Soul scepter

Overview
The soul scepter is an item infused with the essence of a creature. The item is not necessarily literally a scepter but some of the most soul vessels have been in fact scepters and thus the term has been used to describe any such item. An alternate term for this item is phylactery.

Voluntarily infusion of essence
[TO-DO] This is the only path to becoming a lich - the ultimate undead creature with an indestructible body.

Involuntary infusion of essence
When an essence is forced into a soul scepter without permission, the soul is said to have been imprisoned. Rituals needed to do this foul and evil act are possessed by alchemists and necromancers and this act is considered as one of the most disgustingly vile things that can be done. The creature whose essence is stolen dies slowly as the controlling spirit is no longer present. These imprisoned souls can then be used to fuel very black magic rituals such as summoning demons. Particularly nasty individuals use these souls as commodities to be traded or sold to demonologists. Usually when a soul is expended thusly, the scepter shatters into pieces. The soul scepter can be made of any material but quite commonly the ritual seems to succeed better if the material used is expensive, intricate or somehow unique.

Famous scepters
[TO-DO]
 * The ruby inlaid silver chalice of the lich lord Tomas Vladovych. It's location is unknown.