Lich King Arthas the Undying
The Lich King of Zarathrum, known as Arthas the Undying, is a nightmarish figure, a terrifying blend of an undead king, a formidable lich, and a dark sorcerer. His title, "Lich King," carries a profound double meaning, as he is not a solitary entity but a collective of undead beings fused into one powerful being, reminiscent of a nightmarish Rat King.
Appearance: Arthas the Undying's physical form is a grotesque and haunting sight to behold:
Arthas, the Undying Phalanx, is a malevolent and unparalleled force in the world of Arcanum. He is not a single entity but rather a nightmarish amalgamation of liches, each an exceptionally powerful and devoted lieutenant, fused together under the controlling will of a central Arch Lich. This unholy union creates a formidable and terrifying entity that is more than the sum of its parts.
The Liches that make up the Undying Phalanx serve as his most loyal bodyguards, enacting his dark will and protecting him with unwavering loyalty. They are powerful spellcasters who have transcended death and have pledged their undying allegiance to Arthas. Their twisted souls are bound together in a macabre symphony of dark magic, forming a nightmarish whole.
Arthas, as the central figure of this unholy amalgamation, commands not only the powers of necromancy but also the collective knowledge and expertise of each Lich within the Phalanx. This makes him an unparalleled force to be reckoned with, as he can draw upon a vast reservoir of magical and strategic resources.
The Undying Phalanx is a symbol of Arthas's dominance over undeath and his unquenchable thirst for power and revenge against the Empire. It stands as a chilling testament to the depths of darkness one can descend into when consumed by hatred and the pursuit of forbidden knowledge.
- Undead Monarch: His body retains the regal vestiges of his former self, with a decayed and desiccated appearance. His skin is a mottled gray, and his limbs are gnarled and skeletal. He wears tattered royal robes that once symbolized his kingship.
- Lich's Grasp: His skull is exposed, revealing the blue-tinged, glowing eyes of a lich. A diadem of dark, twisted metal adorns his bony forehead, signifying his mastery over death and necromantic power.
- Multi-Entity Fusion: Extending from his body are grotesque appendages formed from the fused undead entities that make up his being. These appendages writhe and squirm, resembling a nightmarish tangle of limbs and torsos. Each of these appendages represents a lich or a powerful necromancer from Zarathrum's past, bound together in a twisted pact for immortality.
Dependency on Wild Ones: Arthas the Undying's very existence is intricately linked with the essence of the Wild Ones. To maintain his unholy life force and the collective consciousness of the undead entities fused into him, he requires a constant source of Wild One spirit essence. These powerful spirits serve as anchors to the natural world and, more importantly, to the Spirit World.
Arthas, the master of profane arts, has devised dark rituals that allow him to commune with and harness the energy of Wild Ones. This communion is often brutal and violent, involving the forced extraction of spirit essence. Wild Ones dread the presence of Arthas and the inevitable toll his existence takes on their kind.
Protection with Ubrastone: To shield himself from the Citadel's scrutiny and magical detection, Arthas the Undying employs the use of Ubrastone. Ubrastone is a rare and ancient mineral that can absorb and negate magical energies, rendering spells and divinations ineffective. Arthas uses Ubrastone artifacts to create a protective barrier around himself, preventing the wizards of the Citadel from directly targeting him or his movements.
The Lich King's cunning extends to the strategic placement of Ubrastone within Necrosia's cursed lands, forming a network of protective wards that thwart the Empire's attempts to infiltrate or attack his domain. These Ubrastone wards are intricately tied to the dark magic that powers Zarathrum and serve as both a shield and a source of power for the undying ruler.
Arthas the Undying, with his vile appearance, dependency on Wild Ones, and his use of Ubrastone, is a formidable and nightmarish figure that casts a long shadow of dread across the world of Arcanum.