Karas Chembryl

Assassin Heir to a Sinister Legacy

After the death of patriarch Fzoul Chembryl, House Chembryl and its descendants were scattered across Faerûn. Some members have dutifully continued the family's dedication to Bane, while others have sought to free themselves from that god's malignant shadow. However, none have embraced the Chembryls' tyrannical legacy more than Karas Chembryl, a ruthless assassin whose devotion to the gods Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul has earned her the title Auspice of the Dead Three.

History. Karas was born to a distant branch of the Chembryl family living in Waterdeep. Though that side of the family had long since abandoned service of Bane, Karas began to exhibit signs of that god's blessing: a callous silver-tongue, an unnaturally intimidating presence, and an affinity for occult magic. Out of fear, Karas's parents discouraged her from using her gifts, hiding their family's history and pressuring the girl toward a pretense of normalcy.
Restless and dissatisfied with her life, Karas fell in league with the Zhentarim. When her surname sparked recognition among the elder Zhents, she began researching her lineage, eventually uncovering the stories of Fzoul Chembryl. Karas grew furious at her family for hiding the truth and embraced her gifts as a scion of Bane.
Within a few years, Karas became a fearsome assassin and high-ranking member of the Zhentarim. Her travels across Faerûn led her to uncover Bane's relationship with Bhaal and Myrkul. Feeling kinship with the oft-maligned gods, Karas pledged herself to the Dead Three. She now operates primarily out of Baldur's Gate, where she strives to uncover remnants of Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul's might hidden in and around the bustling city.
Using Karas Chembryl. Karas Chembryl is a solid choice for a final villain in a low-level Baldur's Gate campaign or in any campaign centered around the Dead Three or the Zhentarim. Characters might hear about her atrocities, seek out information about her unsavory connections, and then battle through cultists and Zhentarim defenders to confront her.
In a longer campaign, Karas might be a mid-campaign threat who maintains a delicate relationship with other fervent followers of the Dead Three, such as the powerful cultists presented in this chapter. A Dead Three Scion, also presented in this chapter, might be the mastermind in such a campaign, manipulating Karas and others to topple civilization into wickedness.
Personality. Ruthless and fiercely independent, Karas craves power in all its forms. She wields her words with the same cunning as she does her blades, frequently luring opponents into underestimating her before striking unseen.
Though she is a member of the Zhentarim, Karas cares little for the organization's hierarchy and family dynamics. Karas views leadership of the Zhentarim as her birthright and hopes that, by amassing power from the Dead Three, she can one day overthrow the Pereghost, the leader of the Zhentarim, and claim what is rightfully hers.