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Shivinistra, “High Priestess of Athena”

The insane mage that is at the heart of all the chaos currently on the Infinite Stairway.  She was the one who summoned Gerzog the Glaberzu to murder her former lover Oriam.  Instead, Gerzog trashed the staircase, murdered or enslaved other travellers and trapped both Oriam and Shivinistra on the stairs until the heroes cleaned up the mess.

After my characters had dealt with the General of the Void Shivinistra introduced herself to them as a priestess of Athena.  The group was wary of her, especially after introducing her three sisters – Elektra, Hippolyte and Helena – that she could only see.  They assumed she was mad but they also felt sorry for her being trapped here so decided to help her.

In the battle with Gerzog she waved her hands around and “healed” and “buffed” party members but she was just talking gobbledygook and nothing was actually happening.  Until Oriam revealed himself and she went crazy and tried to kill him.  The group threw her off the staircase  but she drank her potion of fly and came back to kill Oriam, but they eventually subdued her without killing her and once arriving at Sigil turned her over the the Bleak Cabal’s Madhouse.

Funny thing, when she cast mirror image and three duplicates appeared my characters panicked thinking she really DID have three sisters!  

SHAVINISTRA

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Shivinistra and the Mind Flayer


Medium humanoid (human), chaotic evil

Armour Class 16 (mage armour)
Hit Points 236 (13d6+77 plus 8 from false life)
Speed 30 ft.

STR   8 (-2)                  DEX 18 (+4)                 CON 16 (+3)
INT 17 (+3)                  WIS 9 (-1)                    CHA 10 (+0)

Saving Throws Int +6, Dex +6
Skills Arcana +13, Medicine +14, History +4
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common, Infernal
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP)

Confusing Defence. For each creature suffering from the effect of Shavinistra’s cackle ability Shavinistra gains +1 AC.

Implement Mistress. Shavinistra may use a potion, wand or scroll as a bonus action.

ACTIONS          
Multiattack. Shavinistra gains three actions. She may choose from her available options but can only use an ability once per turn. She may always substitute a Firebolt attack as one of her actions.

Firebolt. Ranged Spell Attack: +9 to hit, range 120 ft.; one target.
Hit: 15 (3d10) fire damage.

Cackle. Shavinistra cackles disturbingly while she can see any creature and isn’t incapacitated. Each creature that starts its turn within 30 feet of Shavinistra and can hear the cackle must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the creature can’t take reactions until the start of its next turn and rolls a d8 to determine what it does during its turn. On a 1 to 4, the creature does nothing. On a 5 or 6, the creature takes no action or bonus action and uses all its movement to move in a randomly determined direction. On a 7 or 8, the creature makes a melee attack against a randomly determined creature within its reach or does nothing if it can’t make such an attack. The creature also gains vulnerability to psychic damage

Blinding Hex. A targeted creature must make a DC 17 Constitution save or suffer 14 (4d6+1) psychic damage, become blinded. On a successful save the target only suffers half damage. Creatures that fail the save suffer an evil eye attack as well.

Stinging Hex. A targeted creature must make a DC 17 Charisma save or suffer 14 (4d6+1) psychic damage if they move. The target also has disadvantage on Charisma and Wisdom saving throws for the duration of the affect. On a successful save the target only suffers half damage. Creatures that fail the save suffer an evil eye attack as well.

Evil Eye. Shavinistra magically forces a creature she can see within 60 feet of her to make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw. The creature takes 27 (6d8) psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

REACTIONS  
Mirror Image (1/day). The first time Shavinistra is attacked mirror image is triggered and three duplicates appear each has AC 15. Attacks maybe redirected to the duplicates on a d20 roll of 6+ (3 duplicates), 8+ (2 duplicates) and 11+ (1 duplicate).

TACTICS  
Before Combat Shavinistra casts false life and mage armor before combat.

During Combat Shavinistra opens with cackle before attacking with blinding hex or stinging hex hoping for a follow-up evil eye attack.   She will also use her wand whenever she can.

Morale Shavinistra is bat-sh*t crazy. She is just as likely to fight to the death as she is to run away. Make a DC 7 Wisdom Saving throw each time she is injured to see if she fights on or runs.

GEAR
Holy symbol of Athena, Wand of paralyzation (10 charges, DC 17 CON or be paralyzed for 1 minute), scroll of two spells (monster summoning II – summons an Einhearer as Veteran MM pg 350 – and cacofiend), potion of flying

DESCRIPTION
Personality: Completely insane, deluded and vengeful

Posted in 5e, Dungeons & Dragons, Monstrous Compendium, Planescape, Tales from the Infinite Staircase