Dech-la

orc | entertainer, they/them (a.k.a. Dech-la jaun desain)

Valni culture prizes warlike virtues; orcs with no talent for war had better find something else respectable to do, or drift down to the bottom of society. It's lucky for Dech-la that they're clever and good with a rhyme, because they're weak for an orc and a complete klutz.
As is customary for Valni poets, Dech-la accompanies themselves on the traditional bladder fiddle (a type of musical bow). They mostly use traditional music but they also sometimes compose their own, and aren't bad at it. Non-Valni are often surprised how sprightly and uptempo Valni music can be. Dech-la is also something of a fashion plate, at least as far as Valni go, which isn't very far. At six feet tall and 250lbs (182cm, 114kg), they're more or less an orcish twink.

backstory

Valni poets are entertainers, but they also have ritual functions; they perform in social and religious ceremonies, they act as satirists, etc. As such, they are often considered to occupy a role that is formally outside of Valni society; they aren't part of a hierarchy, they don't owe war service to their elders, and in some cases, they live outside of gender (though "traditional" gender roles are rather different for orcs than for humans). Dech-la enjoys being non-binary; they're a bit more dubious about some other aspects of being an outsider in one's own society, but they take refuge in the privilege of the poet to be a snarky little wiseass.
Dech-la is a journeyman poet. They have recently defeated their childhood rival in poetry, in the contest to be given a sigil by a Valni elder, signifying that it's time for Dech-la to go on the master-poet's traditional wanderjahr. The point of this quest is to determine which of the Valni's two main gods, Father Life and Mother Luck, will favour the poet. If Dech-la survives and can prove the deity's favour, they will automatically become that elder's in-house poet, a patronage relationship that will last the rest of both their lives. If neither of the gods favours Dech-la, they'll be forbidden from practicing poetry. Having won this sigil, Dech-la isn't at all sure they want it, but unfortunately, it's not optional. Instead of the usual de rigeur tour of underground communities (Valni and other races), they chose to go above ground, where they don't know anybody or anything.
Their first stop was the valley ruled by Baron Udens, at the southern end of the Forges. Udens himself is part-orcish, and famously receptive to underground peoples. Dech-la made themselves popular there, until they got cocky and publicly performed a satirical poem about Udens himself. In Valni culture, a patron proves their mettle by taking this kind of thing in stride; to be ruffled by satire is to be weak. Udens is not that orcish. Dech-la found it advisable to leave the valley on the first barge going down the river—and then, to their surprise, the barge turned east, towards Malfa.

Dech-la

1 Level (0/300 XP for level-up) Valni poet Background orc Race / Species / Heritage Alignment

bard
Level 0
Hit Dice: 0/0
1d8-1 Class 1

---

STR
11

+0

DEX
7

-2

CON
9

-1

INT
16

+3

WIS
10

+0

CHA
16

+3

7
Hit Points

-2
Initiative (DEX)

8
Armor Class (AC)

+2
Prof. Bonus

30
Speed (walk/run/fly)

	+4	Expertise Bonus
	+2	Proficiency Bonus

	+0	Strength
	-2	Dexterity
	-1	Constitution
	+3	Intelligence
	+0	Wisdom
	+3	Charisma

saving throws

	-2	Acrobatics	DEX
	+0	Animal Handling	WIS
	+3	Arcana	INT
	+0	Athletics	STR
	+5	Deception	CHA
	+3	History	INT
	+0	Insight	WIS
	+3	Intimidation	CHA
	+3	Investigation	INT

skills

	+0	Medicine	WIS
	+3	Nature	INT
	+0	Perception	WIS
	+5	Performance	CHA
	+3	Persuasion	CHA
	+3	Religion	INT
	-2	Sleight of Hand	DEX
	-2	Stealth	DEX
	+0	Survival	WIS

Skills

	Weapon / Attack	AB	Abi	Dmg	Dmg Type
	staff	+2	STR	d6

Attacks

Adrenaline Rush. You can take the Dash action as a bonus action. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Whenever you use this trait, you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus.

Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Relentless Endurance. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. Once you use this trait, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Features & Traits

A token from their orcish benefactor, who will therefore be Dech-la's patron when they return from their wanderjahr

Traditional Valni ritual performance costume (very frightening to non-Valni, lots of teeth involved)

Equipment Copper: 0, Silver: 0, Electrum: 0, Gold: 0, Platinum: 0 Money

Common, Orcish

Tool proficiencies: bladder fiddle, disguise (makeup)

Languages & Proficiencies

I love a good insult, even one directed at me.

Personality Traits

Beauty. When I perform, I make the world better than it was. (Good)

Ideals

I will do anything to prove myself superior to my hated rival.

Bonds

I once satirized a noble who still wants my head. It was a mistake that I will likely repeat.

Flaws

™ & © Wizards of the Coast - D & D 5e Character Sheet v2.06, made by Tillerz - Updated: 2023-02-09
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