Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

.dark leather armor, and a deep crimson cloak. She
has shoulder-length hair the color of pale gold.
Personality: Cutter is power hungry, first and
foremost. In her pursuit of this, Cutter is ruthless.
She uses others only to advance her own goals. She
even strangled her sister to death and used her son to
help her toward her last, failed scheme. If she had
succeeded, she’d certainly have disposed of the boy
named Kellen, his use to her at an end. She also
deeply enjoys torture, not only for the information it
often provides, but for the act itself.
Cutter is also a woman who enjoys luxuries. She
looted Iriabor, keeping many expensive things to
make her life more comfortable before shipping the
rest off to the Zhents.
Locales Frequented: Iriaebor, Darkhold, and the
other Zhent strongholds (in the past).
History: Ravendas (as Cutter was called) journeyed
to Baldur’s Gate while young, where she
learned many martial skills. Her thirst for power led
her to Darkhold, where she petitioned for membership
in the Zhentarim. SEMEMMON gave her a task
that she ruthlessly completed. She rose quickly
through the ranks.
In about 1357 DR, Caledan, his lover and Cutter’s
sister Kera, and the rest of the Fellowship captured
Cutter (still calling herself Ravendas then)
after defeating her Zhentish army at Hluthvar. Left
alone with her sister Kera, Cutter convinced the
Harper of her regret and Kera unchained her sister.
Cutter then strangled Kera with the same chains
and escaped.
In 1363 DR, Cutter appeared and her Zhentish
forces brought her to power in the city of Iriaebor.
She was then able to control (and skim the profits
of) the trade routes that passed through the city.
She also began instituting more repressive laws
that were enforced by her Zhentilar as she proceeded
to strip the city of its valuables and its people, shipping
cargo and slaves east to her Zhentish superiors.
She kept a few favorite items for herself.
She had many slaves digging beneath the city,
seeking the crypt of the legendary evil, the
Shadowking. She sought a mysterious artifact that
she believed would empower her to enslave every
creature in Faerûn.
After many adventures (including the first encounter
with a SHADEVAR since ancient times) the
heroes were captured by Cutter and she brought
them to see her triumph, as the excavations were
complete. Her Lord Steward, Snake, betrayed her
though. A thief who had been transformed into a
shade by the consciousness of the trapped
Shadowking, he had only faked loyalty to Cutter. In
truth, he wished only to release his shadowy lord
from his imprisonment.
When Cutter grasped the evil artifact, the
Shadowking’s prison was broken, and the reborn
Shadowking erupted from her body, destroying it.
Motivations/Goals: Cutter wanted power and she
was willing to kill anyone to get it. While she was realistic
(as tyrants go), her appetite for power rivaled
that of the most insane powermongers. She was the
very picture of a high-ranking Zhentarim member.
Campaign Uses: If she’s encountered in your
campaign, it’s likely that Cutter is pursuing another
scheme somewhere in the Realms to bring her into
power somewhere, either as a member of the Zhentarim
or working on her own. Another possibility is
that she may try to advance herself further within
the hierarchy of the Zhentarim.
Sources: Crypt of the Shadowking, “The Walls of
Midnight.”
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