Farastu

Farastus (, also known as tarry demodands or tarry leths were the lowest-ranking of the demodands. They received their namesake from the tar-like substance they exuded from their unsightly forms and were despised by the other denizens of Tarterus.

Description
Farastus were the most slender of the demodands, standing tall and weighing somewhere between. Their bodies were badly emaciated with elongated limbs, long-nailed hands and possibly wings. Their large, oblong heads hosted massive jaws laden with teeth. A black, viscous, tar-like substance coated their grotesque frames, constantly oozing and trickling to the ground.

Personality
Farastu were hateful creatures made angry and vengeful by their low position in demodand society. Despite knowing their purpose from the beginning of their existence, their lack of power left them incapable of fulfilling it, leaving them full of resentment. Higher ranking demodands persecuted the farastu and so when unsupervised, they in turn bullied entities weaker than themselves. Their cruelty and malevolence were allowed to fully manifest when not being watched by their superiors and escape attempts by their wards were seen as enjoyable opportunities to express their rage.

They were especially irritable towards summoners that tore them from Carceri, attempting to kill them or at least disobey their orders, regardless of the importance of the task at hand. Farastus were as intelligent as the average human and when forced to conduct a service against their will, plotted revenge against their supposed master. In an attempt to exact revenge upon the world they would destroy nearby lands and enslave native populations.

Combat
A farastu had sharp claws and a mouth filled with teeth, which it used to bite its enemies.

Physical Abilities
As mentioned above, a farastu's body secreted a tar-like substance. This substance was very adhesive and if someone hit the farastu with a weapon, chances were that the weapon remained stuck on the farastu. Farastus used their adhesive coating also in a offensive fashion. It allowed them to easily disarm and subdue their enemies in a grapple. Farastu often then used the weapons against their owners.

The farastus could undergo a lengthy and painful process of self-liquefaction into the secretion they most frequently exuded. These pools of tar and slime could be bottled and stored for centuries as a kind of "instant army".

Another ability was to rage like a barbarian. It made them physically stronger, more durable, mentally stronger, and enhanced their ability to subdue enemies.

It was hard to hide from or stealthily approach a farastu because they had an acute sense of smell, which allowed them to detect such foes.

A farastu was also completely immune to poison and acid, and had protection against fire and cold, non-magical physical attacks, and had strong defenses against magic.

Magical abilities
Farastus could cast detect magic, clairaudience/clairvoyance, fear, invisibility, and tongues as often as they wanted; fog cloud and ray of enfeeblement three times per day; and dispel magic twice per day.

Another magical ability they had was the ability to summon one to four other farastus once per day, though this had only a 30% chance of success.

Society
Farastus were the lowest-ranking but also the most numerous of the demodands, the (self-appointed) wardens of the Red Prison. They were tasked with menial labor by the kelubars and shators. They appeared either alone, in teams of two to four individuals, or in squads of six to ten individuals.

There were a number of reasons why one could be found on other planes like the Prime Material plane. One was as bounty hunters to bring back escapees from Carceri.

They were servants of Vhaeraun, a drow god from Carceri, and were sent by him to Toril.

They were also found on the Supreme Throne, the realm of the mad god Cyric.

Farastus could be summoned by using a summon monster IX spell.

History
Farastus were somehow responsible for the imprisonment of the entire demodand race on Carceri from another plane, something that bought them the loathing of the kelubars and shators.

Appearances

 * City of Gold