A banshee (pronounced: /ˈbænʃi/ BÆN-shee[7]), also known as a groaning spirit,[1] or wailing ghost,[4] was a female undead phantom, typically a selfish, strong-willed spirit that embodied the essence of hideousness.[8] Oftentimes they were the spirits of elven women, whom in life had an evil alignment.[1]
Description[]
A banshee didn't have a defined shape, but rather a misty form with vague and flowing features that mirrored her former form in life. As time wore on, a banshee became more and more distorted, though was still recognizable as a humanoid.[8]
Behavior[]
Banshees tended to enjoy bringing death to any living creature that they came across.[8]
Abilities[]
Although their shape was incorporeal, the appearance of a banshee was horrific, and their mere presence would draw the energy from their surroundings to the point of stunting local floral growth.[8]
Being a form of undead, banshees were immune to all manner of spells that affected the mind, such as charm or sleep. They were also typically impervious to harm from any form of lightning and excessive cold.[1]
Combat[]
Banshees hated all living things with an unholy fury; they could sense life approaching them and would attack anyone who trespassed in their territory. Along with their terrifying visage, the mere chilling touch of a banshee would drain her victim.[8][1]
The banshee's most feared weapon was a piercing wail that was as harmful as any material weapon.[1] This scream was deadly to almost all who could hear.[8]
Variants[]
Still not something one wants to hear on a dark night. Or a bright day for that matter.
In the Utter East, banshees were considered "faerie hags" and were actually creatures of nature, not blighters of it. Their wailing lamented the destruction of the wilderness and caused harm to civilized beings who came upon them. They wore rags, had white hair and blue skin, and had no legs, and hence flew a short distance above the ground or water. They were found in the Realm of Lands, and could not, or would not, enter even the ruins of buildings.[9][note 1]
Society[]
Homelands[]
These spirits were typically found around desolate countrysides and moors.[1]
Languages[]
In the same way a banshee retained a shadow of her former appearance, she was also able to speak and understand the same languages with which she was fluent in life.[8]
Notable Banshees[]
- Agatha
- Charinidia, Grazthrae and T'riizlin were three drow who were transformed into banshees by Lolth as punishment for their vanity.[10]
Appendix[]
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See Also[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Blood & Magic's descriptions and terminology do not closely match typical D&D monsters. The Banshee unit is a neutral enemy and, though it has a wail, its description seems closer to a fey or hag creature than an undead spirit. Regardless, its depiction as a lamenting, wailing, flying spirit suits the familiar D&D banshee.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Desert of Desolation • Curse of the Azure Bonds • Nightmare Keep • Dungeon #29: "'Til Death Do Us Part" • Lost Mine of Phandelver • Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage • Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
- Referenced only
- Undermountain: Maddgoth's Castle
- Novels
- Tangled Webs
- Referenced only
- Bladesinger
- Video Games
- Blood & Magic • Treasures of the Savage Frontier • Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor • Dungeon Hack
- Referenced only
- Neverwinter Nights
- Board Games
- Tyrants of the Underdark: Aberrations and Undead • Betrayal at Baldur's Gate • Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins
- Card Games
- AD&D Trading Cards
- Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
- Mystery of Deepwater Harbor
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 50. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ Strategic Simulations, Inc. (1993). Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor. Strategic Simulations, Inc.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 23. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rob Heinsoo, Stephen Schubert (May 19, 2009). Monster Manual 2 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 117. ISBN 0786995101.
- ↑ Ed Bonny, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter (September 2002). Monster Manual II 3rd edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 30. ISBN 07-8692-873-5.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 13. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 25.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 Ed Bonny, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter (September 2002). Monster Manual II 3rd edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 30. ISBN 07-8692-873-5.
- ↑ Tachyon Studios (November 1996). Designed by Brian Fargo. Blood & Magic. Interplay.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 138. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.