Ori Danheim

Ori Danheim is a reincarnation of the ancient folk hero, Orion the War Bringer.

Quick Facts

Race: Firbolg
Appearance: 7ft 8in, 280lbs, long braided blonde hair, runic tattoos
Age: 32 (24 years old in human years)
Birthday: 4/21 (Taurus)
Nicknames: Oarhead
Personality Traits: I will never get out of Orion's shadow, and no one else will ever understand this burden.
Ideals: Freedom. Destinies, fates and dreams must not be allowed to oppress people.
Bonds: My tools are symbols of my past life, and I carry them so that I will never forget my roots.
Flaws: The people who knew me when I was young know my shameful secret, so I can never go home again.
Likes: music/stories, ale, making things with her hands, competitive axe throwing, exploring nature
Dislikes: heights, riding horses, sugary drinks, swimming, large crowds,
Strengths: patient, driven, passionate, giving advice
Weaknesses: stubborn, uncompromising, comforting others

Ori and Sildar

Fun Facts

• Ori is afraid of horses and heights.
• If Ori had to choose another profession, it would be a blacksmith. She uses her smithing tools to decorate her weapons, fix her armor, and make jewerly. Ghelryn Foehammer, in Triboar, offered Ori an apprenticeship at his Forge.
• Ori struggles with her connection to nature. She believes she is a bad firbolg because she does not have nature skills and does not spend enough free time outdoors.
• Ori and Sildar (NPC from Lost Mines of Phandelver) admit their feelings to each other after the boss fight by exchanging jewelery. Ori invites Sildar to join them on their next adventure.
• Ori found a wondorous black dog figurine - she named him Bjork.

Orion The Warbringer

The legend of Orion the Warbringer is an ancient tale that has been twisted and changed over time. The story of old is now used as exciting bedtime stories, dramatic fireside reenactments, and exaggerated tavern tales. Everyone across the land has a different twist on the story; even the Firbolg people themselves. Only one person knows the dark truth - Ori, the reincarnation of Orion.
Orion was a large firbolg - one of the earliest descendents of the giants. After becoming an established warrior for his tribe, he wanted more power. He climbed the great Turnback Mountains near Keiltom to seek counsel with the group of giants who resided there. The giants held great runic powers. He studied with the giants and learned the ways of the runes to aid him in defending Keiltom from the great invasion of the Tortured Land orcs in the Orc-Firbolg War.

Orion the Warbringer

The giants admired Orion’s dedication to his people and they aided him in the brutal battle. Orion was the only warrior to walk away from the battle. It is said that he took this as a blessing to give the great runic knowledge to his people in remembrance of the giants. Rune Knights across the land worship him for keeping the practice alive.
But the truth to the ancient tale is much more grim.
Orion was a power hungry warrior who sought unattainable glory. Once he learned of the giant’s rune power, he sought to harvest the skill and use it only for himself. During the great battle against the orcs, Orion used the runic power against the giants of the Turnback Mountains in a ruse and slaughtered every single one.
Because of his heroic and charismatic reputation, Orion was able to convince the people that the gods allowed him to live and pass on the knowledge. He taught only the most powerful warriors in Keiltom the way of the runes. Orion then spent the rest of his days fighting off threats to the city and eventually disappeared. Since his death, the runic practices have been passed around and Orion has been forever idolized.
What happened to Orion remains unknown to the public. In reality, Orion was hunted down and slaughtered by a vengeful orcish assassin from the Tortured Lands. His body was never found. At the end of his life, alone in the remote woods, Orion cursed the skies and said if any orc, whole or half, ever entered his city again, he would reincarnate and take revenge.

Ori Danheim

Early Life & Family

Ori was born in the spring to Svala and Hroald of Keiltom. Svala was a druidic healer and Hroald was a smith. The Danheims had another older daughter, Havi who was ten years older than Ori and was training to be a druid like her mother.
The spring Ori was born was like no other. After thousands of years, an Orc diplomatic court came to Keiltom to establish peace and trade between the Keiltom Firbolgs and the Orc clans in the surrounding Tortured Lands. Orcs were welcome to join the limited number of outsiders allowed in the city per year.
Ori was given her name in likeness to Orion for her yellow eyes and bright blonde hair. Little did her parents know those weren’t the only things she shared with the legend.
As a child, Ori was said to be “wise beyond her years.” Hroald and Svala were surprised at how much ancient history she knew as a small child. During bedtime stories, Ori would argue with her mother about minute details of the folklore characters and myths. Ori used old euphemisms that someone her age wouldn’t understand. Ori was also stubborn and hardheaded. She had a hard time being corrected when she brought up one of her “historical facts.” Because of this, Havi gave her the nickname “Oarhead.”

Hroarld, Svala, and Havi

Growing up, Ori was very adventurous. Ori experienced her first thunderstorm in the middle of "summer" when she was 11 years old. She tried to climb the closest peak near Keiltom to try to touch the lightning. Her parents found her on top of the nearest peak, ballpeen hammer raised in the air, screaming "Mama look! I'm like Thor!"
Young Ori also loved to hike and explore the Frozen Forest surrounding Keiltom. During one of her excursions, Ori found herself stuck in a tree after climbing too high. She was struggling to get back down and reached her foot down to stand on a branch. Suddenly, she heard a faint voice in her head; “Move, now.” Ori moved to the next branch as she heard a crack. The branch she was previously on tumbled to the ground.
From that moment on, the voice remained in Ori’s head, growing stronger each time she heard it. She welcomed this voice as a mentor and friend. But over time, the voice became an instigator and a dictator rather than a friend.

Ori's Second Soul

As Ori approached the end of her childhood, the voice started demanding that she travel into the Turnback Mountains. At first she was able to ignore the request - but it became ever more commanding. She didn’t know what was in the mountains but it felt very important to find out. Eventually she gave in and planned an overnight camping excursion into the deep wilderness to explore the mountainside.
Ori started the tough winter journey. The closer she got to the peak, the easier the hike became; almost like she’d completed this trek before. After hours of hiking and even more hours of treacherous climbing, she came upon a small cavern opening in the side of the peak. The voice in her head became crisper as if the speaker was standing right beside her. The voice demanded that she step inside.
The walls inside the cavern were filled with ancient runic writing; the dialect lost with time. At first the runes were incomprehensible, however the longer Ori stared at the runes, the more clear they became. She was able to read: Orion’s legend lives on within these walls. The following are the secrets to the Rune Knight way. The carvings were collections of battle strategy, rune carving methods and journal entries.
The further back in the cave Ori walked, the older the carvings were. Her head ached as she came closer to the back of the cavern. She squeezed her way into a hidden alcove and found a dusty workroom full of iron scraps, rusty weapons and parchment full of runes. Ori’s head throbbed urgently and the voice told her to grab the bundle on the workbench. Ori’s headache subsided instantly when she picked up a cloth bundle. Curiously, she unrolled the bundle to reveal an intricately crafted silver hammer and chisel.
Ori picked up the hammer to inspect it and her mind was filled with a sense of dejavu. Images and sounds she didn’t experience but somehow felt familiar swam in front of her eyes; a great battle, a woman with red hair, an ancient version of Keiltom, runes. Suddenly, Ori dropped the bundle, grimaced and covered her ears.
“My name is Orion the Warbringer. I am reincarnated through you. You will bring me back to greatness, Ori Danheim. We are one now.”

Ori's Downfall

With Orion’s instruction, Ori entered the Keiltom Training Academy when she turned 18. She found great joy in learning about different weapons, martial strategy and defense and quickly gained skills and strength. The academy taught small tidbits of runic knowledge. Those who wanted to pursue becoming a rune knight had to graduate the four year program at the academy then take another four year vigorous training course. Ori was lined up to fast track through the academy thanks to her high marks and vigorous dedication.
While on break from the academy, another court of Orcish merchants came to Keiltom to establish more trading opportunities and peace treaties. They were gathered in the village square when Ori walked past. Ori’s vision suddenly went red and a pounding echoed through her head and body. Orion’s heavy breathing filled Ori’s head and lungs. Her hand started to twitch towards her hand axe on her belt.
“Blood. I need their blood. My revenge. Kill. Kill them all.”
Within seconds, an Orc laid slain at Ori’s feet. She blinked. Red overtook her vision again and she raised her axe. An arrow struck her bicep, stopping her swing. A body slammed into Ori. She was facedown in the dirt with her hands tied behind her.
“Ori Danheim, House of Hroald. You are under arrest for murder.”
Ori was stripped of her weapons and thrown in prison to wait out the night until her hearing the next morning. Inside of her, Orion stewed. When the guards were gone, Orion took control of her body and bent the bars of her cell door. Ori slipped out, stole her weapons and fled into the night and out of Keiltom.
Ori staggered eastward through the High Ice for weeks. Through the barren landscape, Ori finally found another person; Gimlr Vanderson, a human ranger. He was stuck in the snow with a twisted ankle and started developing frostbite. Ori pulled him out and saved his life. In return for her help, Ori asked him to lead her to the closest town east.
Eventually after reaching Ascore, Ori and Gimlr parted ways. Ori didn't know where to go, but she wanted to see the ocean to taste if it really was salty. Ori traveled farther east through Silverymoons and the Evermoors, heading towards the coast. She ended up in Neverwinter and met Gundrun Rockseeker, who asked for help pulling a cart out of the mud. They became friends after and Ori started doing jobs for him.

Relationship with Orion

Ori has a very complicated relationship with Orion. His thoughts are intrusive to her mind and he remains as a subconscious that becomes conscious when his demands get too loud. Ori often has violent and brutish thoughts; which is Orion trying to get her to do what he wants. It often happens in conflict, in tense social situations and whenever she encounters giants or orcs.
Ori does her best to tolerate Orion’s personality and behavior. She doesn’t like how he pleads with her to take less than honorable actions, but he also tells her stories and gives her tibits of facts and history. Orion doesn’t sleep and often rages away in Ori’s mind into the night. After a lot of practice, Ori is able to meditate him out of her mind when it’s time for bed.
Ori often turns to silence, meditation, story-telling and crafting to calm her mind and let her own thoughts overpower Orion’s.

Keiltom

Keiltom is a Firbolg city hidden in the deep woods of The Frozen Forest, east of the High Ice. Keiltom is the only establishment in the Frozen Forest and is mostly cut off from the rest of Faerun. The Keiltom firbolgs lived there for thousands of years - diligently protecting the forest and Turnback Mountains from outsiders who are forbidden from logging, mining and hunting there.
The Frozen Forest was named for the glittering ice that sheathed the needles and boughs of its close-standing trees. Most of the trees are heavily bowed from the weight of ice, but deeper towards the heart of the wood, the trees stand too closely together to bend. The forest has very few natural clearings, and no human-cut roads or trails.
At various times over the ages, humans and elves tried to settle within the Frozen Forest, but persistent orc attacks forced them to flee to the south. There were reported findings of strange ruins and foundations in the forest from which enchanted weapons and other treasures had been rumored. Only the firbolgs know if those rumors hold true.

Sword Coast Map

Open full size

The Keiltom people ethically mine and log resources from their mountain range to craft goods to be traded with the outside world. They believe if they ration and take these resources responsibly and provide them in a controlled way to the outside world, it will stop poaching and environmental damage from outsiders. Many firbolgs are trained in leatherwork, masonry, carpentry, woodcarving or smithing. Goods from Keiltom are considered high quality.
The city guards are in charge of protecting the people of Keiltom in the city walls. The rune knights patrol the deep wilderness and mountain sides to take down poachers, eco-terrorists and aggressive monsters.
Outsiders are not allowed to enter the Frozen Forest or the Turnback Mountains surrounding Keiltom or the city without an invitation. Every year, a select number of recreation, research and trade/business permits are approved to be distributed to those interested in visiting the city. Each permit has a specific number of times the holder is allowed to enter/leave the city and the surrounding protected areas.
For thousands of years, orcs have not been allowed to enter the city, wilderness areas or partake in business of any kind with the people of Keiltom due to a stalemate that was established during the ancient Orc-Firbolg War. The relationship between the orcs and firbolgs is not hostile, however neither group has made an effort to establish a treaty to officially end the stalemate.

Keiltom's Regilion & Beliefs

The Keiltom people do not have a centralized religion; instead the culture is built around idolizing legends and myths.
The firbolgs of Keiltom celebrate their ancestry to the giants. They worship Annam as the All-Father. The Keiltom people believed when they died, they passed on into the realm of giants, Jotenheim.
Orion The Warbringer, the great protector of the city, has a statue at the city gate. To the firbolgs he’s a protector, friend, comrade and idol. A lot of children are named after him and firbolgs model their tattoo and clothing styles after him.

Useful Documents

Giant Runes

Giant Language

Class | Archtype

Fighter, Rune Knight

Race

Firbolg

Background

Reincarnated Folk Hero

Alignment

Neutral

Campaign

Lost Mines of Phandelver
Storm King's Thunder

Character Sheet

Ori's Character Sheet

Sildar Hallwinter

Sildar Stat Block

Bjork

Bjork Stat Block

Bjork CR: 1/8

Medium beast, any

Armor Class:

Hit Points: 5 1d8+1

Speed: , fly: 0 ft , burrow: 0 ft , swim: 0 ft , climb: 0 ft

STR

13 +1

DEX

14 +2

CON

12 +1

INT

8 -1

WIS

12 +1

CHA

7 -2

Skills: Perception +3
Keen Hearing and Smell. The mastiff has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Senses: Passive Perception 13
Darkvision 60 ft

Languages: Common

Challenge Rating: 1/8

The mastiff can see invisible creatures and objects within its 60ft darkvision range.

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit 1d20+3 , reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 1d6+1 piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Mastiffs are impressive hounds prized by humanoids for their loyalty and keen senses. Mastiffs can be trained as guard dogs, hunting dogs, and war dogs. Halflings and other Small humanoids ride them as mounts.