Asp

Asp was a spirit naga assistant of the Zulkir of Alteration, Maligor in Amruthar in Thay circa 1362 DR.

"Even though she had used the same words, the spell wasn’t working as it had when Maligor cast it. This darkenbeast was too big and was retaining many of its weasel featuresits hind legs, ears, stubby tail, and round, frightened eyes. Its skin was covered with festering boils, as if the thing were diseased. For a moment, the naga considered calling for the Red Wizard, hoping he could correct her miscast magic. Then she realized he would be angry because she had cast a spell he had not yet taught her."

Description
Unlike other nagas, Asp had a human-like upper torso. Her master wondered if her unusual shape was due to her ability to shapeshift into human or demihuman form or merely a magical illusion. She was almost in length.

Asp's human skin was pale, clear, and delicate and she wore her sable hair close-clipped. Her eyes were blue and she had high cheekbones and red yarberry-colored lips. She wore a strand of expensive black pearls on her slender neck and kept her nails manicured, showing sophistication. Her voice was described to be feminine and sultry. She had a very distinct scent of rotting flesh that displeased her master.

Her lower torso was covered in crimson and charcoal scales resembling a colorful sand boa ridged with armored, triangular scales down her back and tail.

Personality
Asp showed a yearning for magical knowledge, especially when the spells satisfied her sadistic inclinations. She enjoyed watching her master torture and transmute animals into vile monstrosities, and she enjoyed making a show of strength via murder. The sadistic personality only reinforced her feeling of superiority over humans.

Abilities
Asp had magical abilities, both racial of her species, and learned arcane spells from her master. The naga was able to charm lesser males forcing them to do her bidding, and she often did so to command Maligor's armies.

History
Since 1359 DR the naga has been Maligor's companion and assistant. She started apprenticing the arcane art under him, gaining trust and being rewarded with the Red Wizard's guard force leader and chief instructor of his army positions.

Asp was power-hungry and to feed her own ambition she "borrowed" Maligor's satchel of dried wyvern blood and attempted to replicate the create darkenbeast spell in secret. She failed, creating a miserable misshapen aberration, it was still under her control though, nevertheless, the naga dismissed the monster by ordering it to massacre the peasants, leading to its attack on the tent city outside Amruthar as well as the harper agents that were staying there overnight.

Appearances

 * Red Magic