# [[Graveknight Armor]] ![[uu-sythra.png]] **Sythra**, known as the Graveknight or "Seaweed Knight," is both a curse and a creature—a set of cursed armor that continuously creates undead to wield it. The armor cannot be killed until the armor itself is destroyed. Graveknights have butchered entire towns and castles because they are virtually unstoppable. ## Identity & Nature - A Level 10 cursed armor/undead. As long as the armor exists, it keeps creating a new undead creature to wear and wield it. - No real weakness except being undead (vulnerable to effects that harm undead). She is also affected by the [[Black Hollow Curse]] the party caused on this level. - When first encountered she appeared as a helmeted, rusted, seaweed-covered knight emerging from the water dragging a greatsword—hence the party's name "Seaweed Knight." - Speaks with an old voice that sounds almost female, at least neutral. - Knows she is **not** the original wearer—she is aware of being a creature given memories or form by the curse rather than the woman who first wore the armor. ## Background & Role - In life, Sythra served a bone devil named [[Tarcannah]] in maintaining order in [[The Gauntlight]] under [[Belcorra]]. - Her task was to keep the level orderly and ensure Belcorra's orders were followed. - Both she and Tarcannah died when [[Jafaki]] took over the level. - Her oath to maintain order has given her renewed purpose even in undeath—she clings to duty above all. - **Earlier life (recalled by [[Vayle]], Session 119)**: Before all this, Sythra was a decorated commander in [[Absalom]]'s First Guard—specifically the [[Eagle Garrison]] that protected [[Kortos]] from threats like minotaurs, harpies, and centaurs. She knew [[Otari]] and its people well, and she was also a mother. - She appears to have been defending the region at a time when people believed the deeper threat beneath the Gauntlet was already over. ## Relationship with the Party - [[Vayle]] had a past relationship with Sythra before she became a Graveknight. Vayle would complain to her about [[The Voidseekers]] and always sensed she was sympathetic to them—though in truth Sythra had infiltrated [[Belcorra]]'s organization, not the Voidseekers. - **Parallel operatives (Session 119)**: When Vayle's crew was infiltrating the Voidseekers, they invited Sythra to join that mission, but she declined without explanation. The two knew each other fairly well—described as parallel operatives on similar missions—and they parted on good terms. - **Shared children (Session 120)**: Sythra's five children are also [[Vayle]]'s. Her line survives in [[Otari]] to the present day: [[Maret]], a reclusive ghast washerwoman, is descended from it and still keeps a hair spike of a design unique to Sythra's hometown. - Now stands as one of two obstacles to reaching [[Volluk Azrinae|Volluk]]: she guards him, and the door to him is buried under rubble. - Declared the party "unintelligent creatures" and ordered them to "stay in your pens," demanding their name and purpose and stating outsiders are not permitted on this level. - [[Grumblebum|Grumble]] attempted to negotiate, offering to help reverse her curse; she dismissed the offer as "irrelevant" (one negotiation failure recorded). - [[Ashnefrotty|Ash]] asked if anything could restore her memories; she said she doesn't need them, only her duty. - When Vayle called out her name, "Sythra," she stopped briefly, then continued walking without a word. - Told the party she wouldn't chase them if they left, but would attack on sight if she saw them again. The party wisely chose to avoid rather than confront her. ## Combat Abilities - **Weaponmaster**: Extremely skilled with its greatsword, a "ruinous weapon" with special critical-hit effects. - **Acid Damage**: Drips acid that sizzles on whatever it hits. - **Electrical Cone Attack**: Can unleash an electrical cone that wipes out multiple enemies at once. - **Summoned Mount**: Can summon a fully armored black horse that sprouts wings. - **Unholy Aura**: Emanates an unholy aura; plants in the [[Mutalisks|Mutalisk]] room shrink away from her, and neither the Mutalisks nor the plants will harm her. - One of the most dangerous threats the party has faced—her ability to regenerate wielders plus these abilities makes a straight fight unwise. ## How to Destroy Her - **Respawn time**: 1–10 days after being "killed." - **Two-step process** to destroy her permanently: 1. A high-level *Remove Curse* spell or similar divine magic. 2. Physical destruction of the armor itself. - **Limitation**: [[Vayle]] can remove curses, but only for willing creatures—and Sythra is not willing. ## Mental State - Lost and mentally unbalanced, possibly due to [[Nhimbaloth]]'s corruption. - Has forgotten her own name and many details of her past. - May have genuine missing memories, or may have been given partial memories from another creature. - Despite the gaps, she clings tightly to her sense of duty. ## Unresolved Threads - She named three figures who "need to fulfill their purpose": [[Sketh]] (possibly the one dissecting dwarves), [[Jafaki]] (to be "dealt with but not defeated"), and [[Volluk Azrinae|Volluk]]. - Whether her sympathy toward [[The Voidseekers]] still matters, given she infiltrated Belcorra's organization. - Whether her memories can—or should—be restored, and what she would become if they were.