Anushree the Witch-Queen

Summary

Anushree was a queen of The Tiers who tried to become Empress through deception and treachery. After her father When that failed, she turned to the Black Arts and turned herself into a witch of terrifying power, able to kill hundreds with merely a touch of her hand. Her power ran unchecked for years until a brotherhood of paladins finally fought their way into her palace and defeated her.

But because the paladins would not shed royal blood, they built an Oubliette, an impenetrable and inescapable dungeon, where she was imprisoned for the rest of her life for her atrocities.

Historical Basis

Anushree was indeed a queen of The Tiers, but had no designs on the Imperial throne. After accompanying her father, King Vishal, on his fatal expedition to the Barrier Peaks, she alone escaped the disaster and returned to her Homeland. She never forgot her father, and was always convinced that he was still alive.

To solve the mystery of the king's death/disappearance, Anushree became a Reliqus like her father, joining the Arcanologist branch and rising quickly through the levels and testing. She also became a powerful mage, and discovered ways to channel Essence into some of the ancient relics that seemed to need such a power source to function.

Dean Curieux of the Arcanologists found the location of the SNS Shakti, the Samraaji relic that had claimed the life of Anushree's father. Curieux found that goblins seem to be immune to the effects of the bell-like object that laid waste to all others. He had the bell disconnected and brought back to Tiersward to study.

Dean Curieux noticed that the bell was no longer functional, and he convinced Anushree to use her magic to power the device. When she did, the bell activated and messily killed every human in the area and touched off a virulent disease that become known as The Philippian Plague.

Anushree was in the vicinity of the bell when it rang, and yet was unhurt by it. However, those around her began to die, even though they had no exposure to the bell. Hundreds did indeed die before Anushree realized that what was happening to them was her fault: her touch seemed to be deadly. Once she realized this, she called on her most faithful friends in the Reliquary to help her use a barely-understood relic--a device that seemed to heal disease.

Anushree was placed in the device and seemed to be instantly dehydrated and desiccated, gaining the appearance of a long-dead mummy. Worse, it was discovered that she was still infectious. Reluctantly, the Triumvirate decided to kill her, and all efforts were made to destroy her. All failed. Finally, the Dean of the Guardians, Prince Digory L'Intrepide, decided to build an oubliette to house her body and make sure Anushree's contagion would never continue to spread.