Wastrilith
Wastriliths, otherwise known as water lords, were demons found in the aquatic environments throughout the lower planes. They corrupted nearby water sources with The Abyss's fell power, allowing them to control it to serve them.
“The corruption left behind when a wastrilith visits the world can persist for decades. If left unchecked it can become a bridge to the Abyss.”
— Mordenkainen
Basic Information
Anatomy
Wastriliths were 10 ft (3 m) long creatures resembling segmented eels with bulging, unblinking eyes, and mouths full of pin-like fangs. A powerful tail attached to their humanoid upper body, with arms ending in claws. They were already very large creatures, but could grow to truly immense size.
Abilities
Although wastriliths could move on land, they were generally faster swimmers, and better combatants in water. They fought with their claws and fangs, but could also breathe boiling water to attack their prey. Their complete immunity to cold temperatures was contrasted by their susceptibility to hot temperatures. They were master manipulators of water, corrupting it simply by being near it, able to alter currents to block or move their enemies, and being immune to any effects involving it, including their own boiling water attacks. Those who drank from water corrupted by a wastrilith found it to be incredibly poisonous, maddening those that it did not kill. This effect did not apply to other demons, who found their foul water restorative to drink.Ecology and Habitats
They were normally found in the aquatic environs of The Abyss and other lower planes such as the Fated Depths or the River Styx, the effects of which they were immune to. A vast number of water lords made their homes in the cold, dark regions of Demogorgon's Gaping Maw, the 88th layer of the Abyss. Wastriliths were also the favored minion of Dagon, as the water lords had once been obyriths themselves before evolving into their own separate demon type, and were given free reign over the Shadowsea so long as their predations didn't interfere with Demon lord's inscrutable agenda.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Despite not needing to eat, wastriliths nonetheless indulged themselves in the flesh of intelligent marine life like Merfolk and aquatic elves. The remains were often left to dissuade others from entering their territories, as was the sinking of ships and driving of sea dragons and other powerful undersea life.
Behaviour
Wastriliths were most easily described as arrogant bullies. They intimidated others into submission and terrorized their environment among others awful activities. Their influence could be especially dangerous when they encouraged people of evil temperament to become pirates and other criminals.
Despite not having magical control over undersea creatures, the reputation of wastriliths was so well known that most, even summoned water elementals and animals, did their bidding. They were fiercely territorial, fighting for superiority even amongst themselves, but at the same time concerned themselves primarily with their own business. As mentioned above, they enjoyed claiming the fealty of others and built themselves elaborate underwater castles when found on the Prime Material plane. Their domains were circles of approximately 25 miles in diameter, with the castles in the center. Some did not create marvelous sanctums, instead simply putting holes inside coral reefs for themselves to live in.
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