Shadow King of Warlock's Crypt (D&D Lore)
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- The Archlich Larloch has inhabited Warlock's Crypt for centuries, close by to Baldur's Gate, Candlekeep, and Dragonspear castle; few suspect an undead army lurks within its shrouded walls.
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Cataclypse sounds like such a 'stop defeating all my encounters in 3 rounds' kind of monster.
Katyklips sounds like something inspired by Acererak
Undead lore is definitely my favorite, followed closely by the fey
a phychopath's main weakness tends to be their ego, they must be recognized to be validated
one without ego who leaves no trail is a dangerous thing indeed
Thank you very much for doing this video! FRCS has been my D&D for the better part of 25 years, and as a wizard-main, I have long had an attachment to the mighty mages of Faerun. Halaster Blackcloak, Elminster, and others are all great, but a certain unique spot has existed for me, where Larloch sits. An archwizard survior of Netheril, lightning dancing around his decayed form, with dozens of loun stones circling his skull. I can't tell you how much I have missed devastate undead, and other undead-specific spells. A being who can boss around multiple other liches! Szass Tam was willing to make the trek, but even he wasn't sure if Larloch might be able to control him, or demolish his form, but then capture his essence, before it could return to the phylactory. How bad ass do you have to be to intimate other liches? To scare the guy who rules Thay with an iron grip? He's a lot of fun, and I also appreciate that he is evil, but not necessarily Saturday morning cartoon villain evil, and careful individuals can approach him. He's multiple ways to die, or wish you had, but it's not a death sentence just to meet him! Thank you again for touching on one of my all-time favorite Faerun NPCs!
It's funny you mention you mention Tam, because he is a "relatively" modern lich, and Larloch is an truly ancient one. They show the difference in mentality between someone who is strong but always looking over his shoulder, and someone who is so mighty that he needn't constantly be looking for a knife in the dark.
Minor Drain! That's why Larloch sounded familiar.
Don't do necromancy, kids.
Right, necromancy is strictly for adults only!
16:11 The man just casually turned a level 3 Fireball to basically a level 9 Meteor Swarm...
Yep
Llarloch is THE most famous Lich in Faerun!!
Whether he means it or not, he's ultimately a stabilizing force in the region. 😉
You've painted a stunning picture of Larloch's foul majesty Sage. Thank you!
Damn. A true epic level lich.
And now I just got an unholy thought: Larloch and Daurgothoth teaming up.
a multi-twinned fireball sounds amazing...also 17 nether scrolls sounds broken
This is a perfect example of how a high level campaign boss should look. Hell, even an NPC in such a campaign interested in helping one side or another in the greater conflicts the players are involved in. Never understood it when people said enemies are too weak when players get high in level. You really just need to stop thinking about the game at that point as a thing of balance-it never was anyway, that was an illusion of simple numbers-and start thinking about play as scenarios born out of the consequences of your world’s rules. In other words, what could a non player character do if they thought like a player and had hundreds of years to accomplish its goals? Then just put that in play, and have fun seeing what your players do to respond; run with their wonky plans and give them outs in terms of allies that want what they do. It takes work, but, just by using items in the dmg and a little imagination, you get to give even level twenty players a challenge appropriate to their own Demi-god status.
Absolutely
@@AJPickettyour videos are always great. Your diabolic knowledge helped me advise a fellow dm making an abyssal entity similar to this shadow king, in terms of challenge. It was fun being able to rattle off plausible lore reasons for the entity’s existence and its access to the machinations, powers, and reality cancers of the abyss. Thanks for all of it lol
@@vaultscribe4501you are most welcome
I am so appreciative for you containing the suggestions of your fans. Thank you for your amazing and in-depth reflections.
I used to think Larloch was secretly the one in charge of Faerun (since the death of The Simbul), if anyone can be.
Nice shout out to High Henge. Anyone else remember Melicamp the chicken apprentice?
Baldurs Gate, good one
an amazing boss for the end of a campaign! I can’t imagine fighting this lich without being level 20 and touching on epic levels. The lore behind him, being interwoven with Toril history, is an amazing touch.
Collaborating with Mystra? As a fellow follower of hers, I approve!!!
This is the correct way to start the week! Thanks AJ!
Lol , so the guy coud simply go full " i cast !! These hands " agenst the party's barbarian , taht sure would be an interesting thing to witness on the table lol
so basically Skeletor but less outwardly gay
Omg 😂 thank you! 🤣
i liked the muscles tho 😢👉🏽👈🏽
We need more buff fleshy liches!
And got a boner to pick
You incompetent boob!😜
😎🍻😎
very interesting lich and probably one of the relatively few that you might not mind meeting especially if your a open minded arcane caster
It's so great to have the G.O.A.T doing dnd lore vids again. I respected your choice to stop, but im happy you're back.
I always love your lore on Forgotten Realms thank you for this video…..can’t wait for your next one👍🏼👍🏼💯
Hey AJ, thanks for the consistent excellent TTRPG content you've made! I'm finally getting to DM for a group of friends and intend to try and see if I can wriggle in a certain sage from Candlekeep into the adventure. Maybe he did end up finding those vials of fairy dragon's breath...
Excellent
All hail the loremaster AJ!
If you use him in your game, it can be rather unbalancing. This level of power matches archfey, demon princes, Dukes of Hell and gods. Like Elminster, this is one who should not be an antagonist, but rather an observer of what your PCs are doing.
If you plan to use him as some sort of big bad evil genius in your game, it’s best if you remember that magic items can be crafted with limited usefulness. I use this in my games all of the time. His staff may be a potent weapon in his hands, but it is only a mastercrafted staff in your player’s hand. All of the enchantments are attuned to him using it, not you. That’s how powerful wizards stay in power. Anything that your PCs can use was crafted for an underling or for any of his underlings to pick up and use.
As an example, the staff of the Necromancer-King in my games has one use that is universal. Anyone can pick it up, tap it three times quickly on a stone floor and it triggers the contingency spells that Animate Dead in dozens of graveyards, crypts and tombs in his former city. That releases hundreds of thousands of skeletons into the world uncontrolled. All of the most powerful effects of his staff are attuned to him alone, including the ability to control his Army of the Last Stand.
You can also expect that any item he has created for a minion is cursed if you try to use it on him. That +5 longsword you grabbed off of one of his minions may be -5 if you try to use it against him. Most general-use magic items include such corses, but when the original crafter dies, the curse no longer functions. This is especially true of any weapon given by an archfey, Duke of Hell or demon prince, since they don’t like minions turning on them.
The axe Tauron-i-Edain or “Forester of Men” is a good example of this. It is a battle axe +5, crafted by the Shepherd of the Forest, an archfey treant, that is -10 against anything made of wood. It was created for felling men, not trees. Even a Druid’s Barkskin spell will trigger the curse.
Always remember that your villain is no fool and he knows that his own minions will turn on him, given half a chance. His most effective weapons will be crafted with an eye towards preventing them being used against him.
Your comment points out just how foolish Vecna is. He still exists because The Serpent keeps saving him and one time the Dark Powers did. I guess because he is powerful but also a tool.
@@Dragowolf_Rising Mark Hart's article in Dragon magazine shaped a lot of how I look at evil.
Always remember that evil isn't monolithic. They're fighting against each other as much as they are fighting against good. They're just better at being sneaky about it.
I always thought there should be more legendary personalities out there for people to use. Great NPCs and villain ideas. I'm sure AJ has a whole generation of villain ideas (up his DM sleeve).
I wonder if you could upload some of your favorites?
I do remember plenty of Netherese or Red Wizards from modules.
Hmm, I can do that.
FINALLY! I have been waiting for this video for YEARS! hahahah Thanks!
Would make for an awesome end game boss for a tpk to result.😂
So what party of 20+ levels would even be able to attempt to go after this Super-Lich in his lair of Liches and armies of undead. A snowball might have a better chance of survival in the Hells.
Well a snowball would have a better chance at surviving in hell, as long as the level of hell we're talking about is the 5th level or the 8th level. Frozen hell sucks.
I always wondered the story behind that drain spell. Every spell with a name attached has an interesting story behind it.
Most spells start that way :)
Also you know how evil and powerful he is if he is an friend or ally of freaking Szass Tam. What a nightterror of a duo to have to deal with
This is from one of the novels.
Larloch!” Szass called out, entering an ancient library. “I bring part of the payment that I promised you. Show yourself.”
“Ashrath,” intoned a rumbling voice some distance away. The library slowly illuminated itself in a flickering red glow, casting a fiery light across the assembled tomes. “I’ve been expecting you, Tam,” the voice intoned. “But you’re still three weeks late with payment.”
Szass Tam walked toward the sound of the voice, rounding the end of a bookshelf and strolling nonchalantly toward an ornate golden throne pushed into a corner. Larloch, the ancient lich who hailed from Netheril, sat amidst a clutter of books and braziers.
The Shadow King’s body was in stark contrast to that of Tam. While the Zulkir of Necromancy strove to maintain his human appearance, Larloch was nothing more than a collection of bones partially covered in fine garments. The Netheril lich’s bones were bright white in color, and trails of emerald energy traveled across his form. More than two dozen ioun stones circled his skull, and globes of red light gazed up at Szass Tam as he approached.
“As I expected, we ran into some Harper resistance,” Tam replied, taking a seat opposite the Shadow King. “They weren’t going to give up the mantle without a fight.”
“If they had any inkling of its power‚ they wouldn’t have given it up in death‚ either‚” Larloch grumbled. With a wave of his hand‚ the entire collection of books that lay before him scattered back to their appropriate shelf. His skeletal hand then reached toward Tam. “The mantle?” he asked.
Szass reached into a pouch and pulled from its magical confines a metal vest enveloped in a violet glow. Larloch’s red eyes shimmered briefly for a moment, determining the magic surrounding the mantle to be a form of preservation spell. He then took the vest from Szass and laid it on the table. A moment later‚ Larloch glanced up at Szass Tam. “Why are you still here‚ Tam?” questioned the ancient lich. “This part of your payment is completed.”
“The search for this ancient magic has raised my curiosity,” the Zulkir replied. “I wish to know more about what Netheril really was.”
A long moment of silence descended over the two undead creatures, their gazes locked on one another. If Szass would have had a heart, it would have been racing. Finally, Larloch replied.
“You are both vain and impetuous,” the Shadow King replied. “All who have visited me in the past have been destroyed, regardless of their allegiance.”
“That’s because the others who came before me were inept,” said Szass. “True,” replied Larloch. “You have not failed me,” he intoned. “Not yet.”
Another long moment of silence filled the library. Years could have passed for all either of the undead cared. Time was meaningless. Finally, without warning or preamble, Larloch, the Shadow King, revealed the secret past of Netheril.
Blalock used to release a sweet monthly indie rock playlist on mp3 back before iTunes had competitors
I remember you made a video about playable Draconian races but I can't find it on your channel
ruclips.net/video/pvGCRRh5OmQ/видео.html
Great content, thank you for the hard work you put into these videos
You would probably enjoy the "Ethshar" series, by Lawrence Watt-Evans, not to mention the "Lords of Dus" series of books by the same author.
Did you say his guard is comprised partially of SIXTY FREAKING LICHES? Gods....
uh huh
So he basically is 1 of the most plot armored scumbags in existence. You literally need an army of player characters if you fix your mind on capturing or disposing of him. Larloch tells the players "I beseech you....try me." With a twisted smile
@@yosakie I think a greatly modified and enhanced version of Mordenkainen's Disjunction casted via Elven High Magic, turning the eyes of other magic-hungry terrors his way (a certain dracolich that resides in a ruined sverfneblin city might be interested), enlisting the help of the Church of the Morninglord, and finding a way to make magic deadzones reliably might be a good starting point.
@AJPickett hey boss man! Do you think Sul Khatesh could stand a chance against him or would she get mopped up?
I Thought it was six. I was wrong. I am scared
Busy fellow. Both AJ and the lich.
11:36 - 13:42 Christ Almighty.
Question regarding Ioun Stones AJ: What are your general opinions on them requiring attunement?
I like the idea of having a Larloch-esque galaxy of them, but 3 attunement slots(Artificer notwithstanding) kinda ruins that. I contemplated using the 'Implanting' rules for Ioun Stones in Pathfinder or just making them not require attunement at all like slotless items from 3e, but be more rare and expensive as a result. Thoughts and or insights would be greatly appreciated.
For every level gained, the character can attune to an additional magic item. Easy fix
@AJPickett Hmm. Given I'm currently running a high magic campaign that fits..surprisingly snug. Cheers, you beautiful bastard.🍻
so this is where Overlord Anime taken inspiration, i bet shadow king favorite spell is grasp heart :D
There are ways to collect Netheril scrolls?!!! Which books was it in?
22 ioun stones? Well that’s where they all went dang
I know, its a mega-load
@AJPickett how did he overcome the attunement limitations?
Mystra said "OK honey" @@martyhoward6727
I don't have a time right now but tomorrow i will analyze every piece of info in this video
I need more videos describing Dnd's Various Super villains that aren't demon lords.
Love content like this
Wasn't he killed in the novel the herald by Elminster. Not that it matters you can still use him in your game he is an intrusting character and I thought he had hundreds of liches under his control have a good 😊 evening.
He was snatched away from the realms but is back doing what he was doing, but I need to confirm this lore.
Iirc he lost 70ish of his liches and teleported away, while those who disrupted his plans suffered the heavier losses.
Extremely good video!! Is there a Larloch's Major Drain? How does Larloch finance his research? Through Thay? I find fantasy, Mediaeval and Ancient economics extremely interesting. I like the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons extremely much!! One aspect I don't like that much however, is the focus on gold coins as the standard currency unit. Silver was the standard of Western Europe during the High Middle Ages, and apparently of Middle-earth, which, let's face it most of D&D is based on, whereas gold and copper were the standard for the Byzantine Empire. Aside from barter, of course, which must have been the standard for all of Europe throughout the Mediaeval period.
Silver coins would be used a lot.
The coolest lich ever......the only one to compare or even come close to his power is Vecna and Lord Ao prob aint never letting him in FR's sphere so yeah.....hes pretty much unchallenged (also im aware of doomed forgotten realms)
They need a series on Larloch.
Yes they do.
Does he have a video explaining all the planets in the forgotten realms solar system?
I do.
The true big bad of all worlds who could destroy the world but is to bored to want to do so.
"You could rule this world!"
"But I don't WANT to rule thus world, I WANT to practice Conjuration magic!"
I’m really curious about Abeir and how magic works there without the Weave and Mystra.
Primordial "because I say so" magic.
Git gud and you can abraca-DAB on the h8ers
Hey AJ, great video as always! The undead swarm of fey blew my mind. I will be looking up stats for that today. That pic of the undead king and his robed minions is really good. He's a balance scale on his chest plate. Had to bring the phone really close to my face to see it, lol.
Thanks AJ you have a wonderful day!
LOVE this guy
what is the difference between demonologists and diabolists, I thougth it was the study of demons (demonolgy) and devils (diabolists) but it seems like powerful diabolists like larloch have ties to non-devil fiends
I refer to Diabolism specifically as the research, summoning and control of demons, devils, yugoloths/daemons, demodands, and lesser planar minions, the practice is almost exclusively ritual magic based on wards, charms, circles, sigils and physical arcana. While I am biased by my love of the Palladium RPG and the general way magic and the supernatural are handled in that game setting and system, the specifics of what you might call "forbidden" or dark magic is wide open to creating new magic traditions, practices and quests for knowledge. So yeah TLDR: It's not really an official D&D school of magic, so I just borrowed one I liked more from Palladium Fantasy RPG and shoved it into the game.
Another nice treat for a boring day. Compliments to the chef!
So if Elminster got ambushed in L's territory, alone vs all if L's forces, himself included.... would Elminster break a sweat?
Old El has mentioned that there are a few wizards in the realm that if surprised could take him! With Gomph’s current alignment “shift” I’d love to see some interaction between El and Gomph (not combat mind you)!
Due to many factors, Elminster would be overwhelmed, and lose.
Although, it wouldn't matter much as the old man is a Chosen of Mystra, he would be forbidden from interfering with Larloch.
@@derekstein6193 that didn’t stop Larloch (as a chosen of M) from tricking him in one of the recent books! It would be an interesting combat though!
Yes. Last they had a showdown, Larloch was immune to most of Elminster's magic. Larloch is far and above Elminster. In order to stop Larloch and a ritual he was doing, Elminster had to drop a mountain on him. Which stopped Larloch's ritual but Larloch shrugged off the damage of the falling mountain so much so, it didnt activate ANY of his contingency spells. Larloch is in a whole other universe in terms of power and magic.
How the capital F did I miss this!?!
Going to have to sacrifice another influencer to appease the algorithm because obviously it has been angered!
Thanks for the interesting video AJ!
that was lots fun
Just nope. I will fight this, i will not do it. You can not railroad me into fighting this guy. I would sooner leave the planes altogether.
I don't know what's going on but I have to re-subscribe to you every single day. Sometimes it'll go two days but it's usually every two days I have to re subscribe
That is odd
Could you do a video on the Vedalken? There seems to be a lack of good lore videos on them. It’s pretty shallow other than their general nature and a knack for mental activities
Great video AJ
Thanks Chris
Thanks AJ
The Shadow King of Warlock's Crypt is pretty cool, but I doubt he's a match for the Goblin King of The Darkstorm Galaxy
Ride on the wings of doooooom
Grant me the power to fight my foes
And defeat the lords of the moooon
This sounds like Dio lyrics
@@AJPickett Gloryhammer
One of my favorite songs by them. I don't know how nerdy you like your music but...
@@AJPickett Everyone says they know the best villain song, but they're all wrong because they never bring up Gloryhammer's Universe on Fire
It’s all fun and games until some laser goblin starts rambling about Dundee.
Gloryhammer is a trip. I haven’t listened to them in years. Wind Rose is another band with some serious nerd theming if you are into that stuff and you might check out Aviators. All 3 bands have a different style.
Yeah, I'm thinking that guy's about to show up in my friend's Spelljammer campaign.
I mean, he basically rules one world already.
Didn't even catch it all but awesome
Gotta love a mage who can challenge a god
Or as I like to call it, the Kingdom of Zeal :P
Does anyone know where I can find a good update stat block for the shadow king? I’m planning on running ether a fall of netheril ear where karsus has become the god of magic but in a ravinloft like setting or a dragon lance era with lord soth. Ether way I think he would be an awesome addition to both.
Yaaawwwnnn,...
so,...
not much of a foe then,...
on my to do list -
get up,
put kettle on,
go OBLITERATE 💥 ler-lik,
back home in time for a
nice cuppa ☕
sweet! 😁
🤔
oh crap - I'm still asleep!!! 😮
Awesome Presentation
Mr A J Sir! 👏👏👏 👍 😁
ALso question does Larloch supplement his Undead forces with Lesser fiends? Like Mezzoloth's Barbazu's etc.
No, he has fiends in his service but he has not summoned them.
@@AJPickett Interesting also I just realized what would happen if Larloch and Daurgothoth met I mean though would fight of course but I think both would respective each other as powerful Wizards and individuals driven to push the Boundaries of magic and might even collaborate and with Larloch decides to help him with his insane breeding plans all hell would break loose.
@@docbaker3333Ooh. That sounds like an amazing high level campaign!
This is really cool from a crunchy perspective, but also so Mary Sue as to be kinda boring. Just ascend to godhood already Larloch.
He has tried before but pesky "heroes" tend to interfere. In the end he basically just says, "Well played. Now back to my other projects." and just leaves. That's why I find him interesting. The amount of patience and occasional "you amuse me, I won't kill you today" energy is fun.
His last attempt was 5 years before 5e’s timeline starts.
He’s working on it already.
Is Larloch more powerful then Vecna? if yes, why Larloch is not a Demigod, but Vecna is?
Vecna is far more powerful
@@AJPickett wait... I thought Larloch has higher Challenge Rating than Vecna?
Of course, Vecna is more powerful. He's a foe willing to fight, who pursues power for power's sake. Larloch seems to me like he's in a category of his own, who would see his own power as merely a tool to an end.
Netheril ❤
Don't contemplate the Orb.
Hey AJ I was wondering what video I asked you what velocity and their dice are I don't know if I did or didn't but I want to know what the days on velocity as you're falling
Sorry, I don't understand your question
@@AJPickett I'm asking what is the dice for velocity like how far your how fast you're falling corresponding if you're attacking with a weapon and falling in attacking
@@akrdragon1240 1d6 added per 20 feet fallen, to a maximum of 10d6, I don't think that's an official rule, but that is how I would handle it quickly at the table.
@@AJPickett thank you
I was reading the AD&D empire of magic for a campaing o Sossal of all places, where my band of mercenaries were looking for fragments of a flying enclave, but due to my ex wife flickle nature when it comes to the game, we stopped at level 2... On the other Hand, my second party of players got very closer to interecting with Larloch, when for the destruction of Baldur's gate by the gobling god and his cambion son, I have a Irda Ogre NPC that may or may not be a acquintance to the Lich.
😼😻
AAAAAWW NO not you too with the click-baity AI art shit come on
click baity?
@@AJPickett AI generated images are fairly immoral, but even past that it just makes a video seem like an ad.
@@BPOOHEAD189 Thanks
No worries, I apologize if my original post was rude. Just was surprised @@AJPickett
Great video!!