Ocarin Stonehollow: Ex Memoriam
Backstory
Ocarin Stonehollow was a dwarf of the Sword Coast, and not necessarily one anyone would think twice about. Not particularly good at anything, or especially clever, but friendly. He didn't work, or in fact contribute to his small town in any significant way, except to sing at the bars around town for a modest living. When a strange and beautiful Shadar-Kai came to town, it was the first time anyone special ever took notice of him. Ocarin and Charlamagne began to spend a lot of time together, and even did a little bit of traveling.
Unfortunately, it was on one of these journeys that the two were ambushed by a vampire. Ocarin was killed by the vampire, but not turned. Charlamagne desperately searched for someone who could heal Ocarin, and eventually came upon a monastery who would all too familiar with death. They agreed to resurrect him, but when he came back, he was different. The touch of death was still on him, and his personality had changed to become notably more solemn, and seemingly more filled with wisdom. He came back speaking of the other side, and even the music he made had a strange, ethereal power. The monastery sent one of their guides, a human named Warren, to travel with the pair a while and make sure nothing was amiss.
The truth is, Ocarin was not killed by the vampire. The vampire bit and was turning him, and to prevent him from becoming a vampire, Charlamagne slit his throat beneath the bite so his blood would not reach the vampire's teeth. He still has this wound across his neck, but no one has noticed it because it's covered by his large beard.
Ocarin carries a large Irish flute, a bohran (to which he has now attached small bones to give a tambourine effect), and a bouzouki. He also carries, as his focus, a bone necklace with a locket which magically sealed at his death, and has not been able to open since. He doesn't know what's inside the locket, though he assumes it might be a picture of someone who was close to him in life.
Details
The Father of the Bride
In the dead of night while resting in Barovia's Burgomaster Mansion, the spirit of one Burgomaster Kolyan Indirovich came to Ocarin and begged him to keep his daughter, Ireena Kolyana safe. When Ocarin promised, he felt a grave chill from his bones and gave rest to the soul of the Burgomaster.
The Hanged Man
While exploring the Ivlis River Crossroads, the Guardians of the Horizon found a galley with a single hanged corpse. A ghoulish figure in old tattered robes appeared to Ocarin in the distance, and ushered the soul of the hanged man into the forest to the west.
The Legion of Dusk
While fighting an amalgamation of Dusk Elf souls trapped within the catacombs beneath the Town of Vallaki, Ocarin found within himself the capacity to consume the thousands of souls and usher them into realm beyond. The experience threatened to destroy him and his already fragile ego, but a great power stopped him, "careful now."
The Patron of Fugue
While his friends rested, Ocarin attempted to contact the deity he believed to be connected to. The entity was too weak to speak directly, but responded with indignance when he was asked if he was one of the gods of death.
A Lady of the Night
While attempting to contact the Raven Queen, Ocarin Stonehollow was visited by a spirit:
Ocarin ONLYSuddenly your find yourself looking up at a bright and cloudless sky. The woman, now dressed in combat leathers pulls you to your feet as though you had fallen onto your back. "You can't fight warlords on your back, now can you sire?" she teases. You step aside and see that you had stood in the place of a young, handsome man, armored in fine plate, "I was just ducking out of the way to give you a clear shot, Patrina, I couldn't have all the fun," he quips back and smirks. You see the woman, Patrina, bite her lip and smile back. A dusk elf rushes up to the man, "Commander Strahd, the encampment has been cleared," the elf kneels and dips his head before him. Without breaking eye contact with Patrina, Strahd places his hand on the shoulder of elf, "relax Rahadin, you're embarrasing me in front of a lady!" "Of course, my prince, my appologies," Rahadin snears as he looks over to Patrina. "Go rally the men for a perimeter or something, Raddy, you've done well," Strahd says as he shews his majordomo away, the dusk elf groans but does not hesitate to move. "He still doesn't like me," Lady Patrina says after Rahadin leaves earshot. "He'll come around - even if he doesn't, he can't feel but so threatened by a princess," Strahd says as he bumps Patrina with is hip. "This one was stronger than the others, it felt magical," he continues, gesturing to the body of the recently killed warlord. "This land has a power, Strahd. I told you that this campaign would be different that what you're used to," she remarks, "are you sure you want to commit to this? The land will fight you just as hard as the bandits." "I won't give up on them, Patrina, the people need my help and I can't let these warbands continue to suck them dry."
The scene shifts to a castle bedroom. Strahd and Patrina lie together under silken sheets, naked. Years have passed, Patrina looks the same, but time has taken its toll on the man Strahd. "I'm not strong enough anymore, Patrina," pleads the far older, now King Strahd, "you spoke of a place in the mountains once. Its not for me, its for the people - if I can't save them, someone could hurt them." "It was a mistake to share that with you, my lord," replies Patrina, "it would take an exceptional man to resist the darkness. Speak not of it, show me your strength again." Strahd leans over and kisses Patrina on her neck. "Actually, my lady," grins Strahd, "there is something I would like for me." He rolls over to a bedside table and produces a small red velvet jewelry box. "Strahd!" exclaims Patrina. "My lady, become by queen, become by strength. Be what makes me exceptional. I love you, Patrina Velikovna, marry me." She practically leaps over to him, stradling him beneath her on the bed. "Yes! I love you Strahd, with all of my heart, yes!" Strahd smiles from ear to ear and places a ring on Patrina's finger, a beautiful ornate ring adorned with a glimering diamond. "We can make the announcement tomorrow, my brother should arrive by then - he's finally aquiesed to joining us here are Ravenloft." "I'm the happiest I've ever been, in all my years. I only wish my brother would approve - he's convinced that I've been bewitched," she says with a chuckle. Suddenly a knock echoes from the door and the voice of an elderly woman rings out, "my king, you are needed in the great hall!" "Thank you Baba," replies Strahd. "She said yes, Baba!" The door opens slowly and an woman with wrinkles like the rings of tree peaks inside, staring daggers at Patrina, "oh, how lovely, my king," she says quickly fixing a smile. "Duty calls," Strahd says glibly, pecking Patrina one last time and dons a robe and leaves through the door. "Stay here, dear, no need to remove yourself from comfort," Baba Lysaga quips and shuts the door. Suspiciously, you hear an extra click as the door is locked from the outside. Patrina doesn't notice this and simply rolls her eyes. A shadow flashes over the room and as quickly as the snap of a finger, Majordomo Rahadin explodes from a dark corner and attacks Patrina.
Again the scene changes, now to a familiar hovel, Kasimir's hut just outside of Vallaki. "Thank you for filling me in, brother," a weary and far more emaciated Patrina whispers, eyes wide in shock. "I'm sorry, Paty, he has shown his true colors," Kasimir cautions, "I am too happy to see you alive and returned to let you waltz into that monster's court." "What will you do? Keep me here against my will?" quips Patrina, "I love him. I was stolen from him. He went to the temple. He has its power. I will show him that he is indeed exceptional." Patrina stands and moves for the door, but Kasimir puts himself between her and the door. "You've been seduced by his power, and now he is more powerful than ever before. Patrina, your people need you - we are trapped here, don't abandon us," he reaches his hand out for hers. Patrina jerks her hand away from him, "you're pathetic, brother. I am a whole person and I am not some victim of her 'womanly sensibilities'. You'll need an army to stop me from finding my love." Patrina shoves Kasimir aside and leaves.
You return to yourself with the spirit of Patrina again, "you've already met my fool of brother." She takes your hand and stares into your eyes with great concern. Her dark irises have flecks of a deep red that remind you of the stars. "When he takes you there, my brother will want to preserve the Amber Temple, to use it's dark power to put me to rest and save our people." Her eyes break from yours for just a moment and she seems to build up her courage. "That is a mistake, it is a noble goal but I'm sure you know that it's not worth entangling with that darkness. You must destroy that accursed place; the Dark Powers have corrupted all that I've ever loved, and all because the Raven Queen could not let go of her pride. Please, Ocain," she begs you breathlessly, "destroy the temple and destroy the darkness."
"Look for my mark, little one," and she gestures to her chest, a necklace with motifs of a spider's web. Her spirit fades into the darkness of the night.
The Ferryman of the Dead
While resisting the charms of The Abbot, Ocarin was given a vision of a moment before his resurrection:
Ocarin ONLYAtop the throne now sits a enormous figure, 20 feet tall, clad in heavy, divine armor, blue eyes painted on its gauntlets - its face entirely obstructed by a plate helm.
"BE NOT AFRAID, OCARIN STONEHOLLOW, YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE PRESENCE OF HELM, THE GOD OF GUARDIANS AND PROTECTORS. YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO GREATNESS. HEED OUR WORDS AND ACCEPT OUR GIFTS," speaks the figure in a booming, overpowering bellow. Helm turns his attention behind you and his fists clench. "LADY SHAR... I EXPECT THAT THE RAVEN QUEEN HAS REFUSED MY INVITATION," he says through what you could expect to be gritted teeth.
"Worry not, your metal little head, her highness has send an emissary," a voice whispers from every dark corner at once, and a beautiful, dark haired woman strides up beside you and holds up her arm for a violet plumed raven to land. The woman turns to you and in her eyes you catch a primal disgust. "Mortal, you have expired. A creature of the night has set itself apon your weak corporeal body and killed. But by whatever fortunes of the Great Wheel, you have not been turned. Your love has seen to it to slit your throat and stem the infection before it corrupted your spirit. She has taken your body to a monastery of mine and begged for your life, a request I would happily ignore-"
"YOU WILL GRANT IT, WITCH," interjects Helm, "YOURS AND THE QUEEN'S HUBRIS HAVE THREATED THE GREAT WHEEL. YOU HAVE BEEN CHARGED TO SUBVERT THE DEAD THREE."
"I would that you were this upset with them, we didn't pact with the Old Gods," retorts the Mistriss of Night.
"NO, YOU ONLY NURSED THEM AND HOUSED THEM IN SECRET TO BOLSTER YOUR OWN POWER. I HAVE SEEN TO IT THAT JERGAL HAS PAID HIS DUES, AND AFTER THE EVENTS OF BALDUR'S GATE HE HAS RESOVED TO DIS-APOTHEOSIZE THOSE VULTURES. IT WAS ONLY YOUR FURTIVE ACTIONS THAT ENABLED THEIR CAPTURE OF THE SCRIBE. YOU WILL RESURECT THIS MORTAL AND COMMAND YOUR MONASTERY TO SEND THEM TO THIS DOMAIN OF DREAD." Shar rolls her eyes and glances at the Raven Queen's emissary which squaks in a cryptic reply.
The Lady of Darkness pinches the bridge of her noes and visibly breaths, "Ocarin, there is one small hitch in this plan. While your Charlemagne saved your soul from being turned along with your body, your body has almost entirely been corrupted. Simply cleaving back together your body and soul will not end the disease. This will work to our benefit, as it will allow me to connect your spirit to Jergal and his domain, but it means that you cannot come back as yourself. Your self will need to be kept separate from you. What say you, bard?"