Character Creation Challenge: Day 27, Koliada Witch Queen of the Winter Witch Tradition

Back in June of 2009 D&D 4th edition was still on the shelves and Dungeon #162 was available for download.  Inside was an Epic level adventure by Stephen Radney-MacFarland called "Winter of the Witch". It featured the machinations of the so-called Winter Witch, the minor Archfey Koliada and her plans to freeze the world. From the adventure:

"In this epic adventure, the Winter Witch—a legendary archfey—has launched a campaign to send eternal winter cascading over large portions of the world. After a summons to Winterhaven, the characters find a land locked in ice, and an old ally in need of aid. A trek to find a artifact known as the Sun’s Sliver ensues, the only force potent enough to defeat the Winter Witch and banish her from the mortal world once more. An adventure for 22nd-level PCs."

While not totally an original plot, it was still fun, well executed and had a lot things going for it.  But mostly it had Koliada, who grabbed my attention from the start.  It also started me thinking about the witches of winter.  In particular, why are there so many? Louhi, Elsa, and the Snow Queen, Jadis, all the Jadwiga winter witches from Pathfinder, and so on.  Notably, almost all of these are also royalty, if not outright queens.

I went on to add her as a Witch Queen of my own with both Basic-era Witch and D&D 5e stats. Granted, I am not likely to run out of winter witches anytime soon, but she is still a great character. 

I think fo this new version of her I'll use my Twilight Elf species. Since this is nominally part of the "Blackmoor: Land of a Thousand Witches," I am going to say she is from my Blackmoor and the Land of the Black Ice. The area of my world where Blackmoor was destroyed.

Koliada
27th level Twilight Elf Witch Queen (Archwith 20, Witch Queen 7), Chaotic Evil
Tradition: Winter Witch

Secondary Skill: Initiate

S: 16
I: 17
W: 15
D: 15
C: 19
Ch: 20

Paralysis/Poison: 3
Petrify/Polymorph: 3  
Rod, Staff, or Wand: 4
Breath Weapon: 6
Spells: 5

AC: 0 (Leather +4, dex, Ring of Protection)
HP: 66
THAC0: 10

Weapon
Sword** +3 1d8+3 (athame enchanted with Spiritual Sword, Biting Blade, Death Blade, Conjure Pact Blade)

Familiar: Iceling (Ice Sprite)

Occult Powers
1st level: Familiar
7th level: Fae Shape
13th level: Curse
19th level: Shape Change

Witch Queen Powers: Awesome Presence, Occult Eminece (Conjure Pact Blade), A Thousand Faces, Ninth Level Spells (4)

Spells
Bonus Cantrips (Twilight Elf): Blur, Dancing Lights, Minor Charm
Cantrips: Chill, Daze, Alarm Ward, Ghost Sound, Inflict Minor Wounds, Spark
First level:  Bewitch I, Black Fire, Cause Fear, Charm Person, Chill Touch, Endure Elements, Glamour, Minor Fighting Prowess, Silver Tongue
Second level: Defoliate, Discord, Enthrall, Freezing Gaze, Hold Person, Invisibility, Phantasmal Spirit, Whispering Wind
Third level: Arctic Grasp, Bestow Curse, Bewitch III, Dispel Magic, Feral Spirit, Spirit of Hyperborea, Witch Wail
Fourth level: Analyze Magic, Charm Monster, Elemental Armor (Ice), Intangible Cloak of Shadows, Phantom Lacerations, Spiritual Sword, Withering Touch
Fifth level: Blade Dance, Death Curse, Dreadful Bloodletting, Nightmare
Sixth level: Death Blade, Eye Bite, Mass Agony, True Seeing
Seventh level: Death Aura, Greater Blindness, Insanity, Wave of Mutilation
Eighth level:  Destroy Life, Mystic Barrier, Wail of the Banshee
Ninth level: Foresight, Imprisonment, Power Word Kill, Shape Change

Theme Song: The Witch of the North

I rather like this version, to be honest. She compares well to both her Basic-era version and her D&D 4e one.

In 4e she can only be killed by something called the Sun's Sliver. Which is a piece of the sun. Sounds like the Sun Sword from Ravenloft. In my other games this would be a "Unique Kill" Quality.  I have debated about using something similar for all witch queens, but that would imply they are there to be killed, instead of my point of view, as near mythic-level characters who can aid or hinder characters as needed. You don't bring in a witch queen unless you plan on using her for something epic.