Lerija Hailbane

Supreme Priestess or Priestess of Lies

I could easily be biased, but, as neighbours go, Thintos and its vile ruler are among the worst. Things were bad before the Supreme Priestess, or whatever it is she likes to call herself, took over, but we gnomes would rather things had stayed at that level. It's bad enough sharing a border with someone so cruel and ambitious, but you might be amazed at how much worse it gets when that person is also a religious zealot. It's a good thing she hasn't shown any interest in we gnomes. I can only hope that it stays that way.
-Orbri Cobbleshort, gnomish sage

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Lerija is in excellent physical condition, with a firmly muscled body and amazing stamina.

Facial Features

Her face is sharply angular, with high cheekbones and a slender nose. Her lips are slightly thin, and her cruel eyes are disconcerting to look at, even more so when she is angry.

Physical quirks

She spends a good deal of her energy on pacing, especially when deep in thought or when she is agitated. When agitated, she clenches her fists frequently, occasionally punching anyone who gets too close (and sometimes the wall if the agitation is strong or she grows angry).

Apparel & Accessories

She usually dressed practically, in leather pants and a simple tunic. However, when she addresses the other clerics or speaks to her citizens, she tends to wear far less to accentuate her physical attributes.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Lerija was born to a poor family in Enoriun. She had three older brothers, the oldest of whom took delight in tormenting her, the second barely acknowledging her existence, and the third, while treating her well, being far too weak in her mind to deserve her affection. Her older brother Galjos took over as head of the family when their parents died of illness. Lerija was 12 at the time, and within the year, he had not only banished her from their home, but sold her to the temple of Belial as a slave.
After three years of doing the bidding of the clerics, Lerija took steps to join their ranks. She had spent over a year learning all that she needed to please Belial, and went past the high cleric to appeal to Belial's avatar himself during one of his visits. This angered the high cleric, but it pleased Belial quite nicely to see someone so ambitious and determined to please him. She was quickly accepted as a cleric by Belial, this did not stop the other clerics from attempting to sabotage her efforts however they could. She survived numerous attempts to curb her ambition, only becoming stronger because of them.
When the higher-ranked clerics finally banished her to Thintos, she had built a network of spies, thieves, and assassins so intricate and far-reaching that she could not be easily stopped. When the inevitable happened and she took over leadership of the country, she only continued to build this, resulting in one of the most powerful and skilled intelligence networks on Bastarre.

Sexuality

The Supreme Priestess prefers men, although she occasionally finds herself drawn to women who are either quite attractive or intelligent.

Accomplishments & Achievements

She fought her way through the ranks of clerics in the temple of Belial that is located in the country of Enoriun. The more powerful clerics in the temple found her to be extremely cunning and ambitious, and as she advanced more quickly in the ranks, they began to feel anxious about the possibility of her taking over their positions. This resulted in them sending her to a less powerful and influential temple in Thintos, which was meant to discourage her, but only succeeded in pushing her harder to gain more power.
In the space of six years, Lerija had all but taken over the smaller temple. Those clerics she could not get rid of, she cowed into submission. This gained her the favour of Belial himself, who sent his avatar to bestow more power upon her. While this pleased her greatly, it did not dampen her enthusiasm, and she set her eyes on the throne of Thintos.
For two years, Lerija gathered allies and had sent spies all over to find objects of power as well as other people to join her cause. She also placed spies in the palace itself, and within another year, she had waged a revolution. It took just under seven months, but Lerija found herself upon the throne, and with this she set up the most powerful center of worship to Belial on Bastarre.
Upon being given the title by Belial himself of Supreme Priestess, Lerija indulged her petty nature and sent assassins after the two clerics in Enoriun who had given her the most trouble during her time there. Their shrunken heads now adorn the area above the door of her personal worship chamber.

Intellectual Characteristics

Her mind is quite strategic and calculating, able to spot the weaknesses in others as well as in plans. She is quite good at tests of logic and her greatest weakness is a near total lack of creativity.

Morality & Philosophy

She lives only to serve Belial and to gain him power and influence, with the pleasing side effect of gaining power herself through her actions. She expects total obedience from those who serve her and looks with great disdain on followers of other devils as well as the gods. She refuses to allow temples to anyone but Belial in Thintos, including even Belial's daughter Fierna.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Power is her only motivation, for both herself and the archfiend she serves.

Vices & Personality flaws

Lerija enjoys looking at attractive people, although is not as lustful as one might think. While she does have times when this flares up, she is often just content to look at those who please her. When she does have her more lustful moments, those she chooses to focus on often find themselves living out some nightmarish moments.
Nice things are also a weakness that Lerija indulges. She is quite lavish in her tastes, and her living quarters, as well as her personal temple and shrine, are decorated only with the best and most expensive decor. She collects rare and expensive jewelry and gems as well, which she enjoys flaunting to others.

Social

Mannerisms

She frequently flicks her long nails whenever she speaks with any emotion.

Speech

She usually speaks precisely, enunciating in such a way as to make sure that she is understood. This is often taken by others as her speaking down to them.

Alignment

Lawful Evil

Age

42

Birthplace

A small village in Enorium, not far from the capital of Creano.

Current Residence

Merathini, Thintos

Gender

Female

Eyes

Clear, no pupil. Center appears like a prism when the light hits it.

Hair

Black, waist-long, wavy. Usually worn tied back in a long ponytail.

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Burnt orange

Height

6'0"

Weight

155#