Item: Lich Soul Cage

This item is crafted by a spellcaster who wishes to become a lich. When a lich is destroyed, its soul flees to the soul cage. The phylactery then rebuilds the lich's undead body over the course of [[/gmr 1d10 #days]]{1d10 days}. Afterward, the lich manifests next to the soul cage, fully healed and in a new body (therefore, it lacks any equipment it had on its old body). A lich's soul cage must be destroyed to prevent a lich from returning.

The standard soul cage is a sealed metal box containing strips of parchment inscribed with magical phrases. This box has Hardness 9 and 36 HP, but some liches devise more durable or difficult-to-obtain soul cages. A soul cage might also come in the form of a ring, an amulet, or a similar item; the specifics are up to the creator.