Baroness Ilsabet Obour

Baroness Ilsabet Obour is the main character of the novel Baroness of Blood and the darklord of Kislova, though politically she only rules the country on behalf of her incapacitated husband. She is the daughter of Baron Janosk Obour, and sister of Marishka Obour and Baron Mihael Obour. She is the wife of Baron Peto Casse (the ruler of Sundell) and mother of Lekai. She lives in Nimbus Castle.

Biography

Early Life

Ilsabet Obour is one of the Obour Family, the noble family that ruled Kislova for five centuries at the start of 'Baroness of Blood.' Apparent afflicted by a wasting disease that claimed her mother, she inherited both her father's guile and his cruel relentlessness. Baron Janosk observed and respected these qualities in Ilsabet and approved her tutelage by his friend Lord Jirani in not only matters of history and philosophy but also more "esoteric" arts such as alchemy and, more specifically, poisonmaking.

Baron Janosk was embroiled in a Kislovan Civil War and enacted brutal tactics to destroy the rebels and outlaws that resisted his rule. He asked Ilsabet what they should do with Dark, a captured rebel leader. Ilsabet recommended forcing him to watch his comrades be burned at the stake then Blinding him and removing his tongue. He could then be abandoned in the wilderness and, should he survive, serve as an example of what happens to those who resist the Obours. This decision proved to be catastrophic, as Dark lived to deliver word of Kislova's plans for the Invasion of Sundell to Baron Peto Casse. Chardin, a young girl that Ilsabet noticed observing Dark's punishment but said nothing about, proved vital in delivering Dark over the border to Sundell.

In the fallout of Kislova's failed invasion, Sundell defeated Kislova and in turn invaded Kislova. Baron Janosk traded the sacrifice of his life to Baron Peto in return for sparing the Obour Family. Of the Obour Family, only Ilsabet Obour refused to swear loyalty to Baron Peto. In fact, she swore an oath of vengeance against Baron Peto for the "murder" of her father. Before he died, Janosk entrusted the avenging of his death to Ilsabet. Little did he know this quest he impressed upon Ilsabet would spell doom for his family and his country.

Machinations for Revenge

To prepare for her vengeance, Ilsabet caused the deaths of many (incidentally or on purpose) of many, mostly through (and some to further enhance) her developing knowledge of poisons. Her casualty list included (but was not limited to) both siblings and personal servants. Though she avoided punishment by temporal authorities, her actions did not go without repercussion. The deaths (or more accurately, the pain and fear) she caused alleviated the wasting sickness, making her healthier and more beautiful, albeit temporarily. However, she became haunted by the ghosts of those she murdered, particularly Marishka's ghost. She heeded not their warnings of doom she was wreaking upon her family, her country, and even herself. As her kills reached higher proportions, an increasing veil of mist began enveloping Nimbus Castle and the surrounding land.

ilsabet's blooming attractiveness earned her the attention of Baron Peto following Marishka's demise. Although against Ilsabet's initial wishes, she eventually came around to marrying him, if only to better wreak her vengeance and to gain control over both Sundell and Kislova. While at Shadow Castle, she found an ancient and forgotten book that provided her with the dark knowledge to reanimate the deceased. Using this dark knowledge, she created two alchemical undead resembling vampires by reanimating the brothers Emory and Arman. The latter became the captain of her personal guard and informant, informing her of any threat or even complainer of her rule of Kislova. Later, after she seduced Jirani (see below) and the predation of the alchemical vampires drew too much attention, she employed Lord Jirani's aid in destroying them.

Mostly at the beginning and middle of her career of treachery, Lord Jirani was a fellow conspirator. She had long respected and even loved her mentor and sought out his advice. Although Jirani at first admired and even came to fall in love with the much younger Ilsabet for her ruthless devotion to avenging Janosk, Jirani began to become ill at ease with the levels of Ilsabet's traitorous behavior. However, Ilsabet seduced him, reaching a new persona low by using her words of love for him into mere tools to gain his compliance. Ilsabet eventually gave birth to a child named Lekai, though it is not known for sure whether the child was sired from Jirani's seed or from Peto's seed.

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

		Baroness of Blood
		Baroness of Blood - Throughout