Farastu

Farastus were the most common and lowest-ranking of the demodands.

Description
A farastu was about 7 ft high but far bigger specimens existed too. Its body was badly emaciated, had long limbs, an oblong head, and constantly oozed a thick black tar-like substance that trickled down to the ground. This adhesive slime made it easy for the farastu to climb. A farastu could stop the secretion of this flammable substance whenever it wanted, but it took about 10 minutes renew the coating. The substance lost its adhesiveness after 1 minute after the farastu's death.

Personality
A farastu's primary personality trait was its cruelty and arrogance against creatures who weren't kelubars or shators, the higher-ranking demondands.

Like every other kind of demodand, they thought of themselves as the jailors and wardens of the entire population of Carceri and forced their idea of order onto them. They made no distinction between creatures like petitioners, who belonged in the Tarterian Depths, and others like travelers. They thought everybody on Carceri was their charge to be watched and even went as far as pursuing those who escaped from the Red Prison.

Their cruelty showed itself in their behavior towards their charges. They were the lowest-ranking of the demodands and pushed others around with threats of violence, when they weren't around their superiors. Despite being the self-appointed wardens, they actually wanted their charges to try to escape because it allowed them a chance to vent their frustrations about their low rank on potential escapee.

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