Death Knight
Ramya Vasavadan is the Darklord of Kalakeri, a Domain of Dread set in luscious rainforests where ambitious siblings rival one another for the throne of the land. As the eldest of the royal family of Kalakeri, Ramya was named as the successor to her father to rule the nation however, her siblings had grander ambitions. They betrayed Ramya, though she refused to execute them, showing them emrcy instead. This was a mistake as they continued to plot against her, eventually killing her.
This was not the end for Ramya, as she was hung, she screamed out a curse against her siblings, calling them bloodthirsty beasts. It was at this moment that Kalakeri was drawn into the mists of Ravenloft. Ramya, determined to exact vengeance and take back what was rightfully hers, rose from her watery grave along with the soldiers that had been loyal to her in life as undead beings and killed all that had betrayed them, including Ramya’s siblings; Arijani and Reeva. But their bloody cycle of infighting continues as Arijani and Reeva have been reborn into terrible beasts who continue to battle for the throne of Kalakeri.
Information About Ramya Vasavadan
| Characteristic | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Ramya Vasavadan |
| Domain | Kalakeri |
| Race | Human (now an undead death knight) |
| Alignment | Lawful Evil |
| Siblings | Arijani and Reeva |
| Home | Cerulean Citadel, Kalakeri |
Ramya’s Stat Block
Ramya was a powerful warrior in life and is a powerful death knight in her undeath, as such, he follows fairly closely to the stats of a death knight as outlined in The Monster Manual, but with some alterations. The following stat block is not an official release but my own creation as Darklord stat blocks haven’t been officially released by Wizards of the Coast for 5th edition.
- Medium humanoid (human, undead), Lawful Evil
- Armour Class: 21 (plate, shield)
- Hit Points: 180 (19d8 + 95)
- Speed: 30ft
| Str | Dex | Con | Int | Wis | Cha |
| 20 (+5) | 12 (+1) | 20 (+5) | 12 (+1) | 16 (+3) | 18 (+4) |
Saving Throws: Dex +6, Wis +9, Cha +10
Damage Immunities: necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities: Exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
Senses: Darkvision 120ft, Passive Perception 13
Languages: Abyssal, Common
Challenge: 17 (18,000 XP)
Horn of Blasting: Ramya can use an action to speak the horn’s command word and then blow the horn, which emits a thunderous blast in a 30-foot cone that is audible 600 feet away. Each creature in the cone must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 5d6 thunder damage and is deafened for 1 minute. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage and isn’t deafened. Creatures and objects made of glass or crystal have disadvantage on the saving throw and take 10d6 thunder damage instead of 5d6.
Magic Resistance: Ramya has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Marshal Undead: Unless Ramya is incapacitated, she and undead creatures of her choice within 60 feet of her have advantage on saving throws against features that turn undead.
Legendary Resistance (2/day): When Ramya fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Spellcasting: Ramya is a 19th-level spellcaster. Her spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 18, +10 to hit with spell attacks). She has the following paladin spells prepared:
- 1st level (4 slots): command, compelled duel, searing smite
- 2nd level (3 slots): hold person, magic weapon
- 3rd level (3 slots): dispel magic, elemental weapon
- 4th level (3 slots): banishment, staggering smite
- 5th level (2 slots): destructive wave (necrotic)
ACTIONS
Multiattack: Ramya makes three longsword attacks or three longbow attacks.
Longsword: Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) slashing damage, or 10 (1d10 + 5) if used with two hands, plus 18 (4d8) necrotic damage.
Longbow: Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 600 ft., one target. Hit. 7 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) fire damage.
Hellfire Orb (1/day): Ramya hurls a magical ball of fire that explodes within 120 feet of it. Each creature in a 20-foot radius sphere centered on that point must make DC 18 Dexterity saving throw. The sphere spreads around corners. A creature takes 35 (10d6) fire damage and 35 (10d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.
Reactions
Parry: Ramya adds 6 to her AC against one melee attack that would hit her. To do so, Ramya must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Ramya can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. She can take only one legendary action at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Ramya regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.
Longsword: Ramya makes one longsword attack
Raise Undead (costs 2 legendary actions): Ramya raises a dead ally as a wight that fights as her ally
Ramya’s Personality
To those that deal with Ramya, they will see that she is a capable and measured individual who is even capable of kindness. However, she has been heavily influenced by the betrayals of her siblings who constantly fight her for the Sapphire Throne that she clings on to. Her paranoia runs deep and this has a habit of causing her to act irrationally and mercilessly when she feels threatened. For this reason, she has also, often killed mercilessly, even those that are innocent. Despite her paranoia and her hatred towards her siblings, she does still love Arijani and Reeva, her brother and sister. For this reason, she can be susceptible to their lies and deceptions.
While Ramya is an undead death knight, she hides this hideous visage with an illusion, appearing as her mortal self, a powerful warrior. However, hints of her undeath can be felt through the coldness of her touch and in the reflections of her. For this reason, Ramya doesn’t allow mirrors in her presence. Ramya’s loyal warriors also share her fate in undeath and on a full moon, those that have fallen will rise again as skeletons and wights in her service once again.
History of Ramya Vasavadan
Ramya Vasavadan was the eldest daughter of the previous King of Kalakeri. Before he died, he name Ramya as his successor. However, Arijani, Ramya’s brother, was not happy about being overlooked, he believed that he deserved the throne. Once their father had died, Arijani attempted to lay claim to the throne, stirring up the power-hungry ranas (the nobility of Kalakeri) against Ramya.
The ensuing conflict was dealt with swiftly as Ramya met her brother in battle. She intended to execute her bother for his treason but Reeva, Ramya’s younger sister begged for mercy so Ramya cast her brother into prison instead. Little did Ramya know that Reeva was also a perpetrator in this rebellious plot.
For a time, Ramya ruled with justice, promoting learning and prosperity, but this was not to last. Eventually, with the help of disloyal ranas, Reeva was able to plot an escape for here brother. Arijani, after years of plotting and stewing, was now able to lead his rebellion once again. Revolts occurred throughout the kingdom and Ramya, keen not to repeat her past mistakes, executed those involoved mercilessly. Eventually though, Reeva was able to convince her sister to meet with Arijani for negotiations.
Arijani and Reeva had no intention of negotiating with Ramya though. Instead, they set a trap. They killed Ramya’s royal guard and then took Ramya to be executed, showing her none of the mercy she had shown her brother years ago.
As Ramya was being strangled by the executioner’s garrote, she screamed out a curse upon her brother and sister, calling them bloodthirsty beasts. Ramya’s body was flung unceremoniously into the sea, but as this happened, Kalakeri was drawn into the mists of Ravenloft.
Weeks passed, but as the waves grew to their highest, Ramya emerged from her watery grave, reborn as a death knight and with an undead host of the slaughtered that she had led in life. They entered the streets of Jadurai, tore down the gates to the Cerulean Citadel and slaughtered all that had betrayed her. Ramya declared her younger siblings as traitors and had them executed, trampled underfoot by undead elephants.
In death Arijani and Reeva howled like beasts and cursed as they were, they were reborn, transformed into monstrous beasts that continue to wage war against Ramya for the throne of Kalakeri.
All Darklords of Ravenloft
| Ankhtepot | Hazlik | Nepenthe |
| Chakuna | House of Lament | Queen Tsien Chiang |
| Count Strahd Von Zarovich | Ivana Boritsi | Ramya Vasavadan |
| Dr Viktra Mordenheim | Ivan Dilisnya | Vecna |
| Duchess Saidra d’Honaire | Jacqueline Renier | Vladeska Drakov |
| God-Brain of Bluetspur | Mother Lorinda | Wilfred Godefroy |
| Harkon Lucas |