| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Firhyanda |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 00:25:52
Greetings
The north box set makes a small reference to a lizard man lich in the mere of dead men is this just a plot hook or does a write up of said lich exists Name, classes, levels etcetera? Any background info on this lich would be most appreciated thanks. |
| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 25 Sep 2025 : 15:15:12
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Regarding the original question on a lizard man lich..... not a lich but an undead preserved lizard man spellcaster in the form of the greater mummy known as Hsssthak can be found in REF5 - Lords of Darkness. But personally, given that he was guarding one of the nether scrolls, I'd absolutely turn him into a lich with mummies with him (or have it be that there was also a lizard man lich there, but he'd somehow been entrapped and unable to defend the tomb... or a lizard man demilich).
Hssthak and Redeye are two different characters from two different products (in two different editions).
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Hssthak
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Redeye
Although I agree that Hssthak is the more interesting of the two. |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 24 Sep 2025 : 13:08:40
Regarding the original question on a lizard man lich..... not a lich but an undead preserved lizard man spellcaster in the form of the greater mummy known as Hsssthak can be found in REF5 - Lords of Darkness. But personally, given that he was guarding one of the nether scrolls, I'd absolutely turn him into a lich with mummies with him (or have it be that there was also a lizard man lich there, but he'd somehow been entrapped and unable to defend the tomb... or a lizard man demilich). |
| Athreeren |
Posted - 24 Sep 2025 : 00:50:10
I am reading Under Illefarn Anew, and I have been trying to piece together what has happened to Redeye. Those different sources are very useful. The Dungeon #126 article is quite different from the other sources, and is not mentioned anywhere in the exhaustive references of Under Illefarn Anew; so it seems that despite his very deep research in every relevant piece of lore, Eric L. Boyd may not have been aware of the Dungeon article written by Eric L. Boyd… OK, that cannot be right. Since the article is called “Running ‘Encounter At Blackwall Keep’ in the Forgotten Realms”, I assume the lack of references in UIA means Eric does not consider his previous work as canon. Still, I am surprised that nothing there is used in UIA: Redeye's height is different, no mention of his worshipping Semuanya before his conversion to Talos, and a new black dragon, Antharzyreph, is introduced rather than mentioning Ilthane.
So let’s ignore Dungeon #126. Between the original version and Eric’s updated one, the main difference regarding Redeye is that the 7th level cleric is now a 7th level barbarian. The author justifies it thus: “In N5 – Under Illefarn, page 25, Redeye is listed as a N male lizardfolk Clr7 (primarily to give him access to tongues to speak with the PCs). In The North: The Wilderness, page 65, and The North: Daggerford, page 5, he is rumored to have been killed by adventurers and risen as a lich who is now extorting Daggerford for gold. In FRCS (3e), page 224, he is listed as a CE male lizardfolk Bbn11/Chm5 of Talos. I decide to favor the first source in terms of alignment and the last source in terms of his eventual abilities, but introduce a story arc that would explain the alignment transformation, leadership of a mega-tribe, and hunger for metal weapons.”
So let’s look into this story: born in the Year of the Adder (1328 DR). Sole survivor of a murderous rampage by Antharzyreph. Devotes his life to vengeance. Becomes a mercenary. Meets Torleth Mindulspeer (here, a Talassan wyrmgrafter), who gives him anti-dragon weapons and grafts a dragon eye onto him. Redeye returns to his tribe to fight the dragon. He unites the local tribes. Possibly, he joins the fight against the dragon at the end of the module.
According to The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier, “Many years ago [from 1370 DR], a group of heroes entered the swamp and killed the lizardman leader known as Redeye”, but rumour has it that he returned as a lich. It is not explicitly stated that it was the heroes of Under Illefarn who defeated him (as it depends of how the adventure went), but the dates are meant to match.
Regarding his eye: it is explicitly stated in UIA that Torleth’s intention regarding Redeye is to make him a divine champion of Talos. This does not explain why the man’s presents to the barbarian had to include a draconic graft from a black wyrmling (except according to Torleth that it is "to better understand the nature of his draconic foe". It's not as if Torleth was in any way trustworthy). Eric does give his reasoning in the notes: “The class build was chosen as the low level approach to getting the ability to acquire the Wyrmgrafter feat (10 ranks in Heal) and sense of the dragon (3rd level arcane spell), so as to be able to graft a glaring eye on Redeye. Incantatrixes / incantatars have the Heal skill, which is very unusual for non-divine characters. The rest just flowed from there, as metamagic specialists work well as arcane followers of Talos.” But that doesn’t explain why he should have a glaring eye in the first place. Sure, it justifies the name, but in the Dungeon article, the Redeye Tribe bears this name because of their red “eye” tattoos encircling their left eye: it could just have been that.
Finally, even though Eric goes out of his way to justify the fact that a lizardman would be a chosen of Talos, there is nothing to justify how a barbarian would ever become a lich. Of course, this could simply be dismissed as a rumour, since this is how the information is presented in The North.
If we look at the different forces at play, we can infer how the adventure is supposed to end:
- Antharzyreph’s goal is to pollute the region into a lair worthy of him. Since no mention of this is made in Hordes of Dragonspear or The North (of course, they were written before UIA), we can assume he failed.
- The “dwarves of Illefarn” send an army of 100 men to defeat the devil, when they were only 21 dwarves and 5 gnomes (or 25 shield dwarves and 1 azerblood according to UIA) a few years earlier: clearly the dwarves were successful and have been enjoying a few years of peace which have convinced more clans to join them.
- Kelthas follows the Cult of the Dragon mostly by opportunism and would privilege his own survival once the dragon is defeated.
- Redeye is consumed by his desire for revenge and would fight the dragon to the death.
(- The orcs may have died or fled, theyare not important here)
If we add to this that Kelthas has a tome of the dragon, an unused dracolich phylactery and a dracolich brew, I think we have an explanation to the barbarian lich of Talos. Kelthas could have recovered the body of Redeye after the fight, and experimented on him in order to make the draconic blood he gets from his eye more potent, enough to use the dracolich ritual on him, hoping that this would be a dracolich he would be able to control? If so, would Kelthas be in control of Redeye’s actions through his phylactery? Or did Torleth managed to wrest control from the necromancer, and this is how the barbarian now has levels as a divine champion of Talos?
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| Asgetrion |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 22:46:12
I have placed the Tomb of the Lizard King in the Vast Swamp in Cormyr. In my campaign Sakatha (Lizardfolk Vampire Sorcerer 10) fought on the side of the Witch Lords in 900 DR, when Cormyr triumphed with the aid of the elves against the host of those dreaded necromancers. The final battle, described in the novel Cormyr by Ed Greenwood, took place on the outskirts of the Vast Swamp. During the final confrontation, King Galaghard slew Sakatha, whose final curse was directed against the King and the Glory of Cormyr (the nobles). |
| Kaladorm |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 11:16:07
See if you can bug Reefy for his stats :D
We ran through the mere of dead men campaign (converted to something like 3.2e) and I'm sure we met the shaman.
Having said that if I remember rightly we were captured by the lizardmen, and then talked to them, where I 'think' the shaman Redeye asked us to do something. My memories a little hazy on it, but that might have been the lead on to the adventure with the Penangalan.
I forget exactly how it all came together, and I'm rambling sorry :) The moral of the story is: Ask Reefy, but don't say I sent you, he'll eat me 
|
| warlockco |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 08:30:38
quote:
Originally posted by Firhyanda
Greetings
Excellent responses one and all thanks so much for the quick replies, of all the versions of red eye presented I think that warlockcos Cleric 7th version bests suites my campaign with just a little tweaking. I could just drop Encounter at Black wall keep right into the mere of dead men for my water deep campaign, but I think that’s a bit easy. I think ill use red eye as a recurring villain in the mere of dead men he’s on a quest to become a lich working his way toward something like , warlockcos version two and must be stopped.
Glad to be of help.
I also have a good number of NPCs from the Daggerford Area done up in the NPC thread too. |
| Firhyanda |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 06:06:22
Greetings
Excellent responses one and all thanks so much for the quick replies, of all the versions of red eye presented I think that warlockcos Cleric 7th version bests suites my campaign with just a little tweaking. I could just drop Encounter at Black wall keep right into the mere of dead men for my water deep campaign, but I think that’s a bit easy. I think ill use red eye as a recurring villain in the mere of dead men he’s on a quest to become a lich working his way toward something like , warlockcos version two and must be stopped. |
| RodOdom |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 05:00:51
I think its a perfect fit for the Lizard Marsh and Daggerford. |
| warlockco |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 03:46:40
quote:
Originally posted by RodOdom
I noticed that too. It reminds me of this older, obscure module:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1080&
which features a vampiric lizard "big bad".
I think I have that one somewhere...
Hmmm, maybe incorporate that into the Lizard Marsh with my players...
Thanks for reminding me about that one, just have to look for it now. |
| RodOdom |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 03:25:40
I noticed that too. It reminds me of this older, obscure module:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1080&
which features a vampiric lizard "big bad". |
| warlockco |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 02:28:02
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
If it is Redeye then he was given stats. :)
Redeye, 7th Cleric, Male Lizardman, TN, Shaman of the Lizardman of Lizard Marsh, Under Illefarn
I have done a conversion for him for 3.5E, in fact I did 3 versions of him.
They are in my NPC thread, that is a sticky thread in this part of the forum, but I'll repost them here:
Leader of Lizardfolk in Lizard Marsh, Version 1
Redeye: Male Lizardfolk Clr7; CR 8; Medium Humanoid (Reptilian); HD 9d8+18; hp 77; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22 (touch 13, flat-footed 19); Base Atk +6; Grp +9; Atk +10 melee (1d8+4, +1 Heavy Mace); Full Atk +10/+5 melee (1d8+4, +1 Heavy Mace) and +4 melee (1d4+1, Bite); Face/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SA Turn Undead; SQ Lizardfolk traits; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +8; Str 16, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats (counting all modifiers except equipment and attributes): Balance +5, Climb +2, Concentration +6, Jump +5, Knowledge (Arcana) +3, Knowledge (Nature) +3, Knowledge (Religion) +5, Speak Language (Common, Draconic, Aquan), Survival +2, Swim +7. Athletic, Craft Wondrous Item, Leadership, Multiattack.
Special Qualities: Lizardfolk traits: Darkvision 60 feet; +5 natural armor; +4 Racial bonus on Balance, Jump, and Swim checks; Hold Breath: a lizardfolk can hold his breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 x Constitution score before he is at risk of drowning; Natural Attacks: 2 claws and 1 bite for 1d4 each; Proficient with All Simple Weapons, Shields, and Barbed Darts. Turn Undead as 7th level cleric 6/day.
Cleric Spells Prepared (6/5+1/4+1/3+1/1+1; base DC = 13 + spell level; caster level 7th).
Deity: Semuanya. Domains: Plant (Rebuke/Command Plants as 7th level cleric 6/day), Scalykind (Rebuke/Command Animals (Reptilian Creatures and Snakes only) as 7th level cleric 6/day).
Possessions: Silver Holy Symbol (Semuanya), +2 Large Wooden Shield, +1 Heavy Mace, other possessions unknown.
Height: Unknown, Weight: Unknown, Hair: None, Eyes: Unknown.
Conversion Note: Redeye is listed as Clr7 in N5 Under Illefarn with Str 15, Int 13, Wis 16, Dex 15, Con 14, Cha 18 and +1 Mace.
Sources: N5 Under Illefarn (1E), The North boxed set (2E), PHB 3.5, DMG 3.5, Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (3E), Magic of Faerun (3E), Player’s Guide to Faerun (3.5E), Races of Faerun (3E/3.5E), Monster Manual 3.5.
Version 2 of Redeye
Redeye: Male Lizardfolk Lich Clr11; CR 14; Medium Undead (Augmented Humanoid, Reptilian); HD 13d12; hp 127; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22 (touch 13, flat-footed 19); Base Atk +9; Grp +12; Atk +13 melee (1d8+4, +1 Heavy Mace); Full Atk +13/+8 melee (1d8+4, +1 Heavy Mace) and +7 melee (1d4+1, Bite); Face/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SA Damaging Touch, Fear Aura, Paralyzing Touch, Rebuke Undead; SQ Lizardfolk traits, Lich Traits, DR 15/bludgeoning and magic; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +9, Will +11; Str 16, Dex 16, Con --, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 19.
Skills and Feats (counting all modifiers except equipment and attributes): Balance +5, Climb +2, Concentration +10, Hide +8, Jump +5, Knowledge (Arcana) +7, Knowledge (Nature) +3, Knowledge (Religion) +5, Listen +8, Move Silently +8, Search +8, Sense Motive +8, Speak Language (Common, Draconic, Aquan), Spot +8, Survival +2, Swim +9. Athletic, Craft Wondrous Item, Leadership, Multiattack, Spell Focus (Evocation).
Special Qualities: Lizardfolk traits: Darkvision 60 feet; +5 natural armor; +4 Racial bonus on Balance, Jump, and Swim checks; Hold Breath: a lizardfolk can hold his breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 x Constitution score before he is at risk of drowning; Natural Attacks: 2 claws and 1 bite for 1d4 each; Proficient with All Simple Weapons, Shields, and Barbed Darts. Lich traits: Undead; +5 natural armor; Turn Resistance +4; DR 15/Bludgeoning and Magic; Immunity to Cold, Electricity, Polymorph, and Mind-Affecting attacks; +8 Racial bonus on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, and Spot checks. Aura of Evil (equal to cleric level); Rebuke Undead as 11th level cleric 7/day.
Touch Attack (Su): Negative energy damage for 1d8+5 points of damage to living creatures; a Will save (DC 18) halves the damage. A lich with natural weapons can use its touch attack or its natural weapons, as it prefers. If it chooses the latter, it deals 1d8+5 points of extra damage on one natural weapon attack.
Fear Aura (Su): Liches are shrouded in a dreadful aura of death and evil. Creatures of less than 5 HD in a 60-foot radius that look at the lich much succeed on a Will save (DC 18) or be affected as though by a Fear spell at 13th level. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the same lich’s aura for 24 hours.
Paralyzing Touch (Su): Any living creature a lich hits with its touch attack must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 18) or be permanently paralyzed. Remove Paralysis or any spell that can remove a curse can free the victim (see the Bestow Curse spell, page 203 of the PHB). The effect cannot be dispelled. Anyone paralyzed by a lich seems dead, though a DC 20 Spot check or a DC 15 Heal check reveals that the victim is still alive.
Cleric Spells Prepared (6/6+1/5+1/5+1/4+1/2+1/1+1; base DC = 14 + spell level, 15 + spell level for Evocation spells; caster level 11th).
Deity: Semuanya. Domains: Plant (Rebuke/Command Plants as 11th level cleric 7/day), Scalykind (Rebuke/Command Animals (Reptilian Creatures and Snakes only) as 11th level cleric 7/day).
Possessions: Silver Holy Symbol (Semuanya), +2 Large Wooden Shield, +1 Heavy Mace, other possessions unknown.
Height: Unknown, Weight: Unknown, Hair: None, Eyes: Unknown.
Conversion Note: Redeye is listed as Clr7 in N5 Under Illefarn with Str 15, Int 13, Wis 16, Dex 15, Con 14, Cha 18 and +1 Mace. Rumors in the North boxed set, says Redeye has become a Lich.
Sources: N5 Under Illefarn (1E), The North boxed set (2E), PHB 3.5, DMG 3.5, Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (3E), Magic of Faerun (3E), Player’s Guide to Faerun (3.5E), Races of Faerun (3E/3.5E), Monster Manual 3.5.
Version 3
Redeye: Male Lizardfolk Bbn11/Chm5 of Talos; CR 17; Medium Humanoid (Reptilian); HD 2d8+10 plus 11d12+55 plus 5d10+25; hp 244; Init +10; Spd 40 ft.; AC 33 (touch 21, flat-footed 27); Base Atk +17; Grp +24; Atk +30 melee (1d6+12 plus 1d6 electricity, +5 Keen Shocking Burst Shortspear of Returning) or +29 ranged (1d6+12 plus 1d6 electricity, +5 Keen Shocking Burst Shortspear of Returning); Full Atk +30/+25/+20/+15 melee (1d6+12 plus 1d6 electricity, +5 Keen Shocking Burst Shortspear of Returning) and +22 melee (1d4+3, Bite) or +29 ranged (1d6+12 plus 1d6 electricity, +5 Keen Shocking Burst Shortspear of Returning); Face/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SA; SA Divine Wrath, Greater Rage, Smite Infidel; SQ Lizardfolk traits, DR 2/-; AL CE; SV Fort +13, Ref +16, Will +7; Str 24, Dex 22, Con 20, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats (counting all modifiers except equipment and attributes): Balance +5, Climb +12, Intimidate +20, Jump +10, Listen +5, Knowledge (Religion) +3, Speak Language (Common, Draconic, Aquan), Survival +11, Swim +20. Athletic, Dire Charge, Dodge, Extra Smiting, Improved Critical (Shortspear), Improved Initiative, Leadership, Mobility, Multiattack, Weapon Focus (Shortspear).
Special Qualities: Lizardfolk traits: Darkvision 60 feet; +5 natural armor; +4 Racial bonus on Balance, Jump, and Swim checks; Hold Breath: a lizardfolk can hold his breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 x Constitution score before he is at risk of drowning; Natural Attacks: 2 claws and 1 bite for 1d4 each; Proficient with All Simple Weapons, Shields, and Barbed Darts. Fast Movement; Greater Rage 3/day; Improved Uncanny Dodge; Trap Sense +3; Damage Reduction 2/-. Lay on Hands (15 HPs); Sacred Defense +2; Smite Infidel (+3 Att/+5 Dmg) 2/day; Divine Wrath.
Possessions: Silver Holy Symbol (Talos), +5 Large Wooden Shield, +5 Keen Shocking Burst Shortspear of Returning, Amulet of Health +6, Belt of Giant Strength +6, Gloves of Dexterity +6, Ring of Protection +5, other possessions unknown.
Height: Unknown, Weight: Unknown, Hair: None, Eyes: Unknown.
Source: Redeye is listed as Bbn11/Chm5 of Talos in the FRCS. Using information from N5 Under Illefarn’s Redeye as template for stats.
Sources: N5 Under Illefarn (1E), The North boxed set (2E), PHB 3.5, DMG 3.5, Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (3E), Magic of Faerun (3E), Player’s Guide to Faerun (3.5E), Races of Faerun (3E/3.5E), Monster Manual 3.5. |
| Beirnadri Magranth |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 01:50:16
oh oh oh right. im not used to 2e er.. 1e in this case... haha i wasn't even born then. |
| Arivia |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 01:46:41
quote:
Originally posted by Beirnadri Magranth
7th level Lich? no way!
Under Illefarn is a very old adventure, from 1e actually if I remember correctly. Character levels have undergone many fluctuations between editions. |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 01:46:28
No stats in _The North_ download, he is listed as a true Rumor if the DM wants to use him, thus make rummor true. Perhaps there are stats someplace else.
Hmm a little more search offers this http://paizo.com/dungeonissues/126/DA126_Supplement_LR.pdf on Redeye, who might not be a lich anymore acording to 3.X stat block.
Oh he is now : Male lizardfolk barbarian 6/divine champion 1 |
| Beirnadri Magranth |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 01:41:14
7th level Lich? no way! |
| Kuje |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 01:30:28
If it is Redeye then he was given stats. :)
Redeye, 7th Cleric, Male Lizardman, TN, Shaman of the Lizardman of Lizard Marsh, Under Illefarn
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| Kentinal |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 00:49:06
Redeye appears to be his name, however no stats appear to be available for him. |
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