Eltab
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
roleplaying game, Eltab is a demon lord
. Eltab is known as the Lord of the Hidden Layer. He is particularly active in the game’s Forgotten Realms
campaign setting
.
.
Eltab debuted in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons second edition supplement Spellbound.
Eltab made his third edition debut in Champions of Ruin
, and is also mentioned in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
.
known asThe Hidden Layer. It is a vast wasteland of boulders and fissures constantly beset with intensive electrical storms, making it inimical to most life except for demons and deadly plant life such as viper trees, ironmaws, and bloodthorns. In the past thousand years or so, because of Eltab’s absence, the Hidden Layer has been fragmented in ever-changing fiefdoms as Eltab’s former lieutenants, including the balor Ndulu, fight over the vacated realm.
Thanks to the bindings cast upon the Narfelli demon-binders on Eltab when they summoned him, they also somehow linked fragments of the Hidden Layer into Faerun
as well. So pieces of the layer, known as demoncysts, are lying scattered beneath the ground all over the northeast Faerun.
Demoncysts are typically 100-feet or more in diameter. The environment of the cyst do not interact with the surrounding terrestrial environment (and vice versa), thus each cyst resemble a cave that contain a wholly different environment than the surrounding earth or open space. Some cysts are empty, but others contain fiends and/or servants of Eltab. The largest cyst, known as the Hall of the Hidden Throne, lies in Eltab’s current location, the Citadel of Conjurers. This cyst contains Eltab’s palace and the calling circle that tied Eltab to the Realms. In fact, until this circle is destroyed, Eltab cannot leave Faerun or return to the Abyss.
, Orcus
and even Demogorgon himself. However, during the ancient days of Faerun, the empires of Narfell
and Raumathar engaged in a bitter war, which ultimately destroyed both empires. During this war, Eltab was summoned to Faerun by the so-called demon-binders of Narfell, so he could be used as a pawn against their hated enemy. Eltab lead a demonic horde on the behalf of Narfell and invaded Raumathan city of Rashemen, which he quickly conquered and set up himself up as its ruler.
Eltab’s rule was brief, as an alliance of spell-casters (including the Witches of Rashemen) overthrew Eltab. Eltab was forced to flee, but the Rashemen Witches caught up with him in the Sharawood, imprisoning him beneath the ground, and bound a dracolich
called the Everlasting Wyrm to guard over him.
A hundred or so years later, followers of the dark god Myrkul
, intending to plunder the hoard of the Everlasting Wyrm, discovered the imprisoned demon lord. They agreed to release Eltab under the condition that he serve Myrkul’s church for 99 years. With Eltab’s aid, the followers of Myrkul took control of the city of Shandaular and in its place, established the theocratic city of Eltabranar.
Later, Eltab prompted an ill-fated invasion of the nations of Unther and Mulhorand. Eltab was once again imprisoned, this time by the god-kings who led Mulhorand, into a demoncyst (see Realm Below) beneath Thaymount.
The infamous Red Wizards
found Eltab more than 700 years later. The wizards used an ancient Narfelli demon-binding ritual and called Eltab forth to assist them in their war with the Mulhorandi god-kings. The god-kings’ armies were routed and the nation of Thay
was established. When the Red Wizards found they couldn’t dismiss Eltab, they imprisoned him near the mouth of the river that now is named after the demon lord and built a capital city (named Eltabbar) over the prison.
More recently, the Thayan lich Szass Tam realized that Eltab would soon break out of his prison. He deliberately released Eltab with the intention of using a spell to permanently enslave Eltab. But his plan was foiled by a group of adventurers, allowing Eltab to escape into a demoncyst below Thaymount. During a retaliatory confrontation with Szass Tam, Eltab was seemingly destroyed, but thanks to the binding cast on him the ancient Narfelli demon-binders, he was magically transported to the Citadel of Conjurers in the nation of Impiltur, where he is currently plotting new plans for conquests and revenge.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
roleplaying game, Eltab is a demon lord
Demon lord (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, demon lords are demons who have gained great power and established a position of preeminence among demonkind. Each demon lord has a unique appearance and set of abilities. Most control at least one layer of the Abyss...
. Eltab is known as the Lord of the Hidden Layer. He is particularly active in the game’s Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
.
Publication history
Eltab was first mentioned in Dreams of the Red WizardsDreams of the Red Wizards
Dreams of the Red Wizards is an accessory for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:Dreams of the Red Wizards describes a kingdom ruled by evil slaveholding magicians, wizards who are always involved in intrigue between each other.-Publication history:FR6 Dreams of the...
.
Eltab debuted in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons second edition supplement Spellbound.
Eltab made his third edition debut in Champions of Ruin
Champions of Ruin
Champions of Ruin is a hardcover accessory for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:Champions of Ruin is an expansion to detail the role of evil in the Forgotten Realms setting.-Publication history:...
, and is also mentioned in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Chapter 1: Demonic Lore:...
.
Description
Eltab appears as a 15-foot tall humanoid with the head of a canine-like creature. His head sports numerous antlers and horns and his body is covered with bony dark red plates. He has slitted yellow glowing eyes.Realm
Eltab rules the 248th layer of the AbyssAbyss (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Abyss or more fully, the Infinite Layers of the Abyss, is a chaotic evil-aligned plane of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Planes that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons cosmology, used in the Planescape...
known asThe Hidden Layer. It is a vast wasteland of boulders and fissures constantly beset with intensive electrical storms, making it inimical to most life except for demons and deadly plant life such as viper trees, ironmaws, and bloodthorns. In the past thousand years or so, because of Eltab’s absence, the Hidden Layer has been fragmented in ever-changing fiefdoms as Eltab’s former lieutenants, including the balor Ndulu, fight over the vacated realm.
Thanks to the bindings cast upon the Narfelli demon-binders on Eltab when they summoned him, they also somehow linked fragments of the Hidden Layer into Faerun
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
as well. So pieces of the layer, known as demoncysts, are lying scattered beneath the ground all over the northeast Faerun.
Demoncysts are typically 100-feet or more in diameter. The environment of the cyst do not interact with the surrounding terrestrial environment (and vice versa), thus each cyst resemble a cave that contain a wholly different environment than the surrounding earth or open space. Some cysts are empty, but others contain fiends and/or servants of Eltab. The largest cyst, known as the Hall of the Hidden Throne, lies in Eltab’s current location, the Citadel of Conjurers. This cyst contains Eltab’s palace and the calling circle that tied Eltab to the Realms. In fact, until this circle is destroyed, Eltab cannot leave Faerun or return to the Abyss.
History
The demon lord Eltab was a potent force in the Abyss, rivaling the powers of Graz'ztGraz'zt
Graz'zt is a demon lord in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, and one of the most powerful demons in the Abyss. Graz'zt, one of the earliest and most famous demons created for Dungeons and Dragons, was named as one of the greatest villains in D&D history by the final print issue of...
, Orcus
Orcus (Dungeons & Dragons)
Orcus is the fictional demon prince, and lord of the undead in many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. He is named after Orcus of Roman mythology. His symbol is a mace with a human skull as the head...
and even Demogorgon himself. However, during the ancient days of Faerun, the empires of Narfell
Narfell
Narfell is a country in the eastern part of the fictional continent of Faerûn, in the Forgotten Realms setting. It lies in the Cold Lands region but was once the heart of a vast empire that stretched from the Giantspire Mountains to Lake Ashane and included the Great Dale, much of Thesk, part of...
and Raumathar engaged in a bitter war, which ultimately destroyed both empires. During this war, Eltab was summoned to Faerun by the so-called demon-binders of Narfell, so he could be used as a pawn against their hated enemy. Eltab lead a demonic horde on the behalf of Narfell and invaded Raumathan city of Rashemen, which he quickly conquered and set up himself up as its ruler.
Eltab’s rule was brief, as an alliance of spell-casters (including the Witches of Rashemen) overthrew Eltab. Eltab was forced to flee, but the Rashemen Witches caught up with him in the Sharawood, imprisoning him beneath the ground, and bound a dracolich
Dracolich
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, a dracolich is an undead dragon that possesses certain abilities of a lich.-Publication history:The dracolich was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons...
called the Everlasting Wyrm to guard over him.
A hundred or so years later, followers of the dark god Myrkul
Myrkul
Myrkul was the fictional Lord of the Dead in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting based upon the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Further aliases of Myrkul include the Reaper and Old Lord Skull. His symbol is a skull against a black field, known to occur in nightmares of many of the...
, intending to plunder the hoard of the Everlasting Wyrm, discovered the imprisoned demon lord. They agreed to release Eltab under the condition that he serve Myrkul’s church for 99 years. With Eltab’s aid, the followers of Myrkul took control of the city of Shandaular and in its place, established the theocratic city of Eltabranar.
Later, Eltab prompted an ill-fated invasion of the nations of Unther and Mulhorand. Eltab was once again imprisoned, this time by the god-kings who led Mulhorand, into a demoncyst (see Realm Below) beneath Thaymount.
The infamous Red Wizards
Red Wizards
The Red Wizards of Thay are a fictional organization and social class of evil aligned wizards in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of Dungeons & Dragons and Advanced Dungeons & Dragons...
found Eltab more than 700 years later. The wizards used an ancient Narfelli demon-binding ritual and called Eltab forth to assist them in their war with the Mulhorandi god-kings. The god-kings’ armies were routed and the nation of Thay
Thay
Thay may refer to:*The Vietnamese word "Thầy", meaning "master" of "teacher".*A name often applied to Nhat Hanh.*Thay , a fictional country in Faerûn, the Forgotten Realms role-playing game campaign setting...
was established. When the Red Wizards found they couldn’t dismiss Eltab, they imprisoned him near the mouth of the river that now is named after the demon lord and built a capital city (named Eltabbar) over the prison.
More recently, the Thayan lich Szass Tam realized that Eltab would soon break out of his prison. He deliberately released Eltab with the intention of using a spell to permanently enslave Eltab. But his plan was foiled by a group of adventurers, allowing Eltab to escape into a demoncyst below Thaymount. During a retaliatory confrontation with Szass Tam, Eltab was seemingly destroyed, but thanks to the binding cast on him the ancient Narfelli demon-binders, he was magically transported to the Citadel of Conjurers in the nation of Impiltur, where he is currently plotting new plans for conquests and revenge.