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| − | '''Ultroloths''' ({{Pronounce|UL|truh|lothz|refs=<ref name="MC-OPA">{{Cite book/Monstrous Compendium Outer Planes Appendix|5}}</ref>}}) were the faceless, enigmatic rulers of the [[yugoloths]], holding sway over their underlings by the force of their will and their reputation for cruelty.<ref name=" |
+ | '''Ultroloths''' ({{Pronounce|UL|truh|lothz|refs=<ref name="MC-OPA">{{Cite book/Monstrous Compendium Outer Planes Appendix|5}}</ref>}}) were the faceless, enigmatic rulers of the [[yugoloths]], holding sway over their underlings by the force of their will and their reputation for cruelty.<ref name="MMIII3-p204"/> They were the epitome of yugoloth corruption, mysterious masterminds that would pull the strings behind any event to serve their diabolic plans and determined the victors of [[Blood War]] battles from the shadows.<ref name="MM34-p47"/><ref name="PoCLM-36">{{Cite book/Planes of Conflict/Liber Malevolentiae|36}}</ref> |
==Description== |
==Description== |
||
| − | Ultroloths appeared as literally faceless humanoids with their only features being their bulbous, ovoid eyes that resembled [[fire opal]]s.<ref name="MM5e-pp312.314"/><ref name=" |
+ | Ultroloths appeared as literally faceless humanoids with their only features being their bulbous, ovoid eyes that resembled [[fire opal]]s.<ref name="MM5e-pp312.314"/><ref name="MMIII3-p204"/><ref name="MCPA-p126"/> They were lithe and slender, standing roughly between {{SIrange|6|6.5|ft}} tall and weighing {{SI|160|lb|k}} pounds. Their skin was a mottled dark gray, contrasting the coursing colors and swirling patterns in their eyes. Those not entranced by the colors were deceived by the ultroloth into viewing them as a subject they loved or admired. Most ultroloths wore robed cloaks or flowing capes as well as the severed fingers of their victims as materials for necklaces,<ref name="MMIII3-p204"/><ref name="MCPA-p126"/> and apart from their fashion sense their was no immediately apparent way to distinguish them.<ref name="FoETF-p71">{{Cite book/Faces of Evil: The Fiends|71}}</ref> They had a distinctly alien appearance with greatly elongated heads, and without the benefits of a mouth, they communicated using [[telepathy]].<ref name="MMIII3-p204"/><ref name="MCPA-p126"/> |
==Personality== |
==Personality== |
||
| − | Ultroloths were schemers, manipulators, and plotters, holding no loyalty to anyone, least of all each other. They were constantly engaging in intricate intrigues, waging conspiracies and betrayals on everyone, including their own patrons. Their plots were designed only to further their individual power, and wealth.<ref name="MM34-p47"/> Although they enjoyed act of destruction they were also cerebral and secretive, guiding others into serving their own ends through vague hints and subtle messages as opposed to outright force.<ref name="PoCLM-36" |
+ | Ultroloths were schemers, manipulators, and plotters, holding no loyalty to anyone, least of all each other. They were constantly engaging in intricate intrigues, waging conspiracies and betrayals on everyone, including their own patrons. Their plots were designed only to further their individual power, and wealth.<ref name="MM34-p47"/> Although they enjoyed act of destruction they were also cerebral and secretive, guiding others into serving their own ends through vague hints and subtle messages as opposed to outright force.<ref name="PoCLM-36"/><ref name="MM34-p47"/><ref name="MCPA-p126"/> Most ultroloths were astute of mind, held powerful wills and had a notably large presence.<ref name="MCPA-p126"/> They garnered an infamous reputation for their continuous plots and wicked cruelty, but despite this they would undoubtedly join against a common threat regardless of previous disputes.<ref name="MM34-p47"/><ref name="PoCLM-36"/> |
==Abilities== |
==Abilities== |
||
| Line 66: | Line 66: | ||
Ultroloths often wielded swords and polearms, doing so with precision and skill. Such weapons were always enchanted to a certain degree, sometimes with special or extraordinary abilities like curses, and the ultroloths always took the steps to learn their weapons' full potential.<ref name="MCPA-p126"/> |
Ultroloths often wielded swords and polearms, doing so with precision and skill. Such weapons were always enchanted to a certain degree, sometimes with special or extraordinary abilities like curses, and the ultroloths always took the steps to learn their weapons' full potential.<ref name="MCPA-p126"/> |
||
| − | However, this combat prowess was not often demonstrated as it was very rare to see an ultroloth engaged in a serious melee fight. In fact for an ultroloth the ideal battle was one in which they did not have to engage the enemy at all, masterfully orchestrating the course of events behind waves of soldiers. While their allies formed a guard around them and fought directly, an ultroloth would use its mental powers to manipulate the course of battle, such as creating walls of fire to help front-liners or arcane symbols as a means of attack.<ref name=" |
+ | However, this combat prowess was not often demonstrated as it was very rare to see an ultroloth engaged in a serious melee fight. In fact for an ultroloth the ideal battle was one in which they did not have to engage the enemy at all, masterfully orchestrating the course of events behind waves of soldiers. While their allies formed a guard around them and fought directly, an ultroloth would use its mental powers to manipulate the course of battle, such as creating walls of fire to help front-liners or arcane symbols as a means of attack.<ref name="MMIII3-p204"/> Although all ultroloths could summon yugoloths, some were said to have mastered the art of summoning to such a degree that they could summon any creature on another plane, even the [[Material Plane]].<ref name="MMII1-p31"/> If forced to engage in close quarters it was far more likely for an ultroloth to approach stealthily while invisible or disguised before trying to hypnotize foes, or make swift attacks before backing off.<ref name="MMIII3-p204"/><ref name="MM34-p47"/> |
| − | Any situation in which an ultroloth was personally engaging combat as an equal or inferior was a battle that in their eyes they had already lost. In these cases they would gather as many of their favored allies as reasonably possible before retreating with the expendable soldiers covering them. The only situation in which ultroloths in a losing battle did not retreat was if forced do by the circumstance or if such a confrontation was mandatory in order to realize their end goals.<ref name="MM34-p47"/> When winning ultroloths freely engaged in taunting and torment, lingering over fallen foes and basking in their victory rather than quickly end their lives.<ref name=" |
+ | Any situation in which an ultroloth was personally engaging combat as an equal or inferior was a battle that in their eyes they had already lost. In these cases they would gather as many of their favored allies as reasonably possible before retreating with the expendable soldiers covering them. The only situation in which ultroloths in a losing battle did not retreat was if forced do by the circumstance or if such a confrontation was mandatory in order to realize their end goals.<ref name="MM34-p47"/> When winning ultroloths freely engaged in taunting and torment, lingering over fallen foes and basking in their victory rather than quickly end their lives.<ref name="MMIII3-p204"/> |
==Habitat== |
==Habitat== |
||
Revision as of 22:45, 4 October 2019
Ultroloths (pronounced: /ˈʊltrəloʊθz/ UL-truh-lothz[6]) were the faceless, enigmatic rulers of the yugoloths, holding sway over their underlings by the force of their will and their reputation for cruelty.[3] They were the epitome of yugoloth corruption, mysterious masterminds that would pull the strings behind any event to serve their diabolic plans and determined the victors of Blood War battles from the shadows.[2][7]
Description
Ultroloths appeared as literally faceless humanoids with their only features being their bulbous, ovoid eyes that resembled fire opals.[1][3][4] They were lithe and slender, standing roughly between 6‒6.5 ft (1.8‒2 m) tall and weighing 160 lb (73 kg) pounds. Their skin was a mottled dark gray, contrasting the coursing colors and swirling patterns in their eyes. Those not entranced by the colors were deceived by the ultroloth into viewing them as a subject they loved or admired. Most ultroloths wore robed cloaks or flowing capes as well as the severed fingers of their victims as materials for necklaces,[3][4] and apart from their fashion sense their was no immediately apparent way to distinguish them.[8] They had a distinctly alien appearance with greatly elongated heads, and without the benefits of a mouth, they communicated using telepathy.[3][4]
Personality
Ultroloths were schemers, manipulators, and plotters, holding no loyalty to anyone, least of all each other. They were constantly engaging in intricate intrigues, waging conspiracies and betrayals on everyone, including their own patrons. Their plots were designed only to further their individual power, and wealth.[2] Although they enjoyed act of destruction they were also cerebral and secretive, guiding others into serving their own ends through vague hints and subtle messages as opposed to outright force.[7][2][4] Most ultroloths were astute of mind, held powerful wills and had a notably large presence.[4] They garnered an infamous reputation for their continuous plots and wicked cruelty, but despite this they would undoubtedly join against a common threat regardless of previous disputes.[2][7]
Abilities
Ultroloths were dangerous spellcasters, possessing a slew of innate and learned magical techniques. In turn, only magical weapons and attacks were capable of harming them.[4] Their spell retinues were diverse, often contained spells such as symbol, invisibility, scorching ray, suggestion, and fire storm. Their sheer force of personality and personal willpower was enough to overpower most enchantments[1][2][4]. Their gaze had to hypnotize opponents, keeping them still and potentially creating the illusion that the ultroloth was an beloved figure.[4] They were excellent summoners and were purported to be able to call upon any yugoloth equal to or lower than their caste.[4] If forced to go into melee without a weapon their attack consisted of two hand strikes, their very touch inflicting energy damage.[1][4]
Combat
Ultroloths often wielded swords and polearms, doing so with precision and skill. Such weapons were always enchanted to a certain degree, sometimes with special or extraordinary abilities like curses, and the ultroloths always took the steps to learn their weapons' full potential.[4]
However, this combat prowess was not often demonstrated as it was very rare to see an ultroloth engaged in a serious melee fight. In fact for an ultroloth the ideal battle was one in which they did not have to engage the enemy at all, masterfully orchestrating the course of events behind waves of soldiers. While their allies formed a guard around them and fought directly, an ultroloth would use its mental powers to manipulate the course of battle, such as creating walls of fire to help front-liners or arcane symbols as a means of attack.[3] Although all ultroloths could summon yugoloths, some were said to have mastered the art of summoning to such a degree that they could summon any creature on another plane, even the Material Plane.[5] If forced to engage in close quarters it was far more likely for an ultroloth to approach stealthily while invisible or disguised before trying to hypnotize foes, or make swift attacks before backing off.[3][2]
Any situation in which an ultroloth was personally engaging combat as an equal or inferior was a battle that in their eyes they had already lost. In these cases they would gather as many of their favored allies as reasonably possible before retreating with the expendable soldiers covering them. The only situation in which ultroloths in a losing battle did not retreat was if forced do by the circumstance or if such a confrontation was mandatory in order to realize their end goals.[2] When winning ultroloths freely engaged in taunting and torment, lingering over fallen foes and basking in their victory rather than quickly end their lives.[3]
Habitat
None of the lower planes mercenaries would dare to disobey an ultroloth for fear of the punishment. Even non-yugoloths dwelling in the lower planes steered clear of them, fearing their powers. However, the actual power of the ultroloth was not all that much greater than others of their kind, no yugoloth of lesser status knew the capabilities of their rulers. They were of an unknown quantity, and thus greatly feared.[citation needed]
Notable Ulthroloths
Appendix
Gallery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 312, 314. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Mike Mearls, Greg Bilsland, Robert J. Schwalb (June 2010). Monster Manual 3 4th edition. Edited by Greg Bilsland, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 978-0-7869-5490-2.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Andrew Finch, Gwendolyn Kestrel, Chris Perkins (August 2004). Monster Manual III. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 204. ISBN 0-7869-3430-1.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Allen Varney, ed. (June 1994). Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), p. 126. ISBN 978-1560768623.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 31. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ J. Paul LaFountain (1991). Monstrous Compendium: Outer Planes Appendix. Edited by Timothy B. Brown. (TSR, Inc.), p. 5. ISBN 1-56076-055-9.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Colin McComb (December 1995). “Liber Malevolentiae”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Conflict (TSR, Inc.), p. 36. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
- ↑ Colin McComb (September 1997). Faces of Evil: The Fiends. Edited by Ray Vallese. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 71. ISBN 0-7869-3430-1.
- ↑ Bill Connors, Christopher Mortika, Rick Reid, Scott Bennie, John Terra, Jay Batista, Roy Schelper, Rick Swan (April 1988). Swords of the Iron Legion. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-0880385596.
- ↑ Paul S. Kemp (February 2006). Resurrection. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-3981-8.