Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

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If not currently engaged in melee such activities do
not count as actions, though they can deflect no
more than three missiles per round. Once engaged in
melee, each deflection attempt costs a shadevar one
attack.
Habitat/Society: Little is well known of the
shadevari, but their history is apparently recounted
in the Book of Shadows, a mystical tome currently in
the possession of a mage in Iriaebor. Only 13 of these
beasts ever existed according to legend, and they left
or were forced from Toril long ago. In the events described
below, at least four of these beings were encountered
and destroyed. What this bodes for the
race as a whole is not known at this time.
Ecology: It has been verified that the Shadevari
lack eyes and seem to track their prey by scent and
by noise. The latter also may explain the creatures’
uncanny ability to swat missile weapons from the air;
the beasts’ sensitive hearing detects the whistling of
the missile through the air and pinpoints its position
and trajectory, at which time the creature can dodge
or knock the weapon aside. At least one sage has
also promoted the theory that the shadevari navigate
through the world using the same high-pitched
sounds that some bats use. If this is true, it means a
magical silence effect might blind the creatures. (If
you as a DM choose this option, then the shadevari’s
AC worsens by 4 and they lose the ability to swat at
missile weapons successfully.)
History: The first recorded occurrence of shadevari
in modern-day Faerûn was in 1364 DR. One of
these creatures was sent by Snake, a shade in the service
of the Shadowking, after the Harpers Caledan
Caldorien, Mari Al’maren, and their allies. After a
long pursuit and several battles, the beast was de-
stroyed.
Not long after that, another new Shadowking
began to make his presence known in the Realms.
This was Caledan Caldorien. Feeling a part within
him changing, he fled from his friends and loved
ones, fearing for their safety. These same friends
went after him, unaware of the reason for his flight.
As the evil within him grew, Caledan developed a
split personality. He fought to retain control, but the
evil of the Shadowking would overpower him at
times and cause havoc. The undead beings known as
shadows were under the Shadowking’s control, as
were all the “shadow magic” wizard spells. With
these tools, the Shadowking wreaked much havoc
and grew in strength. The evil within Caledan also
released not one but three shadevari into the Realms
to pursue and kill the Harper’s friends.
After a long journey and many trials, the heroes
came upon the Shadowking’s “birth.” While unable
to prevent the event, they mortally wounded the
newborn king while fighting the shadevari. The heroes
knew that killing the Shadowking could well
cost their friend his life as well.
Fortunately, the shadevari were destroyed under
unique circumstances, and Caledan emerged from
the king’s corpse, just barely alive. The prospects for
his long-term survival do not appear to be good.
Sources: Crypt of the Shadowking, Curse of the
Shadowmage.