Hierarch - Sorcerer

A Hierarch is what you would call a Sorcerer that goes through the process to become a class of Lich. Sorcerers get their magic from their bloodline, the Hierarch can be the start of that bloodline. That does not mean that every sorcerer bloodline starts with a Hierarch and not every Hierarch is the start. However, when a sorcerer becomes a Hierarch, that bloodline is now tainted and the sole purpose of it is for the Hierarch

The Phylactery for the Hierarch is their bloodline. They anchor themselves to their lineage and so long as they have offspring remaining on the same plane as them, they cannot truly die

The Hierarch must perform another ritual every generation. They will seek out a member of their own lineage, preferably one who is strong either physically or powerful in the ways of the arcane. They will then groom that individual and prepare them for a sacrificial ritual so that the Hierarch can abduct the body of the chosen. The soul of the sacrifice is then added to the Hierarch's anchor, increasing its power

The Hierarchy's greatest strength is that defeating one becomes a moral quandary and not just a means of ability. Most people and law-abiding factions or nations would have difficulty with wiping out a family line with potential innocence and children amongst them. The strength is also a weakness. They need to sacrifice someone to the ritual every generation, meaning they need their lineage to continue at all costs. But they also run the risk of consuming it themselves. If the Hierarchy is ever discovered, they would attempt to locate their next in line and kidnap them if necessary to keep them safe. Despite the Hierarchy needing a family line to remain alive, it would seem that the ritual puts a sudo curse on their blood. Most branches that stem from a Hierarch family tree don't last long and the people born into tend to die early save for the strong few that the Hierarch is sure to keep track of