Kir-lanan, also known as black gargoyles, stalkers, and the godless, were gargoyle-like creatures that appeared on Toril during the Time of Troubles in 1358 DR.[2]
Description[]
Appearing similar to the more common gargoyle, kir-lanan had huge bat-like wings and a muscular humanoid form that was covered in fine scales. Their skin color generally varied in hues ranging from dark blues and violets to black, although kir-lanan could sometimes be found with skin colors of brown, gray, green, or even dark red. Strikingly, the kir-lanan had hard, pointed teeth and claws with short horns cresting their temples.[2]
Although they tended to wrap their bodies in tight cloth—along with various ivory, metal and stone adornments—much of their thick skin was typically visible along their arms and wings.[2]
Personality[]
Since their arrival in 1358 DR, the kir-lanan held an unrelenting enmity towards all deities.[2] This dislike of the gods was such that the kir-lanan never worshiped any of them and consequently never made use of divine magic.[3]
They tended to speak Common and their own language.[1]
Abilities[]
Kir-lanans' bodies were infused with negative energy, enabling them to enhance their natural attacks to damage and weaken living creatures.[2] The presence of this energy within their bodies also had the unusual consequence that they were affected by negative and positive energy in much the same way as undead, despite being living creatures: they suffered injury from sources of positive energy and were healed by sources of negative energy, such as the touch of a fellow kir-lanan.[3] They generally shied away from displays of positive energy, such as a cleric using their power to turn undead. They themselves had an ability to rebuke undead, but were completely incapable of casting divine spells or utilizing magic that entailed positive energy.[3]
A kir-lanan could project a beam of energy that debilitated their opponent, much like the spell ray of enfeeblement.[3]
Combat[]
Kir-lanan preferred to attack from the air,[1] and would fight with their claws rather than weapons, although they were sometimes known to enter battle with them. Since negative energy infused their bodies, a mere touch would allow them to administer deadly attacks,[2] and some developed the power to project this negative energy with their words.[1]
Society[]
A kir-lanan in the Underdark.
When they first appeared in the mid-to-late 14th century DR, kir-lanan generally disdained working with others, even among their own kind. When they did band together, these were in small groups—which they referred to as "wings"—led by the strongest among them. These groups were liable to dissolve and reform as the kir-lanan constantly vied for power between themselves. The coming together of a wing was generally when breeding occurred. No social distinction was made between males and females in their culture—only power was prized as a reason for respect—and it was invariably the weaker of the two parents who raised a child.[3]
By the late 15th century DR, kir-lanan society had become much more orderly and complex, largely as a consequence of coming under the influence of the goddess Shar. They lived in settlements known as rookeries, and adhered to a strict caste system. The lowest caste were known as "wings", and it was those who displayed stealth and cunning—rather than raw power—who were elevated to the second caste, known as "eyes", who served as spies and assassins. The highest caste, known as "voices", received the will of Shar to communicate to the rest of the rookery.[1]
Most kir-lanan trained as fighters, with a number also studying as sorcerers or necromancers and a few becoming rangers.[3]
Homelands[]
Kir-lanan were known to occasionally be found in the High Forest[4] and in the Underdark.[5]
History[]
Kir-lanan appeared in Faerûn during the Time of Troubles in the Year of Shadows, 1358 DR as a by-product of the deaths of the gods Bane, Bhaal and Myrkul. The divine and negative energy released from these deities' deaths caused several hundred kir-lanan to be spawned into existence.[6] They existed outside of divine influence,[1] and were actively hostile to all gods and their followers, whom they called "godslaves."[3]
However, their hatred made it possible to manipulate them, and gradually they came to form an alliance with and ultimately serve—ironically—a deity.[1] Beginning in the Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, the church of Shar began making overtures to the kir-lanan, proposing that they alone had the will and desire to make war upon all other faiths, not unlike the kir-lanan themselves.[7] They succeeded in coaxing the kir-lanan into service, drawing them in with Shar's doctrine of "ultimate dissolution." By the Year of the Ageless One, 1479 DR, all kir-lanan served Shar, with their leaders being those who received her commands and their numbers being scattered across Faerûn to assist her faithful. Ironically, they had become "godslaves" as much if not more so than most other groups.[1]
Notable Kir-lanan[]
- Ghindul, leader of the Howling Wing in 1372 DR.[5]
- Phaikkul, leader of the Screeching Wing in 1372 DR.[5]
- Kzntharris, an emissary to the chruch of Shar in 1372 DR.[7]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
- City of the Spider Queen
- Lords of Darkness
- Silver Marches: "Blood and Gold"
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 241. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 312. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 313. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 44. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 James Wyatt (September 2002). City of the Spider Queen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 59. ISBN 0-7869-1212-X.
- ↑ Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds (October 2001). Lords of Darkness. Edited by Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 145. ISBN 07-8691-989-2.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 155. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.