![[TasharaOfTheSevenSkullsPathfinder-v3.webp]] # Tashara _Human Spirit Necromancer | [[Old Skull Tor]]_ ## Summary Legendary necromancer known for seven enchanted skulls holding the souls of defeated rivals. Betrayed and sacrificed for lichdom by her lover [[Valindra Shadowmantle]], she survived as a spirit in her spellbook and now possesses [[Nathaly Kormallis]]. She killed [[Valindra Shadowmantle|Valindra]] at the [[Dread Ring]] and fled to [[Old Skull Tor]]. %% ## Now At [[Old Skull Tor]], struggling to hold down [[Nathaly Kormallis]]'s increasingly resistant consciousness. Three weeks ago she told [[Corvath Moonstar]] his god could be restored and that both of them would be richly rewarded, and she invented every word of it — she needed a fortress and an army before [[Valindra Shadowmantle]] found her. Days ago the lie came true. She had a real vision of [[Orcus|Tenebrous]], cornered and asking for help, and she has not told [[Corvath Moonstar|Corvath]]: the god she invented for him was strong and generous, the real one is diminished and begging, and telling him would unravel three weeks of work. She has not decided what to do with it. She is also failing to open [[Vornagar]]'s copy of the [[Tome of Unlife]] a second time. She has turned two of Valindra's dead Red Wizard scouts into flameskulls, the beginning of a new collection. The [[Soulmonger]] bond between [[Petra]] and Nathaly is the party's means to track her. ## Appearance Tall and statuesque, alabaster skin, black hair, striking green eyes that hold warmth and cruelty at once. High-necked crimson robes patterned with intertwined skulls and roses. ## Personality Patient, seductive, ruthlessly intelligent — vindictive, but capable of real feeling. She treats every conversation like a seduction, whether she is charming or threatening. She pauses occasionally as if listening to whispers from her skulls. ## Quote _"I have tasted death, been betrayed by love, and emerged from both stronger. Now even the remnants of gods seek my attention."_ ## Connections **[[Nathaly Kormallis]]** — the vessel she possesses; their control fluctuates. **[[Valindra Shadowmantle]]** — former lover who sacrificed her for lichdom; she took her revenge at the [[Dread Ring]]. **[[Rosalyn Kormallis]]** — soul she locked in a mental tomb alongside Nathaly's. **[[Petra]]** — connected to Nathaly through the [[Soulmonger]] bond. **[[Vornagar]]** — her teacher at [[Old Skull Tor]], whose copy of the [[Tome of Unlife]] she tried to steal. She was caught at it and ran. **[[Corvath Moonstar]]** — the hierophant she took at [[Old Skull Tor]]; she told him his god could be restored and commands the mountain through him. **[[Nyxavar]]** — [[Corvath Moonstar|Corvath]]'s shadow dragon, hers by inheritance and not by loyalty. **[[Ilvessa]]** — [[Corvath Moonstar|Corvath]]'s wife, sealed in a tomb she has asked him to open and does not want opened. **[[Ostivar Kess]]** — the Red Wizard scout she kept alive to question. ## Background **The Rise:** She began as an acolyte at [[Old Skull Tor]] under Hierophant [[Vornagar]], an ancient mummified Narfelli priest. She tried to steal his copy of the [[Tome of Unlife]], was caught at it, and fled. The first of her seven skulls was the first mage she talked into helping her after she ran, and every one after came the same way — rivals, lovers, and powerful mages, persuaded over decades. **The Fall:** She grew close to [[Valindra Shadowmantle]] and meant to make her the eighth skull, then fell in love instead. Valindra discovered the plan, sacrificed her to fuel her own lichdom, and claimed the seven skulls. Narfelli magic preserved a fragment of Tashara's consciousness in her spellbook. **The Revenge:** Centuries later she found [[Nathaly Kormallis]] — a guilt-ridden young [[Soulmonger]] — and worked her by promising to resurrect [[Rosalyn Kormallis|Rosalyn]]. She used [[Nathaly Kormallis|Nathaly]] to infiltrate Valindra's [[Red Wizards]]. At the [[Dread Ring]] she seized full control, revealed herself to Valindra, killed her, and teleported to [[Old Skull Tor]]. ## Stats ### Tashara Wearing Nathaly *Medium Humanoid (Human, Wizard), Neutral Evil* **AC** 17 (*Mage Armor*) | **HP** 170 (20d8 + 80) | **Speed** 30 ft. **CR** 15 (13,000 XP) | **Proficiency Bonus** +5 | STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA | |---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:| | 9 (−1) | 14 (+2) | 18 (+4) | 20 (+5) | 15 (+2) | 18 (+4) | **Saving Throws** Int +10, Wis +7, Cha +9 **Skills** Arcana +15, History +10, Insight +7, Perception +7 **Damage Resistances** necrotic **Senses** passive Perception 17 **Languages** Common plus five other languages #### Traits **Legendary Resistance (3/Day).** If Tashara fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead. **Magic Resistance.** Tashara has Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. **Possessing Spirit.** Tashara uses this stat block while possessing Nathaly. If Tashara is reduced to 0 hit points, Nathaly falls unconscious and stable. Tashara is forced back into her spellbook and cannot possess another creature until the next dawn. Reducing Nathaly's body to 0 hit points does not destroy Tashara. **Nathaly Fights Back.** A creature within 60 feet who knows a meaningful truth or memory from Nathaly's life can use an action to call her forward, making a DC 17 Charisma (Persuasion) check. [[Petra]] has Advantage on this check. On a success, Tashara cannot take Reactions until the beginning of her next turn and has Disadvantage on her next saving throw. Only one success can be earned each round. After three successes, Nathaly expels Tashara and regains control of her body with 1 hit point. Legendary Resistance cannot negate these successes. #### Actions **Multiattack.** Tashara makes two Soul Bolt attacks. **Soul Bolt.** *Melee or Ranged Spell Attack:* +10 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 120 ft., one target. *Hit:* 27 (4d10 + 5) necrotic damage. **Spellcasting.** Tashara casts one of the following spells, using Intelligence as her spellcasting ability (spell save DC 18): At Will: *Detect Magic, Detect Thoughts, Mage Armor* (included in AC), *Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation* 2/Day Each: *Bestow Curse, Blight* (level 6 version), *Dimension Door, Negative Energy Flood* 1/Day Each: *Circle of Death* (level 8 version), *Eyebite, Teleport* #### Bonus Actions **Misty Step (3/Day).** Tashara casts *Misty Step*. #### Reactions **Protective Magic (3/Day).** Tashara casts *Counterspell* or *Shield* in response to the spell's trigger, using the same spellcasting ability as Spellcasting. #### Legendary Actions Tashara can take 3 Legendary Actions, choosing from the options below. She can take only one Legendary Action at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. Tashara regains spent Legendary Actions at the start of her turn. **Borrowed Motion.** Tashara moves up to half her speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks. **Command the Dead.** One undead creature Tashara can see within 60 feet moves up to half its speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks. **Soul Bolt (Costs 2 Actions).** Tashara makes one Soul Bolt attack. She can use this option only once per round. ### Running Her Tashara is a possession problem as much as a combatant. The heroes can defeat this form by reducing Nathaly's body to 0 hit points or by helping Nathaly win three rounds of control. Her two new flameskulls act independently and are not part of this stat block. The original seven skulls remain with [[Valindra Shadowmantle]]. %%