Tower of the Lich Lord

Loreno went into Davokar looking for the ruins of an old tower, and he hasn't come back. Years ago he took an arrow meant for you, so now you're going in after him, with a goblin guide you could barely afford and nothing but rumours about what lives in the tower now.

Buy the book ↗

Every one of the 455 sections and every link between them. Hover a section or an arrow for details. Many arrows depend on dice, items or trackers.

Tower of the Lich Lord

Speedrun routes

EndingKindSectionsFastest route
48✖ Death41 → 370 → 181 → 48
228✖ Death61 → 47 → 60 → 114 → 8 → 228
346✖ Death61 → 370 → 113 → 245 → 272 → 346
157✖ Death81 → 47 → 60 → 114 → 8 → 146 → 411 → 157
407☣ Corrupted111 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 383 → 314 → 124 → 102 → 407
237☣ Corrupted121 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 92 → 59 → 237
306✖ Death161 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 67 → 209 → 306
334✖ Death171 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 186 → 339 → 178 → 334
212✖ Death181 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 316 → 342 → 42 → 212
399✖ Death181 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 383 → 314 → 124 → 255 → 190 → 337 → 207 → 280 → 423 → 69 → 82 → 399
363✖ Death201 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 316 → 342 → 42 → 133 → 116 → 363
64✖ Death211 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 316 → 342 → 42 → 133 → 116 → 433 → 64
367✖ Death211 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 383 → 314 → 124 → 255 → 190 → 337 → 207 → 174 → 309 → 4 → 206 → 95 → 313 → 51 → 367
387✖ Death211 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 244 → 135 → 240 → 328 → 128 → 283 → 387
145◐ Partial win221 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 316 → 342 → 42 → 133 → 388 → 361 → 329 → 145
23✖ Death231 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 316 → 342 → 42 → 133 → 116 → 433 → 422 → 227 → 23
436✖ Death251 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 244 → 135 → 240 → 328 → 128 → 2 → 258 → 351 → 28 → 291 → 436
136↩ Escaped alone261 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 244 → 135 → 240 → 267 → 248 → 15 → 252 → 262 → 168 → 310 → 26 → 136
3✖ Death271 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 316 → 342 → 42 → 133 → 116 → 433 → 422 → 227 → 430 → 352 → 57 → 154 → 3
307✖ Death271 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 244 → 135 → 240 → 267 → 248 → 15 → 252 → 262 → 168 → 310 → 256 → 439 → 307
226✖ Death281 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 316 → 342 → 42 → 133 → 116 → 433 → 422 → 227 → 430 → 352 → 57 → 86 → 374 → 226
453✖ Death291 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 316 → 342 → 42 → 133 → 116 → 433 → 422 → 227 → 430 → 352 → 57 → 154 → 137 → 277 → 453
43✖ Death301 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 244 → 135 → 240 → 328 → 128 → 2 → 258 → 351 → 28 → 121 → 369 → 21 → 350 → 41 → 202 → 43
78✖ Death301 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 244 → 135 → 240 → 328 → 128 → 2 → 258 → 351 → 28 → 121 → 369 → 21 → 350 → 41 → 202 → 78
431✖ Death301 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 244 → 135 → 240 → 328 → 128 → 2 → 258 → 351 → 28 → 121 → 369 → 21 → 350 → 41 → 202 → 431
445★ Victory311 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 316 → 342 → 42 → 133 → 116 → 433 → 422 → 227 → 430 → 352 → 57 → 154 → 137 → 277 → 288 → 210 → 445
455★ Victory311 → 370 → 181 → 29 → 400 → 108 → 13 → 281 → 290 → 72 → 132 → 311 → 254 → 432 → 316 → 342 → 42 → 133 → 116 → 433 → 422 → 227 → 430 → 352 → 57 → 154 → 137 → 277 → 288 → 210 → 455

Who talks, and who's deadly. Talk counts the words of dialogue each character speaks. Lethal is modelled: the Toughness the rulebook's example hero (Accurate 11, Defence 7, estoc D8+1, D4 armour, Toughness 10), fighting alone can expect to lose winning their toughest fight. Estimates, not results printed in the book; see how they're worked out at the bottom.

Allies

You

An Ambrian veteran of the Great War, heading into Davokar to repay the debt you owe Loreno.

Talk768 words · 119 lines

In every section

Fosa

Cheerful goblin guide hired in Karo's Fen: a tracker, not a fighter, who backs you up with her bow.

Talk605 words · 70 lines

In 93 sections

Loreno

Your childhood friend, who took an arrow for you in the war. He went looking for the ruined tower and never came back.

Talk564 words · 51 lines

In 57 sections

Galana

Barbarian hunter held captive in the tower, who joins you once freed.

Talk125 words · 10 lines

In 13 sections

Algoi

Treasure-hunter from Thistle Hold, found in the cells too broken to speak.

TalkNever speaks

In 4 sections

Foes, deadliest first

The Lich Lord

The undead master of the tower, whose followers are performing a ritual to complete his ascension.

Talk31 words · 2 lines
Lethal≈19.2 Toughness to beat (you have 10), +5.5 corruption

In 22 sections · Fights: §70, §277, §284 · Present at 3 fatal endings: §3, §23, §453

Intruder daemon

Abomination that bursts through a tear in the air.

TalkNever speaks
Lethal≈16.2 Toughness to beat (you have 10)

In 2 sections · Fights: §169

Young mountain troll

Stony-skinned troll that heals as it fights.

TalkNever speaks
Lethal≈14.8 Toughness to beat (you have 10)

In 22 sections · Fights: §87

Elf warrior

Elven swordswoman guarding the forest on the direct route, with archers in the trees.

Talk1 word · 1 line
Lethal≈12.5 Toughness to beat (you have 10)

In 28 sections · Fights: §223, §250, §286 · Present at 2 fatal endings: §48, §346

Brimstone oak

Burning, flaying tree that scorches anyone near it.

TalkNever speaks
Lethal≈11.7 Toughness to beat (you have 10)

In 4 sections · Fights: §276

Goblins

The tower's garrison: guards, gaolers and servants.

Talk33 words · 8 lines
Lethal≈10.7 Toughness to beat (you have 10)

In 118 sections · Fights: §85, §89, §151, §170, §227, §336, §342, §361, §364 · Present at 6 fatal endings: §43, §64, §78, §307, §431, §436

Chasm stag

Shelled abomination of the Underworld chasms.

TalkNever speaks
Lethal≈6.7 Toughness to beat (you have 10)

In 14 sections · Fights: §249

Dragouls

Undead soldiers serving the tower.

TalkNever speaks
Lethal≈4.6 Toughness to beat (you have 10)

In 13 sections · Fights: §40, §97 · Present at 1 fatal ending: §78

Blight hound

Corrupted beast whose bite spreads the blight.

TalkNever speaks
Lethal≈4.2 Toughness to beat (you have 10), +2.1 corruption

In 1 section · Fights: §425

Marecat cubs

A pack of young marecats.

TalkNever speaks
Lethal≈3.8 Toughness to beat (you have 10)

In 4 sections · Fights: §150, §293

Cave ray

Flat, toothed creature lurking in the Underworld's waters.

TalkNever speaks
Lethal≈1.1 Toughness to beat (you have 10)

In 14 sections · Fights: §207 · Present at 1 fatal ending: §399

Cultists

Robed followers chanting the ascension ritual in the tower.

TalkNever speaks
LethalNo fight in the book

In 12 sections · Present at 1 fatal ending: §23

Every fight

FoeSectionWhoToughnessWeaponAttackDefenceArmourSpecialTurns to win*Toughness lost*Corruption*
Blighted Lich Beast§284The Lich Lord17Bone claws 6-301+1 corruption per wound6.919.25.5
Intruder Daemon§169Intruder daemon10Claws 5-4-13—7.616.2—
Lich Lord§277The Lich Lord15Icy touch 5-1-111 damage a turn on a failed test (50% for this hero)6.715.0—
Young Mountain Troll§87Young mountain troll12Fists 5-3+42regenerates 1 a turn7.414.8—
Elf Warrior§223Elf warriorcarried overSword 40-221 damage every turn6.312.5—
Elf Warrior§286Elf warrior10Sword 40-221 damage every turn6.312.5—
Brimstone Oak§276Brimstone oak10Flaying branches 5-2+321 damage every turn4.111.7—
Blighted Lich Lord§70The Lich Lord15Bone claws 5-201+1 corruption per wound6.111.44.5
Goblin Guards§227Goblins15Club 5+3-12—8.610.7—
Goblin Gaolers§361Goblins15Club 4+2-22—9.57.9—
Goblin Guards§342Goblins12Sword 4-1-12—6.97.2—
Chasm Stag§249Chasm stag10Bite 4-1+13the fight ends early the first time it hurts you (not modelled)6.36.7—
Elf Warrior§250Elf warrior10Sword 40-22—6.36.2—
Dragoul Soldier§97Dragouls10Spear 4-2+32—4.14.6—
Injured Goblin Guard§364Goblins6Sword 4-2-22—3.84.3—
Blight Hound§425Blight hound10Corrupting bite 4-2+11+1 corruption per wound3.74.22.1
Goblin Survivors§336Goblins15Short sword 4+1+10—4.54.1—
Marecat Cubs§150Marecat cubs8Bite 4-1-30the fight ends early the first time it hurts you (not modelled)3.63.8—
Marecat Cub Pack§293Marecat cubs8Bite 40-20the fight ends early the first time it hurts you (not modelled)3.23.2—
Goblin Gaoler§89Goblins8Club 4+302—4.23.1—
Goblin Gaolers§85Goblins12Club 3+3-12—6.92.6—
Goblin Gaolers§151Goblins12Club 3+3-12—6.92.6—
Dragoul§40Dragouls13Hands and teeth 3001—5.32.6—
Cave Ray§207Cave ray11Bite 2-2-40—5.71.1—
Goblin Servant§170Goblins8Dagger 2+2+20—2.20.3—

How these are worked out

The places of the book, in the order the journey usually reaches them. Travel blind, letting every choice and dice roll fall either way, and from §1 you'll win 4% of the time and die or be corrupted 87% of the time. The gauges show how those odds shift from place to place; see the bottom for how they're measured.

Stage 1

Karo's Fen

A small Ambrian border town on the edge of Davokar. You hire Fosa here and set out, and it's where the luckiest survivors end up raising a tankard.

Size5 sections
Dread37%
Enlightenment0%
Hope41%

Reached after 0 sections at the earliest · Met here Loreno, Fosa, The Lich Lord · Endings ◐ §145, ★ §445, ✖ §453, ★ §455

Stage 2

The Ravens foothills

The safer, slower road: skirting the mountains before cutting west into the forest. Loose rock and steep cliffs make it less safe than it sounds.

Size15 sections
Dread86%
Enlightenment27%
Hope5%

Reached after 1 section at the earliest · Met here Fosa, Young mountain troll, Brimstone oak · Endings ✖ §157, ✖ §228

Stage 3

Light Davokar

The outer edge of the great forest. Thorn thickets, watchful elves and things that don't belong in nature stand between you and the tower.

Size96 sections
Dread83%
Enlightenment25%
Hope6%

Reached after 1 section at the earliest · Met here Fosa, Elf warrior, Young mountain troll · Fights Young Mountain Troll, Marecat Cubs, Elf Warrior, Brimstone Oak, Marecat Cub Pack · Endings ✖ §48, ☣ §237, ✖ §334, ✖ §346, ✖ §367

Stage 4

The Underworld

Old tunnels and caverns beneath the forest, lit by glowing moss. A long way round to the tower, and easy to get lost in.

Size37 sections
Dread78%
Enlightenment35%
Hope6%

Reached after 5 sections at the earliest · Met here Fosa, Loreno, Goblins · Endings ↩ §136, ☣ §407

Stage 5

The chasm

A deep rift in the Underworld, haunted by a shelled abomination whose poison is worth harvesting, if you dare.

Size14 sections
Dread84%
Enlightenment14%
Hope5%

Reached after 7 sections at the earliest · Met here Chasm stag, Fosa, Intruder daemon · Fights Intruder Daemon, Chasm Stag

Stage 6

The underground lake

Cold black water with a small island at its heart, and something circling beneath the surface.

Size38 sections
Dread75%
Enlightenment21%
Hope10%

Reached after 8 sections at the earliest · Met here Cave ray, The Lich Lord, Young mountain troll · Fights Cave Ray · Endings ✖ §3, ✖ §399

Stage 7

The tower grounds

The ruined walls, fallen archway and rubble-strewn courtyard around Nagar-El. Every way in has its own risk.

Size83 sections
Dread72%
Enlightenment19%
Hope11%

Reached after 3 sections at the earliest · Met here Goblins, Fosa, Loreno · Fights Goblin Guards, Injured Goblin Guard · Endings ✖ §306

Stage 8

The mess hall

Where the goblin garrison eats and drinks. Rowdy when they're awake, and a chance to slip past when they're not.

Size51 sections
Dread74%
Enlightenment12%
Hope11%

Reached after 16 sections at the earliest · Met here Goblins, Fosa, Dragouls · Fights Dragoul Soldier, Goblin Gaolers, Goblin Survivors, Blight Hound · Endings ✖ §43, ✖ §307

Stage 9

Corridors and stairs

The tower's passages, side rooms and spiral stairs, linking everything else. Doors to choose between, and not all of them are safe.

Size34 sections
Dread75%
Enlightenment15%
Hope11%

Reached after 15 sections at the earliest · Met here Goblins, Dragouls, Loreno · Fights Dragoul · Endings ✖ §78, ✖ §387, ✖ §431, ✖ §436

Stage 10

The cells

The gaol where the tower keeps its prisoners, Loreno among them, watched over from the guard room.

Size45 sections
Dread58%
Enlightenment16%
Hope13%

Reached after 16 sections at the earliest · Met here Goblins, Loreno, Galana · Fights Goblin Gaolers, Goblin Gaoler

Stage 11

The ritual chamber

The heart of the tower, where robed followers chant to raise their master. It all ends here, one way or another.

Size37 sections
Dread74%
Enlightenment14%
Hope26%

Reached after 17 sections at the earliest · Met here Goblins, Cultists, Loreno · Fights Blighted Lich Lord, Goblin Servant, Goblin Guards, Lich Lord, Blighted Lich Beast · Endings ✖ §23, ✖ §64, ✖ §212, ✖ §226, ✖ §363

How the gauges are measured

Everything you can fight with, and everything that fights back. Each of your weapons is put through all 25 fights in the book in the hands of the rulebook's example hero (Accurate 11, Defence 7, D4 armour, Toughness 10), best first. The gauges rank the weapons against each other; the numbers are the modelled results.

Your armoury

Noxar's Ghoul Hammer

Legendary
D10

A warhammer of legendary renown, waiting on the island in the underground lake.

Damage5.5 a hit
Kill speed5.6 turns a fight
Wounds7.4 a fight
Survives16 of 25 fights
  • Life Surge: after a hit, heal up to D4 Toughness by taking the same in corruption
  • Smite: after a hit on the undead, deal an extra D4 that ignores armour, for the same in corruption

Found §280 (The underground lake), after 13 sections at the earliest

Estoc

Starting kit
D8+1

A master-crafted thrusting sword. A special-equipment pick that edges out the plain sword.

Damage5.5 a hit
Kill speed5.7 turns a fight
Wounds7.5 a fight
Survives16 of 25 fights

Starting kit Witch-hunter

Sword

Starting kit
D8

The sturdy, dependable choice, and the standard kit of most heroes.

Damage4.5 a hit
Kill speed7.6 turns a fight
Wounds10.2 a fight
Survives15 of 25 fights

Starting kit Warrior, Ranger, Scout, Researcher

Bow

Starting kit
D8

Hits as hard as a sword and, in the right moments, lets you strike first with a free attack.

Damage4.5 a hit
Kill speed7.6 turns a fight
Wounds10.2 a fight
Survives15 of 25 fights

Starting kit Ranger, Witch-hunter, Scout

Mace

Uncommon
D8

One of the crude weapons piled on the mess-hall tables. Nothing special, but it does the job.

Damage4.5 a hit
Kill speed7.6 turns a fight
Wounds10.2 a fight
Survives15 of 25 fights

Found §106 (The mess hall), §199 (The mess hall), §233 (The mess hall), §340 (The mess hall), after 23 sections at the earliest

Dagger

Rare
D6

Simple and serviceable: a step down from a sword, but better than nothing.

Damage3.5 a hit
Kill speed12.9 turns a fight
Wounds18.0 a fight
Survives12 of 25 fights

Found §246 (The tower grounds), §297 (The tower grounds), after 19 sections at the earliest

Spiked club

Rare
D6

Snatched from a goblin's belt in a hurry.

Damage3.5 a hit
Kill speed12.9 turns a fight
Wounds18.0 a fight
Survives12 of 25 fights

Found §85 (The cells), §422 (The ritual chamber), after 20 sections at the earliest

Staff

Rare
D6

Left propped against a wall, with a pair of boots too small for anyone but a goblin.

Damage3.5 a hit
Kill speed12.9 turns a fight
Wounds18.0 a fight
Survives12 of 25 fights

Found §135 (Corridors and stairs), after 15 sections at the earliest

Bare hands

Always to hand
D4

What you're left with when you lose your weapon. Natural Warriors hit harder (D6).

Damage2.5 a hit
Kill speed25.8 turns a fight
Wounds34.4 a fight
Survives6 of 25 fights

What hits you hardest

The foes' weapons, by the Toughness each can expect to take from that hero in a turn of fighting, after armour and including effects like scorching heat.

Flaying branches 5Brimstone Oak
2.88 a turn
Bone claws 6Blighted Lich Beast
2.80 a turnCORRUPTS
Icy touch 5Lich Lord
2.25 a turn
Claws 5Intruder Daemon
2.13 a turn
Fists 5Young Mountain Troll
2.00 a turn
Sword 4Elf Warrior, Goblin Guards, Injured Goblin Guard
1.98 a turn
Bone claws 5Blighted Lich Lord
1.88 a turnCORRUPTS
Club 5Goblin Guards
1.25 a turn
Spear 4Dragoul Soldier
1.13 a turn
Corrupting bite 4Blight Hound
1.13 a turnCORRUPTS
Bite 4Marecat Cubs, Chasm Stag, Marecat Cub Pack
1.05 a turn
Short sword 4Goblin Survivors
0.90 a turn
Club 4Goblin Gaoler, Goblin Gaolers
0.83 a turn
Hands and teeth 3Dragoul
0.49 a turn
Club 3Goblin Gaolers
0.38 a turn
Bite 2Cave Ray
0.19 a turn
Dagger 2Goblin Servant
0.14 a turn

How these are worked out

Metaverse

Drag to spin, scroll to zoom, click a medallion to stand on it. Your place is remembered for next time. Only section numbers, places and short choice wording are shown: you'll still need the book to play.