![[Dusk.png]] # Dusk _Deep Gnome Lich | [[Heroes of Waterdeep]] | [[Green Expanse]], [[Feywild]]_ ## Summary Pixie necromancer turned deep gnome lich and one of the [[Heroes of Waterdeep]]. Daughter of Solara, a spy for [[Titania|Queen Titania]], and [[Snow]], a former [[Summer Court]] archmage who became a lich serving [[Orcus]]. Originally introduced as an eccentric guide who solved disputes by making people undead and outfitted her skeletons in pink armor. Was killed when an intellect devourer ate her brain, then reincarnated by [[Oakenton|Doorknob]] as a deep gnome. Completed her transformation into a lich using [[Acererak]]'s Guide to Lichdom, insulted [[Orcus]] during the ritual, and went on to collect the souls of queens, archfey, and demon lords. Now rules the [[Green Expanse]] after permanently trapping the soul of [[Korapira]] with [[Titania|Queen Titania]]'s help. Rejected [[Tharizdun]]'s offer to become the new god of death. %% ## At a Glance Small, intense, and radiating the particular menace of someone who views every living creature as a future member of her army. In her deep gnome form, she trades the whimsy of her pixie days for a sharp, analytical edge — the kind of person who brings out a whiteboard to optimize undead troop composition. Her skeletal companions still wear pink armor. This is non-negotiable. Dusk operates on a logic that is internally consistent and externally terrifying. Mediation means making both parties undead. Capturing an enemy means executing them and raising the corpse as a minion. Being offered godhood by an apocalyptic entity means telling it no and moving on. She has seized the souls of [[Mab]], [[Korapira]], [[Pale Night]], and [[Natasha]] the Dark, and her response to each was roughly the same pragmatic efficiency. The [[Feywild]]'s most dangerous beings have learned to take her seriously. Underneath the necromantic pragmatism, Dusk genuinely cares — about her sister [[Sunset Flickerflame|Sunset]], about her friends, about doing what she considers right. She just has a deeply unconventional definition of "right." ## Personality Eccentric, fearless, analytically brilliant, and absolutely unflappable in the face of cosmic power. Insulted [[Orcus]] during her own lich transformation ritual. Rejected [[Tharizdun]]'s temptation without hesitation. Took control of a [[Nightwalker]] during the Battle of [[Waterdeep]] like it was a tactical convenience rather than an act of staggering audacity. Dusk treats the most powerful beings in the multiverse the same way she treats everyone else — as problems to be solved, preferably by adding them to her collection. Her moral compass is real but idiosyncratic: she'll kill her own father when he proves irredeemable, but she'll also insist her skeletons wear pink because it makes them look nice. ## Quote _"I can fix this. Hold still."_ ## Background **The Pixie Necromancer:** Daughter of Solara, a spy for [[Titania|Queen Titania]], and [[Snow]], a former [[Summer Court]] archmage. Dusk ran a "mediation business" in the [[Feywild]] — solving disputes by turning the arguing parties into undead. Her skeletal companions wore pink armor. She was introduced as the party's guide to [[Baba Yaga's Dancing Hut]], recruited to help rescue her sister [[Sunset Flickerflame|Sunset]]. **Death and Rebirth:** While scouting in [[Senaliesse]], Dusk was captured by drow and a [[Mind Flayer]]. An intellect devourer consumed her brain — her fifth character death by the player's count. [[Oakenton|Doorknob]] reincarnated her as a deep gnome. In her new form, Dusk became sharper and more analytical, famously producing a whiteboard to strategize about reinforcing her undead army. **The Lich Ritual:** In [[Baba Yaga]]'s library, Dusk discovered [[Acererak]]'s Guide to Lichdom. She raided [[Baba Yaga]]'s vault for wealth and purchased dark materials from a shop in [[Ramnus]]. She completed the ritual in a [[Ramnus]] graveyard, during which [[Orcus]], the Demon Lord of Undeath, contacted her. Dusk insulted him. The [[Righteous Order of the White Flame]] arrived to stop the transformation, but [[Elkane]] — carrying guilt for having killed Dusk's sister [[Sunset Flickerflame|Sunset]] while mind-controlled — convinced the Order to stand down. Dusk became a lich. **The Soul Collector:** As a lich, Dusk developed a pattern of defeating major villains and claiming their souls or corpses: - Executed [[Natasha]] the Dark and raised her as a zombie minion. - Her skeletons delivered the killing blow to [[Mab]], Queen of the [[Winter Court]]. Dusk trapped [[Mab]]'s soul with Soul Cage. - Captured the soul of [[Korapira]], the insane archfey of the [[Green Expanse]]. With [[Titania|Queen Titania]]'s help, Dusk permanently imprisoned [[Korapira]]'s soul and claimed the title of Master of the [[Green Expanse]]. - During the Battle of [[Waterdeep]], seized the soul of the demon lord [[Pale Night]]. **Snow:** Dusk sought out her estranged father [[Snow]], hoping for a reunion at a tavern called Mab's Lament. She found he had murdered everyone inside and raised them as zombies. [[Snow]] revealed himself as a lich serving [[Orcus]], announcing plans to slaughter the entire [[Feywild]] and raise its population as undead. Dusk and the party ambushed and defeated him. Some fathers are beyond saving. **Sunset Flickerflame:** Dusk's sister, a [[Summer Court]] spy. [[Sunset Flickerflame|Sunset]] was killed by [[Elkane]] while he was under mind control as one of [[Baba Yaga]]'s horsemen. This death haunted [[Elkane]] and became the lever Dusk used — consciously or not — to ensure the [[Righteous Order of the White Flame|Righteous Order]] didn't interfere with her lichdom. **Tharizdun's Temptation:** The [[Tharizdun|Chained Oblivion]] attempted to recruit Dusk, offering her the mantle of the new god of death if she joined his apocalyptic cause. Dusk rejected the offer through sheer force of will. A cosmic entity that has corrupted prophets, cults, and demon lords across millennia was turned down by a deep gnome in pink. **The Battle of Waterdeep:** During the final defense against [[Graz'zt]] and the invading [[Demon Lords]], Dusk was one of the most formidable combatants on the field. She seized control of a massive [[Nightwalker]] to defend the city gates, unleashed her undead legions against the demonic forces, and captured [[Pale Night]]'s soul. She now rules the [[Green Expanse]] from a position of terrifying and well-earned authority. %%