore iCore™ Undeath Mastery Details Details

iCore [specific] Requirements:

Realm's Aptitude Powers: Divine, Occult, and Psychic