[RPG] When you rejuvenate as a lich, what do you look like? What does a newly formed lich looks like

monsterspathfinder-1e

In the SRD, the lich's appearance is described as :

Once fine robes hang in tatters from this withered corpse's frame. A
pale blue light shines from where its eyes should be.

In 3.5, Monster Manual 3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 166–168 :

Liches were generally gaunt and skeletal with withered flesh stretched
tight across horribly visible bones, but could vary greatly in
appearance depending on their age. Some appeared as skeletons dressed
in regal finery, yet others might appear to be nothing more than
lepers. Bright pinpoints of crimson light burned in the empty sockets
of those whose eyes had been destroyed or otherwise lost or were so
old they had simply rotted away.

When you rejuvenate :

Rejuvenation (Su): When a lich is destroyed, its phylactery (which is
generally hidden by the lich in a safe place far from where it chooses
to dwell) immediately begins to rebuild the undead spellcaster's body
nearby. This process takes 1d10 days—if the body is destroyed before
that time passes, the phylactery merely starts the process anew. After
this time passes, the lich wakens fully healed (albeit without any
gear it left behind on its old body), usually with a burning need for
revenge against those who previously destroyed it.

My question are :

  1. what will the undead spellcaster's body look like?
  2. Will it look like it were before you were destroyed, or when you became a lich?
  3. Whats the appearance of a lich? In 3.5, Aumvor the Undying one had bloated flesh and was obese.
  4. Does any appearance affects games balance?
  5. Can it look as the caster was when he was alive?

Best Answer

The base description is, as you said, this one:

Once fine robes hang in tatters from this withered corpse's frame. A pale blue light shines from where its eyes should be.

This is a generic description so it must be adapted for every character:

  1. The undead spellcaster's body will look like the undead twisted version of the original spellcaster. Every character will see their eyes glowing in a pale blu light, some occasional rotting flesh might be spotted and the character in general will look emaciated, like if it wasn't eating for days. Obviously, a gnome lich will be small and an orc lich will be pretty big.
  2. This is opinion based, but if I was the DM, I will have you rejuvenate every time as if you never died. See it as a check point, as if your character image is saved into the phylactery, and the phylactery itself only knows one way to rejuvenate you.
  3. See point 1
  4. Sure it does, try to go in a city while you look like a lich. You will scare a lot of people ( people might die because of fear ) and guards won't be happy to have you around.. everyone that is brave enough will want to kill you.
  5. No, you are a lich, not an alive creature. Lichdom comes with it's own flaws.
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