Cloning

Cloning was the process of creating an exact duplicate of a living being, in body and mind. There were several known ways of creating clones, also referred to as husks, each of which varied in the effects they produced.

Description
Clones differed in appearance, longevity, and consciousness, depending on the means in which they were created.

Effects
The cloning of an individual could potentially take a profound effect on them, as well as the duplicate that was created. It was said that if both a living person and their clone existed at the same time, one or each individual would be afflicted with madness.

Certain powerful spells that compelled individuals to action—such as Geas/Quest―automatically transferred from a person to their clone.

Usage
The process of cloning was often used to preserve the consciousness and essence―in effect the very soul ―of the recently deceased, specifically in cases where they could not be resurrected. Some well-funded adventurers were known to commission clones as a form "insurance" in the case of an unexpected and horrific death accompanied by dismemberment or loss of their corpse.

Wealthy and vain individuals sometimes used clones to retain their youthful appearance for years on end. They commissioned powerful wizards to create clones that aged at a slower rate that natural-born individuals.

While baelnorns did not make use of phylacteries as other liches, some were known to employ the use of clones.

Magic
There were several known ways to create a clone of a living person. The most well known means were two distinctly different necromancy spells, clone and stasis clone.

Stasis clone on worked in similar manner, with two key differences: the created clone remained preserved in a state of non-decay, so long as its progenitor remained alive, and the clone remained unaware of its origin, nor the existence of whom it duplicated.

There also existed a means to create clones using an ancient form of blood magic developed by the creator races. These copies

The shadovar archmage Telamont Tanthul was said to have developed a "multiple clone" spell that could grow numerous clones from a single appendage or even an object taken from an individual.

Other
In the empire of Nethril, the arcanist Halavar developed a machine called a universal pantrograph that duplicated any item placed within, including organic material. This machine facilitated a more-perfect means of cloning, copying an individual and their personality with exacting accuracy. The device was unfortunately lost to the ages.

Centuries later, powerful individuals developed less more rudimentary means of non-magical cloning, using human-sized tanks filled with unidentified chemicals. The clones produced by these methods unfortunately shared the same limited consciousness and insanity as suffered by those created with magical spells. The alchemist Thessalar of the Temple of Moloch, and Jon Irenicus of Athkatla, both experimented with this method of cloning.

The Spire of Iriolarthas, which broke off from the Netherese enclave of Ythryn, house a rune-inscribed chamber that could transform illusors creatures into living beings. It was believed this room could transform simulacrums into living clones.

Ecology
Most societies across the Realms enacted laws that granted clones inheritance of their progenitor's estate. They were given full legal benefits as were granted to any other living citizen.

History
Long before the formation of Faerûn and other continents, during the Days of Thunder era, the ancient sarrukh experimented with dark, necromantic magic that allowed them to create 'blood copies' living beings. This form of cloning required only the blood of a living, sentient creature.

During the time of ancient Netheril, an ally of the archmage Chantonay created a clone spell-effect in the prison of Eileanar enclave. This echo effect created a duplicate of any person that came into contact with the spell ward. Any clones created in this way had an expected life of several months, and had a significantly lower chance of succumbing to clone-induced insanity.

In the years leading up to the mid–to–late 14 century DR, Manshoon of the Zhentarim famously delved into the art of cloning. When Manshoon was slain his former allies in the, the many clones of the Zhent leader awakened at once and attempted to slay his murderers. Malevolent archmages appeared across the Realms, each convinced they were the "real" Manshoon, and absolutely determined to kill any other fakes on sight. The subsequent conflicts that arose came to be known as the Manshoon Wars. After most of the clones were slain, it was believed that only three managed to survive the whole ordeal.

Decades later, sometime before the, the Tethyrian noblewoman Evonne Linden discovered secrets related to sarrukh cloning techniques in the jungles of Chult. She used the technology to transfer her spirit into the body of her daughter Ysabel. Unlike other clones that lasted only a few months, Evonne managed to live as her daughter for at least a decade's time.

During the late 15 century DR, the hags of the Sewn Sisters coven in the Tomb of the Nine Gods were known to create degraded clones of adventurers that ventured within the terrifying dungeon. Unlike other clones, these duplicates did not exactly resemble the adventurers and shared with them a mental link that could be exploited by their dark fey creators.

Notable Clones

 * Alias,
 * Fai Chen, a famous planes-traveling merchant who cloned themself to escape the Wandering Emporium on Avernus.
 * Jim Darkmagic, who was cloned after the death curse struck the Realms. The clone was subsequently traded by Omin Dran to an unnamed devil.
 * Manshoon, at least one clone of the Zhentarim archmage relocated to Waterdeep during or before the 15 century, having been one of the three survivors of the Manshoon Wars.
 * Orbakh, the vampire regent of Westgate and clone of the original Manshoon, who was destroyed in a spell-duel with Elminster.
 * Orlgaun, the black dragon that laired in the dungeons beneath Tower High in Zhentil Keep.
 * Sememmon, Manshoon's appreciate who has returned to life several times by the use of clones.
 * Shradin Mulophor, the Netherese necromancer who served as the lord of Skullport in name only.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Tomb of Annihilation • Waterdeep: Dragon Heist • Infernal Machine Rebuild
 * Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
 * Novels & Fiction
 * The Fanged Crown • Sage of Shadowdale (Bury Elminster Deep • Elminster Enraged)
 * A Little Knowledge
 * Adventurers League
 * Dreams of the Red Wizards (''The Harrowing of Hell')
 * Once in Waterdeep
 * Dreams of the Red Wizards (''The Harrowing of Hell')
 * Once in Waterdeep
 * Once in Waterdeep