Issar is a type 3 yuan-ti malison who serves as an overseer in the Fane of the Night Serpent, managing enslaved captives held in area 19. He wears a distinctive red cloth headdress sewn with malachite gemstones.
Role and Personality
Issar oversees captives who are supposedly widening caverns to create new sleeping quarters for yuan-ti, though progress has been slow due to broken tools. Despite his title, Issar is profoundly vain and disinterested in his duties—he spends most of his time gazing at his own reflection in a golden hand mirror rather than actually supervising anyone.
He refuses to speak directly to the captives beneath him. Instead, he communicates through subtle, unspoken gestures (tail twitches, tongue flicks) that must be interpreted by a Chultan boy named Khoti, who serves as his translator. In reality, Khoti fabricates most of these “translations,” and Issar doesn’t care as long as he receives proper deference.
Key Relationships
Fenthaza: Issar works under Fenthaza’s authority. When she wants to test captured characters to see if they can be trusted as pawns in her plot against Ras Nsi, she assigns them to work under Issar’s supervision.
Khoti: A Chultan boy who acts as Issar’s interpreter, translating the overseer’s gestures into commands. Khoti largely makes up what he claims Issar is communicating.
Captives: Issar oversees 2d10 enslaved captives (various races, alignments, and genders) who perform labor in the temple. The captives are mentally broken by trauma and tranquilizing drugs.
Associated Locations
Issar is stationed in area 19 (Captives’ Quarters) with three yuan-ti broodguards. Intruders caught trying to sneak past guards at the secret entrance (area 20) are brought to Issar for questioning.
Treasure
- Iron key that unlocks the double door to area 13 (storeroom)
- Red cloth headdress sewn with malachite gemstones (250 gp)
- Golden hand mirror (75 gp)
Game Mechanics
Stat Block: Type 3 yuan-ti malison (snake arms variant)
Combat: Issar and his broodguards remain in area 19 unless combat breaks out elsewhere in the temple.