Deirex is the resident of Deirex's Tower in Ust Natha. His tower is only reachable via the Gilded Rope. He seems less than happy about Gorion's Ward and party being in his house. He knows you have the Gilded Rope with you and is unconcerned about its supposed magical protections.
| “ | Bah! More fleshlings to disturb me?! What is... ah... you have the twisted cord in your possession, eh? Well, it shall do you no good, fool! | ” |
Gameplay[]
The first encounter with Deirex results in a cut scene in which the lich imprisons the PC - but instead of being entombed below the crust of the Faerûn, the party strangely is transported into a planar realm controlled by Jarlaxle.
If the party returns to Deirex's Tower in order to fulfill the Jarlaxle questline to rescue the souls of his captured compatriots - as soon as the party enters the Lich will hiss:
- "What?! You return?! Impossible! Since you cannot be imprisoned properly, it seems I shall have to deal with you fleshlings once and for all. So be it!"
The undead wizard will instantly apply a series of protective buffs that are uninterruptible, to include Stoneskin, Protection From Magical Weapons, and Spell Trap.
Deirex has three separate contingency applications that add protections based on if a previous one is removed, or if a stoneskin has been reduced to just 1 skin. These include additional applications of Protection From Magical Weapons, Stoneskin and Spell Turning. Expect a Time Stop, and during that pause in time, a Spell Trigger that casts Remove Magic, Death Spell and a buff on the lich.
All of the spells listed in the InfoBox are scripted for use, some in sequential order and on timed intervals. Some spells can be cast more than once, but most are single use only.
The script for the creature has little ability to assess the party's protections (other than Spell Turning), so any spells directed at the party or a particular target won't be based on any criteria other than if it is detected. So, in that regard, Deirex is not a smart opponent. If Deirex's Remove Magic fails to remove any protections from the party, then it has no way to strip away any protections and can't even cast a Breach.
Deirex can see invisible and hidden creatures by script. The party can't hide from the lich if within its detection range.
The lich is equipped with two undroppable items, one in each Ring slot. These items are used by the game engine to provide the lich with various protections and immunities to Status Effects, spells, specific damage types, weapon enchantment and other factors. The last item is the Lich's touch attack melee weapon. These items are:
- RING95.ITM For general undead protections
- LICH.ITM For specific lich protections
- LICH02.ITM is the creature's +2 enchanted touch attack melee weapon which deals piercing damage and may cause a Paralyze effect.
If Deirex is defeated, then check its body for two items it drops, as you'll need these later.
Notes[]
Deirex is not coded with Cold damage or Electricity damage resistance, as all other liches in the game are. Deirex's experience level is also well below the other liches found in BG2. Also, despite the fact that the lich used a Imprisonment animation in the cut scene, and that various older forums warn that this lich can cast this spell, Deirex is not scripted to use Imprisonment at all, and won't in the unmodified game.
Mod content[]
This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.
Installation of Sword Coast Stratagems Mod will improve Deirex's AI noticeably over the basic and unmodded EE versions of the creature. If the SCS Smarter Mages component is also installed, he will be even more formidable, in that it will utilize triggers, sequencers and contingency abilities. This component also works with the game difficulty settings, and this could mean that Deirex will also have access, and use, Mage High-level class ability. All SCS liches can see invisible creatures, and this cannot be blocked or dispelled.
SCS may make Deirex a level 28 Invoker (or it could be a Conjurer, Necromancer or Enchanter - determined randomly at installation). No statistics or immunities are changed. However, spell selection and what spells are cast will differ from the unmodded game. Deirex will prove much more of a challenge than before, especially if it is able to get off its first series of defensive buffs, which include: Spell Trap, Mirror Image, Shadow Door, Energy Blades (wizard), Protection From The Elements, SI Divination (or "Dispelling Screen" with the SR mod), Shield (spell), Protection From Magic Energy, Stoneskin, Improved Mantle (or "Mind Blank" with the SR mod), Non-Detection and Protection From Magical Weapons.
Deirex will cast spells based on the opponent's protections and vulnerabilities, and other factors. If the game difficulty setting is high enough, Deirex will use two High Level ability spells, Dragon's Breath (spell) and Comet. Deirex can cast Time Stop, summon multiple Mordenkainen's Sword creatures, Cast Ruby Ray of Reversal, Breach and Remove Magic.
SCS Liches gain a fear aura ability (that can cause a Panic effect), an innate power they may use with a fairly large area of effect. A saving throw negates, but it is unaffected by spell level protections and magic resistance. This panic inducing aura tics continuously at intervals throughout the entire battle.
If the SCS More Consistent Breach component is installed, a level 5 Breach Spell can target a Lich, which it cannot in an unmodded game. However, SCS changes Breach to be blocked by all of the Spell Protection options such as Spell Shield, Spell Deflection, Spell Turning and Spell Trap.
Mod gallery[]
