Buy me a coffeeLady Ragnell, the Loathly Lady
She’s hideous by day, stunning by night—and marrying her might be the only way to save the king.
- Alias – The Loathly Lady, The Enchantress of Sovereignty, Bride of Twilight
- Gender – Female
- Race – Fey (Shapechanger)
- Occupation – Protector of Sovereignty, Arbiter of Moral Balance, Guardian of Free Will
- Religion – None specifically, but strongly tied to themes of Balance, Freedom, and Justice; some see her as a manifestation of the Sovereign Spirit in the Feywilds.
- Allies –
- Sir Gawain (former ally and husband, though their paths diverged)
- The Fey Courts, though she walks a neutral path between Summer and Winter
- Ancient Spirits of the Feywild and Nature itself
- Enemies –
- Unseelie Lords (those who curse and control others)
- Tyrants and Oppressors, who manipulate others’ free will
- Gromer Somer Joure (the one who cursed her initially)
- Abode/ Base of Operations –
- Feywild (roams between the courts of Summer and Winter, often in the deepest, wildest parts)
- Sometimes appears in mortal realms, particularly in places of great political or moral strife
- When she desires solitude, she dwells in a quiet, ethereal forest glade, surrounded by ancient trees, where the boundaries of reality are thin.
- Nationality – None (She is of Fey origin, untethered to any specific mortal realm or kingdom, though she has interacted with many).
- Languages – Common (Mortal Tongues), Elvish, Sylvan (Feywild Languages), Celestial (occasionally)
- Alignment – Chaotic Neutral
(Values free will and moral autonomy; avoids taking sides unless balance or sovereignty is at risk) - Affiliation(s) –
- Associated with the Fey Courts (mainly as a neutral figure between them)
- Symbol of Sovereignty and Choice—her actions often symbolize the struggle between oppression and liberty.
- She is seen as a guardian of moral balance, not aligned with any one faction but a force for justice in her own mysterious way.
- Significant Others –
- Sir Gawain (her former husband, who broke her curse by granting her sovereignty and choice)
- Her true self (her curse was an act of fate and power, but ultimately, her soul belongs only to herself)
Lore & Origins
Lady Ragnell is a mythic figure rooted in both mortal and fey legend—a once-beautiful noble of the Summer Court who was cursed by an Unseelie lord to wear a monstrous form by day and reveal her true self only at night. The reason? She defied a dark pact over the sovereignty of mortal lands, choosing instead to defend free will and the right of rulers to lead with wisdom—not fear.
Bound by this cruel enchantment, she became a roving enigma, appearing at pivotal moments in history to test the hearts of kings, knights, and heroes. Some scholars believe she is more than a cursed noble—that she is a Sovereign Spirit, a fey embodiment of mortal free will and rightful rule.
The Arthurian Tale: The Riddle and the Choice
The most well-known tale of Lady Ragnell is told in the age of King Arthur.
When Arthur was cursed to answer a fatal riddle—“What is it that women most desire?”—he searched far and wide with no success. In a desolate wood, he met Lady Ragnell, grotesque in form but noble in speech. She claimed to know the answer, but demanded a price: Arthur’s knight, Sir Gawain, must marry her.
Gawain agreed without hesitation, honoring his king and his own sense of virtue. On their wedding night, Lady Ragnell asked Gawain whether he would prefer her to be beautiful by day (pleasing others) or by night (pleasing only him). Gawain responded: “The choice is yours.”
This answer—granting her sovereignty over herself—broke the curse entirely. Lady Ragnell revealed her true form and became fully herself once again.
Some say she lived quietly with Gawain after that. Others insist she returned to the Feywilds, her curse transformed into a divine calling: to appear when the balance between power and compassion is at stake.
Personality & Motivation
Lady Ragnell is neither hero nor villain. She is a tester of hearts, a judge of rulers, and a guardian of autonomy. Her goals are not to accumulate power but to ensure it is used justly.
She values:
- Free will over command
- Respect over obedience
- Wisdom over brute strength
She is eloquent, sharp-witted, and unafraid to speak hard truths. She often presents herself as a challenge, a riddle, or a choice—never offering help without requiring growth in return.
Appearance
- Cursed Form: Towering and hunched, with asymmetrical limbs and a face marred by unnatural proportions. Her teeth are crooked tusks, her skin pallid and veined, yet her emerald eyes shimmer with painful intelligence. Her voice is rough but graceful, and she walks with a twisted staff of blackened oak, carved in ancient runes.
- True Form: A radiant vision of fey beauty—tall and statuesque with flowing copper-gold hair, porcelain skin kissed by moonlight, and a voice like a wind chime in spring. She wears robes that shimmer between twilight blue and rose-gold, and a ring of oak and rosewood—the only item that remains unchanged between forms.
Role in the World
Lady Ragnell is a wandering myth. She appears:
- At moments of moral crisis.
- In kingdoms ruled by cruelty or fear.
- When adventurers face a choice between power and empathy.
Bards speak of her in taverns. Druids whisper that she walks among groves where old oaths were broken. In some distant kingdoms, kings still kneel to a carved figure of a monstrous woman, thanking her for the wisdom of listening.
Adventure Hooks
- The Wedding of Wills: A noble’s arranged marriage is thrown into chaos when Lady Ragnell appears as the bride.
- The Sovereign’s Riddle: A ruler has fallen under a mysterious curse; the answer lies in finding a woman shunned by all but feared by fate.
- The Fey Bargain: Lady Ragnell offers the party a dire truth—but only if one of them agrees to undertake a deeply personal vow.
Lady Ragnell 5e
Lady Ragnell, Pathfinder
Lady Ragnell
Medium Fey (Shapechanger, Cursed), Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class 17 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 210 (20d8 + 120)
Speed 40 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 (+2) | 18 (+4) | 22 (+6) | 18 (+4) | 22 (+6) | 20 (+5) |
Saving Throws Dex +10, Con +12, Wis +12
Skills Insight +12, Persuasion +11, Intimidation +11, Deception +11
Damage Resistances Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Senses Truesight 60 ft., Passive Perception 16
Languages Common, Elvish, Sylvan, Celestial
Challenge 15 (13,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +5
Shape of Sovereignty (Dual Forms)
Lady Ragnell has two forms: Cursed Form (Loathly) and True Form (Restored Sovereignty).
At dawn, she reverts to her Cursed Form unless a creature offers her the freedom to choose her appearance. She may then take her True Form until the next dawn.
Her stats and spells do not change, but abilities shift based on form. She retains full power and spellcasting in either shape.
Form-Specific Abilities
Cursed Form (Loathly) – Aura of Dread and Wisdom
- Frightful Awe. Creatures have disadvantage on saving throws against Fear, Bestow Curse, and Zone of Truth.
- Dread Enchantress. If a creature has insulted or rejected her, they have disadvantage on saving throws against her illusion and fear spells.
- Loathsome Truth. When a creature resists Gaze of Truth, it takes 4d6 psychic damage instead of suffering exhaustion.
- Skill Focus. Gains advantage on Intimidation and Insight checks.
True Form (Restored Sovereignty) – Aura of Grace and Command
- Sovereign Presence. Creatures have disadvantage on saving throws against Charm Person, Suggestion, Geas, and Dominate Person.
- Enchanting Grace. Creatures do not know they were magically charmed by her once the spell ends.
- Radiant Blade. Blade of Sovereignty deals radiant instead of slashing damage and blinds on a critical hit.
- Skill Focus. Gains advantage on Persuasion and Deception checks.
Spellcasting
Lady Ragnell is a 13th-level spellcaster. Her spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 18, +10 to hit).
She does not require material components.
At-will: Thaumaturgy, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, Detect Magic
3/day each: Charm Person, Disguise Self, Hold Person, Suggestion, Mirror Image, Misty Step
2/day each: Fear, Greater Invisibility, Counterspell, Bestow Curse, Major Image, Zone of Truth
1/day each: Dominate Person, Modify Memory, Geas, Legend Lore, True Seeing
Actions
Multiattack.
Lady Ragnell makes three attacks: one with Gaze of Truth, one with Blade of Sovereignty, and casts a spell or uses a feature.
Blade of Sovereignty.
Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) damage.
- True Form: Radiant damage; on a critical hit, the target is blinded until end of its next turn.
- Cursed Form: Slashing damage; on a critical hit, the target is frightened for 1 round.
Gaze of Truth (Recharge 5–6)
One creature within 60 feet must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, they are compelled to speak a truth they are hiding (chosen by the DM).
- True Form: The creature is also charmed for 1 minute.
- Cursed Form: If the creature resists, it takes 4d6 psychic damage.
Choice of the Loathly Lady (Recharge 6)
One creature within 60 ft. faces a moral or emotional dilemma (DM’s choice). The creature is paralyzed until they make a choice, or succeed a DC 18 Wisdom save at the end of each turn. On a success, they take 22 (4d10) psychic damage instead.
Legendary Actions
Lady Ragnell can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn.
- Charm. One creature within 30 ft. must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed until end of their next turn.
- Fey Step. Lady Ragnell teleports up to 60 ft. to an unoccupied space she can see.
- Telepathic Insight. Lady Ragnell reads the surface thoughts or emotions of one creature within 60 ft. for 1 minute (no save).
Optional Lair Actions
When encountered in her sacred grove or fey glade, Lady Ragnell can use lair actions on initiative count 20 (losing ties):
- Fey Mirage. The terrain within 60 ft. becomes illusory for 1 minute. All creatures must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or be confused (as per the Confusion spell).
- Manifest Sovereignty. All creatures of her choice within 30 ft. must make a DC 18 Charisma save or be charmed for 1 minute.
- Weave the Wild. She casts Entangle, Fog Cloud, or Hypnotic Pattern without using a spell slot.
Lady Ragnell (CR 15)
Female unique fey (shapechanger, mythic)
NG Medium fey (shapechanger)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, detect lies; Perception +25
DEFENSE
AC 29, touch 17, flat-footed 22 (+7 Dex, +9 natural, +3 deflection)
hp 210 (20d6+140)
Fort +14, Ref +19, Will +20
DR 10/cold iron; Immune charm, sleep; SR 26
Resist electricity 10, fire 10, cold 10
Weakness shapecurse (see below)
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., fly 30 ft. (good)
Melee Blade of Sovereignty +21/+16/+11 (2d8+8 plus form effect)
Special Attacks aura of choice, gaze of truth, choice of the loathly lady, spell-like abilities, fey step
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 15th, concentration +20)
- Constant – tongues, detect thoughts, detect lies
- At will – charm person, suggestion, mirror image, invisibility (self only)
- 3/day – confusion, bestow curse, major image, geas (lesser)
- 2/day – greater invisibility, fear, dominate person
- 1/day – legend lore, modify memory, geas
STATISTICS
Str 14, Dex 24, Con 24, Int 16, Wis 22, Cha 20 (25 in True Form)
Base Atk +10; CMB +12; CMD 29
Feats Combat Casting, Weapon Focus (rapier), Persuasive, Iron Will, Greater Spell Focus (enchantment), Dazzling Display
Skills Bluff +27, Diplomacy +27, Disguise +25, Intimidate +25, Knowledge (nobility) +18, Sense Motive +25, Perform (oratory) +22, Use Magic Device +25
Languages Common, Sylvan, Elven, Celestial; tongues (constant)
SQ shape of sovereignty, dual aura, change shape (cursed form or true form), mythic resilience, fey-blooded
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Shapecurse (Su):
Lady Ragnell’s default state is her Loathly Form—twisted, grotesque, but wise and potent. She may only shift into her True Form if granted the freedom to choose her appearance by another creature, typically through compassion or consent.
Shape of Sovereignty (Su):
At will as a swift action, Lady Ragnell can shift between her two forms, if unbound by the curse. Each form alters her abilities:
- Loathly Form:
- Aura of Dread (30 ft.): Enemies take a –2 penalty on saves vs fear, curse, and illusion; those who mock or insult her take –4.
- Gaze of Truth (Su): As Discern Lies, or force one creature per round to make a Will save (DC 23) or involuntarily speak a hidden truth (functions as Zone of Truth and Compulsion).
- Frightful Visage: Once per minute, all enemies within 30 ft. must succeed at a Will save (DC 23) or be shaken for 1 minute.
- True Form:
- Aura of Grace (30 ft.): Allies gain a +2 morale bonus on saves vs fear, charm, and compulsion.
- Radiant Blade: Her weapon deals 2d8 radiant (positive energy) damage. On a critical hit, the target is blinded for 1 round (Fort DC 23 negates).
- Compelling Presence (Ex): Gains +5 enhancement to Charisma-based skills (already included). Creatures charmed by her do not know they were magically influenced once the spell ends.
Gaze of Truth (Su):
DC 23 Will save or reveal a personal truth and suffer 2d6 psychic damage. In cursed form, resistance causes additional psychic pain. In true form, failure causes calm and potentially insight.
Choice of the Loathly Lady (Sp):
Once per day, Lady Ragnell can confront a creature with a metaphysical or moral dilemma. The target becomes confused for 1d4 rounds unless it succeeds on a Will save (DC 23). If the player roleplays a sincere resolution, the effect ends and the creature may receive a blessing or boon at the GM’s discretion.
Blade of Sovereignty (Su):
A radiant rapier imbued with her essence. Deals 2d8+8 base damage.
- Cursed Form Critical: The target must succeed at a Will save (DC 23) or be frightened for 1 round.
- True Form Critical: The target must succeed at a Fort save (DC 23) or be blinded for 1 round.
Fey Step (Su):
Three times per day, Lady Ragnell can teleport up to 60 feet as a move action.
Mythic Resilience (Ex):
Once per day, she may reroll any failed saving throw as a free action. She always acts in the surprise round.
ECOLOGY
Environment: temperate forests, ancient glades, sacred sites
Organization: solitary, or guardian of a trial, fey court, or sacred quest
Treasure: standard (blade of sovereignty is bound to her essence)
TACTICS
Lady Ragnell prefers dialogue to violence, often testing character and morality first. If threatened, she opens with confusion or fear, then misdirection. If respected, she uses her true form’s grace to aid or enchant. In combat, she uses her spell-like abilities to maintain distance and control the battlefield, relying on illusions, mental manipulation, and strategic teleportation.