Askavan

Askavan

Series	Dungeons and Dragons
First appearance	Infernal Wrath Dungeon #205 - Page 15
Created by	Logan Bonner
Game information
Gender	Female
Race	Succubus
Class	Medium Immortal Humanoid (Devil, Shapechanger)
Alignment	Chaotic Evil

For other uses of the word Succubus, see Succubus (disambiguation).

Askavan is a Succubus NPC character created by Logan Bonner who appeared in the Infernal Wrath adventure published in Dungeon magazine issue 205. Her role in this adventure was a central one, being summoned by the central character of the adventure Vellus, to provide aid in his quest.

In order to exact revenge against a group who murdered his brother, Vellus used a family heirloom to summon Askavan to aid in his quest. Once the pact was signed, Askavan provided Vellus with the identities of his brother’s killers and granted him magical powers. Eventually, Askavan's tricks in the deal lead her to encounter players in the adventure, coming either into conflict with them, or trying to bend them to her will.

Character Description

Askavan's physical description is never revealed, but it can be assumed that she has the general appearance of Succubi in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. It is stated that when she is first encountered, Askavan has the form of a beautiful human female, but nothing else is mentioned. When she comes into conflict with players she does morph into her true form, but this is not described as well.

Character Background

Askavan appeared on the material plane when Vellus discovered that his brother had been murdered. To claim revenge on those responsible, called the Red Angels, Vellus used an old family heirloom which summoned Askavan. Askavan’s power is built on tricking powerful characters into dangerous bargains and so, with a pact signed in blood, Vellus gambled his soul to gain his revenge. Askavan provided Vellus with the identities of 
his brother’s killers and granted him magical powers to aid him. But Askavan also set a deadline: All of the Red Angels had to be killed before the sunrise after the next full moon or he and his brother’s souls are Askavan’s. If he succeeded, then Askavan would bring his brother back to life. Vellus gained significant powers in the deal but Askavan limited them to only work at night, and during the day Vellus was caged inside Askavan’s extraplanar lair.

Askavan commanded a small extraplanar lair that kept her largely independent of the hierarchy of the Nine Hells. To increase her power in the material world, she tempted mortals and chained them to her service. Askavan has no reason to intervene on Vellus’ behalf as she only cares to collect Vellus after he dies or runs out of time and remains, for the most part, out of sight and mind until the story turns towards her.

Encounters


If Askavan appears to claim Vellus, then she first appears human by using her shape changing abilities. Upon confronting the players she will try to lure them into her lair and then bargain with them as Askavan’s power is built on tricking powerful characters into dangerous bargains. When the characters enter Askavan’s lair she first tries to negotiate with the characters, offering them power in the hope that they will enter into doomed bargains just as Vellus did. If she fails, then she calls her allies and attacks. When she does so, she discards her human disguise for her true form. Askavan’s allies start out hidden if no character has spotted them and the fight is mainly between Askavan’s allies and the players while she attempts to remain close to anyone she has charmed or dominated to protect herself from attack. She will also attempt to charm a player to obey her commands and fight for her as well.

Outcomes

If Vellus manages to complete his quest before the time limit, Askavan will honour the terms of the pact and release Zaedros’s soul, then return him to life. If the characters defeat Vellus, Askavan will claim both brother’s souls as per the contract. 
If Askavan and her cohorts are slain, then Zaedros (along with Vellus, if he has been killed) 
passes on, free from the bonds Askavan placed on them. If Vellus was alive when Askavan
 took him to her lair, the characters could free him if they choose. 
If Askavan defeats the characters, she will kill them only if she has to. She prefers to offer each character their lives plus an infernal boon in return for serving her—whether now or at some future time. By doing so, part of the pact will make Askavan less vulnerable to her new servants’ attacks unless the magic of the pact is broken.

Statistics

Name	Askavan
Type	Succubus (Level 9 Elite Controller)
Sub-Type	Medium Immortal Humanoid (Devil, Shapechanger)
Size	Medium
Alignment	Chaotic Evil
XP	800
HP	180; Bloodied 90
Initiative	+8
AC	23, Fortitude 19, Reflex 21, Will 23 Perception +8
Speed	6, Fly 6
Special Abilities	Darkvision
Resist	10 Fire
Saving Throws	+2
Action Points	1
Skills	Bluff +15, Diplomacy +15, Insight +13 Str 11 (+4) Dex 18 (+8) Wis 19 (+8) Con 10 (+4) Int 15 (+6) Cha 22 (+10)
Languages	Common, Supernal
Traits
Infernal Luck (Aura 2)	Enemies in the aura take a –4 penalty to saving throws.
Standard Actions
Corrupting Touch (Fire, Necrotic)	At-Will Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +14 vs. AC Hit: 2d6 + 4 damage, and ongoing 5 fire and necrotic damage (save ends) Effect: Askavan slides the target up to 2 squares
Charming Touch (Charm)	Recharge when no creature is affected by this power Attack: Melee 1 (One Creature); +12 vs. Will Hit: The target cannot attack Askavan. The effect lasts until Askavan or one of her allies attacks the target or Askavan drops to 0 hit points. If the target is affected by charming touch at the end of the encounter, the effect lasts until Askavan fails to touch the target during a 24-hour period.
Seductive Words (Charm, Psychic)	At-Will Attack: Close burst 10 (one nondeafened creature in the burst); +12 vs. Will Hit: The target chooses either to be dominated by Askavan until the end of Askavan’s next turn or to take 2d10 + 10 psychic damage and fall prone.
Move Actions
Devilish Swiftness (Teleportation)	At-Will (1/round) Effect: Askavan teleports up to 5 squares and makes a melee attack.
Minor Actions
Change Shape (Polymorph)	At-Will Effect: Askavan alters her physical form to appear as a Medium humanoid until she uses change shape again or until she drops to 0 hit points. To assume a specific individual’s form, Askavan must have seen that individual. Other creatures can attempt a DC 30 Insight check to discern that the form is a disguise.
Triggered Actions
Loyal Consort (Charm)	At-Will Trigger: A melee or ranged attack targets Askavan while she is adjacent to a creature dominated by her or affected by her charming touch. Effect (Immediate Interrupt): The triggering attack instead targets the creature dominated by Askavan or affected by her charming touch.

References

• Dungeon #205. Page 15.