| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| TheIriaeban |
Posted - 22 Sep 2022 : 19:23:22
I have been digging around and I cannot determine what a specific monster is. Here is the description:
It is bipedal. It has a large mouth with fangs. It has talons as well as horns. It is intelligent. There was no indication of any kind of drain in it's attack so I do not believe it is connected to the Negative Plane.
Based on the encounter it was in, I would say that it is a Prime creature that had the Shadow creature template applied to it. I would just like to determine which Prime creature it could be. Any suggestion would be appreciated. |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 23 Sep 2022 : 20:46:04
If there were wings... I'd say shadow demon. Click the 2e button on the below link for an image from that time period.
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Shadow_demon |
| HighOne |
Posted - 23 Sep 2022 : 15:04:29
That description is vague enough to apply to any number of demons and devils, including the Balor.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/16797-balor
That said, I agree with Ayrik: the monster was most likely invented by the author. |
| TheIriaeban |
Posted - 23 Sep 2022 : 14:46:53
quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
Are you talking about the shadevari?
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Shadevar
Polyhedron #93 and Villain's Lorebook.
I do not believe so. When I looked for a description of one in the book, it was very different than the one given for the creature at the beginning. The shadevari are completely physical with a surface texture. What was seen at the beginning of the book was more like an animated shadow.
Hmmm, now that I said that and given who is doing the animating, I think I have a better idea of what is happening.
Background: This is for research to give the Shadowstar a major power that fits in with what was seen in the novels and could exist logically outside of the story narrative and within the rules of the game. My initial thought is that is a summoning given the shadevari were summoned/released. Now, I believe it is Caldorien's shadow control abilities being "supercharged" by the curse.
Given that line of reasoning, I am now of the opinion that the Shadowstar magnifies the wielder's ability to control shadows to allow them to cause real, physical damage snd the range at which that can happen. Imagine someone sending an army against him when every shadow within 5 miles of him suddenly animates and starts attacking those forces. Unless you had a very good understanding of his powers, you may not be able to understand or counter that. It could also be why it had to be someone with the same ability (and understanding of how it works) to defeat a fully-transformed Shadowking.
|
| TheIriaeban |
Posted - 23 Sep 2022 : 14:12:13
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
I think it's likely the creature was whatever it needed to be for the narrative, regardless of rules and lore.
The novel is circa 1995. So it could've drawn from 1E/2E material - or from any other inspiration outside D&D - but it predated 3E and the whole late-3E fixation on shades and shadovars.
I would guess it's a shadow - the basic undead monster. Maybe a wight. Maybe even a demi-shadow monster or other illusion.
If the prologue scene was written from the perspective of the monster's victim then the monster might've been depicted in an exaggerated fashion, more big more scary more evil, etc.
It COULD be an illusion of the demi-shadow type since someone was there "initiating" the encounter. It could also be a completely new monster created for the story. If that is the case, then I would say it is probably a variation of the Shadeling that was summoned by someone. I was just hoping the author used an existing monster that could be identified. |
| ericlboyd |
Posted - 23 Sep 2022 : 12:31:39
Are you talking about the shadevari?
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Shadevar
Polyhedron #93 and Villain's Lorebook. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 23 Sep 2022 : 06:30:21
I think it's likely the creature was whatever it needed to be for the narrative, regardless of rules and lore.
The novel is circa 1995. So it could've drawn from 1E/2E material - or from any other inspiration outside D&D - but it predated 3E and the whole late-3E fixation on shades and shadovars.
I would guess it's a shadow - the basic undead monster. Maybe a wight. Maybe even a demi-shadow monster or other illusion.
If the prologue scene was written from the perspective of the monster's victim then the monster might've been depicted in an exaggerated fashion, more big more scary more evil, etc. |
| TheIriaeban |
Posted - 23 Sep 2022 : 01:29:35
It is from the prologue of Curse of the Shadowmage.
Yeah, it doesn't really have much, description-wise. I would say it is bigger than a person and there are no special abilities beyond being fast. It COULD be a monster from the Plane of Shadow but I looked at all the ones I know of and none of them match the description. That is why I was thinking it COULD be a prime creature with the shadow creature template applied (that should open things up a bit). |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 23 Sep 2022 : 00:30:00
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
That is a little too vague. It could be anything from pit fiend to a kender.
Where was this creature shown or described, what is the original source?
Kender have claws?
The monster might be custom, shade template is believed, so I suspect an encounter in adventure. Maybe novel as source? |
| Azar |
Posted - 23 Sep 2022 : 00:17:25
For some reason, I thought "Ethereal Marauder", but Ethereal Marauders do not possess horns and "Intelligence: 7" may not be intelligent enough. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 23 Sep 2022 : 00:05:37
That is a little too vague. It could be anything from pit fiend to a kender.
Where was this creature shown or described, what is the original source? |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 22 Sep 2022 : 21:26:43
That's rather vague, I'm afraid... Any other specifics you could offer? Size? Coloration? Special attacks, defenses, abilities, movement types? Any kind of magic usage? |
