Exemplars of Evil

CHAPTER 7
VALBRYN
MORLYDD
Illus. by E. Deschamps
114
Pass Sigil (Su) Valbryn can temporarily negate magical wards
based on written symbols, sigils, runes, or glyphs. As a
standard action, she can make a caster level check (DC
6 + the sigil creator’s caster level). If successful, she
can suppress the effects of the device for as long as she
maintains concentration. Valbryn must be able to see
the device.
Rapid Metamagic Valbryn uses this feat to spontaneously
cast metamagic versions of fi r e b all and still have a move
action afterward.
Sigilsight (Ex) Valbryn can use a Search check to fi nd magic
traps based on runes, glyphs, sigils, symbols, and other
writing, as a rogue can. She gains a +11 bonus on Search
checks to fi nd traps of this sort. If she comes within 10
feet of a magic rune, glyph, sigil, or symbol, or within the
threshold of danger for such a device, she is entitled to
make a Search check as if she were actively searching for
a magic trap.
Spellglyph (Su) Valbryn can cast spells using spellglyphs.
Such spells have a special material component (the
spellglyph) that substitutes for the spell’s verbal component
and any other material components it might
normally require. When Valbryn casts a spell using a
spellglyph, the spell is treated as if it were affected by
the Silent Spell feat.
Spell Secrets Whenever Valbryn casts alter self, greater invisibility,
or polymorph, those spells are modifi ed as if affected
by the Extend Spell metamagic feat, but without
using any higher-level spell slots.
Taboos Valbryn may not cast spells of the metal element
(see Elemental Mastery, Complete Arcane page 16), must
face west when sitting and south when preparing spells,
and must always wear something red and never wear anything
white.
Thaden Felstorm and
his animal companion
Watchful Spirit Once per day, Valbryn can reroll initiative
before knowing her place in the initiative order. She takes
the better of the two rolls.
THADEN FELSTORM
“I gave up trying to escape a long time ago—not because I stopped
craving my freedom, but because I realized that Gilgirn had become
my home.”
—Thaden Felstorm,
trusted advisor of the fire giant queen
Nobody knows the fire giant queen and princess better than
Thaden does. He has occupied a cell beneath the royal suite
for three decades, during which he has been privy to the two
females’ most private thoughts. Thaden has become the sole
confidant of the queen in matters personal and strategic, and
watched Helthra grow up, parenting by proxy.
GOALS
Thaden fought alongside the other heroes who visited Gilgirn
to sue for peace, but he was knocked senseless during the
battle and awoke imprisoned. From that point forward, his
only goal was to stay alive. Valbryn intended to torture the
human to death because he had killed several prominent
fire giants, but whenever she visited him, he deflected her
anger with flattery and personal inquiries. For months, the
giantslayer managed to earn a stay of execution by candidly
conversing with the queen.
Thaden had a seductive effect on Valbryn, giving her an
audience for thoughts and feelings that she could not share
with other fire giants. Once the ranger realized that his
life was no longer in imminent danger, his goal became to
ingratiate himself to the queen, and he has done exactly that.
There is nobody with whom Valbryn is more relaxed.
USING THADEN FELSTORM
Thaden was a giantslayer of no small repute, unrivaled
in his ability to fell the great folk
like trees. In the early years of
his imprisonment, he escaped
from Gilgirn on more than
one occasion—more to
familiarize himself with
his surroundings than
anything else, since he
knew that the Urdred
would catch
him eventually.
Each time, Valbryn
had him thrown
back in his cell
but did not punish
him beyond
that, since she was
becoming emotionally
attached
to the human
and she saw his
escape attempts