Marta Ravenhook

> "*SHALTZAR!!! I KNOW IT WAS YOU!!! WHERE IS SHE!?!*"
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**Marta Ravenhook** is one of the Pride of Maelbrathyr. She is now an alternate personality that is part of Hannault Thrayban, capable of manifesting her body from him only when her personality is in control, the result of Torog's punishment of Thrayban. When active she is one of the Mad Lords of Maelbrathyr, though she is master of no house on account of hers being overtaken by Aleeria Shaltzar. For this, and a long history of offenses, Ravenhook is infamous for her hatred of Shaltzar and attempts kill her.

## Fall of Maelbrathyr

### Maelbrathyr's Plight

Marta 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; Marta represented House Ravenhook and was joined by Aleeria Shaltzar of House Shaltzar, Hannault Thrayban of House Thrayban, 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. Hannault Thrayban was chosen to lead the group, something Marta was quite opposed to. Over the course of their journey a number of instances showcased Thrayban's dubious leadership and Marta began to foresee the threat he posed to their mission. Vance Dungrim agreed with Marta's viewpoint, but was unwilling to help her eliminate him.

Seeing Ordu Dekaan as incompetent and unable to get Vance's support, Marta sought aid from Aleeria. Although Aleeria conspired with Marta, she secretly was still on Hannault's side and betrayed Marta's plans to him. As a result Hannault arranged an 'accident' in which Marta died. Vance eventually fully turned against Hannault as a result of this, but he was also outwitted and killed by Hannault.

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 Hannault immortal, but struck his mind with a very specific affliction. Torog bound the personalities of Vance Dungrim and Marta Ravenhook, those who Hannault had murdered, inside his own head. Now he had to contend endlessly with their hateful whispers and insults in his mind. Worse, when the conditions were right these personalities could take over Hannault's entire body. He would transform physically into one of them, entrapped helplessly in their mind as he lost control over his own body to another.

Sustained by the immortality of Torog's curse but bound to the crumbling city, Hannault has become one of its three rulers: contested by the similarly cursed Aleeria Shaltzar and Ordu Dekaan. Yet despite Hannault's bids for control over the city, the personality of Marta takes over on occasion. She retains little care whatsoever in Hannault's designs and uses whatever resources she can acquire to attempt to avenge her vendetta against Aleeria Shaltzar. These episodes often cause much chaos and destruction before she reverts back into Hannault, left to pick up the pieces.

Marta is renowned for her love of daggers and was capable of summoning 'knives of necrosis', magical blades that drain the soul. Ordu Dekkan held unreciprocated love for Marta, always trying to court her whenever she appeared. This often took the form of gifting her ordinate daggers.

## A Cry in the Dark

### Search for Vance Dungrim

When The Underparty arrives in Maelbrathyr they attempt to bring out Hannault's alternate personality of Vance Dungrim. Him specifically cautions them to avoid instead giving rise to Marta's personality, which would cause mass chaos and likely hamper their efforts to locate the Rod of Amoth.

Once they succeed in cornering Vance, The Underparty gets him high and attempts to ply information on the Rod from him. Over the course of these events things get out of hand and Vance is lit on fire. As the flames damage him Marta's personality comes to prominence. Mistakenly believing the fire to have been started by Aleeria Shaltzar, Marta rushes off to exact revenge on her rival. The Underparty, however, does not stay to see the results of the confrontation.