[Hourglass of Zihaja] Chapter 10: Adventuring

[Zeta Kai]

Sumehra

Quotes

• “How could you be so witless as to not know who I am?”
• “You shall pay dearly for your transgression, & I shall be amused by your anguish.”
• “Filthy peasant!”
• “Know your place, you lowly worm. You are nothing compared to me.”

Background
The lady Sumehra is the only child of Grand Emperor Aqram, supreme leader of the Ostazai Empire. Her father wanted a son as his heir, but it seems that no matter how many concubines, mistresses, & wives that he takes to his bed chamber, no woman will bear him another child. It is suspected that Sumehra may not even be his progeny, as she looks nothing like the emperor. But, regardless of her questionable pedigree, she is the princess & heir of Ostaz, & is treated accordingly.

Sumehra has been doted on & indulged her entire life, especially by her father, who genuinely loves her more than anything else in his entire dominion. She grew up having her every whim realized, & those who refused her would not live for long afterward. As a result, she has no patience or empathy for anyone, & she expects nothing but absolute perfection from everyone. She now serves (if that is the proper term) as her father’s personal liaison, a sort of imperial envoy, enforcer, & top agent.

Personality
It is said that if Sumehra has a heart, it is either frozen solid, or burns with wrath. She seems to have no love for anyone, not even the (disposable) suitors that she takes into her bed. She only tolerates her father, the emperor, because she has to respect him, & he is the only one who can reign in her wild excesses. Her petulance has a murderous edge, & she delights in the suffering of others. Her cruelty & malice are matched only by her duplicity; she is a master manipulator & habitual liar, almost never speaking the whole truth. Anyone who has ever trusted her has met an unfortunate fate soon after.

Appearance
Sumehra’s beauty is as cold as her personality. She has a slim, supple figure, & moves with the grace of a dancer. She has an extensive (& expensive) wardrobe, rarely wearing the same clothes twice. Her hair is always in some bizarre style, having been shaped & arranged by her ever-changing stable of hair dressers.

Goals
Sumehra is a scheming woman, one with a virtually-endless list of plots & intrigues tied to her in some fashion. She knows that one day she will become empress (something that many citizens dread even more than Aqram’s continued rule), but she would prefer to make that day come sooner. She is, therefore, attempting to assassinate her father, but only via means that cannot be traced back to her. She has also been working for years to ensure that no woman will give her father another heir. This has even involved disposing of Aqram’s mates who were possibly pregnant with his child.

She is working to undermine Jaruq Azmar, the Imperial Overseer of the Mamluqai Annexation, who she believes in disloyal to the empire. She is also searching for a suitable mate, one who is powerful enough to be a valuable asset, & of a like mind, but not so much that he would resist her control or overpower her. This search has been long & difficult, with many potential suitors having met their premature end. And, in an official capacity, she is now working to expand the empire’s territory, laying siege to neighboring settlements & organizing forces to seize lands beyond the Nizal Peninsula. Unlike Jaruq, who is planning to invade the inland area of Raqam, she would prefer to strike along the southern coasts, toward the city of Dajajah.

Combat Tactics
Sumehra is a furious warrior, a whirling, spinning, twirling frenzy of death. Despite her father’s wishes, she enjoys being the thick of battle, as it affords her the chance to personally inflict pain & death on others up-close. She fights with either an icy ruthlessness or a searing rage, depending on her temperament. She prefers to keep her distance from her foes so that she can use her trident to its greatest effect. She will only brandish her dagger if her enemies are less than 10’ away from her. She will order her subordinates to fight with her, but mostly so that they will grant her sneak attack opportunities. She rarely employs her Warrior’s Prayer, but she does use her Whirl of Blades as often as possible.

3E Stats

Spoiler

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RACE: Human (Ostazai) female
CLASS: Aristocrat 1/Rogue 5/Dervish 2**
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Evil
DEITY: Johoum (Taj al-Caliph)
SIZE: Medium
AGE: 21 (born 334 AF)
HEIGHT: 5’1”
WEIGHT: 109 lbs.
EYES: Green
HAIR: Black
LANGUAGES: Alhaggi, Archaic, & Common
HIT DICE: 8+5d6+2d10 (36HP)
INITIATIVE: +4
SPEED: 30’
ARMOR CLASS: 21 (+4 Dex, +6 armor, +2 dodge); touch 15; flat-footed 16
BASE ATTACK BONUS: +5
GRAPPLE BONUS: +6
ATTACK: +7 Shock Trident (1d8+2, ×2, 10’ range increment, piercing) or +7 Dagger (1d4+2, 19-20/×2, 10’ range increment, piercing or slashing)
FULL ATTACK: +7/+2 Shock Trident (1d8+2, ×2, 10’ range increment, piercing) or +7/+2 Dagger (1d4+2, 19-20/×2, 10’ range increment, piercing or slashing)
SPACE/REACH: 5’/5’
SAVING THROWS: Fortitude +5, Reflex +10, Will +9
ABILITIES:

• Strength 13 (+1)
• Dexterity 19 (+4)
• Constitution 11 (+0)
• Intelligence 14 (+2)
• Wisdom 11 (+0)
• Charisma 12 (+1)

SKILLS: 86 points

• Bluff +12
• Hide +9
• Intimidate +12
• Knowledge (Religion) +8
• Move Silently +15
• Sense Motive +11
• Sleight of Hand +15
• Tumble +15
• Use Magic Device +10

FEATS: Avoidance**, Dodge, Iron Will, Treacherous**
WEAPON:

• +1 Shock Trident (8,315gp, 1d8+2, ×2, 10’ range increment, 4 lbs., piercing)
• +1 Dagger (2,302gp, 1d4+2, 19-20/×2, 10’ range increment, 1lb., piercing or slashing)

ARMOR: +2 Silent Moves Studded Leather (7,925gp, +5, maximum dexterity bonus +5, check penalty -0, 15% AFC, speed 30’, 20lbs.)
EQUIPMENT:

• 1,858gp
• Bracers of Armor +1 (1,000gp)
• Cloak of Resistance +1 (1,000gp)
• Gloves of Dexterity +2 (4,000gp)
• 2 Potions of invisibility (600gp)

CLASS FEATURES:

• Sneak Attack: +3d6.
• Trapfinding.
• Evasion.
• Trap Sense +1.
• Uncanny Dodge.
• Warrior’s Prayer +1.
• Whirl 1/day.
• Smite.
• Burning Smite.
• Zeal.