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Smigmal Redhand

Commander

The Silent Executioner

Smigmal Redhand serves as the first and final line of defense for the Temple of Elemental Evil’s upper levels. From the decrepit and fortified Ruined Tower, she commands a force of bandits, assassins, and mercenaries who strike swiftly and disappear like mist.

But Smigmal is more than a thug. Beneath her elven guise lies a mind sharpened by betrayal, war, and ambition. Her relationship with the rogue wizard Falrinth grants her access to Temple secrets, while her reach into the underworld of Nulb makes her a critical piece in the Temple’s logistical and espionage web.

Half-Orc Fighter/Assassin, Master of Deception and Deadly Precision

Smigmal is a striking and dangerous figure, standing at an imposing six feet with a lean, sinewy frame that speaks of years spent in battle and subterfuge. Her half-orc heritage is apparent in her sharp, angular features and piercing yellow eyes, though she rarely reveals her true face, preferring to appear as an elegant elf. Her long, auburn hair (aided by magic) and elven guise make her blend seamlessly into high society or unsuspecting adventuring parties.

“You’ll know my name when you bleed it into the dirt.”
Personality and Tactics

Smigmal is a cold, calculating assassin with an iron will. She believes in striking from the shadows and maintaining absolute control over her surroundings. Her loyalty is primarily to Falrinth, her lover and secret ally within the temple, but she harbors ambitions of her own. Ruthless, pragmatic, and untrusting, Smigmal excels at manipulating others to serve her interests.

  • Deceptive & Pragmatic: Cold, surgical, and guided by survival rather than ideology.
  • Power through Fear: Rules her troops through intimidation and reward of cruelty.
  • No True Faith: Pays lip service to the Elder Elemental God. She serves only power.
  • Loyal to Falrinth—With Limits: Her lover, her ally, and her greatest threat.

Background

Smigmal's origins trace back to the war-torn bandit lands in The Bandit Kingdoms where survival depended on cunning and strength. Recruited by temple agents due to her lethal skills, she quickly rose through the ranks by eliminating threats and proving her worth to Supreme Commander Hedrack and Senshock.

  • Early Life: Raised among mercenaries and cutthroats in the Bandit Kingdoms.
  • Temple Recruitment: Initially served as a scout and assassin before being placed in command of the outer defenses.
  • Elven Disguise: Uses her magical hat to maintain a double identity as an elven diplomat, gathering intelligence from Nulb and Village of Hommlet.

Role in the Temple

Smigmal serves as the leader of the temple's surface-level defenses, operating from the ruined tower. She manages raiding parties and keeps the forces of Hommlet and Verbobonc occupied while ensuring no threats infiltrate the temple.

Commander of the Outer Defenses

  • Manages the Ruined Tower garrison and its tactical responses
  • Coordinates ambushes on merchant convoys, mounted patrols, and adventuring parties
  • Directly receives intel from Falrinth’s quasit and executes covert assassination campaigns

Underworld Contact in Nulb

  • Regularly dispatches lieutenants into Nulb to perform assassinations, kidnappings, and sabotage
  • Has established secret contacts in the Boatman’s Brothel, the Wharf, and the Waterside Hostel
  • Monitors Selentis’s expanding power and plots contingencies

Political Saboteur

  • Spreads disinformation among cults
  • Uses coin, poison, and blackmail to maintain loyalty among her mercenaries
  • Works to undermine Deggum, Barkinar, and any who might rival her position
"Obedience comes not from loyalty, but from fear. And fear is a currency I deal in generously." - Smigmal

Operations in Nulb

Smigmal regularly deploys her forces into Nulb under her elven disguise or through intermediaries.

Key Activities:

  • Surveillance: Watches the Wharf and the Boatman’s Brothel for Selentis’s shipments
  • Sabotage: Disrupts Earth and Water Temple recruitment in Nulb
  • Assassination: Her lieutenant Rhenna “Red Viper” leads silent kills of rival spies
  • Manipulation: Smuggles rare poisons and relics through Tolub’s crew to fund black ops

Relationship with Falrinth (Lover and Wizard Ally)

Smigmal’s closest ally and lover, Falrinth, uses her position to gather intelligence and eliminate competition within the temple. He frequently sends his quasit familiar to spy not only within the temple but also in Nulb and the surrounding area, providing Smigmal with a steady stream of actionable intelligence.

Despite their closeness, Falrinth harbors his own ambitions and intends to use Smigmal as a pawn to seize control of the temple forces after Hedrack's eventual downfall. He dreams of ruling over a domain of destruction to rival even Iuz himself, and Smigmal is keenly aware of his grandiose aspirations. However, she also knows that he will flee the temple should it fall, leaving her to pick up the pieces.

"Falrinth’s magic is impressive, but magic fails when a blade finds the right spot. He should remember that before he stares too long into his crystal."

Relationship Chart: Smigmal Redhand (579 CY)

NameRoleSmigmal’s View / Strategy
Falrinth Lover and Rogue WizardClosest ally. Uses his magic and schemes to gain favor. Secretly wary of his ambitions.
Hedrack Supreme CommanderTolerates his control, but would betray him if Falrinth's coup gains traction.
Lucius Graeme SpymasterSuspects he watches her. Keeps informants on his movements.
Commander Feldrin Logistic CommanderTreats as useful but untrustworthy. Occasionally disrupts his bandit networks.
Deggum Commander of SecurityOfficial superior. Smigmal feeds him only what she wants him to know.
Madame Selentis (Nysera Krivaltis)Nulb Civilian Logistics OverseerA threat. Watched closely via Nulb assassins. Would eliminate if given Temple sanction.
Romag Earth Temple ProphetBeneath her notice. Uses his men as bait.
Belsornig Water Temple ProphetDangerous. She feeds Falrinth’s false reports to him.
Alrrem Fire Temple ProphetDespises his volatility. Uses her assassins to harass his supply lines.
Kelno Air Temple ProphetIgnores entirely. Unworthy of her attention.
WatHostel informantHas blackmail material. Sometimes uses him to feed false reports to Romag or Selentis.
Captain Tolub Pirate MercenaryUses him for muscle. Has bribed some of his crew to act as smugglers or killers.
Captain Marad Vesrek Pirate CaptainAvoids. Too closely watched by Feldrin and Lucius.
Vaeril SahranTemple Assassin (10th level)Smigmal’s silent blade. Vaeril is a ghost among killers—a veteran infiltrator sent only when the Temple must erase a mistake with finality. Speaks multiple alignment tongues and poses as a traveling scribe or herbalist in Hommlet. She unleashes Vaeril only when Lareth’s interests are threatened or when Falrinth requests a permanent solution.
Lareth the BeautifulLolth-aligned Field CommanderPotential rival. Has eyes on him but is hesitant to strike without Falrinth’s approval.
Political Relationships

Hedrack (Supreme Commander)

Hedrack tolerates Smigmal’s presence due to her effectiveness but distrusts her due to her close ties with Falrinth, who has suspected loyalties to Lolth. He uses her to maintain order on the surface but watches her closely.

"Hedrack thinks power lies within the temple’s halls. Fools. True power walks the roads, takes the coin, and spills the blood before it reaches his doorstep."

Falrinth (Lover and Wizard Ally)

Smigmal’s closest ally and lover. She aids Falrinth in his schemes to secure power within the temple while keeping his secrets safe from prying eyes.

Deggum (Commander of Security)

As her direct superior, Deggum relies on Smigmal for frontline reports and defense coordination. While she respects his tactical mind, she views him as an obstacle to her ambitions.

"Hedrack plays the king, Senshock schemes for the throne, and Barkinar waits like a vulture. I simply watch and sharpen my knives."
Bandits and Mercenaries

Smigmal maintains an extensive network of informants and assassins within Nulb and the surrounding area. She ensures that loyalty is bought with coin and fear.

Affiliations

The Elder Elemental God

Smigmal, like many in the temple, pays lip service to the Elder Elemental God but does not hold true faith. She sees the cult’s chaos as a useful distraction for her own agendas but has no desire to awaken the ancient power they worship. However, she has learned to manipulate the fanatical devotion of the lesser cultists to her advantage.

Iuz

Although she outwardly serves Hedrack and The Priesthood of Iuz of Iuz's forces, Smigmal is cautious of the Old One’s growing influence in the temple. She harbors concerns that Iuz's agents, particularly Lucius Graeme and Deggum, may be spying on her and Falrinth’s movements. As such, she takes great care in masking her true intentions.

Zuggtmoy

Smigmal holds no loyalty to Zuggtmoy, viewing her imprisonment as a weakness. However, she recognizes the power that Zuggtmoy’s clerics wield within the Greater Temple and avoids direct conflict with them. Instead, she works behind the scenes to disrupt their influence when it serves her purposes.

"Barkinar may wear the armor, but it’s his boots that tell the truth—always pointed toward the exit. He’s waiting, watching, but when the time comes, he'll run."

Tactics and Combat Style

Smigmal prefers stealth, ambushes, and deception in combat. If combat becomes unavoidable, she strikes quickly and disappears into the shadows.

  • Preferred Weapons: Morningstar, crossbow, and poisoned daggers.

Magic Items:

  • Hat of Disguise: Allows her to maintain her elven persona.
  • Ring of Spell Storing: Contains invisibility and charm person spells.

Combat Tactics:

  • Uses invisibility to stalk her prey and strike from behind.
  • Prefers to eliminate the most powerful target first.
  • Relies on misdirection and deceit to escape overwhelming odds.

Conclusion

Smigmal Redhand is an invaluable asset to the Temple of Elemental Evil, balancing loyalty and ambition in a dangerous game of deception. Her lethal skillset, strategic mind, and connections within the underworld make her a formidable force and a significant threat to any adventurers who dare challenge the temple.


Quest Hooks Featuring Smigmal

1. The Assassin's Mark

The party is targeted by a relentless assassin striking from the shadows.

  • Clues lead back to the ruined tower, where Smigmal orchestrates her operations.
  • Objective: Survive the assassin's attacks and track her down.
2. Web of Deception

Disguised as an elven noble, Smigmal infiltrates Hommlet’s leadership.

  • The adventurers must expose her true identity before she eliminates key figures.
  • Objective: Unmask and defeat Smigmal before she sows further chaos.
3. Broken Trust

Falrinth’s ambitions lead him to betray Smigmal, and she seeks revenge.

  • The party can use this rift to their advantage to gain an inside ally.
  • Objective: Convince Smigmal to turn against Falrinth and aid the party.
4. Blood Debt

Vaeril Sahran, her personal assassin, is released into the wild after a PC kills one of Smigmal’s lieutenants.

"They call me a guardian of the temple’s borders, but I'm no watchman. I'm the blade that cuts throats before they whisper treason." - Smigmal
Smigmal Redhand
Commander of the Outer Defenses
Fighter/ Assassin Level 7/7
  • AC 4 (leather +1) & shield +2)
  • MV 12" hp 41
  • XP 4924 S 17 115 W 7 D 16 Co 17 Ch 14
  • #AT 3/2, D 3-8, SA poison on sword (insinuative type B, + 3 bonus to saving throw, Dmg 25 in 2 rounds)SD ring of invisibility;
  • Thief Abilities: PP 45, OL 52, F/RT 45, MS 40, HS 31, HN 25, CW 95, RL 15
Smigmal wears leather armor + 1, uses a shield + 2, and wields a shortsword + 1 in normal combat (or a non-glowing normal shortsword in assassination attempts). crossbow, and a long hunting knife.   Smigmal wears two earrings (each worth 400 gp) and a jew- eled belt (3,200 gp), and carries 7 gp and 12 ep in a purse. She knows how most crea- tures react favorably to bloodstones, and has been trading for and accumulating such for future purposes.   Secret compartment: are 30 gems worth 50 gp each (26 bloodstones and four zircons), two pieces of jewelry (base value 1,000-4,000 gp each), and a belt with hidden pockets (containing 50 pp).
Alignment
Chaotic evil
Year of Birth
544 35 Years old
Children
Sex
female
Eyes
Piercing yellow (normally concealed by disguise)
Hair
Long, auburn (disguised with her hat of disguise)
Height
6'
Quotes & Catchphrases
"Loyalty in this place is an illusion. You don’t serve the Elder Elemental Eye; you serve survival. And I intend to survive longer than any of them."
Aligned Organization
Ruled Locations
Smigmal Redhand Disguised Noble Elf by 3orcs

Defenses of the Temple of Elemental Evil

Ruined Tower Garrison

  • Role: First line of defense for the Temple’s upper ruins, serving as a base for raiding parties.
  • Tactics: Ambush, skirmishing, and rapid response to intruders.
Leadership & Officers
  • Smigmal Redhand (Commander, Level 6 Fighter) – A ruthless and cunning warrior, feared for his brutality and ability to command loyalty through intimidation.
  • Lieutenant Durn Bloodfang (Level 2 Fighter) – A half-orc known for his savage fighting style and unwavering loyalty.
  • Lieutenant Kael Vortash (Level 2 Fighter) – A former mercenary with a tactical mind, often leading ambushes on trade routes.
  • Sergeant Jorven "Black Eyes" (Level 1 Fighter) – A sadistic enforcer who ensures discipline among the troops.
  • Sergeant Rhenna "Red Viper" (Level 1 Fighter) – A deadly duelist who leads infiltration missions and silent takedowns.
Military Forces
  • Fighter Bandits (21, Level 0 Men-at-Arms) – A mix of seasoned raiders, former mercenaries, and bloodthirsty cutthroats.
  • Scout Bandits (4, Level 1 Rangers/Rogues) – Specially trained scouts responsible for tracking intruders and patrolling the surrounding forests.
  • Skirmishers (6, Level 1 Fighters/Thieves) – Specialists in quick-strike tactics, setting ambushes, and assassinating targets.
  • Heavy Enforcers (3, Level 2 Fighters) – Elite warriors wearing superior armor and wielding enchanted weapons granted by the Temple.
Defenses & Strategic Location
  • Ruined Tower Overlook: The tower provides an elevated vantage point to spot approaching enemies.
  • Traps & Alarms: The perimeter is lined with hidden pits, crude alarm bells, and spiked barricades.
  • Hidden Underground Tunnels: Escape routes leading to the Temple’s deeper levels.
Operations & Raiding Activities
  • Merchant Raids: Organized attacks on convoys passing near the Gnarley Forest and Viscounty trade roads.
  • Supply Escorts: Protecting shipments of stolen goods and weapons for the Temple.
  • Recruitment & Indoctrination: New initiates undergo brutal trials to prove their worth.

Smigmal Redhand’s Treasure (579 CY)
Carried on Smigmal
  • Hat of Disguise
  • Ring of Spell Storing
  • Platinum and crystal earrings (400 gp value)
  • Jeweled belt (1,600 gp value)
  • Coin pouch: 12 electrum pieces (ep), 7 gold pieces (gp)

Weapons & Gear in Room
  • Melee & Ranged Weapons:
  • 1 mancatcher
  • 3 punch daggers
  • 4 kris daggers
  • 7 throwing knives
  • 2 falchions
  • 5 javelins
  • 4 ornate ceremonial maces
  • 1 double crossbow
  • 1 spiked buckler
  • 1 garrote
  • 1 vial of acid (standard 8 oz., 2d8 damage when thrown)
  • Poison & Alchemical Items:
  • Potion of Gaseous Form
  • Potion of Polymorph
  • Single-dose poisons:
  • Assassin’s Blood
  • Pale Tincture
  • Torpor
  • Truth Serum
  • Wyvern Poison
  • Purple Worm Poison
  • 8 vials of basic (general use) poison
  • Poisoner’s Kit
Chest Contents
  • Clothing:
  • Multiple sets of normal garments (merchant’s, laborer’s, noble attire, travel gear)
  • Tools of the Trade:
  • Garrotes
  • Leather case with six poison vials:
  • Ingestive types A, B, C, D
  • Insinuative types B, C
  • Trapped Mechanism:
  • Chest features a false top protected by a needle trap coated with Type D insinuative poison (Save or Die)

Hidden Compartment (False Bottom of Chest)
  • 26 bloodstones (50 gp each)
  • 4 zircons (50 gp each)
  • 2 pieces of fine jewelry (base value: 1,000–4,000 gp each)
  • Belt with hidden pockets containing 50 platinum pieces (pp)



Cover image: Temple of Elemental Evil Campaign by 3orcs
Character Portrait image: Smigmal Redhand by 3orcs

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