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XANATHAR
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Xana1har is the name given to the beholder crime lord
that lives in the dungeons under Waterdeep. It isn't the
first beholder to claim this mantle, nor will it be the last.
Like all beholders, Xanathar is a paranoid tyrant
that charms and bullies its minions into servitude. The
Xanathar Guild is made up of some of Waterdeep's
most disreputable folk, as well as monsters forced into
subservience or drawn to the beholder by the promise
of treasure, food, or power. Treachery within the ranks
of the guild is common as servants vie for the beholder·s
favor and affection. Such boons are fleeting, though, as
the beholder is quick to distrust those who finagle their
way into its good graces.
Xanathar lives in a dungeon under Skullport. a subter-
ranean settlement connected to Unde rmountain's third
level. The place resembles a ramshackle town, built
inside a giant cavern connected to an underground river.
Members of the Xanathar Guild haunt Skullport's dilapi-
dated buildings, and flameskulls patrol its streets.
The only creature Xanathar truly cares about aside
from itself is a fish, named Sylgar. that it keeps in a large
glass tank. Xanathar has minions that look after the fish
constantly, but even their ministracions can't keep such
a creature alive forever. Whenever the fish dies, panic
spreads through the occupants of the lair as minions try
to re place the fish before Xanathar realizes what has
happened. Luckily for them, the beholder can't tell one
fish from another.
Xanathar is extremely fond of gold. A few years ago,
its spies stole the Stone ofGolorr, whic h contained in-
formation that led to the discovery of a dwarven vault
under Waterdeep. Xanathar was able to open the vault,
but was forced out by the dragon inside the place. Re-
cently. someone stole the Stone ofGolorr from where it
was hidden inside its lair, and the beholder is convinced
that the Black Network is behind the theft.
The beholder is caught up in the unbreakable grip
of its own paranoia. It sees enemies everywhe re. and
lashes out at anyone it suspects of being a Zhentarim
spy or assassin. Adventurers who attract its attention
by dealing with known or suspected Black Network
operatives are quickly branded as e nemies that must be
destroyed.GAME STATISTICS
Xanathar is a beholder that wears magic rings on three
of its eyestalks. It is attuned to all three rings, which
don't alter the beholder's challenge rating. It wears a
ring of invisibility on its fear ray eycstalk, a ring of mind
shielding on its sleep ray eyestalk, and a ring of resis-
tance (force) on its slowing ray eycstalk.
Xanathar's beloved fish, Sylgar, has the statistics of a
quipp e r, except that it lacks the Blood Fre nzy trait.YALAH GRALHUND
The lady of House Gralhund is no fool. She has a keen
mind and the wisdom to discern friend from foe. She
also has a husband who worships her (see .. Orond Gral-
hund." page 213) and a house that has the resources of
t he Black Network at its disposal.~Pl't"NDIX 8 J MONSTERS .-\CllD NPCSYalah stays abreast of events in the city, keeps a tight
rein on her children, and uses her station and her fam-
ily's wealth to pry secrets from the lips of nobles, guild-
masters, and commoners alike. Though her previous
attempts to become a Masked Lord have been thwarted,
she believes it's only a matter of time until that honor
is bestowed on her. Once s he knows the identities and
secrets of enough Masked Lords, Yalah is confident that
she can bribe, blackmail, or extort her way into their
ranks. From there, she plans to effect changes in the
government that will ensure I louse Gralhund's prosper-
ity for generations to come.
Yalah shares the services of a half-ore bodyguard with
her husband, although Hrabbaz (see ''ffrabbaz," page
205) is more loyal to her than to him. She aJso uses
the Zhentarim who are based in House Gralhund as
her personal spy network, not realizing that the Zhents'
true master is Manshoon. Most of her dealings are with
the Zhcnt master assassin Urstul Floxin (see "Urstul
Floxin," page 216), whom she treats as an underling.CAME STATISTICS
Yalah Gralhund is a Tethyrian human noble , with
these changes:- Yalah is neutral evil.
- She has an InteJligence of 16 (+3).
- She speaks Common and Infernal.
'r'ALAM ANO ORONO
GRA MUNO