Ambika Everhate

Biological

Birthday: Unknown

Age: Unknown (thought to be around 8,000)

Race: Dark Elf

Birthplace: Y'salindra, Kingdom of Illytheri, Crystal Dimension

Sex: Female

Eyes: Amber

Hair: Copper red

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 110 lbs

Personal

Occupation: Disciple of Sindrai'el, Ruler of Zhanduril

Religion: The Way of Sindrai'el

Martial Status: Single (no formal Patron)

Nicknames and Titles: Matron Mother of House Everhate, First Matron of Zhanduril, Most Favored Disciple of the Spider Queen, Dread Lady

Weapons: Whip of Fangs (9 heads), Spider's Kiss (enchanted mace)

Hobbies: Torture, blood sacrifice, dark alchemy, fine wines, the theatre

Inspiration: Zhandura the Merciless

History

(excerpted from Elven Myths and Legends, Third Edition, Toroian SLA Press)

The Dread Lady, a creature of ancient and unfathomable evil, is spoken of only in the softest of tones, and her name is always uttered in fear. Her origins lie in the far-distant mists of antiquity, during the Elfwars which forever sundered Elvendom in Crystal. She is so old that even the oldest of Elven elders know her only from oral legends passed down through the generations by The People. More assimilated Elves entirely discount her existence, believing her nothing more than an entirely baseless superstition meant to keep Elven children in line. Traditionalist Elves beg to differ, however, and point to the countless raids of Elven villages down through the centuries as her handiwork.

According to legend, the Dread Lady came to be as a result of a terrible rite of priestly Drow magic which resulted in the absolute destruction of the ancient Elven kingdom of Vallithyre. Her mother was Zhandura the Merciless, Queen of the Dark Elven kingdom of Illythiri, who wiped out Vallithyre in order to avenge the assassination of her sister, who was Queen of Miyeritar. To this day, the land itself, in present-day Eblan, is an arid desert with no trace of the lush forests that once covered it. For this terrible crime against nature, and other dark practices (Sindrai'el worship), the Gods of Elvendom interceded and banished Zhandura and all the Illythri to the Underground, ending the Elfwars.

(end excerpt)

Zhandura would go on to found a new house, known as Everhate, and Zhanduril, City of Shadows. The city was plagued by scheming and infighting, and open warfare in the streets was not uncommon. Zhandura herself fell victim to a conspiracy led by House Zauviir, and was assassinated.

In the wake of Zhandura's assassination, her eldest daughter Ambika, a promising young acolyte, disappeared for a time into the wild Underground. She was thought dead until she emerged from her self-imposed exile as the First Disciple of Sindrai'el, a prophet of death sent by the Spider Queen to cleanse the city and get it into line. Using her Goddess-granted powers, Ambika assumed control of House Everhate, brutally uniting it under her stiletto-heeled boot, and singlehandedly brought the city to its knees through a masterful series of bloody strikes against the houses which brought down her mother. Out of the chaos, Lady Ambika forged a new order, based on the Way of Sindrai'el she received in the wilderness, and set up the hierarchy and laws Zhanduril--and Dark Elven society as a whole--would live by for millenia to come. Kept alive by the Goddess' power down through the eons, Lady Ambika continues to rule Zhanduril with an iron fist, keeping her absolute power through sheer intimidation and the blessing of the Spider Queen.