The Grandmother
The Grandmother is a Wite that worships Zhē Drūmor, the Mad One. A cunning sorcerer, she revels in the chaos sown by her dark sorceries.
History
Whatever the Grandmother’s birthname was is no longer remembered, even by her. In the Wide World’s beginning she was crafted by Gimīlhizar as a servant and friend, and when he fell into madness she followed.
It is not known how the Grandmother participated in the First War, nor whether she was in Meldutha-hoth-Mīth when it was overrun and destroyed, but it is plain she survived them. At some point she founded a coven of leeches to practice witchcraft, prophecy, the calling up of spirits, and all magicks descended from the Mad One. She also acquired a fairy dragon which she kept perpetually locked in a small cage, as well as an enchanted cloak.
The Pact
In the 14th century A.B., the Grandmother formed a pact with the Coppersmith and the Warlock through Rennick, then Marshal of the Allhammers, to reverse the Binding, restore the Kembar to Nīmlad, and free the Mad One from his prison (on this Rennick lied regarding his intentions). By her spellwork, much was accomplished:
- The art of creating bloodless spies invisible to magic was discovered. Her first (and only) successful experiment was Elias, who later became known as the Hooded Man, Rennick’s most prized assassin.
- Skinglyphs were carved into the hides of monsters (such as wendigos), compelling them to attack Allhammers in order to weaken their House and Westerland.
- The nature of the Binding and the means to dispel it were uncovered.
For the most part, her operations were based in the sewers beneath Summarch.
At some point, Panry Chenech, a member of the Warlock’s House, assisted her such that she owed him a favor. He called this in by having her send Werewolves to wipe out the Mallister banking family.
Fell Mountains
Fearing her discovery by the party, Rennick dispatched the Grandmother to journey into Drakhor, for he’d heard rumors of a Dragon somewhere in the north. Along the way, the Grandmother laid foul curses into the earth, intending to waylay the party by means of a Leshy.
Making her way into the Fell Mountains, the Grandmother eventually found what she sought: Lugal the Coward, a Dragon out of the Days of Wrath. She and her coven set up camp outside his lair and began entreating him to join the pact to restore the Kembar. If Lugal were to agree, then the Wide World would surely fall.
It was at this juncture that the party interfered, tracking her to her encampment in the snow, sneaking into Lugal’s lair, and persuading him to neutrality. Then they crept into the Grandmother’s very tent, hoping to learn what they could of her secrets. Alas, the Grandmother caught them in the act, and a battle began between her and the Allhammers.
After a long fight, the Grandmother was defeated but not slain, for she escaped southward out of the mountains. Within her abandoned camp, Frösted found her caged fairy dragon, which he rescued and named Bunger; and Guantanamo took her magic cloak, intent on studying it.
Siege of the Seat
The Grandmother was present at the Siege of the Seat, observing from a hidden location. At the height of the conflict, as Rennick was revealing his treachery to the party, the Grandmother burst into the main hall. She prepared to battle both him and the party, saying she’d always intended on betraying Rennick for control over his clandestine network.
But when Rennick merged his essence with the Coppersmith, becoming the God’s avatar, the Grandmother saw the magnitude of her folly. Out of cowardice she fled, but not before stealing the ensorcelled dagger Keenest, ancestral heirloom of the House of Regimen.
Her current whereabouts are unknown.
Known Talents and Abilities
Adversary 2 (Upgrade difficulty of all combat checks against this creature twice)
Blood Call (When the Grandmother damages a target using Melee (Light) or a magic check, they heal wounds equal to the wounds inflicted.)
Creature of Dark Omens (The Grandmother reduces the difficulty of Resolve checks by one, to a minimum of Easy, and increases the base damage of her Attack spells by three)
Lifethirst (All enemies within medium range reduce the amount of strain or wounds regained by 1 each time they recover strain or wounds)
Sacrifice (After inflicting wounds on a living creature, the Grandmother adds a boost die to their next magic skill check; after killing a living creature, the Grandmother upgrades their next magic spell check once instead)