![[BelynneStelmanePathfinder-v2.webp]] # Belynne Stelmane _Human Duke | [[Council of Four]] | [[Baldur's Gate]]_ ## Summary Once a vigorous and formidable politician on the [[Council of Four]]. She recently suffered what looked like a severe seizure, which left her with a partially paralyzed face and slowed speech. She has grown increasingly absent from Council meetings and acts strangely when present. %% ## Now A mind flayer controls her body. She wages a silent internal war, unable to signal for help, while the illithid studies [[Baldur's Gate]]'s power structures from behind her face. When its attention lapses, the real Stelmane surfaces briefly and tries to leave clues. ## Appearance A woman in her fifties or sixties; the left side of her face is partially paralyzed — drooping eyelid, slack mouth corner. She moves stiffly and carefully, her eyes sometimes distant, sometimes desperately focused, with aides always hovering to help or cover for her. ## Personality **Stelmane:** A sharp political operator, now trapped and desperate. In moments of clarity the real woman surfaces — intelligent, angry, terrified — trying to leave clues without alerting her captor. **Mind Flayer:** Cold, calculating, patient. Content to observe and learn while wearing Stelmane's face, studying the city's power structures. ## Quote _"I... need... help—"_ (a pause, eyes clearing for a moment, then clouding again) _"—with these documents. Yes. The documents."_ ## Background **The Possession:** Months ago she hired agents to explore ruins beneath the city. They found a mind flayer hiding in the depths, and it followed them back and struck during a private evening. Her guards found her collapsed and convulsing; the "seizure" left visible impairment as perfect cover. **The Silent War:** The mind flayer needs her memories to maintain the deception, so her consciousness stays aware — trapped, watching through her own eyes. So far no one has noticed. ## Key Info - Rescuing her would win the party a powerful ally who knows every secret in [[Baldur's Gate]]'s government and owes them her life. ## Secret She is not in control — a mind flayer seized her during the "seizure" and now runs her body. ## Stats **Base:** Noble (MM p.348) for Stelmane herself (impaired, non-combative). Mind Flayer (MM p.222) if forced to reveal itself — prioritizes escape over combat. - *Detect thoughts* reveals two minds struggling. - *Protection from evil and good* breaks the possession temporarily. - Insight DC 18 notices moments where her expression becomes alien. - *Dispel magic* DC 17 breaks the possession for 1d4 hours. %%