Aquatic remnants were a type of aquatic undead related to ghosts that were found in the Domains of Dread and the Border Ethereal. These sorrowful spirits arose from the bodies of demihumans and humans whose corpses were callously tossed aside into unconsecrated waters after they had died of exhaustion and acute stress.[1] They sometimes appeared on the world of Toril, acting as servants of the goddess Umberlee.[2][note 1]
Description[]
These undead appeared as no more than melancholic faces with empty eye sockets and pale floating hands, elusively flickering within the water. The rest of their body, through present to some degree, always seemed to fade away into the depths of water, leaving no sight of their legs.[1]
Behavior[]
Aquatic remnants were not always hostile to the living, not sharing the hatred that many other ghostly undead did. Though they would not hesitate to attack any member of the race that had caused their condition and could even be found aiding those who fought against people who had mistreated the aquatic remnant in life.[1]
Abilities[]
Much like a ghost, these creatures were ethereal beings that could materialize themselves. When semi-materialized the cold, wet touch of their hands chilled to the bone any corporeal creature they touched, putting them at risk of hypothermia. However, if an aquatic remnant so chose their touch could inflict no harm, allowing them to grasp a corporeal creature's hands and pull them into the water to perform a brief "mouth-to-mouth resuscitation". This eerie ritual partly drew the corporeal creature into the Border Ethereal, essentially conveying upon them the ability to breath water so long as they continued to hold one of the aquatic remnant's semi-materialized hand.[1]
When in this semi-materialized state they could be harmed by silver or magical weaponry, as well as holy water, and could be turned in a manner equivalent to a normal ghost. When not in this state they could only be harmed by creatures that were likewise ethereal.[1]
Ecology[]
Materially these spirits were typically confined to the bodies of water wherein their corpse had been abandoned, such as pools or rivers, but beyond they were trapped within the Border Ethereal until someone could perform a ritual burial surface over their remains.[1]
Languages[]
These spirits could only be communicated with through magical means.[1]
History[]
Around the Year of the Tankard, 1370 DR, an Umberlant priest was erratically preaching around the docks of Ravens Bluff that a cataclysm was on the horizon, becoming more fanatical and less friendly with those around him.[3] The priest had sensed the approach of an event in the Domains of Dread known as the Grand Conjunction, which would weaken the boundary between the two planes of existence and allow for portals to open sporadically between the two. One portal in particular remained open for over a tenday,[4] allowing a sea spawn master named Otis Fashion to come through.[5]
Having been informed about the priest at Tym's Supple Leather Shoppe,[3] a group of Ravenian adventurers approached the aging priest and acquired his aid in defeating the horrid humanoid invaders. The priest pinpointed Otis Fashion's lair to a sunken barge, 200 yards (180 meters) away and 10 fathoms deep, from the shores of Ravens Bluff.[5] Knowing that the adventurers would need some means of water breathing to reach their foe, the Umberlant loudly upon his goddess and she sent forth nine aquatic remnants to aid the heroes, all of whom had suffered at the hands of Otis Fashion.[6]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ While the Umberlant preist receiving aquatic remnants from Umberlee could be construed as a unique circumstance, brought about by the Grand Conjunction's weakening of dimensional barriers, there are plenty of examples of Faerûnian gods calling upon creatures from the Domains of Dread as favored monsters, such as will o'deeps acting in service to Ibrandul (Faiths & Avatars, p. 72).
Appearances[]
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
External Links[]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.
- Aquatic Remnant article at Mistipedia, a wiki for the Ravenloft campaign setting run by The Fraternity of Shadows.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Kirk Botulla, Shane Hensley, Nicky Rea, Teeuwynn Woodruff (1994). Monstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness. Edited by William W. Connors. (TSR, Inc.), p. 94. ISBN 1-56076-914-9.
- ↑ Ed Gibson (May 1996). Slaves to Fashion. Living City (RPGA), p. 11.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ed Gibson (May 1996). Slaves to Fashion. Living City (RPGA), p. 8.
- ↑ Ed Gibson (May 1996). Slaves to Fashion. Living City (RPGA), p. 2.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ed Gibson (May 1996). Slaves to Fashion. Living City (RPGA), pp. 9–12.
- ↑ Ed Gibson (May 1996). Slaves to Fashion. Living City (RPGA), pp. 11–12.