Slanted Circle Cultist Mage

active

A scholarly spellcaster corrupted by the Slanted Circle's heretical teachings

lieutenant
  • humanoid
  • slanted-circle
  • spellcaster
  • cr5

Slanted Circle Cultist Mage

Tall and gaunt, the Slanted Circle Cultist Mage wears charcoal-black robes embroidered with off-kilter glyphs. Her pale skin is stretched tight over sharp cheekbones, and her eyes glow with a sickly amber light whenever she weaves arcane power. She clutches a dagger in one hand and a battered spellbook in the other, muttering incantations in a tongue that grates on the ear.

Lore

Once a promising scholar of arcane symbols, the Cultist Mage was lured into the heretical teachings of a hidden cabal known as The Slanted Circle. Obsessed with tearing open portals to other realms and summoning forces beyond mortal comprehension, she now serves the Circle’s shadowy aims: to unravel reality’s fabric.

Stats

  • Hit Points: 38 (7d8 + 7)
  • Armor Class: 15 (mage armor)
  • Speed: 30 ft.
  • Challenge Rating: 5 (1,800 XP)
STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
10 (+0)14 (+2)12 (+1)16 (+3)12 (+1)14 (+2)
  • Saving Throws: Int +6, Wis +4
  • Skills: Arcana +6, Insight +4, Deception +5
  • Senses: passive Perception 11
  • Languages: Common, Abyssal
  • Alignment: Chaotic evil

Abilities

Mage Armor: AC includes mage armor (already calculated).

Arcane Recovery: Once per day when finishing a short rest, can recover spell slots with a combined level ≤4.

Spellcasting: 7th-level spellcaster. Spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks).

  • Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, minor illusion, thaumaturgy
  • 1st level (4 slots): magic missile, detect magic, mage armor
  • 2nd level (3 slots): mirror image, misty step
  • 3rd level (3 slots): fireball, counterspell
  • 4th level (1 slot): blight

Actions

Quarterstaff: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage, or 6 (1d8 + 2) if used with two hands.

Dagger: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.

Legendary Actions

Arcane Invocation: Casts one cantrip she knows.

Loot

  • Tattered Spellbook: Contains the mage’s prepared spells and twisted rituals. Worth 50 gp to a collector of arcane lore.
  • Blackened Dagger: A ritual dagger stained with infernal oil. Functions as a +1 dagger when attuned. Value: 200 gp.
  • Silver Amulet of the Tilted Eye: A silver amulet engraved with a slanted eye glyph. Grants advantage on Arcana checks related to planar magic. Value: 150 gp.
  • Coin Purse: Contains 75 gp and 30 sp.

Session 11 Encounter

Two Cultist Mages ambushed the party in the Xen’Drik jungle as part of the Circle’s rear guard. Their spellcasting combined with the Blademancers’ melee attacks created dangerous flanking situations.