Esbat

Esbat is a sphinx and former guardian of the Bands of the Archmagi.

Appearance
Esbat has the body of a lion, wings, and a feminine humanoid face. She generally has a regal bearing.

Personality
Esbat took her duty as the guardian of the Bands of the Archmagi very seriously and speaks formally. However, she is not without a sense of humor, allowing Ashara to pet her and, when asked about her future plans, unconcernedly claimed she would simply guard one of a number of other extremely powerful artifacts. Esbat also seems quite content with her life, having no desire to leave her temple once the Pog Champions claimed the Bands of the Archmagi.

Background
When the Bands of the Archmagi were given back to the Circle of Eight in Atemcester, they used their magic to contact Esbat in her temple in another plane. They gave her the Bands for protection. Before or after this, Esbat learned of the destruction of another world at Alzrius's hands, reinforcing the importance of her task.

Atemcester Arc
When the Pog Champions arrived in Atemcester to check on the state of its Abyssal Crest, the Circle of Eight agreed to let them have the Bands of the Archmagi if they were able to pass Esbat's trial. One of the Circle (presumably the Archmage of Conjuration) sent the adventurers to Esbat's domain. Esbat subjected the Pog Champions to a series of trials, with some guidance from her disembodied voice. First, they needed to locate her temple while two of their senses deceived them. This was accomplished by closing their eyes, covering their ears, and walking forward. In Esbat's trial of mettle, the adventurers needed to activate a magical countdown that caused increasingly concerning effects before reaching zero and simply unlocking the door. Esbat then told three riddles that needed to be solved to proceed. Esbat then separated the Pog Champions and asked each to choose between the Bands of the Archmagi and a selection of their loved ones. Once each person had made their choice, Esbat explained that there was no wrong answer but the choice was simply a test of their values. For the final trial, Esbat faced the Pog Champions in combat. She demonstrated a variety of mystical abilities, including instantly aging Briar by 19 years and teleporting the fight to the world destroyed by Alzrius, where she explained how that world's empress made a deal with Alzrius that resulted in complete devastation. When Esbat was sufficiently wounded, she declared an end to the fight, presenting the Bands of the Archmagi to the Pog Champions and returning them to her temple. Esbat congratulated them on passing on her trials and expressed her satisfaction with their prowess as the Bands' new protectors. She planned to stay at her temple, having no desire to leave her home, and claimed to have other powerful magical objects to protect. She told the Pog Champions that when they left her temple, they would be returned to the Circle Tower in Atemcester. On their way out, the adventurers found piles of gold, which Esbat encouraged them to take as a gift.

Goals
Esbat wanted to protect the Bands of the Archmagi in order to prevent the summoning of Alzrius. When the weakening of the barrier between worlds made her a temple a less secure location for the Bands, Esbat hoped to find a group worthy of taking the Bands to the material plane where they could protect them more effectively. She succeeded in this and was happy to give the Bands of the Archmagi to the Pog Champions.

Abilities
As a sphinx, Esbat has a wide variety of abilities. She can teleport across rooms, alter the flow of time to rapidly age those she fights, and teleport people to other planes. She is also able to cast spells such as Counterspell and Fireball, can fly with her wings, and send messages telepathically. Esbat also appears to be immune to psychic damage.

Quotes

 * "You are strong. But are you strong enough to face the might of a world not your own?"
 * (Upon being asked if it's okay to pet her) "Once."

Trivia

 * Trivia 1