Glyster is a bronze dragon, an ancient ally of House Moonstar in Waterdeep. Glyster was an adventuring companion and best friend of Vanrak Moonstar, a Waterdhavian noble and noted explorer. To understand Glyster, however, requires knowing some of Vanrak’s history…
Vanrak and Glyster traveled the coasts of western Faerûn, from Neverwinter to Chult, seeking adventure and riches. Following a disastrous expedition to the Black Jungles of Chult in the Year of the Walking Man (1390 DR), Vanrak was but a pale shadow of his former self. He publicly broke with the temple of Selûne, while secretly embracing Selûne’s sinister sister: Shar, the Lady of Loss. The Dark Ranger amassed a small army of mercenaries and Sharites, fleeing the Lords of Waterdeep for Undermountain in the Year of Fallen Friends (1399 DR), and conquering the deep dungeon level that became known as Vanrakdoom by the Year of the Dark Goddess (1420 DR). Operating from this new base, Vanrak extended his influence throughout much of Undermountain while continuing to battle followers of Selûne in Waterdeep, achieving his most dramatic success in the Year of Advancing Shadows (1422 DR) when they infiltrated the High House of Stars, slaughtered most of the inhabitants, and burned the temple to the ground. Within a few years, the Dark Ranger had transformed into a death knight.
Through Vanrak’s fall from grace, Glyster remained by the noble’s side, attempting to turn him from his worship of Shar, to no avail, sinking Glyster into despair. In this forlorn state, the dragon allowed Shar’s priests to transform him into a shadow dragon to better serve Vanrak in the battles to come. Thereafter, Glyster became known as Umbraxakar (“shadowborn” in Draconic). The death knight and the shadow dragon fought side by side for many years, expanding their domain and then defending it against adventurers and other invaders. In a desperate move to return to the offensive in the Year of Darkenbeasts Risen (1442 DR), the few remaining priests of Shar performed a ritual with a segment of the Rod of the Seven to harness the dragon’s despair and transport a small section of Vanrakdoom into the Shadowfell.
Umbraxakar
Confronted by failure, Vanrak came to believe that Shar had deceived him and had orchestrated his downfall solely to spite her sister. Vanrak had lost his family, his title, most of his army, and he was in danger of losing hold over his domain. In the Year of King’s Repentance (1455 DR), he renounced his faith in Shar and begged Selûne’s forgiveness for the destruction of her temple and its followers. In a desperate act of redemption, the death knight destroyed his undead form using his sun blade, Scintilmorn. By this time, Umbraxakar had stopped caring about anything except his friendship with Vanrak, and lamenting his friend’s sacrifice left Umbraxakar to only sink further into despair.
In 1492 DR, our party arrived in Vanrakdoom in search of the next segment of the Rod of the Seven and Molish‘s lost mentor. In their journey through the level, the party defeated many of the remaining Sharites, and found a few scattered relics of Vanrak’s & Glyster’s friendship. When the party encountered Umbraxakar, some quick thinking led Molish to don these relics and approach the mighty dragon. These reminders of his cherished friendship allowed Glyster to overcome his despair and break Shar’s hold over him. He transformed once more into a mighty bronze dragon, and Vanrakdoom left the Plane of Shadows to return to Undermountain where it belongs. Glyster joined our party in continuing to clear Vanrakdoom of its Sharite taint…
Glyster, in his true dragon form.
