Aleeria Shaltzar

> "*Oh, I see. Perhaps you are not what I was looking for. WHO IS THE FOOL THAT WASTED MY TIME BRINGING THEM HERE? I WILL BURN YOU ALIVE!!*"
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**Aleeria Shaltzar** is one of the Pride of Maelbrathyr. She now rules as one of the Mad Lords of Maelbrathyr as master of House Shaltzar. It is a role of which she is equal prisoner as master, for she is condemned there by Torog to eternal torture for The Pride's transgressions against him.

## Fall of Maelbrathyr

### Maelbrathyr's Plight

Aleeria was among five nobles chosen as champions of the City of Maelbrathyr during its time of need. Each champion represented one of Maelbrathyr's noble houses; Aleeria represented House Shaltzar and was joined by Hannault Thrayban of House Thrayban, Marta Ravenhook of House Ravenhook, Vance Dungrim of House Dungrim, and Ordu Dekaan of House Dekaan. They became known as the Pride of Maelbrathyr.

During this time the great empire of Bael Turath was on the verge on losing its longstanding war with the rival power of Arkhosia. In the centuries past, a mage and general of unsurpassed skill had come from Maelbrathyr and led Bael Turath's armies to huge success. He was known as The Ruby Wizard, and before he ran afoul and was captured by the servants of Torog, many believed he was on track to defeat Arkhosia. The Pride was tasked with delving into the depths of The Underdark to liberate The Ruby Wizard from his imprisonment. Once restored, all hopes rested on the wizard being able to turn the tide of the war.

### The Quest

Although members of the five houses had joined together under an allusion of unity to save their city, the houses were all rivals who sought to outcompete each other for control. Aleeria in particular held great contempt for Marta Ravenhook. The Pride itself was led by Hannault Thrayban, but during the journey his leadership became increasingly challenged by Marta and Vance. Marta and Vance saw Hannault as unfit after the poor handling of a number of situations, with Marta urging Vance to eliminate Hannualt for the good of the mission. Yet Vance was unwilling to take such a step.

Ordu Dekaan was quite simply seen by the others as incompetent, leaving Marta no choice but to attempt to get Aleeria on her side. Aleeria pretended to ally with Marta, but secretly wanted Hannault to remain leader. This was born not out of any loyalty, but merely that the shrewd Aleeria saw Hannault as easier to manipulate. As a result she fed Hannualt select information of Marta's plan, eventually allowing Hannualt to arrange an 'accident' in which Marta died.

This event finally fully turned Vance against Hannault, but it was too late and he also met a terrible fate in the Underdark. In the end the remaining three members of The Pride succeeded in their mission, rescuing The Ruby Wizard even with the tragic sacrifice of two of their members.

### Torog's Punishment

When The Pride returned to Maelbrathyr they were met with much fanfare. Yet this was short lived. Torog was infuriated by the slight against him made by stealing a prisoner from his torture pits. The Crawling King sought out a just punishment for the transgression and turned his ire towards Maelbrathyr. He pulled the whole city into the Underdark on the eve of their celebratory carnival, entrapping its citizens and crumbling buildings in the forsaken depths. For The Pride, Torog cursed doubly. He made Aleeria immortal, but bound her lower body in solid ice while her upper body burns in eternal fire. All the while Aleeria's frosty intellect remains intact, but as her keen plans come to fruition she is also beset by immense mood swings and a firey temper which almost always self-destructs her own designs.

Sustained by the immortality of Torog's curse but bound to the crumbling city, Aleeria has become one of its three rulers: contested by the similarly cursed Hannault Thrayban and Ordu Dekaan. Her own lavish home was destroyed in one of Aleeria's fits of flaming rage, and so she instead took up residence in the abandoned House of Ravenhook. Ever envious of the lavish and sophisticated life she lived aboveground, Aleeria imports extravagant plants from the surface world to grow in the gardens of her estate, sustaining them with magic to the best of her ability.

## A Cry in the Dark

### Meeting

Aleeria is the first member of the Pride of Maelbrathyr met by The Underparty as Machi had gone with Farmer Gurk and Celeste Alinet to investigate the esteemed gardens of House Ravenhook. The House Guards take note of Machi's nature magic and bring him before Aleeria, who is in search for a gardener of great skill to maintain her ever-withering plants. Aleeria is immediately impressed by Machi and offers to hire him, afterward vaguely threatening to enslave him for the job if he refuses. Luckily Gurk and Celeste manage to convince Aleeria that Machi really isn't as capable as she was led believe. Infuriated by this failure, Aleeria's mood swings take over and she lashes out at the guards who brought Machi in, allowing the group to escape.

### Later References

Him later indicates that The Underparty should keep far away from Aleeria. Her sharp wit poses a significant threat to his plans were she to uncover the presence of the Rod of Amoth. It is therefore integral she remain in the dark and unaware of The Underparty's goals. He also indicates not to mention Aleeria in the presence of Hannault Thrayban or his alter-ego form of Vance Dungrim, as this might provoke the fury of his third personality: Marta Ravenhook. Marta is known for trying to complete her vendetta against Aleeria whenever taking control of Hannault's body, thus complicating their plans.

Ultimately when The Underparty lights Vance on fire, the damage causes Marta's personality to surface. Immediately viewing the fire as an act from Aleeria, Marta rushes of vowing vengeance. Luckily The Underparty had learned all the information they needed to retrieve the Rod of Amoth by this point.