Some have wondered if the vampiric bloodline that damned the mages to lichdom still survives.
2005, Adrian Cole, The Crimson Talisman[3], page 170:
They accept vampirism and lichdom in lieu of becoming deathless.
2006, Margaret Weis, Amber and Iron[4], page 351:
Wizards loyal for a lifetime to the Conclave and the teachings of Nuitari also came to Chemosh, learning the secrets of lichdom and becoming powerful agents of death.
2006, Ree Soesbee, The Crystal Chalice[5], page 113:
Their souls are the cornerstone to his lichdom, the secret to eternal life—all stolen from those who lived in his city and served him.
“You have defied the god of death by seeking lichdom, slaughtered many in your pursuit of self promotion and power, have possessed this woman and others to use for your own ends, stolen, cheated and defiled burial sites for your own pursuits along with seeking to challenge the Pantheon itself by siding with your current dark patron.”
2008, R. A. Salvatore, The Pirate King[7], page 285:
Arklem Greeth knew well the shock of death, and of undeath. After his own transformation to lichdom, he had battled many of the same anxieties and losses that had so unsettled Valindra, and of course he had spent many years in preparation for that still-shocking moment.
That was the basis of lichdom, a path that Ariakas would never accept. Even if it meant living forever, Ariakas would not agree to become one of the undead.
2013, William Sims Bainbridge, quoting Age of Conan, eGods: Faith Versus Fantasy in Computer Gaming[9], page 93:
Through careful study they can develop the ability to call corpses from the earth to rise up and surround a foe or even attain lichdom, turning themselves into terrifying undead archmages.
2016, Erin M. Evans, The Devil You Know[10], page 165:
You can fall into lichdom, but to bargain with the king of the Hells and survive . . .
2021, Rocky L. Sharier, Arcanosphere[11], page 135:
His skin had decayed long ago, and his bones had turned gray within a century of gaining Lichdom.
