Cassandra

Cassandra was a female human paladin PC in the Sanlow campaign.

Cassandra was a member of the Order of the Dawn and an associate of the Phoenix Hounds.

## Background

Little is known of Cassandra’s background save that she became a devout follower of Vesper and was trained by the Order of the Dawn.

## Problems in Lyzol

In the autumn of 1159 Cassandra found herself passing through the village of Eastway which was in the estate of Lyzol. There she found the local authorities were bullying and extorting the people in the village. Feeling that the ruler of the estate would take appropriate actions, she headed to Lyzol to report the matter to Lady Kathel Gawan.

There she found that the Phoenix Hounds had already become aware of the matter and that it had been directed by Lady Kathel herself and her Chamberlain, Blaine Fordin. With Lady Kathel in custody and Fordin run off, Cassandra asked how she could assist and learned that some of the Phoenix Hounds were planning an expedition to the village of Redwyne, where it was reported that an army of troglodytes had take the town. The mission was to scout the area and determine the intent of the monsters. Cassandra offered her services to accompany and assist.

## Traveling with the Phoenix Hounds

### Travel to Redwyne

Along with Xandrik Wharfside, Inithiabel and a cleric of Kauqea named Tookany Schuylkill Cassandra rode to Redwyne, which intelligence indicated had been taken over by troglodytes of the Stone Dragon Clan. Their mission was to scout the situation there and determine if they were holding fast or planning to march northwest and potentially attack the army gathering under the banner of the Red Wizard to face a massive invasion led by Vossk from the Brokenback Swamps, or to perhaps march upon Lyzol, as it was ill prepared to fend off an attack.

There they found that while the bulk of the army had marched out of the town, a small force was left behind to continue to brutalize the populace. Cassandra was torn between desire and duty, as she wanted to help liberate the people of Redwyne, but also felt they needed to warn Brookhollow, Lyzol and the Red Wizard, all of whom might be targets of the army. Ultimately they decided to try to liberate the town first.

Xandrik was able to sneak through the town and rescue Rhyna Weaver, where they learned that the troglodytes had marched off to the northwest, seeming to take them on a path through Brookhollow possibly towards the Red Wizard’s army.

With Rhyna, the group gathered at the Stoneyell farmhouse where they convinced farming members that had survived the invasion, Billus, Cleah and Conner, to travel to Lyzol with Rhyna and deliver to them a letter from Xandrik warning them of the enemy movement. Tookany gave them his pony for the journey, as Conner was a toddler and could not move quickly on his own.

### Attacking the Temple of Guya

Cassnadra and the others decided to start with clearing the Temple of Guya, which was the largest and most impressive structure in Redwyne, but had been taken over by a small group of troglodytes led by a priest of Baraxus.

The group entered the temple quietly and without drawing attention, however once inside they accidentally alerted the troglodytes to their presence, where they were faced with the priest of Baraxus, Ukexkies, and several of his acolytes. In the battle that followed the heroes proved victorious, though it was a hard fought battle.

Further investigation of the temple found a secret entrance beneath it, which had housed some dark deeds of the past and the bodies of an ogre and several troglodytes were found. Recalling that Rhyna and the Stoneyells had told them the town had been best upon by a naga that was slowly mentally enslaving the populace before being saved by a band of heroes, Tookany suggested that the catacombs were perhaps used by those controlled at that time.

On the second floor of the temple they encountered a handful of troglodytes who had not heard the commotion below as well as a squad of skeletal guards that had been created by Ukexkies. Again, the heroes were victorious with Cassandra’s combat abilities proving vital to victory.

Confident the temple was cleared of the enemy, the group quietly withdrew to the Stoneyell farm to lick their wounds and prepare to face the other two Troglodyte officers who had been left behind.

#### A New Ally

As Cassandra and the Phoenix Hounds prepared to continue their campaign, they were approached by a dwarf named Ulik Torin. The dwarf had passed Rhyna Weaver and the Stoneyell on their way to Lyzol and decided to join the good fight to battle the Troglodytes and went looking for the Phoenix Hounds. The group happily accepted his services.

#### A Final Confrontation

The Phoenix Hounds’ strike on the Temple of Guya could not remain secret forever, and indeed, eventually it was discovered and the Troglodytes sounded the alarm. After another skirmish at a farmhouse resulting in three more dead troglodytes the Phoenix Hounds struck the Inn of the Slumbering Serpent, taking on the Troglodyte sorcerer Yavixx, and his minions. Yavixx escaped, however, reporting to the Troglodyte commander in Redwyne, Grazznek.

Cassandra and the Phoenix Hounds ensured that Belba Cralloon, the proprietor of the Inn of the Slumbering Serpent, fled town and then hid from the inevitable Troglodyte search parties. Unable to find the group, Grazznek countered by ordering that all remaining townsfolk in Redwyne be rounded up and brought to the Golden Grain Inn for interrogation and execution if they did not reveal the location of the heroes.

Unwilling to allow the townsfolk to be executed for their actions, the Phoenix Hounds launched an attack on the troglodytes. Initially the battle went well, as they were aided by Porten Smith and the mysterious appearance of Haranavei Fallonlimb. Many troglodytes fell to to the blades, spells and arrows of the heroes. However, the troglodyte commander, Grazznek, remained standing. Surrounded by enemies, the troglodyte was able to take down the combatants one by one. Xandrik and Inithabel died in the fighting and Tookany, Cassandra, Ulik and Haranavei were knocked unconscious. The unconscious combatants were collected by Grazznek and taken out of Redwyne.

## As a Prisoner

Cassandra and her fellow prisoners were taken to Brookhollow where they were imprisoned and interrogated by a Troglodyte cleric named Bevkotekk. Cassandra was unable to escape but also refused to reveal any information.

Eventually Cassandra, Ulik, Tookany, and Haranavei were taken to a room in the dungeons under the mausoleum in Brookhollow and lashed to an altar. Bevkotekk began a ritual to sacrifice them and open a portal to the Infernal plane. The Phoenix Hounds arrived as part of a force to liberate Rupmon and rescue them, but despite their best efforts they were unable to arrive in time to save Cassandra, and she was slain by Bevkotekk, allowing him to open the gate.

## Appearance and Abilities

Cassandra was a highly capable and tough warrior who was quite skilled with her glaive and heavy flail. An old injury has left her blind in one eye, which she covered with an eyepatch. As a paladin of Vesper she was blessed with the ability to heal as well as being better able to resist injury and magical compulsions.