Magic Items: +2 ring of protection, +3 bracers of armor, +2 cloak of resistance, dust of disappearance, Lorebook of Infinite Knowledge, wand of burning hands (25 charges), wand of charm person (10 charges)

Other Equipment: Spellbook, lich's phylactery

The Lich Aeleryk is the horrid Regent of the City of Penumbra, in the lands of Eidolon in Central Aldaria. Aeleryk is a perfect example of "absolute power corrupting absolutely." Once he was a human wizard of great intelligence who served as the loyal advisor to the King of Penumbra. The lich found however that simply serving others was not enough. He felt the insatiable need to rule over others and so he had the old king murdered and drove the princess, his heir, into hiding, while the mage had himself named as Regent.

In his constant drive for more power, Aeleryk even dared to delve into ancient magicks best left buried and began research into the study of achieving the status of a lich, the most powerful and dreaded of all undead. Evidentally, the mage succeeded in his quest and now possesses the abilities of a lich using his fear and magic to maintain control over his new domain.

Description: From a distance, Aeleryk appears as an normal, elderly human male. He is 5'10" and weighs 150 pounds. Close up, however, it is apparant that he is not a mere human for his skin is taunt and wrinkled, appearing almost skeletal. His skin is the color of a cadaver and his eyes blaze with an unnatural light. The lich always dressing in fine embroidered robes of silk augmented with countless gems and jewels.

Personality: Aeleryk is a ruthless and cold-blooded creature but also a shrewd politician and cunning diplomat. As such, he can sometimes appear charming to a degree but truth be told he is heartless and selfish in his evil caring for none other save himself. The lich is highly intelligent, wise and quite charismatic with a forceful personality that seems to hide a deep-seeded psychosis.

Combat:
Aeleryk disdains the use of physical weapons considering them far beneath his noble bearing. Instead, he prefers to command others to fight for him while he unleashes his great arsenal of spells. He does rely on his damaging touch attack only against enemies foolish enough to approach him to melee.

Aeleryk will often attempt to cast his extended confusion followed by his extended mass reduce person in order to disrupt the ranks of the enemy. Leader types will often be turned to stone or targeted by his finger of death or bestow curse. If the enemy includes spellcasters, he will always protect himself with a spell turning spell before anything else.

A favored tactic of Aeleryk is to summon forth numerous undead in order to engage the enemy, preferring ones with energy draining ability. Once his creatures begin combat, he will cast his extended mass hold person knowing that the undead will be immune to this effect.