Firetails were creatures of living flame.[1]
Description[]
There were two types of firetails, lesser firetails and greater firetails, which were also called tshala. They both were identical in appearance, expect greater firetails were longer. Firetails looked like a fey-type creature made of dancing, living flames. [1]
Abilities[]
Greater firetails had the innate ability to duplicate the effects of feeblemind, fire trap, heal, maze, plane shift and remove curse spells once per day, and fireball several times a day. Greater firetails were capable of plane shifting themselves and a small group of lesser firetails. Both types of firetails were immune to all fire and heat-based effects and spells, and were vulnerable to cold and water-based effects and spells.[1]
Combat[]
Firetails were formidable opponents in battle. Their flame is hot enough to cause severe burns and could ignite most flammable materials such as clothing. A firetail could temporarily cause a dramatic increase in their temperature, becoming a blazing hot flame. It could only do this a few times a day, and left then drained.[1]
Ecology[]
Most firetails were born as lesser firetails, only rarely were greater firetails were born. A lesser firetail may gradually become a greater firetails as they aged and gained life experience. Once it reached about 200 years of age, a lesser firetail may seclude itself near a source of intense heat, such in a cave with a lava pool. Once ready, the lesser firetail began to absorb energy from the heat source continuously for up to a week. Once this process was complete, the lesser firetail became a greater firetail.[1]
Once a firetail reached 400 years in age, they were able to reproduce. Firetails reproduced somewhat asexually. This process involved the firetail gathering flammable materials, being careful not to ignite them prematurely. This continued until the firetail has up to four large piles of materials. The piles were ignited and left to burn, and eventually the firetail exploded. Each pile of material then began burning intensely, and after about an hour, a firetail was born from each pile.[1]
Habitats[]
Firetails originated from the Elemental Plane of Fire. Through plane shifting, firetails could be encountered across the Prime Material plane, including Toril.[1]
Languages[]
Firetails had a unique form of communication. The firetail language was based on the shifting hues and patterns of their flames.[1]
Relationships[]
Firetails loathed salamanders and attacked them on sight. They had a neutral relationship with fire elementals, both parties simply ignoring the other. Generally, firetails were solitary creatures and choose the company of other firetails over that of other creatures. However, firetails have been known to become companions with other creatures, such as elves, humans, pegasi and sylphs.[1]
Among the members of the Elven pantheon, they acted as servants of the deities Aerdrie Faenya, Corellon, Erevan Ilesere, Sehanine Moonbow and Solonor Thelandira.[3]
Notable Firetails[]
- Flamedancer, a tshala that dwelt in the Yuirwood until its home was destroyed, at which point it sought revenge against the church of Kossuth.[4]
Appendix[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 David Cook (1991). Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (MC11). (TSR, Inc), p. 22. ISBN l-56076-111-3.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Jeff Brandt, Theresa Berger and Willie Carlson (May 1982). “The Dragon's Bestiary”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #61 (TSR, Inc.), p. 48.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 94, 101, 109, 126, 133. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 150. ISBN 978-0786906574.