The Conqueror
Name: Edwalda of the Crimson Banner
Divine Title: The Conqueror
Alignment: Selfish Order
Patronage: Conquest, Domination, Ruthless Ambition, Military Power, Tyrants
Origin: The Elvin Empire of Rassoron
Symbol: A crimson war-banner wrapped around a blackened spear tip, the banner torn but never fallen. Behind it, a stylized crown with jagged edges, half wreathed in infernal fire.
Common Appearances:
- The Iron Queen: A statuesque elven woman clad in blood-red plate armor with golden imperial trim, her crown fused to her brow. Her eyes burn like coals beneath a helm etched with demonic runes.
- The Burning Empress: A spectral general with an infernal cloak that trails like smoke. In this form, she commands armies of shadow or appears to warlords who seek to reclaim lost empires.
- The Broken Sovereign: A rare, sorrowful visage—her armor cracked, her empire reduced to ash behind her. This form is seen only in cursed visions or by those who question her methods.
History and Mythos
Rise of the Elvin Empire
Born during the peak of the Old Elvin Empire of Rassoron, Edwalda was a prodigy of war, diplomacy, and arcane might. Rising swiftly through the ranks of imperial command, she led devastating campaigns to unite and subjugate the fractured peoples of Rassoron. Her victories were not merely military—they were ideological: nations fell not only by sword, but by belief in the inevitability of her rule.
Under her banner, the Elvin Empire stretched farther than it ever had before. Roads were built. Magic was refined into law. Her rule was iron-clad, but efficient, and many would argue that beneath her tyranny, prosperity bloomed—for those who obeyed.
Death and the Collapse
When Edwalda died—by poison, assassination, or betrayal (the stories vary)—the empire she had forged began to fracture. Loyalist generals turned on each other. Rebellions swept through her territories. The Devalian dwarves in the East carved up her empire, and the Arthurian rebels in the North dismantled all she had achieved there. The divine beings of the age denied her ascension, citing her cruel ambition and disregard for freedom.
But Edwalda did not go quietly.
Return with Levistus
Furious at her rejection by the divine and betrayed by her successors, her soul descended into the Nine Hells, where she struck a pact with Tiamat. She offered her what the gods would not: a second chance to rule—in exchange for her hatred, her loyalty, and her command of her infernal legions.
During the First Demonic Invasion, Edwalda returned as The Conqueror, along with the traitorous devil lord Levistus, her empire reforged not from laws and treaties, but from hellfire, devils, and chains. She carved a path through Rassoron, burning former cities of her rule and enslaving those who had rejected her legacy.
Though she was ultimately defeated by the Sleeping Serpent and mortal heroes, the memory of her reign—and her return—ensured she would never be forgotten. And in her defeat, her myth took root, and over generations, those who crave conquest and control began to worship her as a goddess of dominion.
Divine Role and Worship
The Conqueror is revered by tyrants, warlords, imperialists, devil-bound kings, and ambitious generals. She does not reward chaos—only discipline that serves domination. She is not the god of bloodlust, but of efficient rule, ruthless structure, and the will to subjugate in the name of a “greater order.”
Her temples are war academies, rallying halls, or hidden shrines in the courts of conquerors. Her priests often serve as strategists or advisors—rarely kings themselves, but always one word away from commanding one.
Common Tenets of Her Faith:
- “Mercy is the ruin of empires.”
- “Only the weak believe power must be deserved.”
- “Peace exists only where no one dares defy you.”
- “The world remembers tyrants. Not diplomats.”
Relic of The Conqueror: Crown of the Crimson Dominion
"Bend the knee, or lose the head. Those are the only honest choices in conquest."
Wondrous Item (Crown), Legendary → Artifact
Requires attunement by a creature who has led others into battle, held rule over a domain, or commanded the loyalty of warriors—willingly or not.
This jagged steel crown is inlaid with veins of infernal ruby and wrapped in blackened iron. Once the imperial circlet of Edwalda the Conqueror, it now radiates a faint heat and tightens ever so slightly on the brow, reminding its bearer that control is both a burden and a blade. Faint whispers of war chants and infernal orders echo when it's near a battlefield or court.
Initial Form: Crown of Steel Obedience (Level 10–13)
Stat Bonuses:
- +2 to Charisma (max 22)
- You gain proficiency in Intimidation (or expertise if already proficient)
- While wearing the crown, your commands are unnaturally compelling: allies within 30 feet have advantage on saving throws against fear and charm, while enemies must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 16) or suffer disadvantage on saving throws against being frightened or dominated until the start of their next turn (1/short rest).
Features:
- Voice of Command (1/short rest):
As a bonus action, you may issue a single-word command (such as "kneel," "halt," or "drop") to all creatures of your choice within 60 feet who can hear you. Each target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 15) or obey until the end of their next turn. - Mark of Dominion:
When you kill a creature that was under your command, fear effect, or magical control, you gain temporary hit points equal to your level + Charisma modifier. These last until the end of your next long rest.
Spells of the Conqueror’s Will
While attuned to The Crown of the Crimson Dominion, you may cast the following spells once per long rest each, without components, using Charisma as your casting ability:
Level 10–13 (Initial Form):
- Command
(Reflavored as “Imperial Decree” – your word echoes like a war trumpet in the target’s mind.) - Cause Fear
(Reflavored as “Gaze of the Iron Queen” – your cold, commanding stare fills a creature with panic.) - Wrathful Smite
(Reflavored as “Strike of Dominion” – your next blow carries the authority of conquest.)
Awakened Form: Crown of the Crimson Dominion (Level 17–20)
(Once awakened, the crown’s edges sharpen, glowing with infernal embers. Crimson light flows from its center gem, and a faint aura of dread follows the wearer like a conquering banner.)
Enhanced Bonuses:
- +3 to Charisma (max 24)
- Enemies within 30 feet who start their turn frightened, charmed, or under a command from you take 2d6 psychic damage
- You are immune to magical charm and fear effects
Advanced Features:
- Tyrant’s Decree (1/day):
As an action, you may declare a Decree of Absolute Will. For 1 minute: - Allies within 60 feet gain +2 to attack rolls and saving throws as long as they are obeying your orders.
- Enemies who start their turn within 60 feet must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 18) or be unable to take the Attack action unless targeting you directly.
- If an affected enemy falls to 0 HP during this time, you may use your reaction to terrify another enemy within 30 feet (they become frightened until the end of your next turn).
- Sovereign’s Grip:
Once per long rest, you may invoke the power of the crown to cast a nonmagical Dominate effect on up to 3 creatures who can see and hear you (Wisdom saving throw, DC 18). For 1 minute, they fight on your behalf, under your verbal control, even if normally hostile. - Legacy of Fire and Chain:
Any battlefield you stand upon becomes your domain. While leading a group of 5 or more allies into combat, you may designate up to 3 of them as Chosen of the Conqueror. They gain: - Resistance to fear
- +1 to AC and saving throws
- The ability to ignore movement restrictions caused by difficult terrain or non-magical restraints
Level 17–20 (Awakened Form):
- Dominate Person (1/day)
(Reflavored as “Kneel Before Me” – you overwhelm the target’s will with your presence.) - Hold Monster (1/day)
(Reflavored as “Frozen by Command” – your will paralyzes them in place.) - Geas (1/week)
(Reflavored as “Edict of Obedience” – you impose a divine order backed by infernal force.) - Fear (1/day)
(Reflavored as “Banner of Dread” – your presence unfurls like a phantom war-standard across the battlefield, breaking resolve.)
Awakening Trigger:
The crown awakens when its bearer leads an act of conquest—military, political, or cultural—that rewrites the balance of power in a region. It must come with sacrifice, fear, or unquestionable control. The awakening is not a gift—it is a coronation.
