Vampire Dossier: Lucretia (Nymeria/Alica Doyle/Aerwyn/Lady Shade)

Authored by: Atticus Stratlace

IMPORTANT NOTE!

The real name of this creature has been revealed to be Lucretia!

Other known Aliases are
*Lady Shade
*Alica Doyle
*Nymeria Moonsinger
*Aeryn

In the interest of time and effort, I will not be editing out each mention of the above name, as it can be important to know under what alias she did what. Subsequent editions may work to be clearer.

Overview:

Creature of many faces, ‘Lady Shade’s’ real name is, as of the writing of this dossier, unknown. A vicious and vile creature, who relishes in bringing misery to others, and manipulating them for her own ends. Whilst not apparently seductive like some, she does have a knack for manipulation and gathering thralls. As of the time of this writing, I believe she has quite the cult.

She is a very cunning creature this, and extremely dangerous.

Often in this dossier I will refer to ‘Lady Shade’ as ‘Nymeria’ – This may change in later editions.

Other name is ‘Alica Doyle’ – more names to be added as they appear.

Description:

Given her nature, it is difficult to provide an accurate description of this woman. However during her period in Cordor cells, and after when she was cut down, I did get a good look at her.

She appears as a female human, with long dark brown hair reaching to her mid back. She is pail skinned and tall. Her hair is swept back behind her ears, with two strands hanging out in front as a fringe. She has black tattoos on her for-arms.

When I saw her as ‘Lady Shade’ she wore a long black coat, buckled at the front. She had tall black boots, and a mantel of black fur around her shoulders, her sleeves were wide but short, showing her fore-arms, and she wore black gloves.

In her Nymeria disguise, she walked around hooded, masked, with black trousers, white shirt and a red overcoat.

Alica’s appearance is similar to Lady Shade’s.

Another disguise – this apparently a pink mask and outfit, was reported by one of her thralls. The name to that disguise is not known.

As of the writing of this dossier, she was attuned to Water.

History:

According to the creature herself, she was once a thief in Westcliff, part of a group. Stealing from the rich to feed the poor (she mentions an impoverished, mordaryn addicted mother) or that was the dream, anyway.

Her escapades ended one night when upon breaking into a noble home, she came face to face with a Vampire. Her friends fled as she was drunk dry by the creature, and turned into one of their own.

She lived for between one and two centuries as a spawn of the creature, it’s slave, until it was slain (she neither knows nor cares how.) Upon it’s death she gained freedom, and sought out vengeance against the friends who had abandoned her, or their decedents by this time.

This crusade took her to Skal, following one (male, nothing else known) who had travelled there.

It was there she began to build her ‘Cult’.

The exact order of their gathering is unknown to me, but each were either confronted or rescued, and offered assistance or power or aid in return for servitude, which in all but Katya’s case she enforced by enthralment.

In brief summery:

Katya Volkova was ‘rescued’ from a Thayan master, and (after having been fed from) was gifted a tongue by Nymeria. She then assisted her in making a blade of terrible power called the Named Death (See attached notes for more details of this). Whilst Katya resisted any attempts at enthralment, she was controlled primary through the tongue, and the sword. She has as of the writing of this had her tongue replaced.

Cyali and Baelira- A Thayan ship (same as Katya’s? Unknown) crashed on Skal and she and her sister survived the waters to wash up on shore. They were ‘rescued’ by Nymeria, and she promised them power and aid. They assisted her and were both enthralled. Both are tieflings (and do not have reflections) – Cyali is an enchantress, skilled in memory manipulations.

Ed Mayer (Also Eduard Helbrecht) – Rescued by Nymeria, and brought into the group. At first their presence was welcoming, then one day he was summoned to Cyali’s room – he was cornered by Nymeria, who fed from him, enthralled him, and then ordered Cyali to cast a geas on him such that he could not speak of his enthralment or her feedings. He was also forced to lock away several of his abilities (he is a hemomancer) and such like.

Whilst he did try to resist her in small ways, giving hints about his situation – it was only after her discovery he was rescued.

All the above have since received assistance and treatment and are not as of the writing of this, believed to be under her power.

Also in her cult were Nicholas Silenyef and Haruka - The former has not been seen for some time. The latter is believed to be her body double, a bard of some skill at disguising, also female, also human, also attuned to water. She has not been seen in some time apparently either.

After Skal – Nymeria came came to the mainland with her cult, and set herself up primarly in Guldorand, though likely using her alter ego, Alica Doyle, elsewhere (the underdark I theorize).

She came to my attention when a constable, Aedan, noted her curious behaviour. Also on the look out for Vampires, Aedan became susspicious when she was asking about me.

This incident, along with the discovery she had through resource loopholes, embezzled several hundred thousand from the Guldorand Treasury, meant I had my eye on her for a while. It was brought to my attention how besotted Ed was with her, that she was (almost) never seen in daylight, that she was always covered, that at least one of her close friends (Cyali) always wore bindings one her neck and wrists.

All coincidental, and may have come to nothing until Nymeria got bold, and started attacking Cordor.

She went after one Dandi Barnes in Cordor, terrorizing her and the lotus for a while. First drinking from Dandi, then trying to gain access to the Lotus then – when that would not work, drugging the poor woman into a terrible, hallucinogenic state. (Please see atatched docment from Dandi Barnes, as well as the Cordor reports for more details on this incident).

I took note of the description of this woman, especially the blade she wielded, and compared it to reports of Nymeria – they fit well. I went to Katya with it and she opened up to me, telling me about – amongst other things – the terrible blade Nymeria had.

I went to the Lotus to share my findings with those there, and as I was there Nymeria – then under her disguise as ‘Lady Shade’ was scried as she attacked a citizen of Cordor.

The guards rushed to apprehend her, and she was defeated and taken to a Cordor Jail, where she weas interrogated. The Named Death was taken off her and put into Cordor custody, until it was later transferred to Myon.

Though Nymeria (Or Lady Shade as she appeared) was apparently destroyed in the barracks, she returned due to unholy magics. However, her secret was out and her thralls were able to receive the aid they needed.

Alas, The Named Death was stolen from Myon not long after it’s retrieval and is now once more in Nymeria’s hands.

As of the writing of this dossier, Nymeria is currently trying to terroize Guldorand. No longer able to feed on Cordorians, Nymeria has turned her attention to Guldorand – demanding that Katya provides her with the blood of Guldorand nobles in a goblet.

Other points:

*As mentioned, Lucretia uses at least one other person as a ‘body double’ – a female human, attuned to water. The key way to tell which is which is Lucretia is taller.

*She has boasted that her coffin is hidden somewhere, insinuating that is the only means to destroy her. Given the source though I very much doubt this.

*Apparently has a hatred of water.

*Seems to very much prey on the weak, both physically and mentally. Terrorizing in some cases, but just as often deceiving or offering gifts or bargains. Is certainly not afraid of using domination spells.

*As of this writing was apparently wanting to learn infernal.

*Was reported, at least at one point, to live in Dis, in the Ruzium.

*Has meddled with Hellfire (see description of the Sword) the infernal connection here is strong.

*Has made deals with Rakshasa to ‘taste their blood’ – she seems something of a gourmet, keen on tasting different things.

*Her favourite is apparently noble blood and/or Hemomancer blood

*A brilliant alchemist- experimenting with poisons and narcotics.

*Ran the ‘Sunset Merchant Consortium’ through her thralls. Did not own any shops herself – likely to keep her name off any signs. If she has property, she likely takes care that it is not open.

*Also has wielded a black dagger, or two black daggers.

*Is good at being stealthy, and at disguising herself, and other similar skills. She has not – as of the writing of this dossier – shown to have much in the way of magical ability.

*Apparently was known to pickpocket people.

*I believe she may own a ‘Cracked Divination Mirror’ which enables her to detect sometimes when she is being scried upon. I think she may have received this at some point from Ed – but this is pure speculation.

*Is repelled by garlic, finds it repulsive but is not stopped by it.

*Does not require permission to enter a home.

*Apparently she sometimes takes the name of those she kills, thus we can presume that the original ‘Nymeria Moonsinger’ was one of, or the decendent of, the group of thieves that betrayed her. Likewise ‘Alica Doyle’

*She has the skull of ‘Alica Doyle’ and the journal of ‘Nyermia Moonsinger’ – suggesting she takes trophies from some of her victims.

*Does not possess any magical capacity and is vulnerable thus to the spell Hold Undead.

*Appears to be working with the (possible Vampire?) Lazarus, of the Banite Church. In what capacity is not entirely known.

*Harukia (ex thrall not seen for a long time) was also a lycantrhope.

Addendum on Month 7 184

Since the writing of the above, the following points are to be observed.

*Lucretia started to hunt the sewers of Guldorand, attacking people and slaughtering the Kenku who lived there, and raising them as Vampires themselves- Vampire Spawn.

*She demanded the blood of Guldorand nobles to stop this depredation.

*Due to the ongoing crisis in Minmir I felt we were unable to fight a war on two sides. So, in an attempt to learn more and trap the creature, I volunteered a portion (one cup) of my blood to be given to the creature – especially important as my blood is both Hemomantic and Noble – which she favours. This bought us one months respite. I had at the time intended to trap the deal, but was unable to do so.

*She required a second deal a month later. This time demanding a keg in return for sparing my wife (Antigony Stratlace) for a month. After some hard haggling I managed to get her to agree to two months of sparing both Antigony, and Guldorand. The keg to be delivered at the end of the first month, buying further peace for a second month.

*After consulting with the sheriff, Eshima, it was agreed that this bargain could not go through. After some experimenting, I was able to trap the keg with a virulent fungal infection, and delivered the keg to her in that state.

*The Infection did take, maiming one hand. However it was not as successful as I’d hoped, and she was able to get another hemomancer to purge it from her blood.

*A final note on this – even should the Sheriff have ordered me to continue the deal in good faith, this would have been the last delivery. It was quickly evident the creature would want more and more. The only reason to gather information, set up the trap, and buy time for the Minmir situation to be concluded.

*Around this time I discovered the name of the creature- Lucretia. The intent was to use it quietly for a month or two to gain information, then become public. However, subsequent events prevented this.

*Meanwhile my friend and college Kethra Negal was being approached by a woman who called herself Aerwyn. I was scrying for the name Lucretia and saw Kethra with her under this guise. I managed to draw her away and explained to Kethra the direness of the situation, and that I knew her name. I did ask Kethra to refrain from telling anyone for a while.

*Unfortunately Kethra seemed to decide that ‘anyone’ did not include the Vampire herself. When ‘Aerwyn’ (Lucretia) visited her clinic, she both assisted her in healing her hand and informing her that her real name was known. ‘Aerwyn’ then invited Kethra on one ‘last night time walk’ to which Kethra accepted.

*That evening Kethra attempted to gather a ‘kill party’ using herself as bait to destroy the Vampire, but was unuccessful. I sensed that it was almost certainly a trap and would not attend. I tried to talk her out of it but in the end she was talked out of it by Osric. (Curiously, she informed others in Guldorand that being a bait was /my./ idea some how? This is entirely untrue. The idea was entirely hers and I have, at every juncture, said it was terrible.)

*A threeday after that she went missing, and it is then she is believed to have been kidnapped by Lucretia.

*As of the most recent reports, her head has been shaved, to render her unrecognisable and she is collared in the underdark, it is believed that Lucretia is using a mechanism in Stregabor’s home, Ironstag Enterprises in Greyport, to drain Kethra (and others?) of blood. As Kethra is noble born her blood is potentially very nutritious.

*Scriars have been unable to locate either Kethra or Lucretia. Given they are apparently still active, and given that as far as I know, Lucretia has no method bar invisability wands to shroud herself, and given that at least some locations (the home) are not likely innately warded, I can only presume that Kethra (who is an abdurer) is the one providing these wards.

*Final note -I suspect that Kethra wasn’t enthralled before her capture, she certainly is now. She is a Favoured Soul of Sune and extremely beautiful and captivating, able to be very persuasive. Whilst I have nothing but sorrow and sympathy for her situation, and strongly hope she can be aided in this, extreme caution needs to be taken when discussing ANYTHING with her. One can already see how just a few small words how much damage she was able to cause before her enslavement. Be very careful.

UPDATE for Month 5 185 AR

*General information – Lucretia has since moved from the Treadstone to the Iron Citadel in the Abyss. Which itself is owned by Zhozzad. She has allegedly gained a title in this, ‘First Lady.’ Most of her covern has moved here. Zhozzad is the current leader of the sharps and is allegedly in alliance with the half orc mercenary Barashava Deathstrike.

*For a time she had a presence in Sibiyad, even a position of some power. However the Merchant Leauge informed the Vizir she was not allowed to have Lucretia act as an advisor due to being a Vampire. Since her removal her presence has been less, though she still moves freely there. One of her Coven members, the Fey’Ri Assassin Gwynnestri owns the Aftermath Club. An exclusive invite only club in the pool area of the Menzil building. Not much has been done with this lately and coven members apparently are rarely seen in Sibiyad at present, her attention perhaps having moved back towards the Underdark.

*Her Coven has expanded, with two new slaves. One Drowess named Vaksiira (who is tasked with giving her 15000 gold per cycle) and a dark haired Tiefling named Bellatrix. The slave Zerich has apparently left her service and the isle. Vestelle remains in her service, but is no longer enslaved.

*She has made an alliance with the vampire Belle’rose, who seems to be subservient to her. They are often seen together, especially in Sibiyad.

*Apparently one of her old servants, Nicholai (also known as Gregory) has made a reappearance, and has resumed working for her. Not much is known about him, but he is capable of applying hexes, like a Harbringer.

*Shortly after Kethra’s disappearance there was a lot of other kidnappings. These numbered: Vestelle (According to her), Seraphiel (dominated and forced into a prisoner collar, then held for a time and tortured. (See attached note on that) Paislee Meadows (kidnapped but freed after a few days) Eduard Helbreicht (Kidnapped, forced into an awful ritual, but released to Akorea)

*On Kethra – Kethra started to spread vile lies through those helping her about others on the surface. When this was called out, she seemed to abandon her slave collar, and started blatantly working for Lucretia. She was caught and executed in Cordor, but brought back by the grace of Sune (or whatever god she truly worshipped.) Shortly after that she approached Siefried Crane, an old flame of hers, and with Lucretia persuaded him to murder his brother, Chancellor Adamein Crane, in vengeance for her own execution. This he did. Shortly after this, Kethra was attacked by assassins leaving Lucretia’s home in Treadstone, and assassinated. Her death seems to have been permanent.

*Seraphiel was dominated by Lucretia, collared and held by her for a time, with interest put into how to corrupt her. Eventually, after fighting ‘the Beast’ in ‘The Cage.’ she delivered a cursed mirror made by Eduard Helbrecht and Paislee Meadows in an attempt to bind Lucretia and force her demise after retrieving her coffin. Seraphiel delivered the mirror and then fled. Please see attached paper for more details of this aspect. Shortly after her release, Eduard persuaded her to rejoin Lucretia as a spy, staging an attack on him as the excuse. Seraphiel did this, and spied on her a bit, until Eduard was captured.

*Eduard was attacked by Lucretia in his home in Guldorand and was subsequently kidnapped. While knew Vama was a spy for Lucretia, but had hoped to use him to get to Lucretia, unfortunatly things did not work out that way. Eduard was brought to Lucretia’s lair in the Treadstone and bound in chains and was imprisoned there for approximately five days before he was dragged to the Obsidian Tower in Andunor, where they performed a ritual to break the mirror curse on Lucretia and reflect it back on Eduard. After Lucretia was freed from Eduard’s curse, they released him to Akorae, highly traumtaized from his experience. Lost and afraid of the effects of the ritual, Eduard decided to stay in Andunor for some time, as he was concerned he was a threat to his friends and allies above.

Since then he seems to have made a recovery and now lives in Sibaydad where he is an aid to the Grand Diplomat and manages the bar and catering business. Some still cast doubt on his intentions and loyalty however.

Finally – It should be noted that during his capture, Seraphiel and Aellfric had an argument with Lucretia and both left her coven, as did Averice, the Tiefling.

*Vestelle claims that she was attacked by Lucretia in Guldorand some time ago. Though the two knew each other since their time in Skal. Apparently to gain vengeance on the Vampire, she tried to get close to her and offered to spy for her on the Eagle and Eduard. However her spying was discovered and she fled into the underdark, where she took up the slave collar for protection. She still serves Lucretia and is enthralled to he. She is very loyal to Lucretia and refuses to leave her side.

*During this time Lucretia tried a few assassination attempts on myself, both of which were thwarted. There has been none I’ve known about since.

*I held a lecture around the third month of 185 in Cordor, Lucretia and Vestelle disguised, but were seen and caught by the guards. Vestelle escaped but but Lucretia was captured and taken to the cells. She was starved of blood, then executed with her head severed, her body burned, placed in a coffin and sealed, holy water added, and then thrown into the sea by the Guard.

*Alas, she seems to have recovered from this. Last reports suggest that upon returning (unknown how) she was ravenously hungry and attacked several of her thralls and servants, until a slave was brought to her to feed on. Said slave was almost killed by the process. Several of her coven (such as Vama who tried to get between her and her food, and was severely injured in the process) were injured during her violent outburst. For a time she was placed in shackles to recover.

*On the 17th of the Fifth month of 185AR she was encountered again by the Cordor guards, along with Vestelle and her slave Bellatrix. A fight ensued and she was defeated (though she may return I expect) and the two followers captured, but later escaped/were released.

IMPORTANT update for Month 7 186AR.

After her defeat at Red Dragon Isle, she went dormant for a time, then entirely left the isle, releasing home, property and slaves. For a period of almost a year she was not seen or heard then, on: (see report) she returned and was back to her old tricks, attempting to coerce Cordor into giving the blood of it’s nobles in return for refraining to hunt Cordor’s streets.

The most notable part of her return is that she seems to have completely changed skill-sets. Previously she could best be described as a scoundrel, a rogue, a knave – skilled in stealth, disguise, and pickpocketing. Upon her return she has shown clerical abilities. Able to read holy powers, she has been able to raise the dead and manage other blessings and such as Divine Favour and Spell Resistance, forsaking blade for staff. The source of these powers is not yet known, but she does carry a large book about her person, which may yield some clues if investigated.

She is known to reside once more in the Treadstone locks. She has at least one slave, a one eyed human female named Mabel.

She still keeps a stash of blood in kegs, and still has a machine she uses to drain people of their blood for later storage. She has captured and used this machine on at least one person since her return, and has likely used it on others.

She is known to work with the Vampire Annia Von Lichtenstadt and has been referred to by Annia as a ‘close ally.’

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Lucretia has been known as a variety of names. These aliases Include:

Lady Shade
Alica Doyle
Nymeria Moonsinger
Aeryn.

Not all these names were known at the time of writing of all this dossier, but when mentioned they do refer to the being who’s real name is Lucretia.

Further More!

Between her disappearance mid 185-186 she has gained new abilities, now able to wield clerical powers. It is unknown how this will effect her other powers of skulduggery, or where her divine magic comes from but please keep this in mind.