![[AcererakDec2025.png]] # Acererak _Demilich | [[Tombkeepers]] | [[Tomb of the Nine Gods]]_ ## Summary Ancient arch-lich. Creator of the [[Tomb of Horrors]]. The party knows he's connected to [[Petra]]'s condition and the [[Soulmonger]] network, though they haven't confronted him directly. %% ## At a Glance Skeletal figure in flowing scarlet robes. Tall pointed crown with long horns. Eye sockets burn with emerald light. Amulet bearing the Sign of the Devourer. In demilich form: floating skull inlaid with gemstones, ruby eyes, diamond teeth. The campaign's ultimate villain, but millennia patient. He's not coming for the party—he's letting his machine run while they scramble. Every [[Soulmonger]] they encounter, every soul [[Petra]] claims, eventually feeds [[Tenebrous]] in [[Chult]]. The party is doing his work for him. His vendetta against [[Reg]] and the [[Heroes of Waterdeep]] is personal. [[Petra]] was his prototype. ## Personality Arrogant beyond mortal comprehension. Dry, mocking wit. Infinite patience—centuries are moments to him. Genuinely entertained by struggle. Views souls as currency, adventurers as livestock. ## Quote _"Your father took something from me, child. I've been collecting interest ever since."_ ## Background **The Cambion's Rise:** Born from demon and mortal. Rose through [[Orcus]]'s ranks, achieved lichdom, then abandoned his master the moment he outgrew him. Gratitude is for mortals. **The Tomb Builder:** For millennia, he crafted death-dungeons across the multiverse. [[Tomb of Horrors]] is the most infamous—a soul-harvesting entertainment complex. His phylactery hides in a private demiplane beyond even divine reach. **The Opportunity:** When the [[Heroes of Waterdeep]] killed [[Orcus]] during the Oblivion War, Acererak saw his chance. [[Orcus]]'s domain over undeath was vacant. But the [[Wand of Orcus]]—key to resurrection and legitimate succession—was hidden by [[Reg]], who then erased his own memory of its location. **The Prototype:** Acererak kidnapped [[Petra]] to force [[Reg]] to reveal the wand's location. When that failed, the [[Sewn Sisters]] experimented on her, creating the first humanoid [[Soulmonger]]. The [[Heroes of Waterdeep]] rescued her, but the experiment was already a success. Acererak had his proof of concept. **The Machine:** Without the wand, Acererak built a workaround. [[Tenebrous]]—an undead vessel containing [[Orcus]]'s essence fragment—waits in the [[Soulmonger Machine]] beneath [[Chult]]. The [[Soulmonger]] network ([[Petra]], [[Iymrith]], [[Aerisi Kalinoth]], [[Ravenna]], [[Decima Iscitarn]], [[Isarr Kronenstrom]], [[Ras Nsi]], [[Vajra Safahr]], and others) harvests souls to substitute for the wand's power. **The Endgame:** When [[Tenebrous]] has enough souls, Acererak will merge with it—not resurrect [[Orcus]], but *become* him while retaining his own consciousness. God of undeath. Every zombie, every vampire, every lich across every plane answering to him. The party doesn't know the full scope yet. They just know [[Petra]] is connected to something terrible, and it leads back to the lich who took her as a child. ## Stats **Base:** Acererak (Tomb of Annihilation p.209) or Lich (MM p.202) **If using Lich base, add:** - HP 285 (30d8 + 150) - Legendary Resistance 5/day - **Demilich Shift:** Action to assume demilich form (MM p.48) or return. Retains spellcasting in either. - **Rejuvenation:** Phylactery in a private demiplane. Destroying him is temporary. **Spellcasting (Lich Form):** - 9th: *Power Word Kill*, *Time Stop* - 8th: *Dominate Monster*, *Power Word Stun* - 7th: *Finger of Death*, *Plane Shift*, *Teleport* - 6th: *Circle of Death*, *Disintegrate*, *Globe of Invulnerability* - Plus standard lich spell list **Lair Actions (in his tombs):** - Walls shift, sealing passages or revealing new ones - Necrotic pulse: DC 18 Con, 21 necrotic - One creature saves vs. *Confusion* - Traps reset or activate **Legendary Actions (3/round):** - **Cantrip** - **Frightening Gaze (2):** 60 ft., DC 18 Wis or frightened 1 min - **Disrupt Life (3):** 20 ft., DC 18 Con, 21 (6d6) necrotic, half on save - **Talisman (1, Demilich only):** Target wearing his talisman takes 42 (12d6) necrotic **CR:** 23 (Lich) / 21 (Demilich) **Design Note:** Not a boss encounter—a campaign-ending threat. If confronted early, he toys with them and leaves. Killing them would be less entertaining than watching them struggle. %%