## Overview The **Sharn**, sometimes called the **Sharn Wall**, **Sharn Guardians**, or **Sharn of the Weave**, are among the oldest and most enigmatic beings in the Forgotten Realms. Existing long before the rise of Netheril, they are immortal entities intrinsically bound to the Weave and dedicated to preserving the balance of magic. They are neither gods nor mortal creatures, but unique magical beings whose existence is tied directly to the stability of arcane forces across Toril. Although little known outside the circles of archmages and divine scholars, the Sharn played a decisive role in one of the greatest conflicts in Faerûn's history. During the wars between the Netherese Empire and the phaerimm, the Sharn became the eternal wardens of the magical prison that confined the phaerimm beneath the sands of Anauroch. Without their intervention, the phaerimm might have destroyed far more than Netheril. Unlike dragons, elves, or humans, the Sharn have no kingdoms, no ambitions of conquest, and no known civilization. Their purpose is singular: to maintain magical balance and prevent catastrophic abuses of arcane power. --- ## Appearance A Sharn is unlike any natural creature. Its body appears as a swirling mass of translucent magical energy surrounding several humanoid torsos that merge into a single entity. Most Sharn possess three upper bodies arranged around a shared core, each with its own arms and head, though they function as a single mind. Beneath these torsos trails a shifting vortex of arcane force rather than legs. Their appearance constantly changes as magical energy flows through them. Colours ripple across their forms, fragments of light drift around them, and the air nearby often shimmers as though reality itself bends in their presence. To those unfamiliar with them, a Sharn appears less like a living creature and more like a spell given permanent form. --- ## Origins The origins of the Sharn remain one of the greatest mysteries in Forgotten Realms lore. No surviving text states who created them or whether they evolved naturally. Unlike the elves, dragons, or giants, the Sharn have no recorded creation myth. What is known is that they existed long before the fall of Netheril and were already ancient when the first human empires emerged. Their intimate connection to the Weave suggests they are fundamental magical beings rather than members of an ordinary race. Some sages speculate they were created by Mystra's predecessors to safeguard magic itself, while others argue they arose spontaneously as manifestations of the Weave's own will. Canon deliberately leaves their true origin unexplained. --- ## Nature Every Sharn is immortal unless destroyed. They do not appear to reproduce, age, or require food, sleep, or shelter. Their existence is devoted entirely to preserving magical stability. Unlike many immortal beings, the Sharn possess no desire for rulership, wealth, or worship. They rarely interfere in mortal affairs unless an event threatens the balance of magic or risks releasing forces capable of catastrophic destruction. This detachment often causes them to appear emotionless or indifferent, though they are capable of communication and cooperation when necessary. --- ## Relationship with the Weave The defining characteristic of every Sharn is its connection to the Weave. Rather than merely casting spells through the Weave, they exist partially within it. This grants them remarkable resistance to magical attacks and allows them to manipulate arcane energies in ways few other beings can comprehend. Because of this bond, the Sharn often perceive disturbances in magic long before mortal spellcasters become aware of them. Their relationship with the Weave also explains why they became natural enemies of the phaerimm, whose life-draining magic represented a direct threat to magical balance across Toril. --- ## The War Against the Phaerimm When the phaerimm began devastating Netheril through their life-draining magic, the Sharn recognised that the conflict threatened not merely one empire but the stability of the Weave itself. Although they did not ally themselves politically with Netheril, they cooperated with powerful elven High Mages and other spellcasters seeking to halt the phaerimm's advance. Together they developed immense magical rituals capable of imprisoning the phaerimm beneath what would become the Anauroch Desert. Unlike conventional prisons, this magical confinement required constant maintenance. The Sharn accepted this burden, binding themselves to the wards for centuries to ensure the phaerimm remained trapped. This sacrifice prevented the phaerimm from continuing their campaign against the civilizations of Faerûn. --- ## Eternal Guardians Following the imprisonment of the phaerimm, many Sharn became permanent custodians of the magical prison. Rather than constructing fortresses or armies, they maintained the magical structure itself. Every attempt by the phaerimm to weaken their confinement brought the Sharn into renewed conflict. This hidden war continued for centuries beneath the sands of Anauroch, largely unnoticed by the surface world. To most inhabitants of Faerûn, nothing appeared unusual. Yet beneath the desert, ancient battles between immortal beings continued without end. --- ## Magical Abilities The Sharn are among the most accomplished magical beings in existence. Rather than relying upon prepared spells alone, they possess an innate mastery of arcane energy that allows them to reshape magical effects with extraordinary precision. Their abilities include powerful defensive magic, teleportation, counterspells, protective wards, planar travel, and manipulation of magical energy itself. Unlike the phaerimm, whose magic often consumes and corrupts life, the Sharn use their power to preserve balance and contain destructive forces. --- ## Relationship with Mortals The Sharn rarely reveal themselves to ordinary people. Most encounters occur only when adventurers unknowingly approach locations of great magical importance or disturb ancient wards. Even then, the Sharn generally prefer communication over violence. If intruders pose no threat to the balance of magic, the Sharn may simply observe them before disappearing. Only those who endanger ancient magical prisons, powerful artifacts, or the integrity of the Weave itself are likely to face their hostility. --- ## Current Status Following the events surrounding the return of the phaerimm during the late fourteenth century Dalereckoning, the Sharn continued their ancient duty of opposing their old enemies. Although greatly diminished in number compared to earlier ages, surviving Sharn still exist throughout Faerûn. Many remain hidden within forgotten magical sites, ancient prisons, and locations where the Weave itself has been damaged or requires protection. Because they seldom interact with the wider world, most modern scholars consider them little more than legends. --- ## Legacy The Sharn are remembered by the few who know of them as silent guardians whose actions preserved the magical balance of Faerûn during one of its darkest ages. Without their willingness to bind themselves to the prison beneath Anauroch, the phaerimm might have continued spreading devastation across the continent long after Netheril's fall. Unlike many heroes of history, the Sharn sought neither recognition nor reward. Their legacy survives not in kingdoms or monuments, but in the continued existence of civilizations that never realised how close they came to annihilation. --- ### Canon Notes For your campaign, the Sharn are especially useful because they provide a living connection between Netheril, the phaerimm, and Anauroch. Official lore deliberately leaves many details about their origins, numbers, and internal society undefined. This gives you room to introduce a lone Sharn guardian beneath Anarath, a failing ward that the party must reinforce, or a forgotten Sharn who remembers Iymrith's first disastrous encounter with the phaerimm—all without contradicting established Forgotten Realms canon.