Acererak’s Robe [Major Artifact]

This horrific garment purportedly belonged to the most deceptive and pernicious lich who ever existed (although some legends attribute the robe’s creation to Vecna rather than Acererak). The robe is worn and slightly tattered but still intact. It appears, to both mundane and mystical examination, to be a robe of the archmagi, with an alignment matching that of the individual studying it. Any observer with reason to doubt can attempt a DC 30 Will save to disbelieve. Success indicates that the character knows the robe is not a robe of the archmagi, but he still does not know the truth of the robe’s nature.

Acererak’s robe grants the wearer all the abilities normally associated with the robe of the archmagi, regardless of alignment. It also bestows the benefits of death ward on the wearer. Its most potent ability, however, is its control over life and death. Three times per day, the wearer can cast finger of death with a touch (not at range), as a 20th-level caster. Anyone slain in this manner instantly rises as a zombie, as per the animate dead spell, under the control of the robe’s wearer. The wearer can control a number of Hit Dice of undead equal to 4 times his Hit Dice; this is calculated separately from any other ability he might have to control undead.

Unfortunately for the wearer, the robe has a will of its own when it comes to slaying and animating others. Anytime the wearer touches another living being, the robe might (10% chance) activate its finger of death ability on its own⁠—​even if the wielder has already voluntarily used finger of death three times that day. Further, the robe might (5% chance) cast finger of death at range anytime a living being spends more than 5 minutes within 20 feet of the wearer. Individuals slain under these circumstances also animate as zombies, but they are not under the control of the wearer of the robe. They do not attack him, although they will fight him in self-defense, but they follow him constantly and attack any other living beings they see.

Once donned, the robe can only be removed by a miracle or wish. Acererak’s robe can only be destroyed if it is first coated in dust taken from a demilich⁠—​some legends maintain that it must be from Acererak himself⁠—​and then burned in holy fire, such as that produced by a flame strike spell, cast by a 20th-level caster.

Source: Heroes of Horror, page 133.