The Whistling Fiend

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So nicknamed for his terrifying whistling, the Whistling Fiend is a horrid demon (specifically a babau tanar'ri)[1] conjured from the depths of the Abyss by the dread artifact known as the Key to the Abyss. Since the Whistling Fiend's initial summoning in 580 BC[2], the fiend has wrought great devastation upon the land, including the destruction of at least two villages, that of Creeana in Darkon[2] and Chiara in Borca[3]. Unlike many fiends, the Whistling Fiend seems to have no greater agenda than to inflict fear and terror upon mortals, wandering seemingly at random to nearby communities[4]. He shows no concern for leaving the Land of Mists, having performed many power rituals to augment his already formidable fiendish abilities[4].

History

In 580 BC, Master Bralkain and a team of wizards from Karg attempted to summon and bind a fiend using the Key to the Abyss. Instead, they opened up a portal that allowed the Whistling Fiend to enter the Land of Mists. Although Bralkain's team managed to shut down the portal, the Whistling Fiend was free to wreak havoc anywhere in the Demiplane of Dread. The village of Creeana in Darkon was fallen upon and destroyed by the Whistling Fiend, a babau, in 580 BC. For Bralkain's part, he was transformed into a vampire by Azalin and a slave under Azalin's control[5].

That same year, the Whistling Fiend left a trail of devastation in his wake, most notably the town of Creeana[2]]. According to some stories, the reason why Azalin gave up on engaging in petty skirmishes with Strahd of Barovia may be attributed to the devastation wrought by the Whispering Fiend. Regardless, several of the survivors of the Whistling Fiend's attacks described their traumatic experiences to Astonby of the Oaks, and he transcribed them in paper. (These accounts would later be excerpted in Van Richten's Guide to Fiends[6].) The Whistling Fiend seemingly vanished for a time after its Darkonian rampage, though Creeana would remain deserted for a hundred and seventy years[2]

In 682 BC, the Whistling Fiend resurfaced in Darkon and was tracked (or rather, the devastation it left in its wake was tracked) from Darkon to Invidia by Alyn Dragant[7] Over the many decades the Whistling Fiend traveled the Land of Mists, he would visit many other domains. He performed many power rituals, the transfer of power felt by such darklord luminaries as Gabrielle Aderre[8] and Strahd von Zarovich[9].

At some point, the Borcan hamlet of Chiara in Borca was fallen upon by the Whistling Fiend. The population was successfully evacuated after the druid Sandra Highgarden managed to stun the creature using the spell Upsurge.[3]

In 751 BC shortly after the Requiem, Master Bralkain and a group of undead raided and took control over The Watchers' Stronghold in Darkon to take back the Key to the Abyss. Bralkain once again attempted to use the Key to bind a fiend to his service, only to be interrupted by adventurers. Still bearing some sort of connection to the living planar conduit that was the Key, the Whistling Fiend detected the artifact's activation and mist-walked to the Stronghold to investigate. He saw to it that Bralkain was dead[10], although the specific details of the other outcomes of the incident remain vague.[11]

Phylactery

The Whisting Fiend's phylactery is thought to be his pike. It is the Fiend's preferred weapon of choice mentioned in all given accounts of his appearances[12].

Land-Based Powers

See VRGtSF p. 73 or Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium III.

Reality Wrinkle

15' diameter, Corruption Index 14[4]

Game Statistics

2nd Edition: male babau, Chaotic Evil[4][13]

Chronology

  • 751 BC: Master Bralkain attempts once more to summon and bind a fiend using the Key to the Abyss, but he is foiled by the appearance of adventurers and the Whistling Fiend[10].

References

  1. Van Richten's Guide to Fiends p. 73
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ravenloft Gazetteer II p. 16
  3. 3.0 3.1 Van Richten's Arsenal p. 33
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 VRGtF p. 73
  5. The Heart's Final Beat, TSR Jam 1999 p. 42
  6. Van Richten's Guide to Fiends (Book) p. 29-30
  7. 7.0 7.1 The date implied in VRGtF pg. 53 is actually 541, but this creates a continuity error. To arrive at this date, Mangrum's Timeline used the WF’s first appearance (which must be post-579, and added “over a century.” (VRGtF pg. 41)
  8. VRGtF p. 53-54
  9. VRGtF p. 52-53
  10. 10.0 10.1 TSR Jam p. 42-44
  11. Played out in the Heart's Final Beat module included in TSR Jam 1999
  12. VRGtF p. 77
  13. TSR Jam 1999 p. 53-54
  14. The Heart's Final Beat; VRGtF pg. 41: The WF next appears “over a century later.” See: 682 BC: Alyn Dragant.


Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

TSR JAM 1999 : The Heart's Final Beat

TSR JAM 1999 - pp44

TSR JAM 1999 - pp 43

TSR JAM 1999 - pp41-45

Whistling Fiend, The Whistling Fiend