Her Infernal Majestrix
The Thrice-Damned House of Thrune brought order to a bleeding and chaotic nation, ending the Chelaxian Civil War in 4640 ar, but its scions could never maintain order
among their own. While the nation submitted to a stringent and brutal law enforced by the Hellknights, House Thrune and its allies churned through intrigues and sabotage
behind closed doors. Abrogail Thrune II, future queen of Cheliax, was born in 4692 ar, and named by her mother to invoke the power and longevity of her own grandmother, Queen Abrogail I, whose three decades of rule were legendary. However, as each of the five monarchs to wear the Crown of Infernal Majesty, including Abrogail I, met with untimely ends, Abrogail II learned early to trust nothing—nothing except Hell. Abrogail’s devotion to Asmodeus began early, out of necessity amid the turmoil of a home life marked by scheming diabolism, or perhaps from comprehending that,
like all Thrunes, she was already damned. It’s said that Asmodeus himself responded by sending a winged devil, Contessa Lrilatha (LE female erinys), to tutor her. Young
Abrogail quickly proved herself to be remarkably smart and even more devious, training with her inborn magical ability to become a powerful sorcerer in a few short years. Charismatic and visually striking, Abrogail mastered the art of manipulating others for her own gain. Abrogail would occasionally appear to be caught up in a
romance or taken with a new celebrity, but such fancies were never unmotivated. The calculations behind all of her actions, even in adolescence, were in the name of power. But, in House Thrune, power is the only means to ensure survival. When yet another tragic death ended the reign of Infrexus Thrune in 4709 ar,
Abrogail became the infernal majestrix, absolute ruler of Cheliax, at 17 years of age. Her word carries the full weight of law, although it is far from immutable. In fact, she
frequently changes her mind and has her former edicts erased from the books of Chelaxian history; overnight, even the direst decrees become outdated and are no longer enforced. Keenly aware of her reputation as being immature, capricious, and demanding, Abrogail cleverly
uses this image to keep those who underestimate her off-balance. Yet she controls the fractious noble houses and byzantine bureaucracy of
Cheliax predominantly through fear. Against those who offend her personally, her favorite punishment is petrification—an eternity in stone under her watchful eye in the Imperial Palace.
These ornamental traitors further serve to remind every visitor, courtier, slave, and fiend of the majestrix’s supreme authority. Even so, Abrogail’s rule has faced stronger challenges to Cheliax than any since her great-grandmother’s reign. Abrogail I saw the rebellions of the vassal states of Andoran and Galt; Abrogail II has fought against rebellions in Ravounel and Westcrown, with mixed results. While her forces stamped out the so-called Glorious Reclamation in Westcrown, Abrogail was forced to cede independence to Ravounel, and has failed to reclaim the former colony of Vidrian, which she still petulantly calls Sargava. These defeats are a still-festering wound as she ceaselessly contemplates how to extend her influence in the Inner Sea region.
Bloody Reprisals
Though Abrogail’s recent defeats have emboldened some of her enemies, those dissidents who operate in and around Cheliax are keenly aware these setbacks have bruised the queen’s ego more than her power. Though forced to accept Ravounel’s independence, Abrogail’s victory in Westcrown was far more significant than many realize. In addition to creating the Inferno Gate, a portal to Hell that has allowed Cheliax to summon legions of devils
to serve at the queen’s command, Abrogail’s agents also crushed the powerful warriors of good that fought in the Glorious Reclamation. Terrified citizens whisper ofthe souls and bodies of dead champions and celestials given over to the lords of Hell, and of more terrifying fates awaiting prisoners taken alive: sale to the shadow-sworn land of Nidal. Worse yet are tales of the queen offering refugees from the Gravelands safety if they agree to sign contracts of indentured servitude, then trading these contracts to Nidal’s priests of Zon-Kuthon in exchange for unknown favors.
Abrogail’s most recent triumph was seizing the opportunity to massacre the church of Iomedae in Egorian for “seditious activity.” In a proclaimed act of solidarity against Tar-Baphon, Abrogail offered the clergy a sign of her good will: Heart’s Edge, the sword that Iomedae wielded before ascending to godhood, which Abrogail had claimed as spoils of war from the Glorious Reclamation. Yet a subtle trap in the legal conditions for the exchange tricked Iomedae’s faithful into inadvertently breaking the agreement and thereby committing treason, giving Abrogail free reign to slaughter them with the sword of their own goddess. The queen likewise executed those church members brave enough to speak out in protest, and she keeps the sword as a trophy by the side of her throne, still coated in the dried blood of Iomedae’s servants.
While Cheliax’s capital of Egorian is firmly under Abrogail’s thumb, the Order of the Scourge Hellknights, led by Lictor Toulon Vidoc, are a notable exception. During the rapid successions of previous Thrune monarchs, these Hellknights took the opportunity to consolidate a good deal of power throughout the city. Abrogail has often faced opposition from the Order of the Scourge, and now Lictor Vidoc is investigating the recent turmoil in Cheliax.
Vidoc earnestly believes that Abrogail contributed to the recent rebellions, and perhaps even staged them for her own political or financial gain. Infuriated by the mere suggestion, and especially enraged by what she sees as Vidoc’s swaggering arrogance, Abrogail has contacted Jakalyn of the Red Mantis assassins. Jakalyn responded by publicly announcing her assassins would eliminate certain targets that remain untouchable through normal political channels. This isn’t the only time Jakalyn has contacted Abrogail. The queen recently contacted the Red Mantis with a request to eliminate the Rahadoumi healer Kassi Aziril.
Deeply offended by Kassi’s godless philosophies and concerned that they will attract adherents in Cheliax, Abrogail declared Kassi blasphemous against Iomedae and Asmodeus. But to Abrogail’s surprise, Jakalyn reached out and informed the queen she had voided the contract. Taking things into her own hands, Abrogail issued a public excruciation order—a process of public torture and humiliation (and in some cases, execution)—against Kassi, should she be found inside Cheliax at any time.
Abrogail also has standing excruciation orders for Magdelena and Martum Fallows and any of their operatives in the Bellflower Network or their allies among the Firebrands, such as the Sapphire Butterfly. The two organizations’ efforts to free Chelaxian halflings from slavery is a constant thorn in Abrogail’s side, reminding her of the limits of her power and of the dissidents who challenge her rule.
The Bellflower Network is headquartered in Andoran, where it receives support from that country’s abolitionist citizens; Andira Marusek, Andoran’s current leader, has refused to extradite any Bellflower Network operatives or liberated slaves. In response, Queen Abrogail recently placed an army of devils on the eastern borders of Cheliax, responding to Andoran’s outrage by claiming the army is meant to defend the people of Cheliax from the forces of the Whispering Tyrant. Andira’s contempt for Abrogail’s blatant intimidation tactic is obvious, and Abrogail returns Andira’s hatred, leaving open war between the nations closer than ever.
Infernal Contracts
Many devils enter into magical contracts with mortals to provide supernatural powers in exchange for their souls. Abrogail Thrune II is one of the few mortals empowered by Asmodeus himself to enter into such contracts with other mortals. Each of these Thrune contracts provide specific benefits and drawbacks. Little negotiation goes into a Thrune contract; Abrogail insists that prospective bargainers take her terms or go elsewhere (often, to Egorian’s excruciation fields). Thrune contracts must be willingly signed by Abrogail and the other signatory. The process involves creation of two copies of the contract, one retained by Abrogail and one by the other signatory. The effect of a Thrune contract is that of a magic item with the contract trait. The item has no physical substance and can’t be dispelled, altered, or destroyed except by destroying both copies of the contract. A Thrune contract is automatically invested and counts toward a character’s limit of 10 invested items—all Thrune contracts therefore have, as part of their cost, a fraction of the bargainer’s ability to use other magic items. Abrogail, however, can enter into any number of Thrune contracts without restriction, and some believe she is even siphoning the other parties’ investiture to increase her own. Once invested, Thrune contracts aren’t
visible—even though their effects can be—although anyone who has one is constantly aware of its presence. If a creature dies while it has a Thrune contract invested, its soul is consigned to Hell and it can’t be restored to life unless its soul is freed.
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