Vishap were flightless dragons that lived in Zakhara. Compared to other dragons they were cowardly, choosing to prey on the weak. Stealth and deceit were their chosen methods of attack.[1]
Despite being large creatures, vishap were surprisingly athletic, being able to run, jump and climb with graceful agility. Vishap scales provided natural camouflage with their surroundings.[1]
Vishap were especially aware of their surroundings and could even detect nearby invisible creatures. These dragons did not have a breath weapon and they could not cast spells, nor did they exude dragon fear.[1]
Description[]
Most vishap were an average of 25 feet (7.6 meters) in length, but could grow to over 174 feet (53 meters).[1]
Combat[]
A vishap studied potential opponents for days at a time before engaging in combat. After this time the vishap would approach weak targets to speak and then attack when in range. Victims who flattered a vishap were sometimes spared if they yielded all treasure or served as slaves. Aggressive targets were left alone until they could be ambushed.[1]
During physical combat, a vishap could attack with its teeth, claws and tail. All vishap were immune to enchantment or charm spells and they gained the following spell-like abilities as they aged: sleep, invisibility, suggestion, charm monster, undetectable lie.[1]
Society[]
Vishap chose shallow, open caves that provided them with an excellent view of all angles of approach. One secret escape plan was always allowed for.[1]
Diet[]
These creatures were carnivores, though they would consume carrion or even plants if their survival demanded it. Human and demihuman flesh was their favorite kind of meat. Occasionally a group of vishap would work together to enslave an entire village.[1]
Relationships[]
In Zakharan art, the vishap could signify danger or evil magic.[2]
Several locations in Zakhara were named after the vishap, such as the Vishap's Teeth in the High Desert[3] and the Vishap's Spine mountain range on Sahu.[4]
Notable Vishap[]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- A Dozen and One Adventures • Reunion
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Wolfgang Baur, Steve Kurtz (1992). Monstrous Compendium Al-Qadim Appendix. (TSR, Inc). ISBN l-56076-370-1.
- ↑ Bruce Schmidt (December 1997). “Bazaar of the Bizarre: Magical Allies of the Forgotten Realms Setting”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #242 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 72–75.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1994). Al-Qadim: Caravans: Campaign Guide. (TSR, Inc), p. 21. ISBN 1-56076-903-3.
- ↑ Steve Kurtz (April 1, 1995). The Complete Book of Necromancers. (TSR, Inc), p. 106. ISBN 0-7869-0106-3.
Connections[]
Chromatic dragons: Black • Blue • Brown • Gray • Green • Orange • Pink • Purple • Red • Salt • White • Yellow
Gem dragons: Amethyst • Beljuril • Crystal • Emerald • Obsidian • Sapphire • Topaz • Ruby
Neutral dragons: Amber • Jacinth • Moonstone • Pearl
Lung dragons: Chiang lung • Li lung • Lung wang • Pan lung • Shen lung • T'ien lung • Tun mi lung • Yu lung
Ferrous dragons: • Cobalt • Iron
Planar dragons: Adamantine • Astral • Battle • Blight • Chaos • Ethereal • Hellfire wyrm • Howling • Mirage • Oceanus • Pyroclastic • Radiant • Rust • Shadow • Styx • Tarterian
Spelljamming dragons: Moon/lunar • Radiant • Sun/solar
Epic dragons: Force • Prismatic • Time
Catastrophic dragons: Blizzard • Earthquake • Volcanic
Miscellaneous dragons: Cobra • Dzalmus • Mist • Rattelyr • Song • Vishap
Linnorms: Corpse tearer • Dread • Stygian
Drakes: Ambush • Black firedrake • Dragonne • Elemental (Earth • Fire • Ice • Magma • Ooze • Smoke • Water) • Felldrake (Crested • Spitting) • Greater • Guard • Mind • Portal • Rage • Space • Storm • Vulture
Dragonbloods: Draconic creature • Dragonborn of Bahamut • Dragonspawn
Drow-dragon (shadow) • Drow-dragon (deep) • Half-dragon • Kobold (Dragonwrought • Urd) • Weredragon • Zar'ithra • Zekyl
Hybrid monsters: Dracimera • Dracolisk • Mantidrake • Wyvern drake