Kalene

> *"Let the blood of traitors flow like a river."*
>
>

**Kalene** is an intelligence-based mage hero with the continuous damage role of the Graveborn faction. She specializes in using her own health as a medium for dealing continuous damage to individual targets.

## Background

*Announcement*

Heretical magic suspected at Slade Manor. Relevant bodies are investigating, but if any members of the public have information, they are urged to submit such to the Heresy Inquisition.

*Nora's Letter*

Dear Sir/Madam,

My dear friend, Ms. Anna Cartas, has been in the employ of Kalene Slade as a maidservant at Slade Manor for the past year. Anna is my closest confidant, and we are constantly exchanging correspondence. Yesterday, however, I received a letter saying she was in danger, but I cannot now get in touch with her!

I'm including her letter here, in the hope it may help the investigation. Should you find Anna, please let her know that I am awaiting her safe return.

NB: I believe this has to be connected with Kalene Slade.

Warm regards.

*Anna's Letter*

My Dearest Nora,

I'm so frightfully busy these days that I've only just found time to sit and write! I trust all is well with you? I've been at Slade Manor for a month now, and it's exhausting learning all the ropes! I'm sure you recall I mentioned being Lady Kalene's personal maid? I'm responsible for all her daily needs and, as heir to House Slade, she's always busy managing the family's affairs. She is well-educated and erudite, speaks several languages fluently, and treats me very well. There are none of the haughty airs a noble usually has when addressing their servants. Sadly, she is very unwell and physically frail. The physician even said she might not make it to next year! Should the worst truly comes to pass, there's no telling what will happen to House Slade.

Madam's mental state is also deteriorating, sadly. I've seen portraits of her in the past, how magnificent and perfect she used to be. Ah well... I just want to look after her as best I can, and make her days as happy as possible. By the way, I heard a housekeeper say that Sir Ivan will be gracing the manor with his presence next month. Weren't he and Lady Kalene childhood sweethearts? I wonder what he's like.

I've enclosed a little something for you as a gift! I hope you like it.

Love, Anna

My Dearest Nora,

Did you like the gift? It's good to have a nice scarf when the weather gets colder! So, remember that I said Sir Ivan was coming back? Well, he's here now and just as elegant and handsome as I imagined, not to mention ever so kind. Oh, he and Lady Kalene, what a perfect match they are! If only she'd get better, maybe they could have an heir. Lady Kalene's condition has also improved since he came back, and she was even telling me how they used to go walking in the woods together. Of course, that was back when she could still walk, not like today. Ah... People who are seriously ill always seem to miss the past, and their former happiness. It's kind of like mental torture on top of physical sickness.

Want some juicy gossip? I'll tell you, but you have to promise me you won't tell anyone else! I bumped into Sir Ivan in the courtyard one day, and we had a little chat. He said that while he still loves his wife dearly, her illness and decline make him terribly sad. He misses the beautiful and lively wife he once had, but has steeled himself to face the inevitable. Anyway, Lady Kalene always retires early these days. And it just so happens that I keep accidentally-on-purpose running into Sir Ivan. Sometimes he'll stop and talk a while, and I think sometimes I overstep the line... But I hope he doesn't mind, seeing as he keeps comparing me to the young Lady Kalene! You know, sometimes I dream (even though it's clearly foolish) that maybe, one day, after Lady Kalene passes... He and I... Oh, I shouldn't think such terrible things! She's been so kind to me, after all.

This is just between you and me, alright?

Love, Anna

My Dearest Nora,

Yet more new developments to report! I was cleaning my Lady's room one day, when Sir Ivan appeared and asked how things were. Nothing wrong with that, but I must have come across a right fool as I just started babbling! The issue is... Lady Kalene was awake and I swear, I'll never forget the look she gave me. She yelled at me, called me all sorts of names I didn't think a woman of her breeding would even know, and ended up coughing blood! Sir Ivan restrained her temper, but I think she has known about my previous interactions with him.

Lady Kalene has turned cold to me. I tried to explain, but that didn't help matters, and she even looks askance at Sir Ivan now, too. For his part, he remains just as steadfastly by her side as ever. Such a kind man, a good man... Watching his wife slowly shuffling off the stage of life. Lady Kalene could have steered House Slade towards a better future with the Lightbearer Empire... But now she just sits on the bed, staring out the window. Is this the price of power by birthright alone? Anyway, next week another quack is coming to see Lady Kalene. This one's been recommended by a friend, but where so many famous doctors have failed, I fear this time will be no different... Honestly though, if Lady Kalene could recover, it would make all the difference in the world!

But I can't really see such a thing happening...

Love, Anna

My Dearest Nora,

Some of the manor staff have been transferred recently. It seems like every other day someone else has gone. I don't know if they've been sent to work on another estate, nor whether I would be transferred out of here one day too. Maybe I was wrong and he's not a quack, as ever since the doctor saw Lady Kalene, I cannot deny that her condition has improved! She can even get around without a wheelchair, and seems like a completely different person to the patient on her sickbed. What sort of medical marvel is this?

Sir Ivan doesn't seem overjoyed at his wife's recovery. I've seen him a number of times in the hall, coming up from the cellar with a grey, sweaty complexion... I wonder what's down there. I remember the doctor was asked to go down there for treatment... Lady Kalene is still frosty to me, and it seems her temperament is getting worse, too. She'll even break things on purpose, just to have me clean them up. It shames me to say it, but I almost miss the days when she seemed at death's door. At least things weren't so tense around here then. And if she fully recovers? Will everything be alright then?

I'm going to be honest with you, my dear friend, as I can no longer ignore my feelings but must follow my heart. I think that Lady Kalene no longer loves him, and that I am a much more suitable partner for such a man. I have a plan. I can't tell you the details just now, but if I succeed, you'll be the first to know everything.

Love, Anna

Nora,

Everything is out of control. They say no one can leave the manor There's no reason given, only that it is Lady Kalene's direct order. Lady Kalene has completely regained her strength and beauty, and can move around freely these days. I suspect that she's aware of my intentions, but there's no turning back... Yes, I love him. I cannot deny it anymore. While Lady Kalene was recovering, I even had such wicked thoughts... Like what if she went back to that sick, listless husk?

Why, I could... I even slipped some oleander into her wine, but she drank it down without a hiccup! It's like she's laughing at me... She knows! Yes, I may be guilty, but her recovery is most certainly not thanks to medical skills! It's more like some evil black magic. Her body is covered in these strange red welts, almost like some kind of marks. I think she's no longer that sick, pitied, and abandoned creature, but something else.

She's changed...

She'll never let me go... I have to get out of here, right now! But how...?

Anna

*Report into the Slade Manor Heresy Incident*

Investigations into the unusual events at Slade Manor have concluded them to be connected with the spread of necromancy. The findings are as follows: Slade Manor had lost contact with the outside world for several days, most likely due to the spread of necromancy. Given that House Slade was privy to state secrets of the Lightbearers, the Temple authorized the Heresy Inquisition to enter the premises by force.

No survivors were found inside. The deceased included Sir Ivan Slade and many domestic servants. A total of 37 victims have been identified. The cellar was determined to be the site of heretical practices. Temple investigators discovered a large number of items used in necromantic sacrifices around the area. The investigators failed to identify the lady of the manor, Kalene Slade, among the deceased. She had been suffering from a terminal condition since a teenager, which Lightbearer physicians had determined to be incurable. This, combined with other relevant evidence and the letters exchanged between the civilians Nora Hill and Anna Cartas, gives us reasonable grounds to suspect that Kalene Slade was colluding with Bantus. We further believe that the 37 souls lost within Slade Manor were used as a means of survival for Lady Slade, and that she has been transformed into a Graveborn.

Kalene Slade is now considered a wanted fugitive by Lightbearers. If she is found within the Lightbearers' territory, she risks summary execution.

## Engraving Abilities

Reach 2 Star Ascended with this hero to gain: HASTE +3
 60

Reach 4 Star Ascended with this hero to gain: HASTE +3
 80

## Signature Item

### Item: Necrohound

The culmination of fear, derived from the Bloody Priesthood's countless victims just before they met their perilous end, which now serves Queen Kalene as her mount. It gnaws on lost spirits, and sullies itself in the fresh blood of its fallen victims. It is loyal to no one else but its queen.

### Skill: Blood Feast

Kalene recovers 2% health per second while torturing her victim.

* **[+10 Unlocks]** Kalene recovers 2.5% health per second while torturing her victim.

* **[+20 Unlocks]** Kalene is immune to Control Effects while torturing her Blood Sacrifice.

* **[+30 Unlocks]** While torturing the Blood Sacrifice, if they are a boss, they shall additionally lose health equal to 125% of Kalene's Attack Rating every second. If the Blood Sacrifice is not a boss, Kalene will immediately butcher them when their health falls below 10%

## Furniture Set Bonuses

### Blood of the Many

* **[3/9 Mythic Pieces]** While Kalene's Ultimate skill is in effect, enemies within the Altar are dealt 240% of Kalene's Attack Rating as damage per second.
* **[9/9 Mythic Pieces]** When the current Blood Sacrifice's health falls below 50% or they have survived for more than 6 seconds, Kalene may choose another Blood Sacrifice, so that there are up to 2 Blood Sacrifices on the battlefield.

## Voice Lines

* "Let the blood of traitors flow like a river."
* "My hound, devour them all!"
* "Feel fear..."
* "You should be honored to be my sacrifice"
* "Drip...Drip...Ah, the sound of fresh blood"
* "I'm waiting..."
* "The blood feast is over"