A Spectator is a cousin of the Beholder specialized in observing locations or guarding treasures through a contract with a summoner. One of them appears in Shadows of Amn and again in Throne of Bhaal.
| “ | I am but a spectator beholder, however, and not quite like others you may have met. I am set in this place to guard one thing and one thing only. | ” |
Gameplay[]
It is first met in the City of Caverns, where it's guarding a chest containing Sekolah's Tooth. It is bored of its assignment so it is possible to take the treasure without battle; if the party member talking with the Spectator has a Wisdom of thirteen or higher, they can debate with the Spectator that its orders do not prevent the creature itself from looking inside the chest. Once it does so, it is so disgusted by the chest's meager contents that it will give them to the player, who then points out that this can be used as justification to set the Spectator free. Much to its jubilation
The EXP reward for peacefully retrieving the tooth from the Spectator is much higher than the EXP for killing it, so it's worth a player's while to try talking and dialogue. If fought, it is worth knowing that this Spectator cannot use Anti-Magic Ray - see the InfoBox for it's scripted spell and timed Beholder Blast eye beam attacks. However, even if the party does slay the Spectator - it will be back in Throne of Bhaal, no matter what is done to it in the Underwater City.
If its life was spared in Shadows of Amn, the Spectator is met again later in Sendai's Enclave. It will suggest that Captain Egeissag challenge the protagonist to a one-on-one fight.
Lore[]
In the Forgotten Realms setting, spectators are a sub-species of beholders that are known for their neutral alignment and a mild, even temper which distinguishes them from their bloodthirsty kin.
Spectators often serve as guardians and could be relied upon to protect items in all but the direst of situations, even though they actually dislike guarding things for lesser lifeforms, which most mortal summoners would qualify as. After promising to do so, however, their loyalty to their summoner is absolute, guarding the object in question until their time was up. They pride themselves on their guardianship and refuse commands to do anything else until asked to guard something else or being allowed to leave a summoner's grasp.
Gallery[]
External links[]
- Spectator on the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.