Phrodaste

Phrodaste is a member of the Circle of Eight and the Archmage of Illusion.

Appearance
Phrodaste is a small-sized woman of unknown origin whose face is shrouded by an illusory pink haze at all times. This illusion cannot be dispelled unless she retires from her position in the Circle of Eight. She is noticeably shorter than her colleagues and sits with her feet in her chair and arms around her knees, even during official meetings.

Personality
Phrodaste is very whimsical, being described as "cutesy" by a pamphlet about the current archmagi. She seems comfortable interjecting at Circle meetings with slightly off-kilter comments, but has also demonstrated some conflict resolution skills, allaying Kilwin's fears of the Everburning Longsword being taken instead of properly destroyed.

Background
Phrodaste is a powerful mage who rose through the ranks of Atemcester's wizards to become a member of the Circle of Eight. Upon ascending to the Circle, Phrodaste consented to remain anonymous and have face hidden with illusion magic as long as she served as an archmage. Her true name is unknown. Initially, she was known as the Archmage of Illusion. However, this was deemed cumbersome by many and, upon the discovery of a tablet in ruins from the late Vrinian Empire, the archmagi decided to adopt the names of ancient wizards for their seats. She selected the name Phrodaste for her seat. Before the Champions Valoris arrived in Atemcester, the Circle held a vote on whether or not to entrust the Bands of the Archmagi to them. The vote was marginally in favor of allowing the adventurers to take the Abyssal Crest, pending the results of a test of ability administered by the Crest's current guardian, Esbat. It is unknown how Phrodaste voted on this motion.

Atemcester Arc
Phrodaste was present for the party's initial meeting with the Circle of Eight. She expressed no issue with the Champions Valoris taking the Bands of the Archmagi, but spoke in defense of the Circle's current protective measures. Upon the party's return to the material plane and learning of the Circle's newly chosen pseudonyms, she cast an illusion spell, creating glowing runes that identified each of the archmagi by their pseudonym. When Kilwin expressed reservations about handing over the Everburning Longsword and Dunan's dagger to Zalos, Phrodaste convinced him that it was best to allow the blades to be destroyed in front of everyone, where many witnesses could spot any potential trickery. She also spoke highly of Zalos's ability to blow things up. Phrodaste also used her illusion magic to project a map of Alethustria on the audience chamber's table, allowing Ashara to show the Circle the location of the former Vrinian Empire. The next day, when Ashara returned to the Circle Tower to tell the archmagi more about the Vrinian Empire and fully translate the tablet they discovered, Phrodaste defended Paisodos against Ashara's accusation that he was pretending to not be able to read the tablet himself.

Goals
Phrodaste's goals are a mystery to the Champions Valoris, perhaps even more so than those of her colleagues. However, she seems to be having a great time.

Abilities
Phrodaste is an extremely powerful wizard, and one of the greatest practitioners of illusion magic in her time. She may be responsible for the semi-permanent illusion hiding the faces of the archmagi to preserve their anonymity.

Quotes

 * (On the defenses for the Bands of the Archmagi) "I think you'll find the one that we've got is… well, it's pretty good!"

Trivia

 * Trivia 1