07-24-2011, 03:48 PM
Source: Heroes Lorebook (AD&D), circa 1362 DR
Human female 30th-level mage; one of the Seven Sisters and the Chosen of Mystra
ARMOR CLASS: -6
MOVE: 12
HIT POINTS: 82
THAC0: 14
No. OF ATTACKS: 1
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic neutral
STR 14, DEX 18, CON 25 (16), INT 18, WIS 15, CHA 17
Spells (7/7/7/7/7/7/7/6/6): As one of the Chosen of Mystra, the Simbul knows and can cast virtually any spell (she is exempt from the rule that mages of 18 Intelligence can know only 18 spells per spell level). A list of spells she typically carries would be impossible to create, because she prides herself on being unpredictable, but she always seems to have at hand whatever magic is necessary or appropriate for the situation. A few spells that she is known to favor and will often have in memory are: 1st comprehend languages; 3rd dispel magic; 4th charm monster; 5th telekinesis; 6th chain lightning; 7th limited wish, the Simbul’s spell sequencer, the Simbul’s spell supremacy*; 8th mass charm; 9th the Simbul’s spell trigger. (See also Bonus Spells below.)
*These spells are known only to the Simbul, and are briefly described under Unique Spells below.
Weapons of Proficiency: dagger; quarterstaff; dart; long sword; long bow; 1 open.
Nonweapon Proficiencies: an indefinite number, certainly including ancient history (Rashemen, Aglarond); herbalism; languages, modern (several); reading/writing (any she can speak); spellcraft.
Equipment: As the ruler of the nation of Aglarond, the Simbul has access to most mundane equipment.
Magical Items: A partial list of objects she carries or has immediate access to would include bracers of defense AC1; a ring of spell storing (containing the spells identify, wizard eye, and true seeing); a ring of shooting stars; a wand of magic missiles and a wand of lightning bolts (both usually stored in her boots); a silver-bladed dagger +4; four extra-healing potions; and two elixirs of health in steel vials.
Combat/Tactics: The Simbul is a wild, unpredictable foe in spell battle. Decades of dueling the arrogant Red Wizards of Thay have elevated her skill in this area to heights unreached even by Elminster.
Allies/Companions: Her sisters; Elminster; Khelben; and the people of Aglarond.
Foes/Enemies: The Red Wizards of Thay, the Zhentarim, the Shadowmasters, and beholders (including the mythical beholder-mages).
Appearance: The shortest of the Seven Sisters, the Simbul is still tall for a woman at 5'10". Slim with eyes the color of fire, the Simbul most often wears black or dark robes. Her long silver hair curls around her shoulders as if it had a life of its own.
Personality: Despite the alignment given for her above, the Simbul has been drawn more toward good aims and deeds of late by her friends and allies, and her beloved consort, Elminster. The Simbul still remains, however, the most willful and independent of Mystra’s Chosen. She is alert, restless, and imperious, and has often acted in open defiance of Elminster, Khelben, Azuth, and even Mystra herself. Some folk learned in the ways of the Art (magic) have suggested that the Simbul’s extensive magical experimentation on herself has cost the sorceress her sanity. It does seem certain that it has cost her much of her patience. She is restless when in the presence of strong magic, and can “feel” when magic (either active or waiting to be activated) is within 90 feet of her.
Her actions often appear extremely capricious, but she does have goals. While many people admire her for her diligence in protecting the people of Aglarond, most others are glad she does not rule them. Fiery-tempered, ruthless, wily, and incredibly powerful, the Simbul has no time for fools or buffoons.
The Simbul often takes the form of a black raven or a falcon. In fact, she may spend more time in those forms than she does in her human shape.
Locales Frequented: Aglarond.
History: For general information on how six of the Seven Sisters came to be, see page 136. The text that follows here recounts what happened to the Simbul after the death of Elué.
Mystra gave the youngster named Alassra into the care of a witch of Rashemen. In exchange for rearing her Chosen, the goddess gave the Rashemi witches powerful spells that enabled them to rule their land (and its male warriors) and to repel the future invasions that Thay would launch at Rashemen.
Little is known of Alassra for some 400 years after she left her foster mother on good terms and took to wandering the planes. One of the few tales that exists says that Mystra told Alassra of her heritage after one of Alassra’s consorts (allegedly a mage from another plane) perished.
More than a century ago, Elminster recognized Alassra posing as the apprentice of Ilione, a lesser sorceress who at the time was the ruler of Aglarond. Ilione had designated the Simbul (the name by which Alassra now chose to be known) as her successor. (“Simbul” is a word that means “watchful warrior-wizard” in an ancient Aglarondan dialect.)
When Ilione died, the Simbul assumed the throne of Aglarond. Since then she has ruled the land and the people she came to love, and protects them both to this day from the machinations of the Red Wizards to the east.
Motivations/Goals: The endless and often infantile plotting of the Red Wizards and the Zhents infuriate the Simbul. She wishes these and other beings who dabble at ruling the Realms with magic would grow up.
Acts of cruel magic, abused authority, and slaving, and actions against Aglarond also drive the Simbul to action. She is swift and ruthless when aroused to anger, and she has been known to make examples of such foes by destroying them in spectacular fashion, often using far more force than necessary.
While she is accused of being arrogant herself, the Simbul cannot stand that trait in others, and does not hesitate to put even friends and allies in their places.
The Simbul loves to do research into “applied magic”: how the use of magic can alter or influence mundane life (as opposed to the theoretical study of the nature of magic). Her studies in this area have resulted in her actually altering the nature of her life force to a degree, including giving herself many resistances and immunities (see “Unique Abilities” below).
Campaign Uses: The Simbul is, by far, the most active of the Seven Sisters. Although she’s a loner by temperament, she values her sisters and Elminster. Beyond these relationships, she is wholly devoted to safeguarding Aglarond. One of her chief means of doing so is manipulating events throughout Faerûn so that Aglarond is essential to trade and diplomacy around the Sea of Fallen Stars.
Thus, the Simbul could be encountered anywhere, working to ensure the future of Aglarond. She would likely be in disguise, if not in the form of a bird. Her task may be great or minor, but whatever it is, she’ll brook no interference in the accomplishing of it.
Sources: The Seven Sisters, Spellbound.
Source: Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (3rd Edition), circa 1372 DR
Female human (Chosen of Mystra) Sor20/Acm 2/Wiz10: CR 36; Medium-size humanoid (human); HD 14d4+112 plus 2d4+16 plus 4d4+32; hp 210; Init +8; Spd 30 ft; AC 26 (touch 17, flat-footed 22); Atk +16/+11 melee (1d4+6/19-20, +4 dagger), +14/+9 ranged touch (by spell); SA Chosen spell-like abilities; SQ Archmage high arcana, Chosen immunities, detect magic, enhanced Constitution, epic-level benefits, silver fire, supernatural abilities; AL CN; SV Fort +13, Ref +9, Will +18; Str 14, Dex 18, Con 26, Int 20, Wis 15, Cha 20. Height 5 ft. 10 in.
Skills and Feats: Alchemy +25, Concentration +43, Diplomacy +7, Heal +14, Intimidate +13, Knowledge (Aglarond history) +17, Knowledge (Aglarond local) +17, Knowledge (arcana) +31, Knowledge (Rashemen history) +15, Knowledge (religion) +17, Perform +10, Profession (herbalist) +12,Scry +27, Search +17, Sense Motive Motive +7, Spellcraft +30, Spot +12 Swim +7, Craft Wand, Forge Ring, Improved Counterspell, Improved Initiative, Leadership (37), Scribe Scroll, Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Spell Focus (Evocation), Spell Focus (Transmutation), Spell-casting Prodigy (sorcerer), Twin Spell.
Special Attacks: Chosen Spell-like Abilities: 1/day-antimagic field, delayed blast fireball, feather fall, fly, hold monster, polymorph other, prismatic wall. the Simbul's synostodweomer (converts prepared spells into 2 hit points of healing per spell level), web.
Special Qualities: Archmage High Arcana: Spell power +2, mastery of elements. Chosen Immunities: The Simbul is unaffectod by attacks that duplicate these effects: charm person, circle of death, disintegrate, fear, feeblemind, finger of death, fireball, magic missile, misdirection, meteor swarm. Detect Magic (Su): Line of sight Enhanced Constitution: The Chosen of Mystra template adds +10 to the Simbul's Constitution. Epic-Level Benefits: Six effective levels of sorcerer and six of wizard (included in the above totals). Silver Fire (Sn): See Chapter 2 for details. Supernatural Abilities: Due to wishes and magical experimentation upon herself, the Simbul has the following supernatural abilities: detect magic (always active as the 1st-round effect of the spell), protection from evil, protection from spells, see invisibility, shapechange. She is also protected as if wearing a ring of protection +3 and an amulet of proof against detection and location. She may transform herself into a chain lightning effect that ends as a meteor streak traveling at speed 70 ft.; she cannot re-form for 1d4+2 hours, taking 10 minutes to do so. She has also used wish spells to allow her to know one more 9th-level spell than her sorcerer level would normally allow, and sometimes uses a wish to remove a spell she knows from her repertoire to make room for a different one.
Typical Sorcerer Spells Known (6/8/8/7/7/7/7/7/7/6; base DC 18 + spell level): 0-arcane mark, dancing lights, detect magic, flare light, mage hand, mending, open/close, read magic; 1st-burning hands, comprehend languages, enlarge, featherfall, magic missile; 2nd-alter self, cat's grace, daylight, shatter, web; 3rd-dispel magic, fireball, fly, wind wall,; 4th-charm monster, fire shield, polymorph other, shout; 5th-feeblemind, telekinesis, teleport, wall of force; 6th-chain lightning, control weather, disintegrate, 7th- limited wish, prismatic spray', the Simbul's spell sequencer (casting this causes the next three spells you cast of up to 4th level to be triggered simultaneously by a single verbal word); 8th-mass charm, polymorph any object, sunburst; 9th-the Simbul's spell trigger (as the sequencer but affecting up to 7th-level spells), the Simbul's synostodweomer (converts prepared spells into 2 hit points of healing per spell level), time stop, wish.
*Because of Spell Focus (Evocation) or Spell Focus (Transmutation), the base DC for saves against these spells is 20 + spell level.
Wizard Spells Per Day: 4/6/7/4/4/3. Base DC = 17 + spell level, 19 + spell level for evocation and transmutation spells.
Spellbook: The Simbul knows all the wizard spells of 7th level or lower in the Player's Handbook and this book.
Possessions: Bracers of armor + 9, ring of spell storing (identify, true seeing, wizard eye), ring of shooting stars, wand of magic missile (9th, 20 charges), wand of lightning bolt (10th, 20 charges), +4 dagger, 4 potions of cure serious wounds (10th). As a powerful spell-caster and ruler of a nation, the Simbul has access to incredible resources and can acquire or make almost any nonartifact item she might need, given time.
Alassra Silverhand, one of the Seven Sisters who are Chosen of Mystra, is known to Faerûnians today only as the Simbul. She is the Queen of Aglarond (called by some "the Witch-Queen" and many believe this latter term is part of her official title) and has legendary powers of sorcery and a temper to match.
She mastered metamagic long, long ago, and has singlehandedly defeated attacking Thayan armies with titanic combinations of spells. King Azoun IV of Cormyr called the Simbul "a good friend, but a deadly enemy." She is currently the lover of the famous (or if you prefer, infamous) wizard Elminster of Shadowdale. Thanks to his love, she has mitigated the worst of her dark berserker rages, which makes her even more formidable in battle - she's still fearless, but no long heedless of the damage she causes. She still seems more driven to master magic than anyone else in Faerûn...and seems quite likely to continue to do so.
The Simbul flits tirelessly around Toril and even other planes, never adhering to any routine, shapechanging at will (often wearing the form of a black raven). As herself, she's heedless of personal appearance, and is usually barefoot or adventurer-booted, and clad only in a tattered black robe. Her hair is always a wild, tangled mess. Even in her realm of Aglarond, people fear her, avoid her, and think her insane. Red Wizards have been known to faint at the mere thought of facing her in battle. In this, if in nothing else, their judgment is wise.
Human female 30th-level mage; one of the Seven Sisters and the Chosen of Mystra
ARMOR CLASS: -6
MOVE: 12
HIT POINTS: 82
THAC0: 14
No. OF ATTACKS: 1
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic neutral
STR 14, DEX 18, CON 25 (16), INT 18, WIS 15, CHA 17
Spells (7/7/7/7/7/7/7/6/6): As one of the Chosen of Mystra, the Simbul knows and can cast virtually any spell (she is exempt from the rule that mages of 18 Intelligence can know only 18 spells per spell level). A list of spells she typically carries would be impossible to create, because she prides herself on being unpredictable, but she always seems to have at hand whatever magic is necessary or appropriate for the situation. A few spells that she is known to favor and will often have in memory are: 1st comprehend languages; 3rd dispel magic; 4th charm monster; 5th telekinesis; 6th chain lightning; 7th limited wish, the Simbul’s spell sequencer, the Simbul’s spell supremacy*; 8th mass charm; 9th the Simbul’s spell trigger. (See also Bonus Spells below.)
*These spells are known only to the Simbul, and are briefly described under Unique Spells below.
Weapons of Proficiency: dagger; quarterstaff; dart; long sword; long bow; 1 open.
Nonweapon Proficiencies: an indefinite number, certainly including ancient history (Rashemen, Aglarond); herbalism; languages, modern (several); reading/writing (any she can speak); spellcraft.
Equipment: As the ruler of the nation of Aglarond, the Simbul has access to most mundane equipment.
Magical Items: A partial list of objects she carries or has immediate access to would include bracers of defense AC1; a ring of spell storing (containing the spells identify, wizard eye, and true seeing); a ring of shooting stars; a wand of magic missiles and a wand of lightning bolts (both usually stored in her boots); a silver-bladed dagger +4; four extra-healing potions; and two elixirs of health in steel vials.
Combat/Tactics: The Simbul is a wild, unpredictable foe in spell battle. Decades of dueling the arrogant Red Wizards of Thay have elevated her skill in this area to heights unreached even by Elminster.
Allies/Companions: Her sisters; Elminster; Khelben; and the people of Aglarond.
Foes/Enemies: The Red Wizards of Thay, the Zhentarim, the Shadowmasters, and beholders (including the mythical beholder-mages).
Appearance: The shortest of the Seven Sisters, the Simbul is still tall for a woman at 5'10". Slim with eyes the color of fire, the Simbul most often wears black or dark robes. Her long silver hair curls around her shoulders as if it had a life of its own.
Personality: Despite the alignment given for her above, the Simbul has been drawn more toward good aims and deeds of late by her friends and allies, and her beloved consort, Elminster. The Simbul still remains, however, the most willful and independent of Mystra’s Chosen. She is alert, restless, and imperious, and has often acted in open defiance of Elminster, Khelben, Azuth, and even Mystra herself. Some folk learned in the ways of the Art (magic) have suggested that the Simbul’s extensive magical experimentation on herself has cost the sorceress her sanity. It does seem certain that it has cost her much of her patience. She is restless when in the presence of strong magic, and can “feel” when magic (either active or waiting to be activated) is within 90 feet of her.
Her actions often appear extremely capricious, but she does have goals. While many people admire her for her diligence in protecting the people of Aglarond, most others are glad she does not rule them. Fiery-tempered, ruthless, wily, and incredibly powerful, the Simbul has no time for fools or buffoons.
The Simbul often takes the form of a black raven or a falcon. In fact, she may spend more time in those forms than she does in her human shape.
Locales Frequented: Aglarond.
History: For general information on how six of the Seven Sisters came to be, see page 136. The text that follows here recounts what happened to the Simbul after the death of Elué.
Mystra gave the youngster named Alassra into the care of a witch of Rashemen. In exchange for rearing her Chosen, the goddess gave the Rashemi witches powerful spells that enabled them to rule their land (and its male warriors) and to repel the future invasions that Thay would launch at Rashemen.
Little is known of Alassra for some 400 years after she left her foster mother on good terms and took to wandering the planes. One of the few tales that exists says that Mystra told Alassra of her heritage after one of Alassra’s consorts (allegedly a mage from another plane) perished.
More than a century ago, Elminster recognized Alassra posing as the apprentice of Ilione, a lesser sorceress who at the time was the ruler of Aglarond. Ilione had designated the Simbul (the name by which Alassra now chose to be known) as her successor. (“Simbul” is a word that means “watchful warrior-wizard” in an ancient Aglarondan dialect.)
When Ilione died, the Simbul assumed the throne of Aglarond. Since then she has ruled the land and the people she came to love, and protects them both to this day from the machinations of the Red Wizards to the east.
Motivations/Goals: The endless and often infantile plotting of the Red Wizards and the Zhents infuriate the Simbul. She wishes these and other beings who dabble at ruling the Realms with magic would grow up.
Acts of cruel magic, abused authority, and slaving, and actions against Aglarond also drive the Simbul to action. She is swift and ruthless when aroused to anger, and she has been known to make examples of such foes by destroying them in spectacular fashion, often using far more force than necessary.
While she is accused of being arrogant herself, the Simbul cannot stand that trait in others, and does not hesitate to put even friends and allies in their places.
The Simbul loves to do research into “applied magic”: how the use of magic can alter or influence mundane life (as opposed to the theoretical study of the nature of magic). Her studies in this area have resulted in her actually altering the nature of her life force to a degree, including giving herself many resistances and immunities (see “Unique Abilities” below).
Campaign Uses: The Simbul is, by far, the most active of the Seven Sisters. Although she’s a loner by temperament, she values her sisters and Elminster. Beyond these relationships, she is wholly devoted to safeguarding Aglarond. One of her chief means of doing so is manipulating events throughout Faerûn so that Aglarond is essential to trade and diplomacy around the Sea of Fallen Stars.
Thus, the Simbul could be encountered anywhere, working to ensure the future of Aglarond. She would likely be in disguise, if not in the form of a bird. Her task may be great or minor, but whatever it is, she’ll brook no interference in the accomplishing of it.
Sources: The Seven Sisters, Spellbound.
Source: Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (3rd Edition), circa 1372 DR
Female human (Chosen of Mystra) Sor20/Acm 2/Wiz10: CR 36; Medium-size humanoid (human); HD 14d4+112 plus 2d4+16 plus 4d4+32; hp 210; Init +8; Spd 30 ft; AC 26 (touch 17, flat-footed 22); Atk +16/+11 melee (1d4+6/19-20, +4 dagger), +14/+9 ranged touch (by spell); SA Chosen spell-like abilities; SQ Archmage high arcana, Chosen immunities, detect magic, enhanced Constitution, epic-level benefits, silver fire, supernatural abilities; AL CN; SV Fort +13, Ref +9, Will +18; Str 14, Dex 18, Con 26, Int 20, Wis 15, Cha 20. Height 5 ft. 10 in.
Skills and Feats: Alchemy +25, Concentration +43, Diplomacy +7, Heal +14, Intimidate +13, Knowledge (Aglarond history) +17, Knowledge (Aglarond local) +17, Knowledge (arcana) +31, Knowledge (Rashemen history) +15, Knowledge (religion) +17, Perform +10, Profession (herbalist) +12,Scry +27, Search +17, Sense Motive Motive +7, Spellcraft +30, Spot +12 Swim +7, Craft Wand, Forge Ring, Improved Counterspell, Improved Initiative, Leadership (37), Scribe Scroll, Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Spell Focus (Evocation), Spell Focus (Transmutation), Spell-casting Prodigy (sorcerer), Twin Spell.
Special Attacks: Chosen Spell-like Abilities: 1/day-antimagic field, delayed blast fireball, feather fall, fly, hold monster, polymorph other, prismatic wall. the Simbul's synostodweomer (converts prepared spells into 2 hit points of healing per spell level), web.
Special Qualities: Archmage High Arcana: Spell power +2, mastery of elements. Chosen Immunities: The Simbul is unaffectod by attacks that duplicate these effects: charm person, circle of death, disintegrate, fear, feeblemind, finger of death, fireball, magic missile, misdirection, meteor swarm. Detect Magic (Su): Line of sight Enhanced Constitution: The Chosen of Mystra template adds +10 to the Simbul's Constitution. Epic-Level Benefits: Six effective levels of sorcerer and six of wizard (included in the above totals). Silver Fire (Sn): See Chapter 2 for details. Supernatural Abilities: Due to wishes and magical experimentation upon herself, the Simbul has the following supernatural abilities: detect magic (always active as the 1st-round effect of the spell), protection from evil, protection from spells, see invisibility, shapechange. She is also protected as if wearing a ring of protection +3 and an amulet of proof against detection and location. She may transform herself into a chain lightning effect that ends as a meteor streak traveling at speed 70 ft.; she cannot re-form for 1d4+2 hours, taking 10 minutes to do so. She has also used wish spells to allow her to know one more 9th-level spell than her sorcerer level would normally allow, and sometimes uses a wish to remove a spell she knows from her repertoire to make room for a different one.
Typical Sorcerer Spells Known (6/8/8/7/7/7/7/7/7/6; base DC 18 + spell level): 0-arcane mark, dancing lights, detect magic, flare light, mage hand, mending, open/close, read magic; 1st-burning hands, comprehend languages, enlarge, featherfall, magic missile; 2nd-alter self, cat's grace, daylight, shatter, web; 3rd-dispel magic, fireball, fly, wind wall,; 4th-charm monster, fire shield, polymorph other, shout; 5th-feeblemind, telekinesis, teleport, wall of force; 6th-chain lightning, control weather, disintegrate, 7th- limited wish, prismatic spray', the Simbul's spell sequencer (casting this causes the next three spells you cast of up to 4th level to be triggered simultaneously by a single verbal word); 8th-mass charm, polymorph any object, sunburst; 9th-the Simbul's spell trigger (as the sequencer but affecting up to 7th-level spells), the Simbul's synostodweomer (converts prepared spells into 2 hit points of healing per spell level), time stop, wish.
*Because of Spell Focus (Evocation) or Spell Focus (Transmutation), the base DC for saves against these spells is 20 + spell level.
Wizard Spells Per Day: 4/6/7/4/4/3. Base DC = 17 + spell level, 19 + spell level for evocation and transmutation spells.
Spellbook: The Simbul knows all the wizard spells of 7th level or lower in the Player's Handbook and this book.
Possessions: Bracers of armor + 9, ring of spell storing (identify, true seeing, wizard eye), ring of shooting stars, wand of magic missile (9th, 20 charges), wand of lightning bolt (10th, 20 charges), +4 dagger, 4 potions of cure serious wounds (10th). As a powerful spell-caster and ruler of a nation, the Simbul has access to incredible resources and can acquire or make almost any nonartifact item she might need, given time.
Alassra Silverhand, one of the Seven Sisters who are Chosen of Mystra, is known to Faerûnians today only as the Simbul. She is the Queen of Aglarond (called by some "the Witch-Queen" and many believe this latter term is part of her official title) and has legendary powers of sorcery and a temper to match.
She mastered metamagic long, long ago, and has singlehandedly defeated attacking Thayan armies with titanic combinations of spells. King Azoun IV of Cormyr called the Simbul "a good friend, but a deadly enemy." She is currently the lover of the famous (or if you prefer, infamous) wizard Elminster of Shadowdale. Thanks to his love, she has mitigated the worst of her dark berserker rages, which makes her even more formidable in battle - she's still fearless, but no long heedless of the damage she causes. She still seems more driven to master magic than anyone else in Faerûn...and seems quite likely to continue to do so.
The Simbul flits tirelessly around Toril and even other planes, never adhering to any routine, shapechanging at will (often wearing the form of a black raven). As herself, she's heedless of personal appearance, and is usually barefoot or adventurer-booted, and clad only in a tattered black robe. Her hair is always a wild, tangled mess. Even in her realm of Aglarond, people fear her, avoid her, and think her insane. Red Wizards have been known to faint at the mere thought of facing her in battle. In this, if in nothing else, their judgment is wise.