Ishgalnera

The Ishgalnera, or “Pond Dragon,” is a lizard-like spirit which lairs in various stagnant ponds in the forests of Tepest. It is as large as a boar, and has a snarling grin on its face. It has three, green, stone-like plates upon its back. Its tail is longer than a tree is tall, and the tip is always kept plunged in the pond. The Ishgalnera’s talons can rend steel like paper, and it delights in clawing those who irritate it.

The Tepestani often try to placate the pond dragons by tying silver coins to rats, which are then drowned in their pools. If a pond dragon is angered, it can slay a farmer’s wheat fields with its blighted breath, or curse a family so that no pot, cup, or spoon in their possession can hold water. If the Ishgalnera is truly enraged, they will enshroud the object of their fury with a mephitic cloud of foul brown mist.

Hags and Vistani often try to seek the pond dragon’s favor. A hag will drown a victim in the Ishgalnera’s pond. The Vistani prefer a less violent way, however, and offer the pond dragon bowls of fruit. On rare occasions, a hag will attempt to cajole or beg the creature into serving as a steed to carry her to her coven, while Vistani infrequently ask for permission to use its water for use in their sorceries.

The surest way of breaking the Ishgalnera’s hexes is to cast a rod or dagger of lead into its pond. This is an unspeakably dangerous way, as the Ishgalnera, now bereft of a home, will attempt to hunt down and slay the one who ruined it. Hags and Vistani will heap curses on the victim, as well, lest the pond dragon accuses them of being accomplices. In order to truly slay the pond dragon, one must sever its tail from its body, cleave open its head, and smash the precious stone within on a cursed anvil.

From my sources, another, much less dangerous way of undoing the pond dragon’s curse is to hire a sympathetic Vistani to flog an afflicted victim before the creature’s pool.

- Stanton Fink, Excerpts from the Register, Undead Sea Scrolls 2002