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Red Shroud
 Red Shroud as illustrated in Dragon #148 by Ben Wootten | |
 Red Shroud. Mistress of Poison and Ruler of Broken Reach | |
| Game background | |
|---|---|
| Title(s) |
Mistress of Poison Ruler of Broken Reach |
| Home plane | 1st layer of the Abyss - Broken Reach |
| Power level | Abyssal Lord |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Portfolio | Seduction, Temptation, Sexuality, Eroticism |
| Domains | Chaos, Evil, Temptation, Trickery |
| Alias(es) | None |
| Superior | Malcanthet |
| Design details | |
| First appearance |
Savage Tide Adventure - The Wells of Darkness |
| Settings | Planescape |
| Mythological | Succubus |
For other uses of the word Succubus, see Succubus (disambiguation).
Red Shroud is a succubus NPC character created by Eric Boyd who appeared in The Wells of Darkness adventure within the Savage Tide adventure path for the Planescape setting of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. Her appearance in this adventure was a central one and full background and statistics were given for her.
She made a second appearance as a member of the Original Sins Cartel, created by Ken Lipka, in another incarnation where more information was given about her including a detailed history and statistics. In this version of her history, she is a founding member of the Original Sins Cartel along with the Succubi Chiryn and Maretta.
She has also appeared in various forms in other role playing game campaigns, settings and wikis such as Timaresh and The Hub. Regardless of where she appears, her main focus in general is the eventual goal to overthrow Malcanthet, her mother, as Queen of Succubi.
Savage Tide Adventure
Red Shroud is encountered as part of The Wells of Darkness adventure in the Savage Tide adventure path. Players travel to Broken Reach to meet with Red Shroud and to secure a route to the Wells of Darkness in order to obtain information they require from Shami-Amourae, a succubus that is trapped there. After completing several side adventures, the player meet with Red Shroud in her throne room and barter for what they require.
Description
Red Shroud is a stunningly beautiful succubus, with fair skin, crimson hair, large bat wings, and eyes that glow with sinister desire. When she is encountered, she is accompanied by a quartet of hezrous, her doorman and bodyguard Ygrax the Skullbiler, and Shadowfire, one of Red Shroud's agents.
History
Red Shroud is a poison enthusiast who enjoys toying with her prey. She delights in slow acting poisons that subtly undermine a victim's resistance to her corrupting charms. Constantly on the alert, Red Shroud has defended Broken Reach from mobs, githzerai, and even a minor Abyssal lord, but the town has never fallen to invaders. She enjoys manipulating the Disciples of Delight who are followers of Shami-Amourae and desperate for any contact with her. Over time Red Shroud has managed to bend much of Shami-Amourae's surviving cult to her will, making them act as a network for information for her.
One of Red Shroud's most valued possesses is, in fact, one of the teeth of Dahlver-Nar, and specifically the tooth of Shami-Amourae which she found in the past when browsing the markets of Broken Reach. She has used the tooth to communicate with Shami-Amourae's vestige countless times in the past to gain information from her. Red Shroud keeps her interest in Shami-Amourae an open secret, as she plans to some day use what she has learned in an attempt to overthrow her mother, Malcanthet, and claim the title of Queen of Succubi.
Relationships
Red Shroud is perhaps the most infamous daughter of Malcanthet and Pazuzu. Her reputation as both a poisoner and source of dependable information is well deserved. Except when engaged in business, Red Shroud is capricious an d untrustworthy, and has ordered allies to death for reasons as varied as neglecting to bow when leaving her presence, wearing unlucky turquoise, or snoring.
Red Shroud has sold her own children into slavery, most notably her succubus daughter Fall-From-Grace, who survived her servitude in the Nine Hells and cast aside her demonic nature to become a member of the Society of Sensation in the city of Sigil.
Nevertheless, Red Shroud never seems to have a shortage of minions and sycophants. Her current favorite is a wispling named Shadowfire who constantly seems to be in motion and who's pranks and jokes range from cruel to murderous, though they seem to amuse Red Shroud rather than annoy her.
Shadowfire earns lucrative commissions as a guide to the infinite layers of the Abyss. He has explored at least two dozen layers, including Pazunia and the Wells of Darkness, claiming to be familiar with at least a dozen more. Although he seems to be loyal to Red Shroud, he is in fact secretly working for Demogorgon. His true allegiance is known only to Demogorgon and one of his generals.
Plots and Goals
Red Shroud plays a dangerous game in many ways in order to strive to meet her goal of overthrowing her mother, Malcanthet, and claim the title of Queen of Succubi. She suspects that Shadowfire is an agent of Demogorgon , and therefore hopes the wispling's presence allows her to claim loyalty to the Prince of Demons if Demogorgon prevails in whatever plot is unfolding.
Red Shroud suspects her mother Malcanthet positioned her to help free Shami-Amourae and hopes she can claim loyalty to the Queen of Succubi if her mother prevails in whatever plot is unfolding. Either way the situation is risky for Red Shroud so she chooses her words and her confidences with extreme caution and planning.
Encounter
When players meet with Red Shroud, she demands to know what they want and her attitude towards them is extremely unfriendly.
If the players are not willing to pay a minimum of 10,000 gp for the information she holds, her attitude turns completely hostile. If the players reveal they are seeking information about Shami-Amourae, Red Shroud will assume they are working for Malcanthet to learn about her involvement with Shami-Amourae and the situation becomes still worse for the players.
If the players add significantly to their bribe, at least another 2,000 gp above the minimum payment, their chances improve slightly. If the players offer a poison or toxic liquid that Red Shroud has not encountered, the player's situation improves dramatically.
If the players have managed not to turn Red Shroud hostile, a sufficient amount of tribute will eventually gain them the information they are seeking.
Should the players come out of the encounter with Red Shroud and have gained the information they require, the next part of the adventure, actually meeting with Shami-Amourae can then occur.
Original Sins Cartel
Description
Red Shroud's name is a fairly literal physical description of her. Her natural form is fairly typical of her breed: a beautiful human woman of pale skin and flawless complexion; bright, fiery red hair which falls in rich curls to her waist; glowing scarlet eyes; large, bat-like wings which are a deep crimson. Her favored mode of dress is to drape herself with yards of nearly transparent silk, in shades of red, naturally. Due to the deliberate arrangement of the layers, various parts of the fiend's distracting beauty are alternately revealed and concealed with each movement she makes. When corrupting mortals, something she does with less and less frequency, Red Shroud prefers to use a human or elven shape. In all cases, the disguise's hair is red and the body is dressed in a flowing and usually revealing gown. The tanar'ri temptress prefers to prey on mortals who either have a fierce temper, or else have something to hide. When doing so, the Shroud enjoys corruption through poisoning - whether it be through a victim's body, mind, soul, or relationships.
Goals and Actions
In general Red Shroud is motivated by power. Both her obsessive want to obtain more and her paranoid need to firmly hold on to what she has. The seductress is also very jealous and possessive of what she has. Even if Red is in total control of everyone around her, she still has no desire to share anything with her servants or allies. The succubus loves the feeling of being in control and makes damn sure she feels that way at all times. This psychological need to flaunt her power, combined with her possessiveness, manifests itself primarily in the rules of conduct that she has dictated be used whenever anyone is in her presence. At all times, people are to show the proper respect due to a powerful leader. Do not speak until spoken to; do not sit until given leave and so on. Also, she demands that she always be addressed as the speaker's superior. For example, an officer of her private army would address Red Shroud as "Mistress-General". In return, the soldier would be addressed as "Servant-Captain".
As part of her thirst for power, the succubus wants not even the potential of a threat to her position. Thus, much of her time and that of her army and information gatherers is spent spying on her own subjects. The instant it appears as if someone could be a threat, they are confronted by the Shroud. If they can be made to serve her ends (willingly or not), they are made into servant-agents. If they can't be used, or are too dangerous, the unfortunate sod is disposed of. The one exception to this method of letting those who've caught her attention "choose" their fate is Red Shroud's offspring. Any child of hers is viewed as immediate threat and is to be removed immediately - but they're still her children. So, in a show of "kindness", these unfortunate Alu-Fiends (or rarely, succubi and incubi) are not killed. Rather, they are sold in an open auction in Broken Reach's market square. In all cases, Red ensures that her children are sold to masters who are cruel as they are powerful. This ensures that they will be unable to grow to challenge her power. (Red's reputation is such that no one in the Abyss even dares to think of buying a child of hers with the purpose of raising her to usurp the succubus' position.) Should she learn of a free child, it is almost guaranteed that Red Shroud will spare no effort to locate the rebel child and take care of her - permanently.
History
The succubus called Red Shroud is one of those rare tanar'ri whose name is well-known both in and out of the Abyss. Outside of her home plane the Shroud has a tri-fold reputation among planewalkers, especially those who fall on the lower end of the moral spectrum. The fiend's primary claim to fame in this circle is her position as the dictator of the Abyss' gate-town to the Outlands, Broken Reach. But Red Shroud is almost equally respected (or feared) for being both an expert in the brewing (and use) of poisons as well as being a fairly reliable source of the chant on the Great Ring. While these skills also earn her some fame in the Abyss, Red Shroud is widely known throughout her home plane (as well as many of the other Lower Planes) for her role as one of the leaders of an infamous group of succubi known as the Original Sins Cartel.
Red Shroud readily admits to having existed for two millennia. However, given how widely her skill at poisons is known throughout the Abyss, this age should be taken as a minimum. (Another reason to consider her far older than her given age is the fact that the succubus holds a position of some importance and influence in the Abyss, and thus has cause to trick potential enemies into underestimating her abilities.) In addition to the mystery surrounding her true age, her origins are also unknown. Red is canny enough to not give any clues as to whether she pulled herself fully formed from the raw Chaos and Evil that makes up the landscape of the Abyss, or if she worked her way up from origins as a simple larva. Either way, spending at least two thousand years as a tempter of mortals is a strong indication of her force of will and abilities.
It is during these early centuries that Red Shroud honed her talents as a poisoner, which she puts to great use in luring mortal souls to the Abyss. Only fledgling succubi rely solely on their personal talents to tempt mortals to their dooms. Eventually, these tanar'ri find some form of tool that can be used to supplement their innate abilities and increase their chances of success. Most often, these tools are a form of magic that can be used to hide their true identities and intentions. The Shroud turned to poison as a means to force mortals to corrupt and destroy themselves, allowing her to harvest their souls quicker and easier. The fiend has long since moved beyond poisons which damage the mortal body. Instead, she creates and uses poisons which directly harm the mind or soul, twisting the mortal's beliefs until he damns himself through his own actions. Red Shroud also makes extensive use of "reverse diplomacy". She likes to find out all the dirty secrets she can about her intended victim, and then see to it that his friends and family learn them so that they might turn against him. This skill at the poisoning of relationships has also served Red well in surviving the turbulent political structure of the Abyss. It is no coincidence that those who seek to harm the succubus find their allies suddenly turning against them at a critical moment.
The first verifiably recorded event of Red Shroud's existence occurred approximately one thousand years ago. At that time, she had a firm reputation as a poisoner and a very productive succubus. The Shroud had spent many of the previous centuries serving several individuals of the more physically powerful tanar'ri breeds before she decided to take steps to start her own rise to power. The succubus formed an alliance of convenience with two others of her breed - Chiryn (now known as the "Mistress of Pleasure and Pain") and Maretta, Lady of the Counting House. This uneasy partnership slowly turned into grudging respect and eventually became the core of what is now known as the Original Sins Cartel. The actions of these three succubi had their motivations firmly rooted in the only trait common to all of the tanar'ri - rapacious self-preservation and self-interest.
Red Shroud and Chiryn were aware of each other's existence and had actually encountered one another several times in the century or so before the formation of the cartel. Each succubi had become the favorite servant of the masters they respectively served. (This is a common practice of all such tanar'ri - the favored status allows for a fair amount of personal freedom as well as protection from those they have angered.) As it turned out, the plots of their masters came to become directly opposed to one another. Each of the powerful fiends soon came to rely on their favored servants to salvage the plans the other had spoiled. This led to Red Shroud and Chiryn ending up in the same place at the same time, and coming to actual physical conflict over mortals, or else at the head of opposing forces. The personal nature of this near-constant competition quickly grew tiresome to both succubi. Not only did the conflict lead to punishment for the loser, it also prevent the pair from further improvement of either their skills or status. Slowly, the pair came to a mutual understanding and began trying to reshape the plans of their respective masters in order to benefit themselves and avoid direct conflict. Eventually, this understanding turned into a conspiracy. Red and Chiryn finally managed to betray both of their masters at the same time, leading to their mutual destruction. While the two succubi were now free, they had flee for their lives from the revenges of other surviving servants of their former masters. They wisely sought to seek refuge in the service to a more powerful tanar'ri, one of the Abyssal Lords - Graz'zt.
At the time Shroud's and Chiryn's betrayal, the succubus known as Maretta was still new to her position as one of Graz'zt's trusted vassals. Although being responsible for one of the layers of the Triple Realm is an incredible success for a lesser tanar'ri, Maretta found she missed the freedom of being able to travel as she wished to the Prime and engage in the seduction of mortals. The succubus was almost desperate to find some way to get some of her "glory days" back again. Fortunately for the fiend, her two traitorous sisters of Red Shroud and Chiryn were fleeing a pair of vengeful armies and seeking refuge. The two had come to Maretta's holdings in hopes of pledging themselves to Graz'zt's cause - as well as playing on the slim chance that she would have some sympathy for them since they were all of the same breed. It was fortunate for the Shroud and Chiryn that Maretta was not yet comfortable with her position. The Lady of the Counting House took them in, and made them pledge themselves to her - and didn't inform Graz'zt about it. Instead, Maretta used the two traitors as a pair of personal hunters - she would send them to the Prime to bring back mortals for her own personal use.
Over the course of several centuries, the three succubi found this arrangement to be very profitable for all involved, especially when they managed to ignore their jealousy and paranoia long enough to actually work together. They eventually formalized their arrangement and began consistently harvesting more souls combined than if the three had worked individually. Although this group success granted an increase in status to the trio, Red Shroud still chafed at the idea of being beholden to any one - even a supposed equal. In addition to using the partnership to further perfect her skills as a poisoner and gatherer of information, the Shroud took the opportunity to study Maretta to learn how gain and maintain a position of importance. Finally, Red felt confident enough to take the next step on the path to power.
About four hundred years ago, Red Shroud physically distanced herself from her partners and assumed control of a small (for the Abyss) army on the Plain of Infinite Portals. Although she proved to be a charismatic and capable leader, the succubus purposely limited the numbers whom she let follow her. Red Shroud had learned much about abyssal politics while she lived in the Triple Realm. The fiend had found out that there is a very fine line between being viewed as a weak and easy target, and being viewed as a powerful threat that must be dealt with. Red Shroud carefully maintained her army at a size large enough to survive and be a dangerous force on the first layer of the Abyss, but still small enough to be viewed as just another nuisance by the more powerful and already established princes of the plane. This tactic was the first step in Red's plan to become a fiend of power and influence.
While she had her army roaming across the first layer of her home plane and generally behaving as all of the other armies, Red Shroud proceeded to slowly gain control over the Outlands gate-town of Blood Reach. Over the course of two centuries, the succubus wormed her way into the confidence of every major power in the burg. She also acquired a vast amount of information about all the people and groups in Blood Reach. Soon, there was nothing that happened in the town that the Shroud was not aware of and didn't have at least some influence over. And then, showing incredible patience for a tanar'ri, the fiend simply sat back and waited for a few decades before she finally brought her plan to fruition.
Two hundred and one years ago, Red Shroud instigated city-wide riots in the town of Blood Reach, causing it to slide into the Abyss - right into the waiting hands of her army. This allowed the succubus to take nearly instant control of the burg without having to fight other tanar'ri for it. Renaming the burg Broken Reach, Red Shroud established her authority in the town and the region with brutal and ruthless methods. She made absolutely sure that every one knew she was in charge and that she intended to keep it that way. The fiend was so effective at this that her reputation grew very quickly and soon no one even dared to challenge her any more.
For the time being, it appears as if Red Shroud is content with her current level of power and influence. She has successfully kept control over the Abyss' gate-town to the Outlands for two centuries and has eliminated all known rivals to her power. Her reputation as a poisoner and chant broker are unequaled, and the OSC - now comprised of ten succubi - is a major political power in the Abyss. Although no one has heard her make any mention of it, every one suspects that Red Shroud has plans to become a true Abyssal Lord. If she does, the succubus stands a good chance of succeeding - very few tanar'ri are willing to oppose her, for fear of retaliation.
Resources
Over the past two millennia, Red Shroud has accumulated an impressive array of personal resources. Of these, there are three that can be considered the most important - and most dangerous. The first is her knowledge of poisons. For almost as long as she's existed, the Shroud has been studying the creation and use of poisons. It is quite possible that the succubus knows more than anyone else about the subject. Over her life span, she has invented many deadly and unusual toxins. At present, demand is high for her two most recent creations. The first is a poison that is toxic enough to overcome the natural poison resistance of any fiend. The other is one that will slowly turn the victim into an undead slave.
The second important resource at Red's fingertips is her information network. The succubus is well- known across the Great Ring for being a fairly reliable source of information about the dark of the planes. It is not clear how she gets her information, but it is always current and often reaches into the goings-on of the Upper Planes. There is one very important thing to remember about the Shroud's information - she doesn't provide it from the goodness of her heart. The succubus only hands out information that will harm the subject of the inquiry. While she could certainly discover the cure to a particular god's curse, she'll never part with that information as it would help someone. However, if you're looking for something with which to blackmail someone, Red's your fiend. This extensive source of information also means that it's very hard to have the upper head over her. She'll eventually find you and send one of her agents to extract a particularly gruesome revenge.
The final resource is potentially the most deadly, but also the most unreliable. That being the Original Sins Cartel. While she is one of the three co-founders, and thus has some influence over the group, all of the members are still hardened individuals. The main danger the OSC poses is through its political connections. First there are the individual members: Each is a skilled succubus, who has mastered a particular tool for seduction and corruption. Depending on who has offended Red Shroud, she might request the services of one her partners to help remove the annoyance. But that is not the only chip she can cash in. Since the succubi of the cartel are the most productive when it comes to the harvesting of mortal souls, many Abyssal Lords have contracts with the group to purchase these souls. If extremely hard-pressed, Red Shroud can use up some of the influence and favors her group has accumulated over the centuries and send the might of one her clients after a threat to her power.
The Hub Wiki
 Red Shroud as illustrated at The Hub Wiki | |
| First appearance | The Hub Wiki |
|---|---|
| Game information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Succubus |
| Class | Priestess |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Title | Priestess of Lolth |
The succubus called Red Shroud is one of those rare Tanar'ri whose name is well-known both in and out of the Abyss. Outside of her home plane the Shroud has a three-fold reputation among planewalkers, especially those who fall on the shady end of the moral spectrum. The fiend's primary claim to fame in this circle is her position as the dictator of the Abyss' gate-town to the Outlands, Broken Reach. But Red Shroud is almost equally respected (or feared) as both an expert in the brewing and use of poisons as well as providing a fairly reliable source of chant on the Great Ring. While these skills also earn her fame in the Abyss, Red Shroud has gained her greatest power by securing the only source of Black Mithril in the planes.
Description
Red Shroud's name is said to be a fairly literal physical description of her. Her natural form is typical of her breed: a beautiful human woman of pale skin and flawless complexion; bright, fiery red hair which falls in rich curls to her waist; glowing scarlet eyes; large, bat-like wings which are a deep crimson.
When in public, she prefers human an elven forms, and since her relatively recent conversion to serve Lolth, her appearance has taken on a darker slant. The succubus' favored mode of dress is to drape herself with yards of nearly transparent red or black silk. Due to the deliberate arrangement of the layers, various parts of the fiend's distracting beauty are alternately revealed and concealed with each body movement. Regardless of the form, she often brazenly wears symbols to the spider queen as if daring her fellow tanar'ri to comment.
History
Rumored to be the daughter of Malcanthet (Queen of the Succubi) and Pazuzu (Abyssal Lord), Red Shroud is said to be at least a millennium old, likely existing during the Age of Arendur. Though her early history is murky at best, rumors persist that she left a trail of betrayal and death serving as consort to several lesser demon lords before ending up in the service of the dark prince of tanar'ri - Graz'zt. After years of loyal service, another betrayal forced Red Shroud to fell to the Plain of Infinite Portals, where it is said that Pazazu, her father, has some sway. Using her considerable talents, Red Shroud dethroned Kordigon, a servant of Baphomet and former master of Broken Reach.
Whether to secure her position as master of Broken Reach, or for some other nefarious purpose, Red Shroud began openly worshiping the drow spider queen, Lolth. Although this alliance has likely allowed Red Shroud to maintain control over the Reach and assume her own status as a minor Abyssal lord, other fiendish lords look upon her with contempt for openly worshiping anyone. But since assuming control of Broken Reach, Red Shroud has somehow managed to protect her burg against mobs, Molydei, Githzerai, and even Abyssal lords.
Using her vast resources acquired from her trade in Black Mithril, Red Shroud financed and hosted the mythical Great Hunt - a contest for which both the prize and dangers of competing were said to be unimaginable. After a year long series of impossible trials, the yugoloth hunter Ingen Jegger emerged as the victor. Since that time, the mysterious yugoloth has served Red Shroud loyally.
Characterization
Red Shroud is a devious manipulator who uses her seductive talents, deep alliances, and financial dominance to get exactly what she wants. Despite this, Red Shroud isn't entirely inhospitable to travelers, and often sees visitors personally. It's in her interest to keep Broken Reach a popular stop. But she demands obedience from her guests, expecting them to help enforce the Reach's fragile peace.
History with the Azrai
The Azrai first encountered Red Shroud during the episode Tomb of Tolumvire, where they stormed Broken Reach in an attempt to obtain the Sorrow Sword. Deep within the Reach's catacombs, the Azrai actually battled with the Red Shroud and discovered the creation of her Dragonspider aberrations. Though the Azrai have not directly encountered Red Shroud since, they have battled both her vast influence and powerful minions throughout the planes.
Notable Traits
- As a priestess of Lolth, Red Shroud has an affinity with spiders and spider-like demons.
- Rather than compete with them for power, Red Shroud has been known to sell her succubus daughters and incubus sons to planewalkers with enough jink. One such daughter of Red Shroud is Fall-From-Grace.
- Red shroud also sired Zactar with former Harmonium Factol Garin. It is thought that Shroud sought to manipulate Garin and use their daughter to control the Harmonium.
- When the Azrai first met her, there were rumors that her current (and fourth) consort was a dim-witted Nalfeshnee known as Ygrax whom she treated as a well-trained pet. While the specifics of their relationship are still not known, the Azrai have since learned that the truth about Ygrax is very different indeed.
- Is said to employ Ingen Jegger.
Common Hangouts
- Broken Reach is Red Shroud's fortress-city in the Abyss.
Relationships
- Primary Organization Affiliation: Temple of the Abyss
- Secondary Organization Affiliation: Iron Ring
- Allies: Ygrax, Noshteroth, Cadmus, Ingen Jegger has been employed by Red Shroud in the past.
- Enemies: Greylord Elvenflight, The Azrai, Zactar, Duke Ixion
- Unknown: Lord Mabin
Timaresh
| First appearance | Timaresh Wiki |
|---|---|
| Game information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Succubus |
| Class |
Succubus Sorcerer Fatespinner |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Title | Ruler of Broken Reach |
Daughter of Malcanthet and Pazuzu, Red Shroud is one of the more well-known succubi outside the Abyss. Though little is known of her life before the founding of the fortress city of Broken Reach, that place within Pazunia is one of the settlements in the entire plane most trafficked by outside visitors, thanks to its location just on the other side of the portal to Plague-Mort, and thus she holds personal control over one of the key ports of the plane. Though Broken Reach has been attacked near a half-dozen times over the last two centuries of its existence, including one by a minor Abyssal lord, not once has her fortress been taken, an impressive feat for such a key location.
History
It is an open secret that Red Shroud's eventual goal is to displace her mother as Queen of the Succubi, and to this end she cultivates a number of connections with those that may one day help her take this position. She is known to have a special interest in a former competitor for the title during the War of Ripe Flesh, Shami-Amourae, and she has also been spotted commonly meeting with high-placed members of the Bleak Cabal (likely thanks in no small part to her capture of the body of their founder), one of her few potential key allies outside the Abyss.
During her slow rise to power, Red Shroud has grown a vast information network across the Abyss through Broken Reach. Though not one of the best information brokers to be found, she is certainly one of the most highly-placed among the easily approachable ones, requesting little more than a steep donation to her coffers. The breadth of her knowledge tends to be limited to areas she finds personally interesting, but for those needing information on matters relating to the Abyss, she is a very knowledgeable source. In addition, due to her position as one of the more major accessible information brokers in the Lower Planes, the Fated have spent much time cultivating a close business relationship to the point that many consider her an erstwhile member of the faction.
Combat
Red Shroud abhors direct combat, finding it too crude and messy for her tastes, and even going so far as to bar it entirely from the walls of her fortress. The molydei are similarly banned from Broken Reach, as she has little care for the Blood War, a somewhat unique viewpoint amongst the tanar'ri (though not especially uncommon amongst succubi). However, she is far from a pacifist: Red Shroud is well known for her interest in poisons and venoms, vastly preferring the subtlety of their touch to personal involvement. It's said her collection of such is one of the largest in the Multiverse, with samples of all kinds both natural and alchemical. Quick to anger when she believes she is not receiving her deserved respect from one she sees as a peer, it's many the misspoken word or lack of courtesy that has led to the application of one of her favorite poisons. Some even say the brain damage inflicted on her consort Ygrax was not due to a goristro attack as is commonly believed, but rather the result of a special poison of her own creation able to effect even fiends; few believe such claims, however. Somewhat oddly for a tanar'ri, she holds much more patience for those below her — while she may toy with them, it takes a great deal to cause her to rise to the same level of anger.
Relationships
Over the years, Red Shroud has raised a number of children, many of which she's kept in her personal guard or as potential infiltrators in the courts of others. However, she is quick to punish even her own kin, having even sold at least one — Fall-From-Grace of Sigil — into the possession of the baatezu. Rumors continue to circle, however, that this is merely another plan of hers, allowing her to gain access even to those outside the tanar'ri that may one day challenge her rise to power.
Statistics
Savage Tide Adventure
| Name | Red Shroud |
| Title | Mistress of Poison Ruler of Broken Reach |
| Gender | Female |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| CR | 19 |
| Type | Succubus Sorcerer 11/Fatespinner 4 |
| Sub-Type | Medium Outsider (Chaotic, Evil, Tanar'ri] |
| Init | +4 |
| Senses | Darkvision 60 ft. Listen +28, Spot +28 |
| Languages | Abyssal, Celestial, Draconic Telepathy 100 ft., Tongues |
| AC | 32, Touch 18, Flat-Footed 28 Dodge, Mobility |
| hp | 148 (163 with False Life, 21 HD) DR 10/Cold Iron or Good |
| Immune | Electricity, Poison |
| Resist | Acid 10, Cold 10, Fire 10 SR 18 |
| Fort | +14 |
| Ref | +14 |
| Will | +19 |
| Speed | 30 ft. Fly 50 ft. (Average) |
| Melee | Dagger of Venom +14/+9 (l d4+1/1920) and Claw +8 (ld6) |
| Base Atk | +13 |
| Grp Atk | +13 |
| Attack Options | Arcane Strike, Flyby Attack |
| Special Actions | Change Shape, Energy Drain, Fickle Finger of Fate, Resist Fate, Spin Fate, Summon Tanar'ri |
| Combat Gear | Iron bonds of Billaro, Shroud of Venom (Contains 4 doses of Purple Worm Poison, 4 doses of Black Lotus Extract, and 2 doses of Dark Reaver Powder) |
| Spell-Like Abilities | At Will- Charm Monster (DC 28), Detect Good, Detect Thoughts (DC 26), Ethereal Jaunt (Self plus 50 pounds of objects only), Suggestion (DC 27), Greater Teleport (Self plus 50 pounds of objects only) |
| Abilities | Str 10, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 20, Wis 14, Cha 38 |
| Special Qualities | Deny Fate, Metamagic Specialist |
| Feats | Arcane Strike, Dodge, Extend Spell, Flyby Attack, Mobility, Practiced Spellcaster, Quicken Spell, Skill Focus (Craft [poison-making) |
| Skills | Bluff +43, Concentration +28, Craft (poisonmaking) +32, Diplomacy +25, Disguise +23, Escape Artist +13, Hide +13, Intimidate +25, Knowledge (arcana) +29, Knowledge (nature) +14, Knowledge (the planes) +14, Listen +28, Move Silently +13, Profession (gambler) +15, Sleight of Hand +22, Spellcraft +18, Spot +28 |
| Possessions | Combat Gear, Dagger of Venom, Bracers of Armor +5, Ring of Protection +4, Tooth of Shami~Amourae, 3 Doses of True Seeing Ointment worth 250 gp each |
| 7th (6/day} | Greater Scrying (DC 31). Plane Shift (DC 31) |
| 6th (9/day} | Greater Dispel Magic, Repulsion (DC 30), True Seeing |
| 5th (9/day} | Cloudkill, Extract Gift, Night's Caress (DC 29), Wall of Force |
| 4th (9/day} | Lesser Globe of Invulnerability. Mindpoison(DC 28), Spider Poison (DC 28). Wall of Fire |
| 3rd (9/day} | Dispel Magic, Displacement, Stinking Cloud (DC 27), Vipergout |
| 2nd (10/day} | Srcane Lock, False Life, Gust of Wind, Mirrorimage, Scorching Ray |
| 1st (10/day} | Identify, Magic Missile, Shield, True Strike, Unseen Servant |
| 0 (6/day} | Acid Splash, Arcane Mark, Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Ghost Sound (DC 24), Mage Hand, Mending, Open/Close, Prestidigitation |
- Deny Fate (Ex): Once per day, on the first occasion when she must make a check to become stable when dying, Red Shroud's stabilization check automatically succeeds.
- Fickle Finger of Fate (Ex): Once per day as an immediate action, Red Shroud can force any other creature to reroll a roll that it has just made. She must have line of sight to the target.
- Resist Fate (Ex): Once per day, Red Shroud can reroll one roll that she has just made.
- Spin Fate (Ex): Red Shroud has four points of spin. She may use these points to boost the save DC of a spell she casts, a skill check, attack roll, or saving throw. If applying points to a roll, she must do so before making the roll. Once she uses her spin points, they are gone for the day but replenish when she regains her spells.
- Metamagic Specialist: This alternate sorcerer class feature replaces the ability to summon a familiar with the ability to apply meta magic feats to sorcerer spells without increasing the casting time five times a day; this even allows Red Shroud to quicken sorcerer spells with the Quicken Spell feat.
- Arcane Strike: Allows Red Shroud to sacrifice a spell as a free action to gain a bonus on her attack rolls equal to the level of the spell sacrificed and a bonus on weapon damage rolls equal to Id4 points x the level of the spell sacrificed.
- Practiced Spellcaster: Increases her effective caster level for sorcerer spells by +4.
- Spells : Several of Red Shroud's spells are from the Spell Compendium. If you don't use this book in your campaign, replace mind poison with shout, night's caress with dominate person, spiderpoison with contagion, and vipergout with magiccircle against good.
- Extractgift: This is not a combat spell-it allows the caster to infuse herself with the essence of a demon to gain permanent competence bonuses to skill checks or permanent enhancement bonuses to ability scores. Red Shroud has used extract gift to gain a +4 enhancement bonus to her Dexterity, Constitution , and Charisma, as well as a +9 bonus on her Bluff, Listen, and Spot checks. Each of these bonuses is a separate permanent spell effect that cannot be dispelled except by a caster of at least 20th level.
Original Sins Cartel
| Name | Red Shroud |
| Title | Mistress of Poison Ruler of Broken Reach |
| Type | Succubus |
| INT | Genius (17-18) |
| Armour Class | -3 |
| Movement | 12, Fly 18 (C) |
| HD | 8+4 |
| THAC0 | 13 |
| ATT | 2 or 1 |
| Damage | 1d4+1/1d4+1 Or by weapon |
| Special Attack | Energy Drain |
| SD | +2 Weapons to Hit, Never Surprised |
| Immunity | Fire, Poison, Electricity |
| Resistance | Cold (half), Gas (half) |
| MR | 50% |
| Innate Abilities | (All at will unless otherwise noted) Infravision, Teleport without Error, Charm Person, Clairaudience, ESP, Plane Shift, Shapechange, Mass Suggestion, Poison (as 4th level Mage spell), Poisonstar (as 2nd level Mage spell), Water to Poison (as 5th level Mage spell), Gate (3x/day, 50%, 1 Balor or 1d6 Cambions) |
In addition to her (augmented) natural abilities, Red Shroud also has a fair number of magical items at her disposal. The vast majority of them focus their powers on either poison or control. Her favorite, which she is never found without, is a more powerful version of a Dagger of Venom. This blade differs from the standard version in three ways. First, its reservoir never runs dry. Second, it injects its poison if the to hit roll exceeds the target by 5 or more, not just on a natural 20. And third, the wielder can vary the type of poison to be injected from attack to attack. Although Red Shroud usually prefers to use the deadliest - and most painful - poison available, she will occasionally use a paralytic poison if she has other plans for her victim. Red Shroud is also rumored to have a Rod of Rulership. This is how many speculate, although not openly or in her presence, that she was able to gain control of an abyssal army, and thus Broken Reach, in the first place.
Red Shroud is more powerful than the standard succubus, being that she is on her way to becoming a true Abyssal Lord. Although she's not one yet, she's constantly working towards that goal in all ways possible. She's had time to grow stronger based on her will and desire. And naturally, her ability with poisons also has some influence on her innate abilities.
Timaresh
| Name | Red Shroud |
| Type | Succubus Sorcerer 11/Fatespinner 4 |
| Gender | Female |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Home | Broken Reach |
| Allies | Bleak Cabal (unsteady), Fated, Malcanthet (varies), Pazuzu, Shami-Amourae |
| Enemies | Malcanthet (varies), Mithrengo |
Broken Reach
Red Shroud built this fortress of crumbling stone towers atop a portal to the Outlands gate-town of Plague-Mort over 200 years ago, and the small community that soon grew up around it has served as one of the most popular gathering places on the layer ever since. The guests of Broken Reach include Blood War mercenaries, merchants coming to and from the plane of Concordant Opposition, and even mortal adventurers enjoying one of the few places on Pazunia where they are unlikely to be devoured by demons. Red Shroud displays little tolerance for violence of any kind on her grounds, but death matches occur with regularity beyond the rickety walls. The succubus demands obedience from her guests and expects them to back her if trouble breaks out.
Broken Reach houses dozens of visitors at any one time, many of them enjoying the relative comfort of richly appointed (and hugely expensive) luxury suites. Red Shroud knows her clientele, and hence stocks a huge variety of weapons and armor, which is available for purchase at three times the costs listed in the Player's Handbook. The demoness is a great poison enthusiast and offers a wide selection of venoms from the lowest pits of the Abyss. Such is her love of the stuff that she gives great deference to guests who offer her some new lethal substance.
When not directly engaged in business, it's best to give Red Shroud wide berth, for the succubus is capricious and untrustworthy -- you never know when she's about to order your death. Red Shroud is constantly on edge, for she has had to defend the citadel from mobs, githzerai, and even a minor Abyssal lord. Molydei are encouraged to look for conscripts elsewhere.