Leederik

The Phantom Lover is a darklord with a unique dominion that can reach beyond the Land of Mists and into the Prime Material Plane. He is a creature with an unknown true form that preys on the grief and loneliness of women. His domain is Leederik's Tower, a pocket domain.

Appearance

Also known as Leederick, the Phantom Lover appears as an exact mirror image of whoever his victim desires. The only constant is his left foot, which is black, clawed and scaly like a dragon's. He can also appear as a hideous black serpent.

Background

Nothing is known of where the The Phantom Lover came from or who he truly is. His first known appearance (and victim) was in Cormyr, of the Forgotten Realms setting. (A story known as the Tale of the Phantom Lover is known there.) His pocket domain is that of a labyrinth with a black tower in the middle, which not much is known about, much less explored. It is known that mortal beings have great difficulty surviving this domain, and if they do not leave or escape then death is soon to follow.

Abilities

The Phantom Lover is one of the few beings — aside from the Dark Powers, Mist Ferrymen, and greater gods - who can breach the borders of the Demiplane of Dread of his own will. He can appear anywhere in the Prime Material Plane, at any time. However, he limits himself to the task at hand, which is the temptation of a vulnerable woman. The lady's bedchambers essentially become an extension of his domain. Only by keeping the charmed victim outdoors for three days can he be driven off.

Many of his abilities are vampire-like in nature, such as the ability to turn to mist; shapechange into a snake; he also shares the dislike of, and the vulnerability to, sunlight. It is unknown whether his nature is truly of the undead sort.

He also enjoys (or suffers) true immortality. He cannot be completely destroyed, and will return time and time again.

Most darklords suffer underneath a curse. If the Phantom Lover has a curse, it is never explicitly stated.

Dr. van Richten classifies the Phantom Lover as a Fifth Magnitude Ghost. As mentioned above, however, several other sages classify the Phantom Lover as a variant of the vampire.

Other Information

The Phantom Lover is similar in some ways to the Gentleman Caller. It is unknown if there is any link between the two.

At least one unknown DM on the web has located Leederik's Tower in the Nocturnal Sea.

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

		Darklords
		Darklords p. 69
		Darklords pp. 71–73
		Darklords pp. 68–71
		The Phantom Lover