OK so this is a several days late. I had a bad weekend. So sue me ! :)

For what its worth a non BR source (Faiths & Avatars pg. 4) holds that a
failure to raise ones self to demi-godhood results in the aspirant becoming
a Lich. However if "an established divine being" sponsored the attempt then
the apirant either ascended, continued to live, or became a high level
servant of the sponsor depending on the desire of the sponsor and whether
the ritual was properly carried out. While you may not like FR this product
was very well done imnsho.

L8R