Tyranthraxus

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Tyranthraxus - "The Possessing Spirit"
===Weapons of Proficiency===
Tyranthraxus is proficient with any number of weapons; DMs should detail appropriate weapons from their game worlds. It can be safely assumed that Tyranthraxus is proficient with at least one bladed weapon, one blunt weapon, one bow, and one hurled weapon.
===Nonweapon Proficiencies===
So little is known of Tyranthraxus himself that any skills he possesses are a mystery. DMs are encouraged to create a list of nonweapon proficiencies suitable for their own campaigns
===Equipment===
The Possessing Spirit has access to whatever mundane equipment his host does, although this does not necessarily imply knowledge on using this equipment, however.
===Magical Items===
The possibility certainly exists that Tyranthraxus may have caches of magical weapons and items (usable by any PC class) hidden throughout the Realms for those times when he may need them.
The Possessing Spirit also may use magical items usable by any class that are possessed by his host body. If you use command words and such in your campaign, Tyranthraxus would have to discern them for himself as he has no access to his host bodys memories or experiences.
===Combat/Tactics===
Again, Tyranthraxus' combat capabilities depend on his familiarity with his host body. If hes occupying a basically humanoid form, he can function well. Learning to command and control the body of a dragon, for example, is another matter. In this case, Tyranthraxus' combat techniques should be quite basic, probably nothing more than the claw/claw/bite routine of most quadrupeds. The more time he spends in a particular host body, the more adept he becomes at controlling it.
===Allies/Companions===
Tyranthraxus can use the allies of his host body until those beings discern that something is seriously wrong with their friend. It should be noted that Tyranthraxus is accustomed to dealing with these situations and is prepared to handle most of them (see Unique Powers below).
===Foes/Enemies===
Shal, Ren, Tarl, and the collected peoples of Faerûn.
===Appearance===
Tyranthraxus literally takes possession of the host being's physical form. The Possessing Spirit is clever enough not to drastically change the host body's appearance, garb, and so on.
===Personality===
Tyranthraxus is cruel, ruthless, and fiendishly intelligent. He's also experienced at his body-jumping and can assume personalities and adapt to what those around him expect from the being whose body he occupies.
===Locales Frequented===
Phlan, possibly Myth Drannor, and regions unknown. It's unknown whether Tyranthraxus can travel (and if so, by what means) when not occupying a host. If the Possessing Spirit can move astrally or via teleportation, for example, he is even more dangerous for the vast amounts of territory he could cover when in need (escaping pursuers is one example).
===History===
The first mention of the Possessing Spirit is from the ancient legends of the ogres of Thar. Tales of malevolent, possessing spirits appear in most cultures' mythologies and folk tales and, while unlikely, the possibility that Tyranthraxus spawned at least some of them does exist.
The last recorded appearance of the Possessing Spirit was 1340 DR, in conjunction with the legendary Pool of Radiance. Tyranthraxus inhabited multiple bodies during these events, but he spent a great deal of time in the body of a bronze dragon. When the heroes were on the verge of victory over him, he leapt into a different body and dove into the Pool, using its magic to teleport away.
Many rumors have arisen since then of "possessions" and so forth. A recent one linked to Tyranthraxus
(however feebly) is that he recently took up residence in the ruins of Myth Drannor. Another is that he's learned of and is seeking one or more of the fiend Phalse's duplicates of Alias the swordswoman- or perhaps the original herself.
===Motivations/Goals===
Tyranthraxus wants to rule all of the Realms; it's that simple. As a unique being, he feels best qualified for such a position. He longs to squeeze all of Toril in his iron grip.
===Campaign Uses===
With his body-jumping abilities, Tyranthraxus can be a tremendously dangerous foe; he literally could be anyone, even someone the PCs trust implicitly such as a mentor, family member, or lover.
Care must be taken in his spirit jumping into PCs' bodies; players hate losing control of their characters and doing so too often can lead to hard feelings. Use NPCs when possible; it's simpler plus then the PCs never know exactly where Tyranthraxus might be.
Sources: Pool of Radiance, Curse of the Azure Bonds accessory.
==Unique Powers==
Tyranthraxus is seemingly unique in the history of the Realms. How he came to be a disembodied entity, whether he's always existed in that form, and even the plane of existence that he calls home is unknown.
Tyranthraxus places the consciousness of the host body he invades in a kind of temporal stasis. While he cannot access its memories, physical qualities such as voice, posture, and gross bodily movements remain the same. When the Possessing Spirit invades a body, the following special abilities apply.
* Fiery Aura: From the moment of possession, the host body Tyranthraxus is invading is sheathed in flames. The flames do no damage to the host body, but any beings in contact with the host body take 2dl0 points of magical fire damage. Tyranthraxus has learned to quell these flames so he can mix in society normally. In combat though, he often allows the flames to reappear, discouraging potential foes from coming too close.
* ESP: Tyranthraxus can sense all thoughts within line of sight, out to 150' distant. This means he can read the minds of those near him and react as those beings expect the host body to. Tyranthraxus also is all but impossible to surprise.
* Magic Resistance: All host bodies of Tyranthraxus have a flat 25% Magic Resistance rating, regardless of any the host body may possess itself
* Transference: Tyranthraxus can abandon a host at any time and seek a new body. The being he chooses must make a successful save vs. death or come entirely under the control of the Possessing Spirit. The hosts consciousness is put into a kind of temporal stasis, and Tyranthraxus assumes control of all higher functions. If the save succeeds, Tyranthraxus remains in his most recent host. He may attempt one 'jump" per round, and this is the only action he can take in that round. His range limit for jumping is the same as for his ESP: line of sight within 150'.
The Possessing Spirit cannot be expelled from a host body by any means short of a dispel evil or limited wish. Abjure, dismissal, and other magicks that affect only otherplanar creatures have no effect, nor does protection from evil spells.
If Tyranthraxus is expelled from a body or the body is killed, the Possessing Spirit immediately gains a chance to invade a new host, as per the rules above.
If, somehow, no living bodies exist for Tyranthraxus, he can exist within the Pool of Radiance. If such exist in your campaign, they would be Tyranthraxus  bolt-hole of choice. Barring that, it's possible that any magical liquid could sustain him. In such a medium, he can try to possess only those who come into direct contact with the liquid. How long Tyranthraxus could survive without any medium is unknown.
Category:NPCs
Category:Villains' Lorebook NPCs