Zolthur the All-Seeing
Zolthur the All-Seeing
Zolthur the All-Seeing, Zolthur the Sightless Seer.
The name is used to frighten children of the Underdark, a formless terror told of on the edges of campfires in the small hours of the morning. But the truth is far more the dangerous. Nobody quite remembers where Zolthur came from, but the ancient Beholder has been a presence and powerful force in the Underdark for millenia. He was once a powerful tyrant, renowned for his wealth and his army of slaves. To some, he was revered as a god and in time he came to believe it himself. Beholders are prone to ego and insanity the longer they live.
However, he was then brought to ruin by deception and betrayal at the hands of the Drow. His vanity allowed him t be drawn into a position of vulnerability when he thought he could usurp the Drow Queen. His army destroyed, his slaved obliterated and his lair swarmed by the cunning dark elven forces, he fell to their blades.
Though they cut him down, blinded him, harried him with spear and arrow and word, Zolthur was left alive because the Drow Queen wanted him to suffer. The beholder was tortured and humiliated, left for dead. And for awhile he lay sightless, bleeding, and his cries echoed mournfully through the darkness.
But he survived. And down there in the darkest abyss, he fought for his life… and called for the aid of any who could return to him his once great power and station. None know truly which being spoke to Zolthur… Even dieties hesitate before making a pact with a beholder. But something did answer Zolthur's call, and in doing so granted him far sight. Now he is arguably more terrible and powerful than before… Now he sees not only over great distances, but backwards and forwards in time. It is rumor that, for those courageous enough or stupid enough to brave those endless depths, Zolthur lay waiting. And for those that would pay his price, he will grant them one vision: to know a secret they truly desire.
For now he wait, patiently in the shadows, biding his time for some reason unfathomable to mortal minds. As he explains it to those who have made the journey: "I will have my revenge. I have foreseen it."
The name is used to frighten children of the Underdark, a formless terror told of on the edges of campfires in the small hours of the morning. But the truth is far more the dangerous. Nobody quite remembers where Zolthur came from, but the ancient Beholder has been a presence and powerful force in the Underdark for millenia. He was once a powerful tyrant, renowned for his wealth and his army of slaves. To some, he was revered as a god and in time he came to believe it himself. Beholders are prone to ego and insanity the longer they live.
However, he was then brought to ruin by deception and betrayal at the hands of the Drow. His vanity allowed him t be drawn into a position of vulnerability when he thought he could usurp the Drow Queen. His army destroyed, his slaved obliterated and his lair swarmed by the cunning dark elven forces, he fell to their blades.
Though they cut him down, blinded him, harried him with spear and arrow and word, Zolthur was left alive because the Drow Queen wanted him to suffer. The beholder was tortured and humiliated, left for dead. And for awhile he lay sightless, bleeding, and his cries echoed mournfully through the darkness.
But he survived. And down there in the darkest abyss, he fought for his life… and called for the aid of any who could return to him his once great power and station. None know truly which being spoke to Zolthur… Even dieties hesitate before making a pact with a beholder. But something did answer Zolthur's call, and in doing so granted him far sight. Now he is arguably more terrible and powerful than before… Now he sees not only over great distances, but backwards and forwards in time. It is rumor that, for those courageous enough or stupid enough to brave those endless depths, Zolthur lay waiting. And for those that would pay his price, he will grant them one vision: to know a secret they truly desire.
For now he wait, patiently in the shadows, biding his time for some reason unfathomable to mortal minds. As he explains it to those who have made the journey: "I will have my revenge. I have foreseen it."
A mostly insane Beholder, who resides in the depths of the Dreadnought.
Alignment
Chaotic Neutral
Children
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