Ghazneth

Merendil the Bloody, Scourge of War.
Ghazneth
2nd Edition Statistics
Size	Medium
Alignment	LG NG CG LN N CN LE NE CE
General Information
Activity cycle	Any
Diet	Magic
Homeland(s)	Cormyr
Intelligence	High, Exceptional, Genius

The ghazneths were seven fell fiends created by Nalavarauthatoryl from prominent members of Cormyrean royalty and nobility who had betrayed Cormyr in some way.

Powers

Even a single ghazneth was incredibly deadly, displaying phenomenal power and lighting-fast speed. A single ghazneth could easily wipe out even large patrols of the Purple Dragons and contingents of the War Wizards. The ghazneths' wings were able to shield the ghazneth almost completely from magical attacks and the ghazneths themselves were able to absorb magical energy, draining magical items and greatly reducing the duration of spells cast upon them.

Ghazneths also had the ability to detect magic and could intercept telepathic communication. They used this to great effect by tracking both Princess Tanalasta Obarskyr and Princess Alusair Obarskyr as both were heavily laden with Obarskyr magical items. It was later discovered that the ghazneths actually gained strength by draining magic, even being able to heal their wounds with captured magic.

Finally, each ghazneth had a unique power tied to their mortal life and sins. For example, Boldovar the Mad had the ability to invoke delusional madness within his opponents, just as he displayed madness during his rule of Cormyr.

Weaknesses

As demons, the ghazneths were particularly vulnerable to cold iron weapons, an advantage the defenders of Cormyr quickly seized after traditional weapons and magic proved ineffective against these powerful creatures.

Ghazneth Poem

Each Ghazneth was buried under a tree with glyphs carved in High Wealdan, an ancient elven language. Every tree had the same poem carved on it except for the last line, which was different for each ghazneth. The first parts of the poem went as such:

“

This childe of men, lette his bodie nourishe this tree.
The tree of this bodie, lette it growe as it nourishes.
The spirit of this tree, to them lette it return as it grewe.

Thus the havoc bearers sleepe, the sleepe of no rests.
Thus the sorrow bringers sow, the seeds of their ruine.
Thus the death makers kille, the sons of their sons.

”

— The ghazneth poem

The Seven Ghazneths

Suzara the Scold, the Scourge of Blight.

• Suzara Obarskyr: Called Suzara the Scold, the Scourge of Blight, she was the ex-wife of Ondeth Obarskyr, the founder of Cormyr, and namesake of the city of Suzail. She had powers of blight and decay.
• Ryndala Merendil: Called Merendil the Bloody, the Scourge of War, she was a former noble matriarch who plotted to assassinate King Azoun I. She had the power to induce bloodlust, causing rioting, looting, and murder.
• Boldovar Obarskyr: Called Boldovar the Mad or Boldobar the Dark, the Scourge of Darkness, he was an insane and murderous king. He had the power to induce madness and delusion in others.
• Melineth Turcassan: Called Melineth the Grasping, the Scourge of Pestilence, who betrayed King Duar and sold the city of Suzail. He had the power to wither and sicken.
• Luthax: Called Luthax the Fiery, the Scourge of Smoke, he plotted to overthrow the crown and install an oligarchy of mages. He had powers of fire.
• Xanthon Cormaeril: Called Xanthon the Baneful, the Scourge of Swarm, who unleashed the former ghazneths. He had the power to control and summon swarms and swarming creatures.
• Rowen Cormaeril: A nobleman who wedded Princess Tanalasta Obarskyr and fathered a child with her, the future King Azoun V, but he was tricked by Boldovar into abandoning his duty to the kingdom, and was turned into a ghazneth. He had the power to create storms.

Appendix

Appearances

Novels & Short Stories

Beyond the High Road • Death of the Dragon

External Links

• Excerpt chapter from Death of the Dragon archived from the Wizards of the Coast website.