Doctor Gabrielle Rene
by Aoz
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Broken Lands
FREQUENCY: Unique
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any (no need for sleep)
DIET: None
INTELLIGENCE: 15
TREASURE: Special
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVEMENT: 120
HIT DICE: 14
Hit Points: 70
THAC0: 7
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: dagger+2+ 4 (1d4+6 plus numbness)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: M (6')
MORALE: Fanatic
Doctor Rene was created by the Shadow Prince with the help of the Shadow Nobles resources. The doctor is driven with burning ambition to cure all infliction of suffering, but sometimes but twisted means. The undead creature is almost indistinguishable from normal, middle-aged human.
The doctor is very strong; she possesses 20 Strength and 20 Dexterity, while other ability scores equal those they possessed in life. Her touch creates numbness. They can radiate a circle of command to a 10-yard radius; with a gesture to any single creature in the area, they can force that creature to its knees (or equivalent) for one round by sheer force of will. This action takes one segment and is ineffective against any creature that has Intelligence of 3 or less. Other creatures are permitted a saving throw versus spell to negate. The undead may use its command gesture once per turn. Saves as a 14-level fighter.
An undead also has a domination gaze; a victim who fails to make a saving throw versus spell is unable to act as long as she continues to stare (and does not otherwise attack) at him. A victim so dominated can have one suggestion implanted into his mind by the Doctor Rene. Doctor Rene may make no other action on a round on which it uses its domination gaze.
An undead may command nonintelligent undead creatures (skeletons, zombies, etc.) automatically. Other undead have neither special enmity, nor any special liking or respect for him. Doctor Rene has a shadow Raven that deliveries messages back to the Shadow Nobles and has 4 to 8 shadow minions (something like an unseen soldier that aids the Doctor). She can heal 5 hit points per day, or repair undead 2d4 per day, treat poison, even diseases through herbalism. She can perform dental even major surgery work on undead and humanoids alike. Transfer wounds onto herself up to 28 hit points of damage three times per day.
The undead has many immunities and special defenses: it is immune to disease, poison, paralyzation, charm, sleep, hold, and magic jar spells, and to nonmagical weapons. No form of fear will affect the doctor and she cannot be surprised. Also immune to energy drains and aging effects. If an attempt is made to turn or command the undead, the undead is treated as a Special on the Turning chart, and the undead receives a saving throw versus spell to negate the turning/commanding (save vs spell).
Holy water affects an undead normally (2d4 hp damage per flask).
Most feared of all is the remarkable difficulty of destroying an undead. The undead regenerate 2 hit points per round in combat, but they also regenerate after death. Even severed and separated body parts will crawl back together to reform the body (after being reduced to 0 hit points, the creature regenerates 1 hp per turn). The only sure way to destroy the doctor is to burn the body to ashes or dissolve it completely in acid.
History
She was once a human physician who lived in the Republic of Darokin. She had a successful practice and a happy family, until one day, a magic poison swept through her town. She tried to save as many lives as she could, but the poison was too deadly. She watched helplessly as her patients, friends, and loved ones succumbed to the poison. She was the last to die, alone and in agony.
She thought that death was the end, but she was wrong. Her corpse was stolen by a group who served the Shadow Prince, a powerful and secretive figure who ruled over the society known as the Shadow Nobles. The Shadow Prince had a special interest in the Broken Lands, a region of volcanic chaos and constant warfare, inhabited by various tribes of humanoids. The Shadow Nobles wanted to use the Broken Lands humanoid population; however, the Shadow Prince wanted to learn more about their culture, politics, and secrets, and he needed agents who could infiltrate their society.
The Shadow Nobles used dark magic to reanimate her and bind her to the Shadow Prince’s will. However, the Shadow Prince at the last second used his own power to “free” her from that restraint. They slightly altered her appearance and few memories (as some were missing, from being long time dead), making her believe that she was a loyal servant of the Shadow Nobles, a cabal of aristocrats who are led by the Shadow Prince. They gave her a new name: Doctor Gabrielle Rene and a new mission: to pose as a doctor in the Broken Lands, treating the wounds and ailments of the humanoids with her medical skills and non-magical tools. She was to gather information about the tribes, their leaders, their allies, and their enemies, and report back to the Shadow Nobles.
She has been living in the Broken Lands for several months now, traveling from tribe to tribe, offering her services as a healer. She has gained some respect and trust from the humanoids, especially the goblins and orcs, who appreciate her dental work and her ability to deal with infections and injuries. She gained some fame by fixing the teeth of a local goblin chief’s child. Doctor Rene has also learned a lot about their culture and history, and she has witnessed many battles and intrigues. She has sent regular reports to the Shadow Nobles, using a secret code and shadow messengers.
She has also developed some sympathy and admiration for the humanoids, who despite their brutality and savagery, have a strong sense of honor and loyalty among their own. She has even made some friends among them, who treat her as one of their own. She hopes her allegiance to the Shadow Nobles, and to doubt their motives and goals. She has also noticed that some of the humanoids have become suspicious of her, and that some of the Shadow Nobles have been watching her closely. Only the Shadow Prince himself has come to her defense and said every being must forge their own path in un-life.
She knows the Shadow Prince allowed her to retain her free will and she is grateful for that. However, Doctor Rene still sees some of the dangers of the humanoids on Darokin and Glantri and she is worried about a possible war in the future.