Esmerelda Honning was far more than the innocent widow she portrayed herself to be within the affluent circles of Avalon. Born on the outskirts of The Stillwoods, Esmerelda was not simply a druidic practitioner as many believed, but a malevolent Unbekannt deeply entrenched in the dark arts of witchcraft and deceit. Raised by a coven of druidic witchdoctors, Esmerelda learned the sinister ways of Hoodoo, which she used to mask her true, monstrous nature and blend seamlessly into society.
When Esmerelda arrived in Avalon to sell her family's brewed tonics, she saw an opportunity to elevate her standing and secure a place of power. Her chance came in the form of a young, wealthy nobleman named Adar Honning, who owned a lucrative beekeeping and brewery business. Adar's family, renowned for their honey-based tonics, resided within the opulent Emerald Estate. Esmerelda, seeing the opportunity to gain wealth and influence, used her dark charms to bewitch Adar, who quickly fell under her spell.
The two were soon married, and Esmerelda was welcomed into the Emerald Estate. However, her ambitions went far beyond mere wealth. She longed for control and the opportunity to revel in her true nature without fear of reprisal.
Shortly after their marriage, Adar Honning met an untimely and suspicious demise. He was found dead, his body grotesquely swollen from hundreds of bee stings, despite using the proper warding tinctures that had protected his family for generations. The city mourned the loss of the nobleman, believing his death to be a tragic accident caused by a tainted shipment of Merrythane nectar feed, which had supposedly frenzied the bees.
But the truth was far more sinister. Esmerelda had orchestrated her husband's death, using her Hoodoo magic to manipulate the bees into attacking him. With Adar gone, she inherited his estate and wealth, which she used to fuel her dark rituals and strengthen her powers. To maintain her cover, Esmerelda feigned deep sorrow, publicly blaming her husband's death on the faulty nectar while privately delighting in her newfound freedom and power. She even went as far as to reanimate Adar's corpse, turning him into a puppet-like servant who obeyed her every command, all while she pretended to mourn his passing.
Esmerelda's dark reign within the Emerald Estate continued for years. She thrived on the fear and misery of those around her, often preying on the most vulnerable members of society. Orphans, beggars, and the downtrodden of Avalon's lower city became her primary targets, disappearing into the night, never to be seen again. Her twisted activities drew the attention of Vander Greatoak, a ranger of the Sylvan Hunt whom suspected that something was amiss at the Emerald Estate.
Esmerelda, sensing the threat Vander posed, ensnared him in a voodoo contract during an auction at the Gold State Auction House, where she bid aggressively on a rod of resurrection. Now bound to her will, Vander became another pawn in her malevolent game, unable to resist her control.
Her wickedness, however, could not remain hidden forever. Rumors of dark magic and the disappearances surrounding Esmerelda began to circulate, eventually reaching the ears of King Balder Stonefist. The king, determined to rid Avalon of this growing evil, called for a witch hunt, enlisting the aid of the famed adventurers, The Sunsations.
The Sunsations launched a daring raid on the Emerald Estate, where they confronted Esmerelda in her true form—a monstrous Bheur Hag who fought with ferocity and dark magic. Despite her formidable powers, she was ultimately defeated by the heroes. In the final moments of her life, Esmerelda cursed the Sunsations, swearing vengeance even in death. However, her curses fell on deaf ears as her head was severed and returned to King Balder Stonefist as a trophy, a symbol of victory over the dark forces that had plagued Avalon.
With Esmerelda's death, the Emerald Estate was burned to the ground, purging the last vestiges of her evil from Avalon. The city breathed a collective sigh of relief, though the memory of the Wicked Crone of the Emerald Estate and the horrors she inflicted upon its people would not soon be forgotten (see: Evil Within the Emerald Estate).