Cloning

Cloning was the process of creating an exact duplicate of a living being, by replicating both their body and mind. There were several known ways of creating clones, also referred to as husks, each of which produced slightly different results.

"My father said that blood copies are the pinnacle of what necromantic magic can achieve."

- Verran, a young warlock from Tethyr.

Description
Clones differed in appearance, longevity, and consciousness, depending on the means in which they were created. One common characteristic among the various varieties of clones, was that they all appeared nearly identical to the person of which they were a copy.

Usage
"Elminster was destroyed. The original Elminster, that is―for of course the fool would have copied Manshoon's brilliant ploy, and crafted clones of himself. Any archmage would."

- The paranoid ideations of Orbakh, one of three surviving Manshoon clones.

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.

Effects
The process of cloning could profoundly affect the psyche of both the target individual 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. More often than not the duplicate succumbed to this mental deterioration.

Some methods of cloning did not allow for the transferal of spellcasting abilities. Clones created by those means were readily more identifiable as duplicates, whenever it became apparent they could not wield magical powers as expected.

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

Creation
"What a tortured creature that clone-thing was. She was a copy? A copy of another person? I wonder why Irenicus made her? I doubt he took pleasure in her company, he's beyond that. He's fascinated with death."

- Imoen, when trapped within Irenicus' dungeon.

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. The spell clone allowed a spellcaster to create a perfect copy of an individual, in body and mind, often to be used as a vessel for their consciousness in the case of their death. It could take up to four to eight months for a clone made in this way to fully mature.

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. This process involved the blood of an individual, combined with necromantic magic, fed into a gruesome machine that spawned the clone. These clones did not exhibit the full range of personality as others, possessed no free will for much of their existence, and primarily sought only to serve their creator. The lifespans of these 'husk clones' lasted only months, thought it was believed that could be extended to years or even decades.

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 Netheril, 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 illusory 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
"To most of Faerun, the magic is lost. But the sarrukh, the progenitors of the Scaly Ones, had the knowledge..."

- Majida.

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 had focused much of his time and resources in perfecting the art of cloning. When Manshoon was slain his former allies Fzoul Chembryl and Lord Orgauth in the, about a dozen or so clones the Zhent leader awakened at once and immediately attacked his murderers. Malevolent archmages appeared across the Realms―in Cormyr, the Dalelands, Darkhold and beyond―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, the living construct created by the disgraced Harper-turned-deity, Finder Wyvernspur
 * Ellesime, several imperfect clones of the elven queen of Suldanessellar were made by her former partner Joneleth.
 * Fai Chen, a famous planes-traveling merchant who cloned themself to escape the Wandering Emporium on Avernus.
 * Halaster Blackcloak, the Mad Mage of Undermountain who created innumerable clones of himself.
 * 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 of Waterdeep, one of three surviving clones of Manshoon prime who went onto to lead the Zhentarim of Waterdeep in the late 15 century DR.
 * 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 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.
 * Xeleth and Xedalli, the royal children of the elven Xaryxian Empire kept clones of themselves in case of their unfortunate deaths.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Tomb of Annihilation • Waterdeep: Dragon Heist • Infernal Machine Rebuild • Light of Xaryxis
 * 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
 * Card Games
 * Once in Waterdeep
 * Card Games
 * Card Games