A phylactery, sometimes called a "spirit jar," was a magical vessel used by a Lich to anchor its soul and ensure immortality. The object could take many forms depending on the preferences and resources of the lich, ranging from small ornate boxes and rings to unassuming stones, preserved organs, or even entire hidden chambers. Despite the name, it was not limited to religious or sacred designs. What defined a phylactery was not its shape, but its enchantment; it served as the sole container of the lich’s true essence, allowing the body to be destroyed without ending its existence.
Once the transformation into lichdom was complete, the phylactery became inseparably bound to the creature's undeath. The lich’s soul resided in the phylactery at all times, drifting back to it whenever the physical form was destroyed. This allowed the lich to reform its body in time, so long as the phylactery remained intact and fed with fresh souls or magical energy. The phylactery was almost always hidden in a place of great secrecy, as its loss or destruction rendered the lich vulnerable to true death. Some liches placed decoys, false enchantments, or even nested phylacteries within larger magical protections.
To destroy a phylactery was not a simple matter of physical force. Most were constructed from rare Substances, often reinforced with Spells and wards that made them resistant or immune to ordinary damage. Furthermore, the enchantments binding the soul were deeply rooted in Necromancy magic, sometimes involving specific rituals or rare components to unravel. The exact method varied by phylactery, but it typically required the identification of the object, the breaking of its protective spells, and the application of a specific form of magical or spiritual force.