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Slarkrethel was a huge kraken wizard and Chosen of Umberlee, who also founded the Kraken Society.[2]

Description[]

Like his origins, Slarkrethel's appearance was disputed. The majority of sages described him as a giant squid, indeed, the giant squid was the symbol of the Kraken Society,[1] however, later images of krakens were described as far less squid-like, with fins as well as tentacles, and recognizable faces.[6] On one aspect, all could agree however, Slarkrethel was a leviathan of a creature, gargantuan in size.[7][8]

Abilities[]

As well as his immense size and strength, Slarkrethel was also a wizard of prodigious ability, easily the equal of the most powerful mortal archmages.[4] As a Chosen of Umberlee, Slarkrethel was protected from divination magic and psionic powers of detection, as well as a magical effect similar to the spell Elminster's evasion and many more abilities besides.[3]

Possessions[]

Slarkrethel was in possession of a multitude of magical items, many of them tailor made just for his personal use that duplicated magical effects usually found only in items designed for use on land.[3]

Activities[]

Slarkrethel's ultimate goal was apotheosis, and he worked tirelessly to achieve divinity. However, he also ruled an enormous undersea kingdom in the northern Trackless Sea.

Wherever he traveled, he was accompanied by a retinue of bodyguards consisting of weresharks; nereids; merrow; Kapoacinth; dire sharks; four charmed orcas; and an eye of the deep.[2][3] He was also attended to by a variety of charmed servants. Slarkrethel did not value the lives of his attendant creatures, and thought nothing of sending them to their deaths.[3]

Relationships[]

Apart from his goddess, Slarkrethel only seemed to trust the lieutenants to whom he delegated the leadership of the Kraken Society. As of the Year of the Tankard, 1370 DR, these were The Regent of Ascarle; The Skum Lord; High Captain Rethnor of Luskan; Semmonemily, a doppelganger posing as the head of the Hand of Yartar thieves guild; King Selger of the Purple Rocks; and Dread High Trident Meritid Archneie, an ambitious Umberlant priest.[9]

History[]

Slarkrethel's origins are disputed. Some say the kraken was born in the Year of the Kraken, 151 DR. It wasn't until Slarkrethel found the submerged ruins of Ascarle in 244 DR that he began building his undersea empire. There, he was inspired by legends of his ancestors' past, and his studies left him aspiring to godhood and to regain some of his race's former glory. Centuries later, he had extended his tentacles all over the Trackless Sea, and created the web of informants and spies called the Kraken Society.[1]

Others claim that Slarkrethel is ancient beyond reckoning. For tens of thousands of years the kraken has been searching tirelessly for long-lost paths to divine ascendancy, longing to rejoin its creators in the heavens.[10] They say he was old when the giants and dragons waged war forty thousands years before the events of shattering of the giant Ordning.[10] Slarkrethel lured exiles, outcasts, and lost souls to its organization with the promise of a better life. Ancient humans of the Purple Rocks would cast their young into the sea as part of a ritual to appease and worship Slarkrethel.[10] Those offspring would resurface and return as adults with piscine deformities. At the end of their natural life span they would return to their fearsome master.

In the Year of the Leaping Lion, 834 DR, Slarkrethel battled with Laeral Silverhand at Port Llast and managed to steal the magical throne of Stornanter.[11]

Umberlee forsaw the return of her former lover Iakhovas in the near future, and so adopted Slarkrethel as her Chosen in the Year of Shadows, 1358 DR.[12]

Late in the Year of the Gauntlet, 1369 DR, Slarkrethel was credited with the destruction of the The Maiden's Defiance, a galley hired by the Harpers to investigate Ascarle.[13]

Some time after the War of the Silver Marches in the late 15th century DR, the dragon Iymrith contacted agents of the society for aid. Slarkrethel ordered its followers to go along with the dragon's plans, by slaying the storm giant Queen Neri and capturing King Hekaton.[10]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Adventures

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 81. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds (October 2001). Lords of Darkness. Edited by Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 154–155. ISBN 07-8691-989-2.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 83. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 224. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  5. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 197. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  6. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 196. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  7. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 197. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  8. Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 162. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  9. Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 83–84. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 13. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  11. Eric L. Boyd (January 2007). “Volo's Guide: Lost Regalia of the North: The Toppled Thrones”. In Erik Mona ed. Dragon #351 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 75.
  12. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  13. slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 42. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
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