Baelnorn

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Elves who choose a path of Realms-bound duty beyond death can be turned into baelnorn, and these undead defenders unswervingly protect their clan and its holdings for centuries. The majority of baelnorn were spellcasters, and they maintain their mental and magical abilities in this state, though exceptions occur. They are Elven Liches who have sought undeath to become the backbone of their families, or to provide guardianship to an Elven realm, ideal, item or person.

Basics
The choice to embrce undead are allowed and considered only on rare occasions, when a clan or settlement has need of lorekeepers or defenders beyond the norm. Even if an elf truly wants to become a baelnorn for his clan's benefit, the Coronal, the High Mages, and the elders of the particular clan must all be of one mind to allow this sacrifice to be made. To the surprise of some elves, these transformations have occurred a few times in the past five millennia at the will of the Seldarine.

The method of becoming a baelnorn is a High Magic or divine ritual. Actually they do not need to use phylacteries as their undeath is gifted to them by the Seldarine. Alas this processes are uncommon, a baelnorn also might storing its soul in a magical receptacle called a phylactery.

Unlike most other forms of undead creatures, the baelnorn retains all of the memories, personality, and abilities that it possessed in life - but it has a virtual eternity to hone its skills and inevitably becomes very powerful. Like other powerful forms of undead (such as a vampire or mummy), a baelnorn has unnatural powers owing to his state. For example, he can put mortals in a paralyzed state of hibernation with a touch, making them seem dead to others, and can, through their typically powerful magical spells, summon other lesser undead to protect him. Unlike liches, baelnorn do not radiate an aura of horror which can send weak-willed would-be foes to flight. The baelnorn is capable of sustaining tremendous physical damage, and is immune to disease, poison, fatigue and other effects that affect only the living. However, despite all his undead "gifts", a lich's most valuable resources are his vast intellect, his supreme mastery of wizardry and limitless time to research, plot and scheme.

The Baelnorn's Phylactery
Some baelnorn do not use actually a phylactery, as their undeath can be also gifted to them by the Seldarine.

The following section of the paragraph contains rumors about the baelnorn's practices to avoid complete destruction, and are based on uncommon researches of baelnorns.

Some baelnorn can use clones of itself to avoid destruction. Its soul wanders to an unharmed mortal shell when killed.

Some baelnorn's soul is mystically tied to its phylactery, in that chase destroying its body will not kill it. Rather, its soul will return to the phylactery, and its body will be recreated by the power keeping it immortal. Thus the only way to permanently destroy a baelnorn is to destroy the phylactery as well. Therefore, the baelnorn will generally be extremely protective of the priceless item. The phylactery, which can be of virtually any form (usually appears as a valuable amulet or gemstone), will often be hidden in a secret place and protected by powerful spells, charms, monsters and/or other servants; the phylactery itself is usually of magical nature, meaning its destruction will generally be little easier than attaining it.

Description
Baelnorn are tall, impressive-looking undead Elves, with shriveled skin and glowing white eyes. Although undead, Baelnorn still retain some of the Elven grace that they once had, while living, breathing creatures. Over time, the Baelnorn seems to become translucent, making the creature seem even more Fey and regal.

Sustained by magic and granted life of a sort beyond nature, baelnorn appear largely as they did in life, though an immediate clue as to baelnorn is the existence of shriveled and wrinkled skin turning slightly translucent over time. Some of the oldest of baelnorn seem little more than the hint of body, hair, and skin around their skeletons. Unlike liches, this is the extent of their degeneration, and they do not fall into loose piles of bones; of course, elven unlife is similar to their lifespans, and as human liches live for centuries, no witnesses have ever reported a millennia-old baelnorn.

There is one exception to this rule, as there are exceptions to nearly every rule. Pharos, a Baelnorn who was once a High Mage, is more than nine-thousand years old. This ancient wardnorn keeps watch of the Calimemnon Crystal, the powerful gemstone that contains the physical forms of the great Genies Calim and Memnon. Pharos’ long life may be a gift from the Seldarine, to allow him to continue watching over the magical artifact. His extended lifespan may also be, in part, due to the natural magics of the Spinning Crypt of Sir’wadjen, a rounded tower that floats above the Calim Desert that is Pharos’ home.

Types of Baelnorn
Types of baelnorn are dependant and are derived from the subrace of the elf, who became the noble, unliving beign. Sun and Moon Elves make up the majority of Baelnorn. There have been no recorded instances of Aquatic Elf Baelnorn, nor have there ever been reports of Star Elf Baelnorn, Avariel Baelnorn, Lythari Baelnorn, or Drow Baelnorn. There are Wild and Wood Elf Baelnorn, but they are quite distinguishable from “ordinary” Moon and Sun Elf Baelnorn.

•	Moon And Sun Elf Barlnorn appear much like they did while living, except that they now have shriveled, dry skin, glowing pools of white mercury for eyes, and white hair that thins until it completely falls out. Often, they are quite gaunt and emaciated, especially the longer they stay “undead”.

•	Wild and Wood Elf Baelnorn are quite different. Their flesh becomes dark green and brown, and becomes as strong and resistant as petrified wood. Their hair appears very similar to moss, and their eyes glow a light amber color. Unlike other Barlnorn, these Baelnorn cannot speak. Instead, they seem to have telepathic abilities, which they use to belay their wishes to animals, and to allow the animals to communicate with them. Lore suggests that Wood and Wild Elf Baelnorn were great warriors, and that they were also inherently able to cast Dimension Doors. Wood and Wild Elf Baelnorn were only known to exist in the Vale of Lost Voices, where they stood watch and the other hand also could not leave. If any still exist today is not fully known.

Special Abilities
Baelnorn, the willing undead elves, are the elven equivalent of liches, though they are hardly as disturbingly 'wrong' as the corrupt undead and they do not project the fearsome aura of those wicked creatures.

Baelnorn also have two abilities that normal Liches do not have- the ability to turn other undead creatures, and the ability to create projections.

Like benevolent clerics, Baelnorn can turn the undead. Because they are undead themselves, Baelnorn have a “connection” with undead that allows them to do this. But, because Baelnorn are not malevolent and malignant, like other undead creatures, they can turn them.

The projection ability of a Baelnorn is very unique. The Baelnorn can create a wraith-like likeness of itself up to one mile from the Lich’s actual location. The Baelnorn can see through the projection, can talk through the projection, and can even cast spells through the projection, if Spellcasting is available to them. A Baelnorn may only create one projection of itself at a time. The link between the Baelnorn and his/her projection transcends physical and magical barriers- meaning that both physical barriers, such as a wall, and magical barriers, such as a Wall of Force to not hamper this projection. The projections of Baelnorn can even cross into the Ethereal Plane, and back. Magical dispelling does nothing to the projection, nor does a priests ability to turn and rebuke undead.

Because of its wraith-like nature, the Baelnorn’s projection cannot carry solid objects, nor can it make use of the Baelnorn’s special abilities, such as the ability to turn undead creatures. But, even though the projection cannot carry solid objects, it can interact with the material world. Baelnorn projections have been known to push against small objects, moving thing. There have even been stories of projections pushing its digits against dirt or sand, and writing messages.

Roles
Some choose to identity baelnorn by their motivations and occupations chosen in undeath. Because Baelnorn are all created for different reasons, some choose to identify different Balnorn by their motivations and duties. The three major “categories” of Baelnorn are called Watchnorns, Lorenorns, and Guardnorns/Wardnorns. Baelnorn are, by no way, limited to simply doing the duties they have been assigned. In fact, Baelnorn are all capable of as much independent action as they were in life- though social and political factors often limit what they can and can not do.

•	Watchnorns (for lurking observers and lesser guardians of public places or family lands, especially Castle Cormanthor) Watchnorns are known for being observers. In various Elven civilizations, these Baelnorn would simply act as eyes and ears for the rulers. They would also act as on-scene guardians of public places, or family lands. The Guardian Paramours were an example of a Watchnorns. The Guardian Paramours were Baelnorn that were a guardian of Castle Cormanthor, in Myth Drannor. In fact, the Guardian Paramours were the first Baelnorn to be charged with defending the Cornonal of Cormanthor, and the realm in general, instead of a particular house of clan.

•	Lorenorns (for those choosing to act as tutors, librarians, or merely students of Art beyond their normal span of years) Lorenorns are Baelnorn who act as tutors, librarians and even students of Elven lore and magic. Lorenorns teach Elven students about the Art, about Elven lore and history, and a slew of other topics. Some Lorenorns even act as students themselves, obsessed with the pursuit of lore and knowledge. The Srinshee was, at one point in her life, a Lorenorn of Myth Drannor, teaching the Armanthor, as well as the Court Magi.

•	Guardnorns or Wardnorns (for powerful guardians of crypts and other secret places or as the sole protector of particularly powerful items). Guardnorns, as known as Wardnorns, are powerful guardians of Elven crypts, items and other secret places. These Baelnorn often stay in the areas that they are charged with protecting, and the most secret of all Baelnorn. The Srinshee was a Guardnorn as well, being the guardian of the Vault of Ages.

In truth, the baelnorn are all capable of as much action and activity as a live elf, though their personal attitudes and motivations (and the social unease over the continued public presence of baelnorn) limits them to particular activities. In her time as a baelnorn, the Srinshee has acted as Wardnorn of the Vault of Ages and as the Lorenorn for the armathors and Court Magi, a great amount of activity despite her relatively hidden existence.

Evolution
While the type, Demilich exists among liches, there is no equivalent type amog baelnorn. Though some evoutioary changes are recorded in the history. (See below in the instances at the Srinshee entry.)

Alignment
A baelnorn can be of any non evil (mainly Lawfull Good) alignment, retaining whatever alignment it had in life.

Instances for Baelnorn
During the height of power of Cormanthyr, there were many Baelnorn. During the Weeping War, many perished, defending their city and their nation to their last second. A few Baelnorn are said to have survived the fall of Myth Drannor, and supposedly still inhabit the ruins, battling against Demons, Phaerimm, Alhoon, and other evil forces within the city. Several still exist on Evermeet, though only Queen Amlauril, and a few of her closest advisors, know the exact number, and how many exist.

•	In the novel Elminster in Hell, Elminster consults with a number of baelnorns beneath the ruins of Myth Drannor.

•	In the Pool of Radiance novel and game, the protector baelnorn Miroden Silverblade is kidnapped by a cult.

•	The Forgotten Realms novels The Siege and The Lost Library of Cormanthyr both include guardian baelnorn characters.

•	Tordynnar Rhaevaern is detailed in the supplement Lords of Darkness as a baelnorn archmage who has become evil and shows hatred for humans.

•	The Srinshee (also mentioned above) is no doubt the most famous baelnorn of all times. Senior Cor'Selu'Taar, Wardnorn of the Vault of Ages and as the Lorenorn for the armathors and Court Magi. She helped raise the Mythal over the now lost elven capital, Myth Drannor in 261 DR. At that time she has revived herself as an elfmaid of 300 winters. This process was unseen even in the elven history, but was seemingly repeated actually by her former apprentice Lady Arcana Elestar.

Official Material

 * Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves (zip)
 * Realmslore: Safeholds (Part Three)
 * Realmslore: Storm Silverhand's Quieter Days, Part Four

Books and Novels

 * Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
 * Lost Empires of Faerûn
 * Faiths and Pantheons
 * Lost Library of Cormanthyr
 * Elminster in Hell
 * Monsters of Faerûn
 * Sea Devil's Eye
 * Lords of Darkness
 * Pool of Radiance