Preface

Ah, yes, I was expecting you! You must have received

my message... or perhaps your own curiosity has
brought you here? Nevermind, it doesn’t matter why
you have come, but rather the important part is that

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you now hold this one-of-a-kind tome in your hands!

You see, while trying to find new strains of

mushrooms indigenous to a unique region near one

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of the portals to the Nine Hells, I came across a most
fascinating yet little-known creature in the realms:
a hollyphant! They are so often busy with their
celestial duties that a conversation with one is such
a rare opportunity, and of course I had to introduce
myself for the sake of knowledge.

Through my academic endeavours I got to know

Lulu, the noblest of hollyphants. While she is a
truly wonderful and engaging conversationalist, I

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was compelled to write down all of the insight and
stories that she shared. Indeed, this very book you
hold in your hands contains all of the knowledge
that I gathered from these conversations about
hollyphants, the most wonderfully fantastical
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creatures.

Of course, at her request, I let Lulu write her own

notes into this book as well (who knew a hollyphant
could write so well with no thumbs?), and so you will
see some of Lulu’s thoughts straight from the horse’s
mouth... or rather, the hollyphant’s trunk.
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This book is named after Lulu, as it would not exist

without her. With this in hand, I trust that you too
will share the knowledge about hollyphants... and
perhaps befriend one as well!
Sa

- Shandalar, the Wizard of Ulgoth’s Beard

(P.S. excuse any glitter you find on these pages,

hollyphants seem to emanate sparkles wherever
they go... fascinating!)

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 Hollyphants
Hollyphants are Celestial elephantine creatures
from the Upper Planes who work for the forces
of good. Small, golden-furred, and winged,
hollyphants perform a variety of tasks for deities
and their agents to bring about a better world for
everyone. Okay friend, there’s one thing
you just gotta
know about hollyphants. We

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never give up on our
friends! Once a friend, always
Warmounts of the Heavens a friend, and Zariel’s
MY friend. Sure, she should
While hollyphants are known for completing mostly have listened to the
other angels when they told
benign tasks and missions given to them by good her not to lead her
armies into hell. And, sure, it’s

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deities, hollyphants also serve the Gods and their true that her
pride was her downfall! Lot
celestials as fearsome warmounts. With the ability sa really bad things
to transform from small golden-furred elephants
happened to lotsa really goo
d people because of
to gigantic mammoths, hollyphants are extremely Zariel. But I believe in her.
Deep down beneath
effective in battle thanks to the combination of her devilskin, I know there’s
still the heart of an
immense size, deadly tusks and powerful spells. angel.
Extremely loyal to their allies and determined to
stop evil at any cost, most foes should have second I guess that’s the thing abo
ut being a true
thoughts about facing them head-on. friend. You gotta keep believ
in’ in them, even
after everybody else gives up.

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In the many eons of war between the forces of the
Nine Hells and the Upper Planes, angels have rallied
armies to keep evil at bay, and from the beginning
hollyphants have been right by their side. Most
depictions of events such as The Blood War show
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angels astride hollyphants, diving straight into
battle. A particularly famous duo of hollyphant and
angel was Lulu and Zariel, before the latter fell from
grace and became an archdevil.
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Sa

2
 Light and Unbreakable Spirits
Hollyphants are resolutely positive beings who seek
to bring goodness to everyone. Many hollyphants
believe in the power of kindness and joy when it
comes to making the world a better place. Even
when they are insulted, they’re quicker to forgive

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than exact revenge (as long as the perpetrator isn’t
evil-aligned). Some hollyphants use harmless jokes
and pranks to lighten the mood, always double-
checking to make sure that they didn’t cross a line.
This positivity and optimism is infectious, and it’s

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no surprise that hollyphants easily befriend others.

Unassuming Appearance
While in their smaller form, hollyphants are the
size of a large dog, and are often considered to be
very cute and unthreatening. Some hollyphants
are sensitive about how they look, taking offense
to anyone underestimating them because of their

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whimsical appearance. Other hollyphants use this
to their advantage, allowing enemies to misjudge
their true power long enough to get close and
attack. However, a creature that has Truesight
is able to see that the hollyphant has two forms
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overlapping each other: one as a small golden
elephant and another as a formidable mammoth
(though a hollyphant is not able to tap into the
power of the mammoth until they are older).
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big!
with a hollyphant when we’re
Oh, you do NOT wanna mess rea lly str ong !
sky, and we are really,
Angels ride us through the orm ous
hant magic when we’re gin
We can still do all of our hollyp
en you’re fighting demons and
too, which is really helpful wh
Sa

other baddies.
too. When you’re small, people
Of course, being small is nice under
ier to have picnics and hide
are nicer to you and it’s eas less
s. Plus, your friends are lot
a
blankets and play board game you are
en they aren’t worried that
scared to give you hugs wh
gonna squish’em!

3
 Hollyphants like to have
fun, too! We love music
and theater and juggle
rs and sooometimes even
Hollyphants in Faerûn sucking up a good tave
rn ale through our trun
As the helpers of good-aligned deities, hollyphants (shh, the angels don’t ks
like it when we do that
are often sent to the Material plane to complete !)
missions. This includes delivering messages from We’re a curious sort, an
d the people who live in
the Celestial planes to trusted agents, or acting Faerûn are veeeery curio
us. Don’t be surprised if
as advisors to people during times of distress. you see us flying around
, and make sure you say

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Hollyphants usually don’t directly interfere with hello! We give really good
hugs.
events on the Material plane if they can help it,
instead opting to gently guide people down the right
path. Adventurers who work for or have gained the
favor of deities like Ilmater or Mystryl may receive a

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visit and some wise words from a hollyphant.

Hollyphants are also sent to Faerun to investigate Hollyphant Names

possible fiendish activity, such as active portals
Hollyphants have short and sweet names, often
between the Nine Hells and the Material plane. In
given to them by their deities, angel companions,
these investigations, hollyphants act as scouts,
or other allies. Considering that the names are a
reporting back any suspicious individuals to their
gift from the higher beings, hollyphants take their
Celestial higher-ups. When going on investigations
names very seriously. There is no formal naming
like this, hollyphants will often pair up with
convention for hollyphants, but there are many
adventurers to help handle the situation and make
sure that no great evils escape.
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While most hollyphants visit Faerun for altruistic
reasons or as ordered by higher powers, some
common ways that hollyphants are named. Many
of them have long and eloquent Celestial names
which are shortened into easy-to-use nicknames in
Common. Others are named after different virtues
that are valued by the deity they serve.
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hollyphants have made the trip between planes for
their own more selfish reasons. Some have become
Male Names: Benji, Teddy, Dash, Gus, Stomp
enamoured with the people living on the Material
plane, and so end up travelling from place to place Female Names: Charity, Kiki, Mercy, Luna, Bella,
seeking out new experiences and companions. Posy, Joy
Others go on a quest to find the child whose wish
brought them to life, hoping to fulfill the lifelong Non-Gendered Names: Sunny, Hope, Justice,
curiosity many creatures have about their creators. Peace, Coco
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Sa