The Barrow

The Lich: Lady Seraphine

Background

Lady Seraphine was once a renowned archmage and scholar who delved too deeply into necromancy in her quest for eternal life. Her transformation into a Lich occurred over 300 years ago, following a forbidden ritual that granted her immortality but bound her spirit to the Whisper Wood.

Description

Lady Seraphine retains a semblance of her once noble bearing, with ethereal robes and a crown that symbolizes her former status. Her skeletal form is partially visible beneath her attire, and her eyes glow with an eerie, unnatural light.

Her Minions

• Spectral Guardians: Ghosts of fallen warriors who swore fealty to Seraphine in life and were bound to serve her in death.
• Necrotic Wildlife: Corrupted creatures of the forest, turned into undead beings through her dark magic.

- This includes a Zombie Bear, two skeletal Whisper Apes, and an actual Ghost Owl.

The Barrow and Its Secrets

Structure and Location

The barrow is located in the southeastern section of the Whisper Wood, cleverly concealed by ancient magics and the natural growth of the forest. It is a trio of domes made of brown clay, and they are covered in runes that pulsate with faint magical energy.

Haunting and Studies

Nature of Haunting

The barrow is said to be haunted due to the eerie sounds and ghostly apparitions that emerge at night, creating an atmosphere of dread and warning off the unwary. However, the real source of the haunting is Lady Seraphine's ongoing magical experiments.

Research and Purpose

Beneath the barrow, Lady Seraphine has established a vast underground library and laboratory where she studies the boundaries between life and death. Her primary research involves:

• Soul Transmutation: Exploring ways to manipulate and transfer souls between bodies, potentially creating a method to revive the dead without the corruption typically associated with necromancy.
• Eternal Youth: Investigating ancient texts and artifacts that promise methods to restore vitality and perhaps, one day, her human form.
• Ley Line Manipulation: The barrow is built at a convergence of ley lines, and she experiments with harnessing this power to amplify her spells and extend her reach beyond the confines of the Whisper Wood.

Role in the RPG

• Antagonist or Ally: Lady Seraphine can serve as a complex character in your game. While she might initially appear as a villain due to her undead nature and minions, her goals could align with the players’—especially if they seek to prevent a greater evil or need her knowledge to solve another mystery.
• Quests and Challenges: Players could be tasked with retrieving items from her library, negotiating with her for information, or confronting her to stop her experiments from causing unintended consequences.
• Mysteries to Uncover: Her barrow and its underground chambers offer a host of mysteries for players to uncover, filled with magical traps, ancient lore, and the ethereal remnants of her experiments.

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