Interesting. Most stories seem to think it's a post-death situation.

[ He's not picky, anyway, now. Just knows that he can't ask too specific of questions tot his guy. ]

It seems unnecessary to turn a living person into someone not.

[ This is as tactful as he's going to get. But - he's finished, and he'll reveal the work to the ...lich. It's perfect to the detail because he wouldn't dare produce anything less. ]