Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

64
Many in Thay conceive of potential military applications
for the chosen ones, foreseeing vast legions
of these beings pouring over the borders into
Rashemen or Aglarond. Of course, the possibility of
hundreds or thousands of chosen ones abandoning
the battle and returning to Thay seeking vengeance
on their creators has prevented the use of chosen
ones in this manner-at least so far. Rumors do exist
about the Red Wizards working to develop a magical
“cure” to stabilize their transformed slaves in combat.
Ecology: Chosen ones play virtually no role in
the Thayan ecology, although they make fine slaves
when kept from combat-a very important consideration
in Thay, where much status is granted to Red
Wizards and other (self-) important Thayans by the
size of contingents of slaves and chosen ones. A rare
chosen one has been known to wander off occasionally,
leaving its duties unattended, and terrorizing
the countryside before being hunted down and
killed.
The Red Wizards do not transform all their slaves
into chosen ones, of course. Many use the threat of
this horrible, magical transformation to keep their
normal slaves in line, only transforming those recalcitrant
slaves who can be controlled in no other way.
The fact that this exact practice (transforming only
the most uncontrollable slaves) may contribute to
the chosen ones’ breaking free seemingly has yet to
occur to the arrogant, evil wizards.
History: The magicks that transform the slave
into a chosen one do not wipe out the intellect. The
chosen one is simply compelled by the magicks to
perform the tasks set it by the mage who created it.
The being that the chosen one once was knows what
it’s being forced to do and hates the mage for it.
When ordered into battle, the magic causes the
chosen one to perceive its opponents as the mage
who created it. Mistakenly seeing a chance for revenge,
the enraged chosen one fights ferociously.
Sources: Spellbound boxed set.
Darkenbeast
Magically transformed animals
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
ORGANIZATION: Flock
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Nocturnal
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Semi- (2-4)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
NO. APPEARING: Variable
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVEMENT: 3, Fl 18
HIT DICE: 5+5
THAC0: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACKS: 1d4(×2)/3d4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Dive
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Immune to mind control
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 25%
SIZE: M (4-5’)
MORALE: Steady (12)
XP VALUE: 975
The darkenbeast, also known as the death horror,
is a normal animal that has been magically transformed
into a savage, evil creature under the control
of the mage who transformed it.
A darkenbeast resembles a cross between a miniature
wyvern and a pterodactyl. It has a black, reptilian
hide, a sharp beaklike mouth, talons the size of
daggers, and dimly glowing red eyes. A typical darkenbeast
is four to five feet in length and has a wingspan
of six to eight feet.
Combat: When in flight, a darkenbeast attacks
with its beaklike mouth and talons. In the round a
darkenbeast first enters combat, it dives on its target,
gaining a +2 bonus on its attack roll. A darkenbeast
caught on the ground is virtually immobile, but can
still attack with its beak.
Darkenbeasts suffer a -1 penalty to their attack
rolls if they’re exposed to a bright light (continual
light or greater).
All darkenbeasts operate under the direct telepathic
control of the mage who cast the alteration
spell that transformed the animals in darkenbeasts,
and do not check Morale unless the mage loses con-