Thalassovora, the Slime Dragon
(Origin and Transformation of the Slime Dragon)
The following is not canon Forgotten Realms lore, it is entirely optional and created both to hopefully entertain and inspire your imagination, plus it was a lot of fun to write!
The world of Toril is much larger than the continent of Faerûn, Kara-Tur and Zakhara, this monstrous mastermind comes to Faerûn all the way from the Toril version of Aboriginal Australia, so, feel free to give the Great Wyrm an ozzy accent.
Thalassovora, an ancient green dragon of remarkable cunning and ambition, hailed from the remote and mysterious continent of Ozzy . Ozzy, with its dense jungles and ancient forests, served as her dominion, a realm she ruled with an iron claw for centuries. Known for her strategic brilliance and insatiable thirst for knowledge, her influence stretched far and wide, dominating numerous tribes and settlements that both feared and revered her.
In her prime, Thalassovora was a master manipulator, using her wit and arcane prowess to maintain control over her domain. She was notorious for her ability to outsmart her enemies, often turning potential threats into assets. Her hoard was a treasure trove not just of gold and jewels but of ancient tomes, mystical artifacts, and secrets lost to time. Her lair, hidden deep within the jungle, was a labyrinthine fortress filled with traps and wards to deter any would-be intruders.
As she neared the end of her natural lifespan, her desperation grew. She sought a way to achieve true immortality, to continue her reign unchallenged and unending. It was during this time that she became obsessed with the Positive Energy Plane, a realm of boundless life and vitality. Convinced that exposure to this plane could grant her the eternal life she craved, Thalassovora embarked on a perilous quest to breach the barriers between the planes.
Creating a portal to the Positive Energy Plane is no small feat. The inherent danger of such an endeavor is immense, as the raw energy of the plane can easily spill into the Material Plane, causing catastrophic consequences. With her unparalleled mastery of ancient magics, managed to construct a portal in a secluded part of her jungle domain, shielded from prying eyes and guarded by her most loyal minions.
With the portal ready, she steeled herself for the journey. She knew the risks but was determined to proceed. As she crossed the threshold, the overwhelming brilliance of the Positive Energy Plane engulfed her. The sheer force of life energy surged through her, infusing every cell of her being. For a brief, glorious moment, she felt invincible, her body thrumming with unimaginable power.
But this power came at a cost. The energy coursed through her so intensely that her cells began to act independently, almost breaking apart into countless tiny organisms. Realizing the imminent danger, Thalassovora fought to return to the Material Plane before her body could completely disintegrate. She managed to pull herself back through the portal, collapsing in her lair, transformed but alive.
Back in the Material Plane, she was no longer the dragon she once was. The exposure to the Positive Energy Plane had fundamentally altered her, transforming her into a vast colony of cells that acted in many ways like the slimes, oozes, and molds she had previously viewed as lesser beings. Yet, unlike these mindless entities, she retained her identity and control over her form, though it was now a twisted and grotesque parody of her former self.
The transformation left her with immense physical power but also profound psychological trauma. She could no longer interact with other dragons as she once did, her status among her kind irreparably damaged. Her body, now a living, shifting mass of cellular ooze, could absorb and integrate elemental energy from her surroundings, drawing strength from the jungles and storms of Ozzy. She developed a secondary acid breath weapon and a primary breath attack that unleashed a torrent of digestive slime, capable of absorbing and burning anything in its path. This slime, ejected from her mouth, could entangle and engulf victims, pulling them back inside her body to be digested alive.
Thalassovora's new form gave her dominion over the slimes, oozes, and molds that now inhabited her lair. These creatures, drawn to her by the same energies that transformed her, became her new subjects. Her lair, once a fortress of stone and magic, transformed into a living, pulsating entity, echoing her own metamorphosis. The jungles of Ozzy, already a place of mystery and danger, became even more treacherous, as the Slime Dragon exerted her influence over the land.
Despite her new powers, her existence was one of isolation and madness. Seeking to reclaim some semblance of her past glory and driven by an insatiable desire for control, Thalassovora’s eyes turned towards Faerûn.
The allure of Faerûn, with its myriad kingdoms, powerful factions, and abundant magic, drew her across the seas. Thalassovora’s journey to Faerûn was not merely a quest for territory but a search for powerful artifacts and ancient magics that might offer a cure for her affliction or further enhance her power.
The powerful ancient dragon's arrival in Faerûn did not go unnoticed. Her presence was first felt in the dense forests of Chondalwood, where her influence began to corrupt the natural order. The Emerald Enclave, dedicated to maintaining the balance between civilization and nature, quickly recognized the threat. Reports of a new and terrifying dragon spreading slime and decay reached the Harpers, who understood the broader implications of such a creature.
As she extended her reach, she came into conflict with various factions. The Zhentarim saw potential in harnessing her power for their mercantile and military ambitions. However, their attempts to control her only led to further chaos, as Thalassovora’s unpredictable nature and immense power could not be easily harnessed. Her retaliation for any humanoid's daring to speak to her magnificence was swift and devastating, she wiped out most of the Centaurs and most of a band of Lycanthropes, called the People of the Black Blood, within and around the region of the Chondalwood in the Vilhon Reach.
The Order of the Gauntlet, with their moral dedication to eradicating evil, launched several expeditions to confront the Slime Dragon. These encounters were fraught with peril, as Thalassovora’s deadly minions, the slime knights, dragonblood oozes and even some winged terrors that behaved so much like Blood sucking Stirges, they are just called False Stirges in the notes of a journal I found recently.
Speaking of research and study
Thalassovora’s vast knowledge of ritual magic and spells also made her a formidable foe. In combat, she could call upon ancient magics, using them to manipulate the battlefield to her advantage. Her lair, hidden deep within the corrupted heart of Chondalwood, became a place of dread. The very air around her lair shimmered with latent magical energy, and her presence warped the land, creating regions where the natural and the unnatural fused in grotesque ways, portals to the foul and dark fey realms of the Feywild's dark Fairy lords and more than a few Green Hags have been drawn into the Gargantuan Slime Dragon's magical aura, the fey portals are actually all located along a ridge between two ancient stone formations that may or may not have been constructed, they are too eroded to tell, but either way, they mark the start and finish of a remarkably strong and stable Ley Line.
Thalassovora likes to locate her lair on a major ley line, its a vital energy she both feeds on and taints with her presence.Her lair actions reflected her deep understanding of magic. She could animate the very ground, causing roots and vines to lash out at intruders. Her legendary actions included summoning storms of acidic rain, calling forth clouds of toxic spores, and using her slime breath to devastating effect. These abilities made her lair nearly impenetrable, a fortress of living, pulsating ooze and magic. Her influence grew, and she began to corrupt the natural order on a larger scale. The forests of Chondalwood became a twisted reflection of her inner turmoil, a place where the boundaries between life and death, growth and decay, were blurred. The Zhentarim, Harpers, and Order of the Gauntlet, among others, found themselves in an uneasy alliance, recognizing that only by working together could they hope to stop the Slime Dragon’s spread.
Using her ability to control and create slimes and oozes, she developed a variety of minions to serve her. These creatures, born from her own essence, act as her eyes, ears, and enforcers in Faerûn.
Dragonblood Oozes are congealed masses of Thalassovora’s own blood, infused with her draconic essence. They attempt to take on a draconic form but often collapse into an amorphous heap. They retain a semblance of The Slime Dragon's breath weapon, capable of spewing a part of their gelatinous mass at enemies.
Thalassovora has developed the Slime Knights using a combination of her inherent draconic magic, the corrupting influence of her slime form, and ancient rituals she mastered over centuries. Thalassovora selects potential Slime Knights from among the humanoid populations near her lair. These individuals are typically chosen for their physical prowess, resilience, and latent magical potential. Often, she targets warriors, spellcasters, and those with a strong will, as they can better withstand the transformation process.
The chosen candidates undergo a ritual that infuses their bodies with her slime essence. This ritual is performed in a specially prepared chamber within her lair, filled with bubbling slime pools and arcane symbols. During the ritual, she channels her power, transforming the candidates into living conduits of her slime magic, transforming them brutally and utterly.
The newly transformed Slime Knights are provided with armor and weapons enchanted with primordial carved runes. Their armor is coated with a protective slime layer, granting them resistance to various conditions and making them nearly impervious to attacks from other slimes and oozes. Their weapons are similarly enhanced, allowing them to deal additional acid damage with each strike and sometimes cutting through minor protective enchantments on other magical armors.
A key aspect of the Slime Knights' creation is their bond with green slime mounts. These mounts are specially bred and infused with Thalassovora’s essence, making them more resilient and obedient. The bond between the knight and their mount is both magical and symbiotic, allowing them to communicate and coordinate seamlessly in battle.
The Slime Knights are formidable warriors with unique abilities derived from their slime-infused nature. They serve as the elite enforcers and protectors, carrying out her will with unwavering loyalty. They patrol her territory, engage in skirmishes against intruders, and lead assaults on those who oppose her. Their presence ensures that Thalassovora’s influence continues to spread.
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