Xazulzhax - The Beholder
Beneath the obsidian spires of the Nevermoors, whispers speak of a tyrant who sees all. Xaltheris, a Beholder whose paranoia has turned the flooded caverns into a fortress of optical illusions and deadly traps, rules from a chamber whose walls are lined with petrified “traitors.”
Role in Its Society:
Beholders tolerate no equals, and Xazulzhax is no exception. It has enslaved a network of underdark denizens—kuo-toa, grimlocks, and derro—who worship it as a god. These thralls act as both eyes and bait, drawing intruders into kill zones. Xaltheris uses its influence to manipulate distant settlements, spreading disinformation through agents disguised with illusion magic.
Appearance Description:
Xazulzhax’s spherical body is sheathed in smooth, midnight-blue chitin, speckled with faint iridescence like oil on water. Ten eyestalks writhe constantly, each capped with an unblinking lens that glows faintly when its powers are active. Its central eye is rimmed with jagged scars, the iris a swirling vortex of violet and silver.
Backstory:
Legends say Xazulzhax was born from a Beholder’s nightmare so vivid that it pulled itself into reality. Believing itself to be the only Xazulzhax, it destroyed every record of its progenitor and set about reshaping the Nevermoors in its image. It has since survived at least three assassination attempts by rival aberrations, becoming even more reclusive and defensive.
