## Overview Satari is the second most powerful arcane caster within the Black Cloak Guild, a crimson-scaled tiefling sorceress whose name is whispered with equal parts fear and respect throughout South Angoria. Known as "The Undying Flame" for her seemingly endless resurrections, Satari has become a legend within the criminal underworld—a woman who has defied death itself multiple times and emerged stronger each time. ## Appearance Satari stands at average height with crimson skin that seems to shimmer with an inner heat. Her eyes burn with an amber glow that intensifies when she channels her draconic magic. Two elegant horns curve back from her forehead, and her long black hair often seems to dance with invisible flames. When she manifests her dragon wings, they spread wide with membrane the color of molten lava. She favors flowing robes that billow dramatically as she moves, and is never seen without her enchanted ring and cloak—the legendary **Ring of Satari** and **Cloak of Satari**, both granting her near-impenetrable magical defenses. A rod focus hangs at her side, and a **Bloodwell Vial +3** glows faintly at her chest, pulsing in rhythm with her heartbeat. ## Origins & Heritage Little is known of Satari's early life, and she guards those secrets jealously. What is known is that she carries the blood of red dragons in her veins—a heritage that manifests not just in her appearance, but in the devastating fire magic she commands. Some whisper that she made a pact with an ancient wyrm, while others claim she is the descendant of a dragon who walked in mortal form. Her infernal tiefling heritage compounds her draconic bloodline, creating a volatile mixture of hellfire and dragon's breath that makes her one of the most dangerous spellcasters in Solare. ## Rise Within the Black Cloaks Satari's entry into the Black Cloak Guild came during a time of upheaval. When Artimis Sky took control of the organization after his father's assassination, he recognized the need for powerful magical support to combat both the Dark Consortium and rival factions. Satari arrived at the Green Palace with a reputation already forged in fire—literally. She had burned down three rival establishments in a single night, leaving only ash and fear in her wake. Impressed by her raw power and tactical ruthlessness, Artimis brought her into the fold. However, Satari would quickly learn that raw power alone was not enough. Under the tutelage of **Venetia Youngorb**, the Black Cloaks' master wizard, Satari refined her abilities, learning not just to destroy, but to manipulate, control, and strategize. Today, she serves as Venetia's right hand and the guild's primary magical enforcer, handling threats that require more than mere steel and poison. ## The Battle Against the Heralds of Silver Satari's greatest claim to infamy came during her confrontation with the legendary **Heralds of Silver**, a band of renowned heroes who had been hunting Black Cloak operatives throughout South Angoria. When guild intelligence revealed that the Heralds were following a lead through the narrow pass between Twin Ridge Hills, Satari and several other high-ranking Black Cloaks saw an opportunity to eliminate the threat permanently. Satari orchestrated the ambush personally. Black Cloak operatives positioned themselves along both hillsides, ready to rain down death upon the Heralds as they passed through the killing field below. Satari herself waited further back with three other high-ranking members of the guild, holding the reserve and preparing her most devastating magic. The ambush began perfectly. The Heralds found themselves caught in a crossfire of arrows, spells, and alchemical explosives. But these were not ordinary adventurers—they were seasoned heroes who had faced worse odds. They fought their way through the initial wave with brutal efficiency, cutting down Black Cloak soldiers and pressing forward toward the source of the magical attacks. As the Heralds broke through the hillside positions and began advancing toward the rear guard, the three other high-ranking Black Cloaks made the calculated decision to withdraw. They had seen enough—these were not targets they could easily eliminate, and staying would mean certain death. They melted back into the hills, leaving Satari alone to face the approaching heroes. Some whisper it was cowardice. Others say it was pragmatism. Satari never spoke of it as betrayal—they had made the smart tactical choice. She had not. When the Heralds reached Satari's position, she unleashed hell itself upon them. **Meteor Swarm** after **Meteor Swarm** rained from the sky, turning the battlefield into a crater-marked wasteland of fire and devastation. The very earth shook with the force of her magic, and for a moment, it seemed the Heralds would be reduced to ash. But the Heralds of Silver had not earned their reputation by accident. Through coordinated tactics, healing magic, and sheer determination, they weathered the apocalyptic assault and closed the distance. In the brutal melee that followed, they focused everything on Satari, recognizing her as the primary threat. Despite her defenses, despite her draconic resilience, despite fighting with every ounce of her considerable power, the Heralds overwhelmed her. As Satari fell, her body broken and her magic depleted, the Heralds prepared to finish her. That's when her **simulacrum** revealed itself—a perfect magical duplicate that had been watching from the shadows, waiting for precisely this moment. With cold, calculated precision, the simulacrum threatened to unleash its remaining spells upon the exhausted Heralds unless they withdrew immediately and allowed Satari to be recovered. The Heralds, wounded and depleted from the battle, had no choice but to comply. They watched as the simulacrum carried Satari's unconscious form away into the hills, disappearing into hidden tunnels and safe houses. The ambush had failed, and Satari had faced the Heralds alone. But she had survived—barely. More importantly, she had learned. The next time she faced the Heralds of Silver, she would be ready. ## The Undying Legacy What makes Satari truly terrifying is not her power in battle, but her refusal to stay dead. Through careful planning and dark pacts, Satari has died at least **four times** and returned each time through cloning magic and necromantic resurrection. Her primary insurance comes from an alliance with the **Master of Necromancy** within [[the Wizards Conclave]]—a controversial arrangement that has earned her enemies even within supposedly neutral magical circles. Each time she falls, a clone awakens in a hidden sanctum, carrying all her memories and knowledge up to the moment the clone was created. She regularly updates these clones, ensuring that death is merely an inconvenience. This has made her nearly impossible to permanently eliminate, and her enemies have learned that killing Satari once only makes her more dangerous when she returns—because she remembers exactly how you killed her. ## Philosophy & Faith Satari is a devoted follower of **Enkell, God of Retribution and Magic**. Her faith is not one of temples and prayers, but of action and vengeance. She believes that magic is the ultimate tool of justice, and that those who wrong her or the guild must face consequences that echo through eternity. Her philosophy is simple: _"Power must be earned through survival, and survival demands sacrifice."_ She has little patience for weakness and views each death as a test she has passed. To Satari, there is no shame in falling—only in refusing to rise again. ## Relationships **Venetia Youngorb**: Satari's mentor and the only person in the Black Cloaks she truly defers to. Their relationship is complex—part teacher and student, part rivals pushing each other to greater heights. Venetia sees Satari as her greatest success and perhaps her future replacement. **Artimis Sky**: The Guildmaster. Satari respects his tactical mind and leadership, though she sometimes chafes at his political maneuvering. She is loyal to him, but that loyalty is pragmatic—he provides her with resources, protection, and purpose. **Brilenna**: Artimis's wife and occasional second-in-command. The two women have an understanding born of mutual respect. Brilenna's mastery of nature magic complements Satari's destructive power, and they have worked together on several operations. **Gramgarn**: The Iron Fist. While Gramgarn guards Artimis physically, Satari guards him magically. They rarely speak, but there is a silent acknowledgment between them—both are survivors, both are weapons, both will do whatever it takes. **The Heralds of Silver**: Even after her defeat, Satari harbors no particular malice toward them. To her, they were simply obstacles. However, should they cross paths again, she will not hesitate to finish what she started. **Ahria, the Witch of the North**: The one who bested her. Satari views Ahria with a mixture of respect and determination. She studies reports of Ahria's activities obsessively, preparing for an inevitable rematch. ## Current Activities Satari serves as the Black Cloaks' primary response to magical threats. When rival spellcasters interfere with guild operations, when supernatural creatures must be dealt with, or when the Dark Consortium deploys their own wizards, Satari is unleashed. She also oversees the guild's acquisition of magical artifacts and maintains the guild's defensive wards throughout the Green Palace and key Black Cloak holdings. Her network of informants keeps her apprised of magical developments throughout Solare, making her invaluable to Artimis's strategic planning. Rumors suggest she is currently searching for a way to make herself truly immortal—not through cloning, but through transformation into something beyond mortality entirely. ## Personality & Quirks - **Obsessive Planner**: Satari leaves nothing to chance. She has contingency plans for her contingency plans, and maintains detailed records of every spell, enemy, and tactic she encounters. - **Collector**: She hoards magical knowledge like a dragon hoards gold. Spell scrolls, arcane texts, and magical secrets are her true treasure. - **Dramatic Flair**: Despite her pragmatic nature, Satari has a theatrical streak. She enjoys making an entrance and crafting memorable displays of power. - **Fire Preference**: Even with access to diverse magic, Satari favors fire spells. There's something deeply satisfying to her about reducing problems to ash. - **No Tolerance for Incompetence**: She has little patience for those who fail repeatedly. In her eyes, everyone gets one chance to learn from their mistakes—after that, you're a liability. ## Hooks for Adventurers **Enemy**: If the party has crossed the Black Cloaks or interfered with their operations, Satari may be sent to deal with them. Killing her once won't be enough—they'll need to find and destroy her clone sanctums. **Uneasy Ally**: The party might need to negotiate with the Black Cloaks for information or resources. Satari could serve as their contact, a dangerous ally who keeps to the letter of any agreement while seeking advantages. **Rival**: For arcane-focused characters, Satari represents a challenge and a goal. Defeating her in magical combat would be a significant achievement—if they can manage it. **Quest Giver**: Satari might hire the party for tasks that require deniability or that fall outside the Black Cloaks' usual operations. She pays well but expects results. **The Clone Mystery**: Discovering the locations of Satari's clone sanctums could become a campaign unto itself, a race to permanently eliminate one of Solare's most dangerous spellcasters. ## Notable Quotes _"Death is just another lesson I've already passed."_ _"You can kill me. Many have. But I will return, and I will remember."_ _"Fire doesn't discriminate. It cleanses all equally—the guilty and the foolish."_ _"Enkell teaches that retribution is not about anger—it's about ensuring the scales stay balanced. You've tipped them. I'm here to correct that."_ _"My power isn't a gift. It's a debt paid in ash and blood, over and over again."_ --- ## Encounter Notes for DMs **Challenge Rating**: 20 **Combat Strategy**: Satari fights intelligently, using metamagic to maximize action economy. She'll twin _Haste_ on allies or herself, quicken powerful spells to maintain offensive pressure, and use _Counterspell_ liberally. Her defensive items make her difficult to hit, and she'll retreat strategically rather than fight to the death—she knows she'll come back. **Lair Actions**: When fought in the Green Palace or her personal sanctum, Satari can manipulate magical wards, create walls of fire, and trigger defensive glyphs. **Legendary Status**: As a CR 20 threat, Satari can take legendary actions, maintaining pressure even outside her turn. She's a boss-tier encounter meant for high-level parties. **Weakness**: Antimagic fields and abilities that prevent teleportation can neutralize many of her escape options. Destroying her Bloodwell Vial would significantly weaken her. Finding and destroying her clone sanctums is the only way to permanently kill her.