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'''Tristessa''', a [[shadow fey]] [[banshee]] who perpetually seeks her dead daughter, rules [[Keening]]. In life she was a noble in [[Arak| Arak's]] [[Unseelie Court]]. When three [[outlander| outlanders]] were brought to Arak by Ravenloft's [[Mists]], they were initially welcomed by the shadow fey. Their worship of Lolth became a popular cult among the Arak. When the drow had all been killed through a series of assassinations, Tristessa became the head priestess of Lolth's cult. The followers of this cult began to change in appearance: instead of their normally bone-white skin, they became similar in appearance to the drow[?]. Tristessa then gave birth to a daughter born with spider's legs. This was the final straw for Prince [[Loht]], ruler of the Unseelie shadow fey, and he outlawed the cult. Tristessa and her deformed baby were killed{{clarify}} by her fellow shadow fey by being staked to the ground and left to die in the sun. [[Vistani]] and others occasionally leave babies for Tristessa, but because she lacks the physical requirements to care for a baby (such as the ability to nurse a child), all of her surrogate babies die of starvation. Tristessa is served by undead fey from across the demiplane, alternately referred to as "widderìbhinn" or "umbra."
[[File:Tristessa.png|thumb|alt=Tristessa|Tristessa, by Talon Dunning]]
{{canon}}
[[Tristessa]] rules [[Keening]].<ref>[[Darklords]] p.12</ref><ref name=dod38>[[Domains of Dread]] p. 38</ref> She is a [[shadow fey]], of [[the Arak]], the first of the [[widderìbhinn]], and a [[banshee]]<ref name="GazV p. 166">[[Gazetteer V]] p. 166</ref>, forever in search of her dead daughter.  In life she was a [[Sith]] and a noble in the [[Unseelie Court]] of the kingdom of [[Niurin Scaa]], hidden far beneath the surface of [[Arak]]. When three [[Outlander| outlanders]] were brought to Arak by the [[Mists]], they were initially welcomed by the shadow fey. Their worship of [[Lolth]] became a popular cult among the Arak under the name of the [[Church of the Spider Queen]]. The followers of this cult began to change in appearance: gaining features similar in appearance to the drow. Alarmed by the cult's rising power, [[Loht]], Prince of the Unseelie shadow fey, quickly began taking steps to snuff out the cult before it reached its zenith of power.<ref name="GazV p. 166">[[Gazetteer V]] p. 166</ref>


When the drow had all been killed through a series of assassinations, Tristessa became the head priestess of Lolth's cult.<ref name="GazV p. 107">[[Gazetteer V]] p. 107</ref>  A horrible war commenced between Tristessa's cult and Loht's court. Many lives were lost, but not of the Arak, but rather their more mortal pawns and slaves. Thus, the [[Law of Arak]] remained in tact.<ref name="GazV p. 166">[[Gazetteer V]] p. 166</ref>


'''WIKISEED FROM CATALOGUE :''' [[Sith]] and [[Banshee]]''(Please edit freely, then remove this note and WIKISEED label)''
As the chaos continued, Tristessa became pregnant and then gave birth to a daughter born with spider's legs. Mysteriously, the infant was without father. Although some of her peers call this a sign of disgrace, Tristessa felt true love for her child.<ref name="GazV p. 166">[[Gazetteer V]] p. 166</ref>


'''WIKISEED FROM CATALOGUE :''' Darklord of [[Keening]]''(Please edit freely, then remove this note and WIKISEED label)''
Eventually, Loht held such enmity for Tristessa and her cult that he committed the direst [[transgression]] for his people: breaking the [[Law of Arak]]. Loht and his minions staked Tristessa and her deformed baby to the ground on the surface of [[Mount Lament]]. There they were left to die in the rays of the rising sun. As Tristessa and her child perished, she put down a horrible [[curse]] upon the land and her people, thus causing the [[Scourge of Arak]].<ref name="GazV p. 166">[[Gazetteer V]] p. 166</ref> She now resides on [[Mount Lament]] as darklord of Keening.<ref>[[Darklords]] p.13</ref><ref name="GazV p. 166">[[Gazetteer V]] p. 166</ref>
 
[[Vistani]] [?] and others occasionally leave babies for Tristessa, but because she lacks the physical requirements to care for a baby (such as the ability to nurse a child), all of her surrogate babies die of starvation. Tristessa is served by undead fey from across the demiplane, alternately referred to as "widderìbhinn" or "[[umbra]]."<ref name="GazV p. 166">[[Gazetteer V]] p. 166</ref>
 
==Apocryphal Origins==
{{questionably-canon}}
Early sources described Tristessa as one of the [[drow]]. [[Darklords]] describes her as becoming disgraced with the Church of [[Lolth]] for keeping her [[deformed]] baby.<ref>[[Darklords]] p. 12-14</ref> This origin seems to have been retconned out of existence, as later sources describe the perception of Tristessa as a drow as an in-world mistake.<ref name=dod38>[[Domains of Dread]] p. 38</ref><ref name="GazV p. 107">[[Gazetteer V]] p. 107</ref>
 
==Stats==
{{canon}}
[[2nd Edition]] female [[banshee]], [[Chaotic Evil]]. Note that Tristessa's unique origins and her [[darklord]] status gives her some unique powers beyond an ordinary banshee. These include a crippling touch and spell-like abilities resembling those of a [[drow]].<ref>[[Darklords]] p. 20-21</ref><ref name=dodp38>[[Domains of Dread]] p.38</ref>
 
[[3rd Edition]]:
3.5:
*Female sith widderrìbhinn, [[Cleric]] 4 (Spider Queen)/[[Zelldrow]] 6<ref name="GazV p. 165">[[Gazetteer V]] p. 165</ref>
 
{{netbook}}
[[Pathfinder]]:
*Female [[Sith]] [[Zelldrow]] 6 [[Fifth Magnitude Ghost]], [[Chaotic Evil]], [[CR 16]]<ref>[[Children of the Night: The Lords of Ravenloft]] p.73-74</ref>
 
==Appearances==
{{canon}}
===[[Modules]]===
*[[Servants of Darkness]]
===Short Stories===
*[[Tales of Ravenloft: The Wailing]]
 
{{ref}}
 
 
[[category:Character]][[category:NPC]][[Category:Darklord]][[Category:Church of the Spider Queen]][[Category:Cleric]][[Category:Female]][[Category:Banshee]][[Category:Widderìbhinn]][[Category:Undead]][[Category:Sith]][[Category:The Arak]][[Category:Fey]][[category:Inhabitants of Keening]][[category:Chaotic Evil]][[category:Mad]][[category:Fifth Magnitude Ghost]][[category:Cult Leader]][[category:Noble of the Arak]][[category:Killed]][[category:Murdered]][[category:Darklord (Domain Lord Magnitude of Evil)]][[category:Nocturnal]][[category:Mad]][[category:Grieving]][[category:Zelldrow]][[category:Transgressor]][[category:Incorporeal]][[category:Incorporeal Undead]]
[[category:Delusional]]
[[category:High Priest]]
[[category:Killer]]
[[category:Manipulator]]
[[Category:Mother]]
[[category:Murderer]]
[[category:Ruler]]
[[category:Queen]]
[[Category:Victim of Cruelty]]
[[category:2nd Edition Character]]
[[category:3rd Edition Character]]
[[Category:Pathfinder 1st Edition Character]]
[[category:Priest (2E Class Group)]]


'''WIKISEED FROM CATALOGUE :''' Resides on [[Mount Lament]]''(Please edit freely, then remove this note and WIKISEED label)''
==Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue==
==Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue==


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<!-- IMPORTED : Killed by Loht (NPC) -->
[[Category:NPC]]
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[[Category:Darklord]]

Latest revision as of 00:27, 5 December 2024

Tristessa
Tristessa, by Talon Dunning

Tristessa rules Keening.[1][2] She is a shadow fey, of the Arak, the first of the widderìbhinn, and a banshee[3], forever in search of her dead daughter. In life she was a Sith and a noble in the Unseelie Court of the kingdom of Niurin Scaa, hidden far beneath the surface of Arak. When three outlanders were brought to Arak by the Mists, they were initially welcomed by the shadow fey. Their worship of Lolth became a popular cult among the Arak under the name of the Church of the Spider Queen. The followers of this cult began to change in appearance: gaining features similar in appearance to the drow. Alarmed by the cult's rising power, Loht, Prince of the Unseelie shadow fey, quickly began taking steps to snuff out the cult before it reached its zenith of power.[3]

When the drow had all been killed through a series of assassinations, Tristessa became the head priestess of Lolth's cult.[4] A horrible war commenced between Tristessa's cult and Loht's court. Many lives were lost, but not of the Arak, but rather their more mortal pawns and slaves. Thus, the Law of Arak remained in tact.[3]

As the chaos continued, Tristessa became pregnant and then gave birth to a daughter born with spider's legs. Mysteriously, the infant was without father. Although some of her peers call this a sign of disgrace, Tristessa felt true love for her child.[3]

Eventually, Loht held such enmity for Tristessa and her cult that he committed the direst transgression for his people: breaking the Law of Arak. Loht and his minions staked Tristessa and her deformed baby to the ground on the surface of Mount Lament. There they were left to die in the rays of the rising sun. As Tristessa and her child perished, she put down a horrible curse upon the land and her people, thus causing the Scourge of Arak.[3] She now resides on Mount Lament as darklord of Keening.[5][3]

Vistani [?] and others occasionally leave babies for Tristessa, but because she lacks the physical requirements to care for a baby (such as the ability to nurse a child), all of her surrogate babies die of starvation. Tristessa is served by undead fey from across the demiplane, alternately referred to as "widderìbhinn" or "umbra."[3]

Apocryphal Origins

Early sources described Tristessa as one of the drow. Darklords describes her as becoming disgraced with the Church of Lolth for keeping her deformed baby.[6] This origin seems to have been retconned out of existence, as later sources describe the perception of Tristessa as a drow as an in-world mistake.[2][4]

Stats

2nd Edition female banshee, Chaotic Evil. Note that Tristessa's unique origins and her darklord status gives her some unique powers beyond an ordinary banshee. These include a crippling touch and spell-like abilities resembling those of a drow.[7][8]

3rd Edition: 3.5:

Pathfinder:

Appearances

Modules

Short Stories

References

  1. ↑ Darklords p.12
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Domains of Dread p. 38
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Gazetteer V p. 166
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gazetteer V p. 107
  5. ↑ Darklords p.13
  6. ↑ Darklords p. 12-14
  7. ↑ Darklords p. 20-21
  8. ↑ Domains of Dread p.38
  9. ↑ Gazetteer V p. 165
  10. ↑ Children of the Night: The Lords of Ravenloft p.73-74

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

Secrets of the Dread Realms
Domains of Dread
Darklords

Secrets of the Dread Realms - p34
Domains of Dread - p38
Ravenloft Campaign Setting:Domains and Denizens - p90
Darklords - p13

Secrets of the Dread Realms - pp33-35
Domains of Dread - p38
Ravenloft Campaign Setting:Domains and Denizens - p89
Darklords - pp20-21

Secrets of the Dread Realms - pp7,33-35
Domains of Dread - p38
Ravenloft Campaign Setting:Domains and Denizens - pp21,89-91
Tales of Ravenloft:The Wailing - pp114-127
Darklords - pp12-14
Realm of Terror - pp74-75

The Sad One


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