![[Eltab.png|500]] **Eltab** **Also Known as:** The Hidden Lord, Lord of the Hidden Layer **Alignment:** Chaotic Evil **Classification:** Demon Lord, Abyssal Prince **Realm:** The Hidden Layer, 248th Layer of the Abyss **Stronghold:** The Citadel of Conjurers, Impiltur **Domains:** Chaos, Demonic, Evil, Hatred, Retribution --- ### Overview **Eltab**, known as **the Lord of the Hidden Layer**, is an ancient and extraordinarily powerful demon lord whose history is inseparably connected with the eastern lands of **Faerûn**. Once the undisputed ruler of the **248th layer of the Abyss**, Eltab commanded demonic armies whose strength rivalled those of the greatest princes of the Lower Planes. His long career of conquest was interrupted when the demonbinders of **Narfell** summoned him to Toril during the final years of their devastating war against **Raumathar**, beginning a succession of invasions, imprisonments, and betrayals that would shape the history of eastern Faerûn for more than fifteen centuries. Before his arrival upon Toril, Eltab possessed considerable authority within the Abyss. His armies fought successfully in the **Blood War** against the baatezu, earning him both territory and influence among the tanar'ri. Through military victories and the defeat of rival fiends, he accumulated followers and titles, eventually establishing himself as a demon prince whose power was comparable to that of **Demogorgon**, **Graz'zt**, and **Orcus**. Unlike many demon lords who regard mortal worlds as little more than sources of souls and slaves, Eltab developed a particular fascination with territorial conquest upon the Material Plane. His arrival in Faerûn exposed him to the prospect of ruling mortal populations directly, exercising the authority of a godlike sovereign over lands whose inhabitants possessed neither the strength nor the freedom to oppose him. His ambitions proved disastrous for those who attempted to command him. Although the Narfelli demonbinders succeeded in drawing him into their service, they could not extinguish his desire for independence. Eltab eventually established his own dominion in Rashemen, where he ruled for decades before an alliance of mortal warriors and powerful witches brought his reign to an end. His defeat did not result in permanent banishment. Instead, the ancient magic used to summon him bound his existence to Faerûn, preventing him from returning freely to the Abyss. This enduring connection would repeatedly expose him to imprisonment and manipulation by mortal spellcasters who sought to harness his power. Eltab subsequently became involved in the establishment of **Eltabranar**, a theocracy dedicated to Myrkul in the Eastern Shaar, before suffering another defeat at the hands of the divine servants of Mulhorand. Centuries later, the **Red Wizards of Thay** released him to assist their rebellion against Mulhorandi rule, only to imprison him beneath their newly established capital when they discovered that he could not be dismissed. By the late fourteenth century DR, Eltab had survived another failed attempt at enslavement, this time undertaken by the lich **Szass Tam**. Although his apparent destruction in 1373 DR was widely accepted by his enemies, the ancient Narfelli bindings instead carried him to the **Citadel of Conjurers** in Impiltur, where he began preparing new schemes of vengeance and conquest. Eltab is therefore distinguished by a history unlike that of most Abyssal princes. His greatest struggles have not concerned the conquest of new layers of the Abyss, but the repeated efforts of mortal wizards, priests, and rulers to exploit his strength. Each failure to destroy him has deepened his hatred, leaving a demon lord whose ambitions now encompass both the reconquest of his Abyssal kingdom and the destruction of those responsible for his long captivity. --- ### Domain and Influence Eltab's original dominion is **the Hidden Layer**, the **248th layer of the Abyss**. This terrible realm is an immense wasteland of broken stone, jagged boulders, and deep fissures, continually battered by violent electrical storms. The skies are dominated by powerful winds, incessant rainfall, and lightning of extraordinary intensity. The landscape offers little shelter from these conditions, making prolonged survival difficult for creatures unaccustomed to the dangers of the Abyss. Although much of the layer appears barren, its wilderness contains enormous concentrations of deadly vegetation. Forests of **assassin vines**, **bloodthorns**, **ironmaws**, and **viper trees** occupy regions where ordinary plant life could scarcely survive. These predatory growths create additional hazards among the rocky wastelands, attacking creatures that attempt to cross their territories. The Hidden Layer was once governed by Eltab and his demonic lieutenants, whose armies defended his authority against rival powers. His prolonged absence from the Abyss, however, brought an end to this unified dominion. For more than fifteen centuries, the realm has been divided among competing demonic factions. Powerful balors and other former servants of Eltab have established territories of their own, fighting continually to seize control of the kingdom abandoned by their master. Among the most formidable of these commanders is **Ndulu**, a mighty balor whose influence extends into the ancient history of Narfell and Impiltur. Ndulu commanded a demonic army associated with the terrible conflicts that followed the fall of Narfell, and his forces eventually suffered defeat at the hands of the Paladin Princes of Impiltur. Eltab's long confinement has therefore deprived him of more than his freedom. His absence allowed the kingdom he had once ruled to fragment into rival territories, leaving him without the unified Abyssal armies that had formerly supported his ambitions. Yet the connection between Eltab and his lost realm remains extraordinarily powerful. When the demonbinders of Narfell summoned him to Faerûn in **−160 DR**, their magic did more than transport the demon lord from one plane to another. It established an enduring connection between his Abyssal dominion and the mortal lands once ruled by the Nentyarchs. Fragments of the Hidden Layer were drawn into Faerûn, creating unnatural pockets of Abyssal territory known as **demoncysts**. These strange regions exist beneath the surface of northeastern Faerûn, particularly within lands formerly claimed by Narfell. They resemble ordinary caverns from the outside, yet their interiors possess the environment of the Abyss rather than that of the surrounding world. Within a demoncyst, travellers may encounter the broken stone, violent storms, dangerous vegetation, and demonic inhabitants characteristic of the Hidden Layer. The boundary between the two environments ordinarily prevents their conditions from mixing, allowing a fragment of the Abyss to exist beneath the earth without necessarily altering the land above it. Many demoncysts contain imprisoned fiends. The demonbinders of ancient Narfell used these places to conceal bound demons, preserving their servants within magical prisons until they might be required for future conflicts. After Narfell's destruction, much of this knowledge was lost. Explorers subsequently uncovered these chambers without understanding their true nature, occasionally releasing demons and other dangerous creatures that had remained imprisoned for centuries. Demoncysts are particularly common beneath the **Great Dale** and **Thaymount**, although others have been discovered or are believed to remain concealed beneath **Damara**, **Impiltur**, **Thesk**, **Vaasa**, and the **Priador**. One of the most important lies beneath the eastern Thaymount, where the ancient boundary between the planes was damaged during the founding of Thay. Through this rupture, Abyss-tainted waters from the **River of Blood** entered the mortal world, giving rise to the **River Eltar**. The greatest demoncyst associated with Eltab is the **Hall of the Hidden Throne**, located beneath the **Citadel of Conjurers** in Impiltur. This extraordinary chamber contains part of Eltab's former palace, torn from the Abyss by the Narfelli demonbinders when they first summoned him. More than five hundred feet across, it preserves the throne room of a demon prince whose kingdom now lies separated from him by the ancient magic of his captors. Within the chamber is the **Adamantine Binding**, the mighty calling circle responsible for Eltab's continued attachment to Faerûn. So long as this binding remains intact, Eltab cannot freely depart Toril and reclaim his Abyssal kingdom. Even magic capable of banishing him cannot return him permanently to his own layer, instead forcing him into one of the demoncysts connected to the Hidden Layer. His association with Faerûn is therefore not merely a consequence of imprisonment. It is an enduring magical condition that binds his existence, his lost kingdom, and the ancient lands of Narfell together. --- ### Symbols and Icons No specific religious symbol or holy emblem is established for **Eltab** in the principal accounts of his history. His name is associated with ancient Narfelli demonbinding diagrams, the great runes used to imprison him beneath Thay, and the supernatural markings employed by cultists who seek his favour. These arcane symbols should not be confused with a conventional holy symbol. Their primary purpose is magical, particularly the summoning, binding, and control of demons. Eltab possesses an imposing and unmistakably monstrous appearance. He stands approximately **fifteen feet tall**, with a heavily muscled humanoid body covered in thick, bony plates of dark red armour. His head resembles that of a muzzled beast, crowned by numerous horns and antlers. These protrusions emerge at irregular angles from his skull, giving him a terrifying silhouette that reflects the unnatural violence of his Abyssal nature. His narrow eyes glow with a malevolent light. Their slitted pupils and yellow colouring are accompanied by brilliant red irises, creating an appearance of constant hostility and supernatural menace. Eltab's body possesses formidable natural weapons. His claws can tear through flesh and armour, while the horns upon his head provide a deadly means of impaling enemies who approach too closely. In battle, he may wield a great enchanted sword known as **Stormsplitter**, whose magical properties combine exceptional sharpness with destructive electrical power. The weapon is one of his recognised possessions following his escape from Thayan imprisonment. He is also associated with the **Moaning Crown of Ndulu**, a terrible relic fashioned from the imprisoned spirits of the ancient Nentyarchs of Narfell. Unlike a conventional crown of metal or jewels, this artifact resembles a shifting circlet of black, incorporeal mist within which tormented faces can be seen. The crown's continual moaning inspires despair among those opposed to evil while strengthening the resolve of wicked creatures nearby. Its possession connects Eltab with the enduring legacy of Narfell's demonic rulers and the terrible artifacts they left behind. Eltab's appearance and possessions therefore reflect the two principal aspects of his history: the brutal power of an ancient demon lord and the enduring influence of Narfelli magic upon his fate. --- ### Worship and Tributes Eltab has never enjoyed a widespread mortal religion comparable to those dedicated to the established gods of Faerûn. Nevertheless, he has attracted worshippers and servants throughout his long history, particularly among individuals fascinated by the magical traditions of Narfell or seeking power through the service of demons. During his occupation of Rashemen, Eltab discovered that mortal subjects could regard a powerful demon as a being worthy of almost divine reverence. The experience encouraged his desire to rule the Material Plane, for he found the obedience and veneration of mortal populations appealing in a manner distinct from the continual struggles for supremacy within the Abyss. His later association with Eltabranar further strengthened his connection with mortal religion, although that kingdom was formally devoted to **Myrkul** rather than to Eltab himself. The surviving cults dedicated specifically to Eltab are considerably smaller. Their members are found chiefly among those seeking to restore the influence of ancient Narfell or profit from the demon lord's determination to reclaim his lost power. These cultists are particularly interested in the liberation of imprisoned demons. Many ancient Narfelli ruins contain bound fiends whose existence has been forgotten by the inhabitants of the surrounding lands. To Eltab's followers, freeing these creatures represents both an act of devotion and a means of recruiting powerful allies. Their activities are also shaped by Eltab's hatred of demonbinders. Having suffered repeated enslavement through mortal magic, the Lord of the Hidden Layer despises those who seek to command demons through binding rituals. He therefore favours servants willing to release such creatures without demanding obedience or reward in return. Unlike the priests of conventional deities, Eltab's followers do not necessarily receive divine magic directly from their patron. Nevertheless, certain clerics may dedicate themselves to the principles associated with his power, particularly **Chaos**, **Evil**, **Hatred**, and **Retribution**. Their relationship with the demon lord is founded upon shared ambition and the promise of supernatural favour rather than loyalty or compassion. Eltab's cults are not known for elaborate public ceremonies or established religious festivals. Their devotion is expressed principally through the liberation of bound demons, the recovery of Narfelli artifacts, and the pursuit of vengeance against those who have opposed their master. --- ### Clergy and Cults Despite centuries of imprisonment and the widespread belief that he had been destroyed, Eltab retains a small but dangerous following among mortals. In the years following his escape from the Red Wizards, several secret cults continued to operate within the eastern lands of Faerûn. Their members preserved knowledge of the Hidden Lord and sought opportunities to advance his ambitions without revealing that he remained active. Among the known centres of his worship are **Eltabbar** in Thay, **Lyrabar** in Impiltur, and **Teflamm** in Thesk. Other followers operate within the outlaw territories of **Dambrath**, particularly the region known as the **Swagdar**. These groups are not united by an elaborate religious hierarchy. They commonly function as small cabals, guided by individuals who possess knowledge of demonic magic and the lost traditions of Narfell. Their activities include the recovery of ancient artifacts, the investigation of demoncysts, and the liberation of fiends imprisoned by long-dead demonbinders. Eltab has also employed these cultists in his campaign of vengeance against the **Red Wizards of Thay**. Certain followers have travelled to cities throughout Faerûn disguised as Red Wizards, committing crimes while allowing witnesses to believe that the Thayan organisation was responsible. Through these acts, Eltab seeks to undermine the commercial and political influence established by the Red Wizards through their network of mercantile enclaves. This strategy reveals the calculating hatred that has developed during his captivity. Rather than merely launching an immediate assault upon Thay, Eltab seeks to weaken the reputation and interests of those who imprisoned him, exploiting the fears and prejudices already associated with the Red Wizards. Among his recognised mortal servants are individuals known as **Thralls of Eltab**. These followers devote themselves to restoring the demonic legacy of Narfell and bringing the lands once ruled by the Nentyarchs under Eltab's authority. The most important qualification for entering this tradition is an act of deliberate liberation: the prospective thrall must release a demon from imprisonment without demanding service, payment, or any other assurance in return. This obligation reflects Eltab's profound hatred of magical enslavement. Having been repeatedly bound by mortal spellcasters, he expects his followers to reject the practices through which demons are compelled into unwilling service. Thralls are frequently led by a demon they have freed from an ancient Narfelli binding. Others operate independently, infiltrating organisations whose members are enemies of Eltab and betraying them when the opportunity arises. Some **Red Wizard conjurers** have secretly entered his service, responding to the promises and supernatural communications of the Hidden Lord. Their presence within Thay provides Eltab with informants capable of observing the activities of his enemies from within their own institutions. As thralls grow in power, their bodies may undergo increasingly unnatural transformations. Sharp bony protrusions emerge from their skulls, resembling the horns that crown Eltab's own head. Their skin becomes covered with dark red scales, providing protection against physical injury, while their supernatural abilities develop in ways associated with their master's demonic nature. More accomplished thralls can inspire terror through touch, move beneath the earth, and summon demons to assist them. One of their most unusual gifts is the ability to travel between **demoncysts**, passing from one fragment of the Hidden Layer to another through supernatural means. This power allows them to move through the buried network of Abyssal territories created by the ancient Narfelli bindings. The most powerful thralls may acquire a **death gaze**, a deadly supernatural attack resembling one of Eltab's most feared abilities. These transformations demonstrate the degree to which service to the Hidden Lord alters his followers. Their allegiance is not merely political or religious, but a gradual surrender to the physical and supernatural corruption associated with his Abyssal nature. --- ### Powers and Abilities As an ancient demon lord, Eltab possesses extraordinary physical strength, intelligence, supernatural resilience, and magical power. Although his long captivity has deprived him of direct control over his Abyssal kingdom, it has not diminished the danger he presents to mortal armies or powerful spellcasters. His immense body is capable of delivering devastating physical attacks. When wielding **Stormsplitter**, he can cut through enemies with remarkable speed and force, while the sword's magical properties allow it to inflict additional electrical injuries. Eltab also possesses formidable natural weapons. His claws can tear through armour and flesh, while the horns upon his head allow him to impale enemies who attempt to withstand his assaults. He delights in close combat, particularly when facing several opponents at once. Rather than relying exclusively upon magical attacks, he often enters the ranks of his enemies and attempts to overwhelm them through physical violence. One of his most feared supernatural powers is his **death gaze**. Those who meet Eltab's eyes may be struck dead through the force of his malevolent will. This power requires no conventional weapon or incantation and makes direct confrontation with the Hidden Lord particularly dangerous. His presence also inspires supernatural terror. Creatures approaching him may be overcome by fear, their courage shattered by the unnatural power emanating from his monstrous form. Eltab possesses extensive magical abilities, allowing him to curse enemies, manipulate their thoughts, and unleash powerful manifestations of Abyssal energy. He can conjure supernatural darkness, desecrate places, and surround himself with protective evil magic. His powers also include the ability to summon destructive lightning, create barriers of thorny vegetation, and move objects through telekinetic force. He can teleport across great distances, alter his physical form, and employ magic capable of despoiling natural surroundings. His intelligence is particularly formidable. Eltab possesses extensive knowledge of arcane magic, religion, history, and the planes, reflecting the experience accumulated during his long existence as an Abyssal ruler and mortal conqueror. Although he is not described as a conventional wizard, Eltab possesses an extraordinary affinity with enchanted objects. He can employ virtually any magical item, including those ordinarily requiring specialised spellcasting knowledge. This ability makes him exceptionally dangerous when equipped with the ancient artifacts he has recovered since escaping Thayan imprisonment. Among these is the **Moaning Crown of Ndulu**, whose imprisoned spirits produce a continual wailing capable of inspiring despair among nonevil creatures. Wicked beings within the crown's influence instead become invigorated by its supernatural power, while the crown's bearer can unleash a terrible shriek capable of killing those unable to withstand its effects. The crown is itself dangerous to touch, for the spirits bound within it drain the vitality of living creatures. Only a bearer possessing exceptional protection against negative energy can safely make use of its power. Eltab also possesses considerable resistance to hostile magic and physical injury. His demonic body is protected against many ordinary attacks, while his supernatural resilience allows him to recover from wounds that would permanently cripple lesser beings. He is immune to electricity and poison, possesses resistance to several destructive energies, and can perceive creatures concealed through magical illusion or invisibility. His ability to summon other demons provides an additional advantage in battle. Eltab can call **succubi**, **glabrezu**, or even a powerful **balor** to assist him, allowing him to confront enemies through a combination of personal strength and summoned fiendish servants. Despite these formidable abilities, Eltab has repeatedly been overcome through powerful magical bindings and the intervention of exceptional mortal heroes. His greatest weakness is therefore not a lack of physical or supernatural strength, but the extraordinary network of ancient enchantments that continues to bind his existence to Faerûn. As long as the **Adamantine Binding** remains intact, Eltab cannot freely return to his Abyssal kingdom. Even if defeated and banished, he remains tied to the demoncysts created by the Narfelli ritual. This condition has allowed mortal spellcasters to imprison him repeatedly, while preventing the demon lord from escaping the consequences of the magic that first brought him to Toril. --- ### Treatment of the Faithful Eltab regards his followers as instruments through which his vengeance and ambitions may be fulfilled. Although he may grant supernatural powers to those who prove useful, he possesses no genuine concern for their welfare. Their value lies in their ability to recover ancient knowledge, release imprisoned demons, weaken his enemies, and assist in the restoration of his dominion. His hatred of demonbinding creates an unusual expectation among his servants. Those who seek his favour must demonstrate a willingness to liberate demons rather than enslave them. This requirement does not arise from compassion. Eltab despises the magic that permitted mortals to exercise control over him, and he regards the liberation of bound fiends as a means of weakening the traditions responsible for his humiliation. Those who release demons without demanding obedience demonstrate their acceptance of his principles and their willingness to serve his interests without attempting to impose restrictions upon other creatures of the Abyss. Their reward may take the form of physical transformation and supernatural power. The bony horns, dark red scales, and terrifying abilities developed by the Thralls of Eltab reflect their increasing connection with their patron. Yet these gifts also reveal the corruption inherent in his service. As the thralls acquire greater power, their bodies become increasingly demonic, separating them from the mortal societies in which they once lived. Eltab has little reason to preserve servants who fail him. His ambitions are founded upon conquest and revenge, and those who become obstacles to his plans may be discarded regardless of their previous loyalty. His relationship with mortal worshippers therefore mirrors the history of his own enslavement, although with the positions reversed. Having endured centuries of captivity beneath the authority of mortal wizards, Eltab now seeks to exercise absolute power over others without allowing them the protections or freedoms he was denied. --- ### Myths and Legends The history of Eltab spans more than fifteen centuries and encompasses several of the most destructive conflicts recorded in eastern Faerûn. His arrival upon Toril during the final years of **Narfell** and **Raumathar** brought a powerful Abyssal ruler into a struggle that had already devastated entire nations. His subsequent conquests and imprisonments left enduring marks upon Rashemen, the Eastern Shaar, Thay, and Impiltur. **The Fall of Narfell and the Summoning of Eltab** The empires of **Narfell** and **Raumathar** fought a prolonged war beginning in **−623 DR**, struggling for control of territories across eastern Faerûn. Narfell relied increasingly upon demonbinding, drawing upon the knowledge preserved by its rulers and the influence of powerful Abyssal patrons. Its Nentyarchs employed sorcerers capable of summoning and commanding demons, while the terrible **Crown of Narfell** became associated with the darkest traditions of the empire. As the war approached its final years, both nations unleashed magical forces whose consequences extended far beyond their original ambitions. In **−160 DR**, the Year of the Stone Giant, the Narfelli demonbinders summoned **Eltab** from the 248th layer of the Abyss. The reigning Nentyarch intended to employ the demon lord against Raumathar, directing him to invade **Rashemen** and open another front in the war. Eltab arrived with a host of demons and rapidly overwhelmed the region. The magic used to summon him was extraordinarily powerful. In addition to binding the demon lord to Faerûn, it created an enduring connection between the mortal world and fragments of his Abyssal kingdom. These fragments became the **demoncysts** that remain buried throughout northeastern Faerûn, while the great calling circle known as the **Adamantine Binding** preserved the connection between Eltab and the Hidden Layer. The origin of the binding ritual remains uncertain. Some traditions claim that **Orcus** revealed the necessary magic to the Narfelli rulers, seeking to weaken a rival demon lord. Others attribute the ability to the supernatural properties of the Crown of Narfell. Regardless of its origin, the ritual succeeded in bringing Eltab into the service of Narfell while creating a prison whose consequences would endure long after that empire had been destroyed. **The Conquest of Rashemen** In **−148 DR**, the Year of the Black Marble, Eltab claimed **Rashemen** as his personal dominion. Although the demon lord had originally been summoned as a weapon in the war against Raumathar, he quickly discovered the advantages of ruling mortal territories directly. His armies conquered the region, and he established a court whose authority rested upon demonic power and the terror inspired by his presence. Eltab remained in control for decades, developing an appetite for the obedience and almost divine reverence that his mortal subjects could be compelled to offer. His rule was eventually challenged by a growing alliance of the Rashemi people, the newly arrived **Rus**, and the emerging **Witches of Rashemen**. The Rus were a powerful Illuskan people who arrived in eastern Faerûn in **−105 DR** through a malfunctioning portal. Their presence strengthened the resistance against Eltab, while their warrior traditions contributed formidable berserkers to the struggle. The Witches of Rashemen had arisen from magical traditions preserved during the decline of Raumathar. Their knowledge allowed them to challenge the demonic forces that had occupied their homeland. Together, these groups organised a rebellion against the Hidden Lord. In **−75 DR**, the Year of Leather Shields, their efforts finally brought an end to his rule. **Yvengi and the Sword Hadryllis** The greatest hero of the war against Eltab was **Yvengi**, a warrior of mixed Rus and Rashemi ancestry. Yvengi wielded **Hadryllis**, a legendary enchanted blade whose power proved capable of injuring the demon lord despite his extraordinary supernatural resilience. During the struggle to liberate Rashemen, Yvengi confronted Eltab and inflicted wounds severe enough to force him to abandon the battlefield. The demon lord's retreat marked the collapse of his authority over the region. Yet Eltab was not destroyed. The **Witches of Rashemen** pursued him southward, eventually overtaking him within the **Sharawood** of the Eastern Shaar. There they imprisoned him beneath the forest floor, placing the ancient demon lord within a magical prison from which he could not escape through ordinary means. To guard the site, the witches bound a terrible dracolich known as **the Everlasting Wyrm**. The enchanted creature remained near Eltab's prison, preventing intruders from reaching the captive demon lord and preserving the binding that had ended his dominion over Rashemen. For a time, the Hidden Lord remained confined beneath the ancient forest, his ambitions interrupted by mortal magic once again. **The Rise of Eltabranar** In **106 DR**, the Year of the Adamantine Spiral, crusaders devoted to **Myrkul** entered the Sharawood from the **Castle of Al'hanar**. These followers of the Lord of the Dead attacked the **Everlasting Wyrm**, temporarily destroying the dracolich while attempting to seize its accumulated treasure. During their search, they discovered the prison containing Eltab. Rather than destroy the bound demon lord, the crusaders entered into an agreement with him. Eltab promised **ninety-nine years of service** to the Church of Myrkul in exchange for his release. The pact brought a powerful Abyssal ally into the service of the Myrkulyte crusaders, whose ambitions extended across the Eastern Shaar. With Eltab's assistance, they conquered **Shandaular** in the Council Hills and established the theocracy of **Eltabranar**. The new state encompassed much of the Eastern Shaar, combining the religious authority of Myrkul's priesthood with the military strength provided by the ancient demon lord. During this period, the followers of Myrkul may also have acquired forbidden knowledge concerning the creation of **death knights**. One tradition holds that Eltab taught them the means of transforming themselves into these powerful undead warriors, having previously stolen the knowledge from **Demogorgon**. The Church of Myrkul, however, attributed the transformation to the favour of its divine patron. The true origin of this knowledge remains a matter of conflicting accounts. Eltabranar eventually turned its ambitions toward the powerful kingdoms of the south. In **202 DR**, the Year of the Fanged Gauntlet, the theocracy launched a disastrous invasion of **Unther** and **Mulhorand**, seeking to challenge the authority of the god-kings. Eltab's own desire for conquest helped drive the campaign, for he coveted the territories and power possessed by these ancient realms. The invasion ended in defeat. An incarnation of **Anhur**, the Mulhorandi god of war, led the forces opposing Eltab and wielded the legendary sword **Hadryllis** against him. The demon lord was overcome and imprisoned once again, this time within a demoncyst beneath the distant **Thaymount**. Without his power, Eltabranar could not preserve its conquests. By **205 DR**, Unther and Mulhorand had recovered their lost territories, and by **211 DR**, the inhabitants of the theocracy had been forced to abandon their remaining lands. Eltab's second great attempt to establish a mortal empire had therefore ended in another defeat, leaving him imprisoned beneath the mountains that would later become part of Thay. **The Founding of Thay** For more than seven centuries, Eltab remained imprisoned beneath the **Thaymount**. His confinement ended in **922 DR**, the Year of Spouting Fish, when the Red Wizards of Thay rebelled against the authority of the **Mulhorandi god-kings**. Among the leaders of the rebellion was **Jorgmacdon**, a powerful conjurer who recovered knowledge of the ancient Narfelli demonbinding rituals. Recognising the military advantage that Eltab might provide, Jorgmacdon excavated a passage into the demoncyst containing the imprisoned demon lord. Through the rediscovered ritual, he released Eltab and compelled him to fight alongside the Red Wizards at the **Battle of Thazalhar**. Eltab's participation proved decisive. The forces of Mulhorand were defeated, allowing the Red Wizards to establish the independent nation of **Thay**. Yet the victory created a familiar problem. Jorgmacdon discovered that the demon lord could not simply be dismissed once his usefulness had ended. The ancient Narfelli binding continued to tie Eltab to Faerûn, preventing his return to the Abyss and leaving the Red Wizards confronted by a being whose power they could neither safely tolerate nor permanently banish. The ritual used to release Eltab had also damaged the boundary of his demoncyst, allowing Abyss-tainted water to escape into the surrounding world. The resulting flow became the **River Eltar**, whose existence remained connected to the ancient demonic magic beneath the Thaymount. To prevent Eltab from turning his strength against the newly established nation, Jorgmacdon employed a variation of the original Narfelli binding ritual. The demon lord was imprisoned near the mouth of the River Eltar, beneath the location where the Red Wizards would establish their capital. Thus began the construction of **Eltabbar**. **The Great Seal of Eltabbar** The city of **Eltabbar** was built around an immense magical binding designed to preserve Eltab's imprisonment. Its streets and canals formed part of a colossal arcane glyph, incorporating the city's layout into the magical structure that held the demon lord captive beneath it. The arrangement was more than a symbolic representation of his confinement. The city itself became an essential part of the prison, its geography contributing to the supernatural forces that restrained the Hidden Lord. The Red Wizards soon discovered an extraordinary weakness within the enchantment. Accurate maps of Eltabbar could reproduce the structure of the binding glyph through sympathetic magic. Each such representation divided the power sustaining the prison, while the destruction of a map could further weaken the bonds holding Eltab. As a result, the creation and possession of accurate maps of Eltabbar became severely restricted. The official justification concerned the security of the capital, but the deeper reason lay in the danger that cartography itself presented to the demon lord's prison. For centuries, Eltab remained beneath the city. Occasional tremors and disturbances served as reminders that the binding continued to restrain an extraordinarily powerful creature. Yet the Red Wizards could not preserve the enchantment indefinitely, and the gradual weakening of its magic eventually threatened to release the demon lord once again. **The Schemes of Szass Tam** By the late fourteenth century DR, **Szass Tam**, the Zulkir of Necromancy, recognised that Eltab's imprisonment was approaching its end. Rather than permit the demon lord to escape freely, the lich devised a plan to release him under controlled circumstances and bind him permanently to his own will. Szass Tam obtained powerful artifacts from **Larloch**, the ancient Netherese lich who ruled from Warlock's Crypt. Among these were the **Death Moon Orb** and **Thakorsil's Seat**, an enchanted throne capable of holding a being subjected to an appropriate magical ritual. In **1367 DR**, the Year of the Shield, Szass Tam deliberately released Eltab from his prison beneath Eltabbar. The event caused a tremendous earthquake, devastating portions of the capital as the ancient binding failed. Using the Death Moon Orb, Szass Tam compelled Eltab to occupy Thakorsil's Seat, immediately placing him within another supernatural prison. The lich then began the **Ritual of Twin Burnings**, a terrible magical ceremony intended to establish permanent control over the captive demon lord. The ritual required the creation of nine powerful runes of chaos. Through these enchantments, Szass Tam hoped to enslave Eltab so completely that his extraordinary power could be directed according to the lich's desires. The scheme nearly succeeded. Before the final rune could be completed, however, a company of adventurers intervened and disrupted the ritual. Eltab escaped from Thakorsil's Seat and withdrew into a demoncyst beneath the Thaymount, avoiding immediate destruction while beginning to recover his strength. For the second time in the history of Thay, the Red Wizards had attempted to make use of the Hidden Lord and discovered that controlling him was considerably more dangerous than summoning him. **The Vengeance of the Hidden Lord** Following his escape, Eltab began preparing his revenge against **Szass Tam** and the Red Wizards. His long captivity had intensified his hatred, and he regarded the rulers of Thay as enemies whose destruction was essential to the restoration of his power. Eltab concealed his movements while recovering ancient magic and cultivating servants within the institutions of his enemies. Some Red Wizard conjurers secretly entered his service, providing information concerning the activities of the ruling hierarchy. Through these agents and other cultists, Eltab sought to weaken Thay from within before attempting to reclaim the territory he believed rightfully belonged to him. In **1373 DR**, the Year of Rogue Dragons, he emerged from hiding and confronted Szass Tam. The resulting conflict brought Eltab into battle with powerful enemies, including **Thazienne Uskevren**, whose actions contributed to his apparent defeat. Those who witnessed the struggle believed the demon lord had been destroyed. In truth, the ancient Narfelli binding preserved his existence. Instead of returning to the Abyss or suffering final destruction, Eltab was transported to the **Citadel of Conjurers** in Impiltur, where the surviving connection between Faerûn and the Hidden Layer continued to hold him. There he began preparing another campaign of revenge. **The Citadel of Conjurers** The **Citadel of Conjurers** lies within the foothills of the **Earthfast Mountains**, near the **Hill of Tombs** and the mouth of **Moaning Gorge**. Its ruins are among the most infamous surviving monuments of ancient Narfell, preserving chambers once devoted to the summoning and binding of demons. Beneath the citadel lies the **Hall of the Hidden Throne**, the greatest known demoncyst associated with Eltab. This enormous chamber contains the remains of his ancient palace, drawn from the Abyss when the Narfelli demonbinders first summoned him. Within it stands the **Adamantine Binding**, whose magic continues to prevent Eltab from returning freely to the Hidden Layer. Following his apparent defeat in Thay, Eltab established himself within the depths of the citadel. He began gathering servants from among the demons imprisoned in its ancient chambers, particularly **glabrezu** and **succubi** whose magical bonds he could break. Through these liberated fiends, he gradually assembled a new following while remaining concealed from enemies who believed he had been destroyed. The citadel also provides access to the network of demoncysts scattered throughout northeastern Faerûn, allowing Eltab's servants to move between ancient Narfelli sites and undertake missions beyond the immediate boundaries of his stronghold. His presence within the ruins therefore represents more than another period of hiding. It places him at the centre of the surviving magical legacy of Narfell, surrounded by the very traditions that once caused his imprisonment. **The Death of Agrosh the Scaled** Eltab's desire for vengeance also extends toward **Impiltur**, whose history includes the destruction of one of his offspring. Among the demon lord's children was **Agrosh the Scaled**, a powerful half-fiend who became involved in the conflicts that troubled ancient Impiltur. Agrosh was associated with **Soneillon**, the demonic figure known as the **Queen of Whispers**, whose schemes influenced the fate of the kingdom's rulers. In **729 DR**, the Year of the Twisted Horn, Agrosh was slain by **Belthar Garshin**, a paladin of Torm, during the **Battle of Horned Heads**. Soneillon escaped the conflict, but the destruction of Agrosh became another grievance in the long history of Eltab's hostility toward the rulers and champions of eastern Faerûn. The Paladin Princes of Impiltur subsequently confronted further demonic threats associated with Narfell's surviving legacy, including the armies commanded by Ndulu. These conflicts have contributed to Eltab's determination to destroy those who opposed his servants and descendants, making Impiltur one of the principal targets of his plans for renewed conquest. --- ### Encounters with Eltab Encounters with **Eltab** are most closely associated with the ancient ruins of Narfell, the hidden demoncysts of northeastern Faerûn, and the surviving magical traditions of Thay. Travellers exploring the **Great Dale**, **Thaymount**, or the abandoned strongholds of Impiltur may discover subterranean chambers whose environments bear no resemblance to the surrounding land. Such places may be demoncysts, fragments of the Hidden Layer preserved by the ancient magic that first brought Eltab to Toril. Within these chambers, explorers may encounter violent electrical storms, dangerous vegetation, and demons whose imprisonment has endured for centuries. Some demoncysts contain ancient calling circles, still capable of restraining powerful fiends. Others conceal passages leading into larger regions of Abyssal territory, creating opportunities for creatures to move between sites whose geographical separation would ordinarily make such travel impossible. Eltab's cultists frequently seek these places, hoping to release imprisoned demons or recover artifacts belonging to the ancient Nentyarchs. Their activities may be concealed beneath more familiar forms of crime or political intrigue. In particular, Eltab has directed certain followers to impersonate **Red Wizards**, committing offences intended to undermine the reputation and interests of Thay's mercantile enclaves. Those investigating such incidents may initially believe they are confronting agents of Szass Tam or another Thayan faction, only to discover that the perpetrators serve an enemy whose hatred of the Red Wizards is even greater than their own. Within **Impiltur**, the Citadel of Conjurers remains the most important location associated with Eltab's later history. The ruins contain numerous artifacts of Narfelli demonbinding, while their lower chambers preserve the Hall of the Hidden Throne and the Adamantine Binding. Those seeking to free Eltab from his connection with Faerûn must confront the extraordinary power of this ancient enchantment. The legendary sword **Hadryllis** is of particular significance, for it is among the few known weapons capable of destroying the Adamantine Binding. Without the destruction of this calling circle, Eltab remains tied to Toril, unable to reclaim his throne in the Abyss regardless of his strength. The knowledge required to understand the binding is preserved only in scattered and dangerous sources. Among these are records associated with the **Castle of Al'hanar**, where the servants of Myrkul once studied the demon lord's imprisonment, and the **Demonsbane Annals**, held within the **Vault of Sages in Silverymoon**. Such knowledge may reveal the workings of the ancient Narfelli ritual and the circumstances necessary to break the connection between Faerûn and the Hidden Layer. Should Eltab himself be encountered, his appearance leaves little doubt concerning his identity. The demon lord stands fifteen feet tall, his heavily muscled body protected by dark red bony plates. His head is crowned by numerous horns and antlers, while his narrow eyes shine with supernatural malice. He may carry **Stormsplitter**, his powerful enchanted greatsword, and wear the terrible **Moaning Crown of Ndulu**, whose imprisoned spirits fill the surrounding air with an unearthly wailing. Those who approach him risk immediate supernatural terror, while meeting his gaze may prove fatal. Eltab is not incapable of conversation, and his extensive knowledge of magic and the planes makes him far more intelligent than his savage appearance might suggest. Yet his long captivity has left him consumed by hatred, particularly toward those associated with the Red Wizards, the Witches of Rashemen, and the rulers of Mulhorand. He is capable of employing deception and manipulation when such methods advance his ambitions, but he also takes considerable pleasure in direct violence. His desire for revenge has become one of the principal forces shaping his actions, while his longer ambitions remain focused upon the creation of a new empire in eastern Faerûn. Should that goal be achieved, Eltab intends to reclaim the **248th layer of the Abyss**, overthrow the demonic lieutenants who divided his former kingdom, and resume the ancient struggles that once placed him among the rivals of Demogorgon, Graz'zt, and Orcus. An encounter with Eltab therefore concerns more than the survival of those standing before him. His continued existence threatens the fragile boundaries between Faerûn and the Abyss, while the ancient bindings that constrain him preserve a dangerous connection between the mortal world and the Hidden Layer. --- ### Conclusion **Eltab, the Lord of the Hidden Layer**, is an ancient demon prince whose history has shaped the eastern lands of **Faerûn** for more than fifteen centuries. Once the ruler of the **248th layer of the Abyss**, he was drawn into the final wars of Narfell and Raumathar, beginning a succession of conquests and imprisonments whose consequences continue to threaten the mortal world. His reign over **Rashemen** ended through the courage of Yvengi and the intervention of the Witches of Rashemen, while his later involvement in **Eltabranar** brought him into conflict with the divine rulers of Mulhorand. Centuries later, the Red Wizards employed his strength during the founding of **Thay**, only to imprison him beneath their new capital when they discovered that the ancient Narfelli binding prevented his dismissal. His confinement beneath **Eltabbar** became part of the city's very architecture, with its streets and canals forming an immense magical seal. The weakening of that enchantment eventually allowed **Szass Tam** to attempt the permanent enslavement of the demon lord, but the lich's scheme failed, releasing Eltab into another period of secrecy and revenge. Following his apparent destruction in **1373 DR**, Eltab survived through the enduring power of the Adamantine Binding and established himself within the **Citadel of Conjurers** in Impiltur. There he continues to cultivate servants, recover the lost magic of Narfell, and prepare for the destruction of those who have repeatedly imprisoned him. His ultimate ambition is not merely vengeance upon Thay. Eltab seeks to establish a new empire in eastern Faerûn, reclaim his lost Abyssal throne, and restore the power he once possessed among the greatest demon princes. Eltab embodies the catastrophic consequences of mortal attempts to command the powers of the Abyss. His history demonstrates that summoning a demon lord is not the same as controlling one, and that even the strongest magical prison may preserve a danger whose eventual release threatens generations far removed from those responsible for its creation.