Buy me a coffeeLeonora Dori (a.k.a. Galigaï), “The Queen’s Witch”
Leonora Dori: The Queen’s Bewitched Confidante who Hexed a Kingdom and Lost Her Head!
- Alias – Galigaï, The Queen’s Shadow, The Witch of the Louvre
- Gender – Female
- Race – Human
- Occupation – Lady-in-Waiting, Court Advisor, Occult Practitioner
- Religion – Catholic (with esoteric/mystical leanings)
- Allies – Marie de’ Medici, Concino Concini, loyal Florentine courtiers
- Enemies – Louis XIII, anti-Medici French nobility, inquisitors, suspicious clergy, hostile commoners
- Abode/ Base of operations – The Royal Court of France (Louvre Palace)
- Nationality – Florentine
- Languages – Florentine (Italian), French, Latin
- Alignment – Lawful Neutral
- Affiliation(s) – House of Medici, French Royal Court
- Significant others – Concino Concini (husband), Marie de’ Medici (Queen and patron)
Lady-in-Waiting, Occult Advisor, Social Climber, Tragic Powerbroker
Leonora Dori is a compelling and enigmatic figure at court—a brilliant manipulator cloaked in velvet and incense, whose rise from humble origins to the center of French power is rivaled only by the swiftness of her fall. To allies, she is a devoted companion and spiritual protector; to enemies, a sorceress seducing the throne through whispers and ritual. She navigates courts with grace and cunning, wielding words, influence, and the occult as deftly as any blade. But beneath the ambition lies a haunted woman—driven by fear of obscurity, desperate to matter in a world built to ignore women like her.
Life Story:
Florentine Origins:
Leonora Dori was born in Florence to a carpenter and a wet nurse. Illness and seizures marked her early years, but a fortunate connection to the Medici family gave her an unusual second chance. Raised in the Galigai household, she adopted their name, acquiring the manners and presence of a noblewoman. Eventually, she entered the service of Marie de’ Medici, a young Medici noble destined for royalty.
At the French Court:
When Marie became Queen of France, Leonora accompanied her to court as a trusted companion and dame d’atour. Where others saw a foreigner with strange customs, Marie saw a confidante. Leonora’s insight, loyalty, and whispered rites earned her deep influence within the Queen’s inner circle. She later married Concino Concini, a fellow Florentine courtier. Their marriage was political, but their ambition was shared.
Rise to Power:
As Marie took control of the regency, Leonora and Concino ascended swiftly. With Concini granted noble titles and military rank, Leonora became a quiet yet formidable force behind the throne. She offered spiritual services—prayers, protections, and even exorcisms—for the Queen and select nobles. Her presence was deeply felt but rarely officially acknowledged.
But power breeds paranoia. Whispers spread that Leonora trafficked with demons, performed dark rituals, and bewitched the Queen. Her strange fits, likely epilepsy, were taken as signs of possession. Her wealth, drawn from court influence and spiritual services, was viewed as stolen through witchcraft.
Downfall and Execution:
When the young king came of age, those loyal to him viewed the Concini couple as obstacles to power. Concino was assassinated under royal orders. Leonora was swiftly arrested. In her trial, she faced charges of sorcery, heresy, and treason. Despite torture, she refused to confess to witchcraft. She was publicly executed, her name stained and her body destroyed in fire.
Personality Traits:
- Clever and Calculating – She sees every conversation as a move on the chessboard.
- Deeply Loyal – Her devotion to Marie de’ Medici is unshakable.
- Occultic Fascination – Believes that unseen forces govern fate and must be appeased.
Fears:
- Oblivion – Raised in obscurity, she fears being forgotten or powerless.
- Divine Judgment – Despite her magical practices, she is quietly terrified of damnation.
- Abandonment – Her closeness to Marie masks a desperate need for belonging and validation.
Goals and Motivations:
- To Protect Marie de’ Medici – At any cost, through magic, manipulation, or sacrifice.
- To Cement Her Legacy – She wants her name remembered, not as a witch, but as a woman of influence.
- To Control Her Fate – Magic is not just power—it is her rebellion against a world that left women like her voiceless.
DM Hooks / Plot Uses:
- Ghostly Patron – Her spirit lingers in the palace, offering forbidden knowledge for a price.
- Flashback Campaign – PCs could serve at court during her rise and choose to aid or betray her.
- Artifact Quest – Her grimoires, hidden before her death, are rumored to contain lost rituals of courtly domination and exorcism.
Leonora Dori 5e
Leonora Dori, Pathfinder
Leonora Dori (Galigaï)
Medium humanoid (human), lawful neutral
Warlock 9 (Patron: Hastur, the King in Yellow)
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP) • Proficiency Bonus +4
Armor Class 15 (Arcane Warding)
Hit Points 88 (13d8 + 26)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 (–1) | 14 (+2) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 12 (+1) | 20 (+5) |
Saving Throws Wis +5, Cha +9
Skills Arcana +7, Deception +9, Insight +5, Persuasion +9, History +6
Damage Resistances Psychic, Necrotic
Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened
Senses Passive Perception 11
Languages Florentine (Italian), French, Latin, Deep Speech
Alignment Lawful Neutral
Traits
Courtly Manipulator
Leonora Dori has advantage on Charisma (Deception) and (Persuasion) checks made in royal courts or when speaking in veiled terms, riddles, or flattery.
Whispers of the Yellow King
Leonora Dori can telepathically communicate with any creature within 60 feet that understands a language. Her voice carries the distant echo of her patron, Hastur, invoking unease and fascination.
Occult Ward (1/Day)
When reduced to 0 hit points, Leonora instead drops to 1 and vanishes in a swirl of illusory mist and yellow silk. She reappears in a shadow within 60 feet that she can see. This movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.
Ritualist’s Command (2/Day)
As a bonus action, Leonora Dori may command a charmed creature or summoned ally within 30 feet to immediately make one melee or spell attack (no reaction required).
Spellcasting
Leonora Dori is a 9th-level warlock. Her spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). She casts her spells without material components unless otherwise stated.
Cantrips (at will):
- Eldritch Blast (2 beams, +9 to hit, Agonizing Blast)
- Prestidigitation
- Mage Hand
- Minor Illusion
1st–5th Level (2 spell slots per short rest):
- 1st: Charm Person, Witch Bolt
- 2nd: Hold Person, Mirror Image
- 3rd: Counterspell, Dispel Magic
- 4th: Greater Invisibility
- 5th: Dominate Person
Invocations:
- Mask of Many Faces (cast Disguise Self at will)
- Misty Visions (cast Silent Image at will)
- Beguiling Influence (gain proficiency in Deception and Persuasion)
- Agonizing Blast (add Charisma to Eldritch Blast damage)
- Eldritch Mind (advantage on Constitution saves to maintain concentration)
Actions
Spectral Dagger (Melee Spell Attack)
+9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) psychic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of its next turn.
Eldritch Blast (Ranged Spell Attack)
+9 to hit, range 120 ft., two beams.
Hit: 9 (1d10 + 5) force damage per beam. Each hit pushes the target 10 feet away.
Warding Circle (Recharge 5–6)
Leonora Dori inscribes a shimmering sigil on the floor within a 10-foot radius. For 1 minute:
- Leonora and her allies inside the circle gain +2 AC.
- Enemies have disadvantage on attacks against anyone inside the circle.
- The circle vanishes if Leonora leaves its area.
Reactions
Royal Rebuke (1/Short Rest)
When targeted by an attack or spell, Leonora may immediately cast Mirror Image as a reaction, summoning illusory duplicates of herself in a swirl of pale yellow light.
Tactics
- Before Combat: Casts Disguise Self and Mirror Image, positions familiar (often a raven) in high vantage points to observe or distract. Uses Minor Illusion to mislead or scatter intruders.
- During Combat: Opens with Greater Invisibility and Dominate Person to take control of key foes. Uses Eldritch Blast to control positioning while locking down targets with Hold Person.
- In Crisis: If overrun, uses Occult Ward to escape into shadows or a prepared escape route, often near a tapestry or mirror she’s enchanted.
- Tactician Style: Rarely fights alone—she is usually surrounded by charmed guards, enthralled courtiers, or masked acolytes.
Leonora Dori (Galigaï)
CR 11
XP 12,800
Female human aristocrat 2/witch 9 (Grave patron)
LE Medium humanoid (human)
Init +6; Senses Perception +12
DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17 (+2 Dex, +4 armor, +1 deflection, +3 natural)
hp 88 (2d8 + 9d6 + 33)
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +13
Resist negative energy 10; +2 vs. mind-affecting effects (charm/compulsion)
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 dagger +6 (1d4–1/19–20)
Ranged mwk light crossbow +8 (1d8/19–20)
Witch Spellcasting (CL 9th; concentration +13)
Spell Save DCs: 0 (15), 1st (16), 2nd (17), 3rd (18), 4th (19), 5th (20), 6th (21)
Spells Prepared (5/6/5/5/4/2):
- 6th (2): dominate person, true seeing
- 5th (4): baleful polymorph, slay living, suffocation, scrying
- 4th (5): phantasmal killer, greater invisibility, enervation, confusion, dimension door
- 3rd (5): dispel magic, bestow curse, suggestion, vampiric touch, clairaudience/clairvoyance
- 2nd (6): mirror image, false life, touch of idiocy, augury, hold person, see invisibility
- 1st (6): mage armor, charm person, disguise self, identify, ray of enfeeblement, ill omen
- 0 (at will): detect magic, guidance, message, prestidigitation, spark
Patron: Grave
Hexes (DC 17):
- Evil Eye – Target takes –2 to AC, saves, or attacks for 3 rounds
- Misfortune – Target rolls twice and takes the worse result (1/day per creature)
- Fortune – Ally rolls twice and takes better result (1/day)
- Ward – Grants +2 deflection bonus to AC and +2 resistance bonus on saves
- Cackle – Extend duration of active hexes by 1 round (move action)
TACTICS
Before Combat Leonora Dori casts mage armor, false life, and places her ward on herself or a key ally. She frequently enters combat already disguised via disguise self.
During Combat She opens with greater invisibility and targets enemies with dominate person or confusion to disrupt the action economy. She follows with debuffs like misfortune and evil eye, combining them with phantasmal killer or slay living on weakened foes.
Morale If reduced below 20 hit points, she uses dimension door to escape to a predesignated secure chamber, calling reinforcements or reestablishing control through scrying.
STATISTICS
Str 8, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 20
Base Atk +6; CMB +5; CMD 18
Feats
- Extra Hex
- Improved Initiative
- Spell Focus (Enchantment)
- Greater Spell Focus (Enchantment)
- Combat Casting
- Craft Wondrous Item
Skills
Bluff +17, Diplomacy +17, Knowledge (arcana) +13, Knowledge (nobility) +12, Perception +12, Sense Motive +12, Spellcraft +13, Use Magic Device +17
Languages Common, French, Florentine (Italian), Latin, Aklo
SQ witch’s familiar (raven), noble etiquette (+2 Diplomacy in noble courts), witch’s spellbook (via familiar)
GEAR
Combat Gear:
- +2 silken ceremonial armor
- Headband of alluring charisma +2
- Cloak of resistance +2
- Wand of charm person (CL 5th, 20 charges)
- +1 dagger
- Mwk light crossbow with 20 bolts
Other Gear:
- Mirror of Marie’s Mercy
- Perfume of Courtly Fascination (functions as suggestion, 1/day)
- Grimoire of Yellow Secrets (witch’s familiar / outer planar link to Hastur)
- Courtly robes, ritual incense, scrying bowl
- Spell component pouch
- Jewelry and court tokens worth 2,000 gp
- Total Wealth: ~22,000 gp
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Mirror of Marie’s Mercy (Wondrous Item)
This silver-gilded mirror grants a +5 circumstance bonus to scrying against any creature of noble blood. Once per day, the user may cast augury or status through the mirror with a +2 caster level bonus.
Grimoire of Yellow Secrets
This disturbing leather-bound tome is bound to her familiar (a raven). Once per week, Leonora may cast contact other plane (Outer Plane only) through the tome, but must succeed on a DC 17 Will save or become shaken for 1d4 hours. This tome is whispered to be a gift from Hastur, the King in Yellow, her true patron and source of arcane insight.
Perfume of Courtly Fascination
When uncorked (swift action), all creatures within 10 ft. must succeed at a DC 17 Will save or be affected as if by suggestion. The effect lasts 1 hour or until the subject completes the task. Once/day.
Familiar (Raven)
Special: Speaks Common and Aklo; grants +3 on Fly checks; provides Alertness while adjacent
Treats the Grimoire of Yellow Secrets as both familiar and spellbook
DESCRIPTION
Leonora Dori is a poised woman of noble bearing and unnerving calm. Her garments are of black silk and velvet, trimmed in yellow and gold filigree. A faint, metallic perfume clings to her presence, and her eyes shimmer with both intelligence and cruelty. She speaks as if addressing ghosts even in polite company, and her words—laced with enchantment and elegance—seldom say only one thing.
BACKGROUND
Once a Florentine commoner, Leonora Dori rose to power as the trusted attendant and secret-keeper of Queen Marie de’ Medici. In Paris, she became more than a lady of the bedchamber—she was a confidante, ritualist, and enforcer of the Queen’s will. Her growing influence and occult power drew both devotion and fear. Behind mirrors and veils, she invoked the name of Hastur, walking the path between courtly grace and cosmic dread.
Her execution by the Parlement was meant to silence the strange whispers around her name. But among the veiled aristocrats and broken mirrors, some claim her spirit still lingers—seeking vengeance, power, or prophecy.