Oro (platinum)

Oro Portrait of Oro Artist: Created by the uploader with Midjourney Race Giantman Culture Wsalamir Arctic Clan Class Bard Profession Merchant Religion Spiritual In-a-Word Curious Disposition Considerate Demeanor Warm Primary Trait Adventurous Secondary Trait Inquisitive Flaw Reckless, Avarice Greatest Strength Communication Greatest Weakness Regret Habits Smoking, drinking, stuttering in thought Hobbies Reading books and maps, exploring dangerous places, browsing pawnshops and old stores for antiquities and treasures. Soft Spots Animals, a warm reading nook, money. Likes Wine, cigars, well-made clothing, art, old books, writing, record-keeping, helping someone. Dislikes Trolls, Giants, Waste Fears Failure, disappointment Loyalties Unclear Best Friend Many, though his absence has left him with few sustained connections in lower Elanith. Loved One Unknown

Oro (age approximately 26, birth date unknown) is a self-professed merchant from the farthest reaches of the North, claiming ancestry of the Wsalamir Arctic Clan. Friendly and verbose, the Giantkin is uncharacteristic of the stories of his people. He appeared in Eorgaen, 5112, in Icemule Trace -- recounting a long journey from the reaches north of Pinefar. Spending over a year travelling the cities of Elanith, he proved a voracious study and student. He frequented the halls of the Elven Nations, their libraries, and their workshops. His close confidant and friend, Nilandia Liserna, a sylvan mystic, empath, and scholar aided him in his education. In the year of 5113 he departed the southern cities of Elanith, saddled with new knowledge of the world, many treasures, and a caravan of goods. His expedition beyond Mt. Aenatumgana was, he claimed, an effort to connect his people with the modern world. Ten years hence, much the way he had come, he returned in the month of Eorgaen, 5123. In Lormesta, 5124 he founded Oro's Expedition Company (OEC) through investments that had matured during his absence. Leveraging the reach and finances of the OEC he scours Elanith for relics and artifacts of interest, lore, and information. To what end, remains unclear.

Recent Occurrences and Field Notes

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Malicious Mist in Ta'Vaalor

  
A haunting mist on the Mistydeep River
Artist: Created by the uploader with Midjourney
A long and densely written entry within a timeworn leather journal in Oro's possession

16th of Eorgaen, 5123

An accounting by Oro of the unusual happenings of Ta'vaalor potentially in connection with the missing Saxe family member, Thanela Saxe.

Rumors swirled this past week in Solhaven during the Koar Church fundraiser. Which are true or unfounded remains up for speculation.  Notable accounts of arguments and accusations of inhuman behavior among the Saxe siblings was shared by individuals who wish to remain anonymous, during the local art exhibit. Further accounts and rumors suggesting that sanguine magic or other biologically derived enchantments may find cause in the absence of Lady Saxe. Hard evidence remained thin.

Today, an unusually thick and malign mist was observed rolling across the docks of Ta'Vaalor on the banks of the aptly named Mistydeep River.

Read on...

Myself and others arrived soon after word had spread of the phenomenon, but as soon as it began, it had dissipated. Regrouping in King's Court we prepared to depart when Lady Cydris arrived, choking for breath and clearly shaken. Stricken by an intense thirst, we aided her in resting. With a racing heart beat, uneven breathing, and tremors she soon succumbed to a form of catatonia. Staring toward the southern docks, she murmured about "a light", "a woman", and the "sound of laughter". She rose to leave, but was impaired from doing so by those present at the time.

Her recovery came swiftly, but residual effects, including sudden weakness, violent outbursts, and an odd aggressiveness for her nature ensued. Weakness persisted and she was taken to rest.

Notably, Cydris described the woman in her vision. A red-haired woman, described similarly to accounts of the missing Lady Saxe. Cydris described the visions, and experience, as wholly unfriendly and malign and sensed danger in the vision. I will seek a more complete accounting from her, once she has fully recovered.

The remaining of us surveyed the docks where the Mist had been most prominent, and to which direction Cydrishad called. Drawing in an actively hooked fishing line from the dock, Oliviero discovered a freshly severed arm and a tangle of dark hair. Before we could further examine the evidence, a dock worker kicked the corporeal remnant into the river. Vyrshkana reported the incident, and obstruction of the dockhand in our investigation, to the dock foreman -- though little came of the effort.

Lord Virion... obvious smudging is visible across the page after Virion's name, a shadow of ink spelling out various titles that were summarily expunged dirties the parchment... reported our findings to the proper authorities of the fortress.

On a personal note, I have borne witness to many hallucinations, possessions, and other forms of catatonia derived from spiritual possession -- whether real, imagined, induced, or otherwise. Rarely have I seen such a powerful physical response in the host as was observed with Lady Cydris. Be wary of further such encounters with thick, opaque mist. Whether derived of magic, alchemy, poison, or natural phenomenon is unknown, but it clearly had an effect on Lady Cydris. All others experiencing this mist have not, at this time, exhibited symptoms.

Postulates: Elven susceptibility? Magical alignment?

Additional observations: Many children congregated at the Court suddenly after the visions ceased. Dock worker not surprised by arm? Common occurrence? Investigate river upstream. Can Mist be bottled? Re-exposure sensitivity? Failed to collect sample. Saxe family and mist, mental magic, other known abilities?

As faithfully as capable,
Oro

Discovering the Ruins of Kragnek-Dzu

  
Map annotations by Oro, original artwork by Alosaka, edited with permission
A stack of fire-charred pages have been added to the timeworn leather journal Oro carries with him. Maps scribbled over with red ink, pages scrawled with notes, drawings, and diagrams. On one begins a passage summarizing the contents.

11th of Lormesta, 5124

As the sun fell below the western horizon an explosion rocked the continent of Elanith. Smoke and fire erupted from Teras Isle, shards of glaes and rock showering Kharam Dhzu.

I arrived to Teras Isle soon after the eruption. Locating a band of known adventurers, some members of my previous expeditions, I followed them to a battle raging outside the northern gates of Kharam Dhzu on the crossroads where Hog's Pen Tavern is located.  When I arrived waves of Gigas unlike any I had previously seen in the northern reaches of Elanith were being slain in waves by Jaired, Daenamaryllis, Vyrshkana, Doj, Deleu, Bwa, and Korgath. Blood soaked the roads leading to the city. The band was being led by a dwarf I had never met, and who introduced himself as Voregrek Borthuum, Prince of Kharam Dhzu.

Our evening was about to spiral into chaos, volcano eruptions, demons, and the discovery of a lost dwarven city!

Read on...

Following the battle, the Gigas invaders retreated north along the Muagh river. Jaired Delone gave chase, scouring the eye of V'tull, but to no avail. The Gigas forces had retreated into the jungles along the banks of the Muagh. Discussion amongst ourselves revealed numerous signs that the Gigas were followers of V'tull. We postulated on where their encampment may be, attempting to decided how best to give chase. At that moment, Maros arrived with word that Artisan Gamordi, a clansmen of the Prince, wished to discuss the situation urgently with him back in Kharam Dzu.

Our small party split, some seeking the Gigas (who, admittedly, shouldn't have been all that hard to track -- but the jungle keeps many secrets), while the rest joined Prince Voregrek in the Clan Hall. Gamordi suggested we raft upon the Muagh River in search of the remaining Gigas. He quickly fashioned a number of rickety vessels behind Bentock's Adventurer's Rest on the east bank of the river. Joining us at the banks was a smoky amorphous humanoid shape that... declared he was a Maker of Chains. Not uncommon, blacksmiths in Kharam Dzu. Notably, for a smith, he was rather capable in combat.

We rafted the river and discovered that it had split into a northwestern and eastern route. These rafts remain, and I continue to explore the area. The western approach contained a blood-soaked cave housing a gigantic skeleton suspended on glaes chains. The eastern approach led us directly to a fortified encampment swarming with Gigas! We battered the barricade down and burst into a ruin similar to something Gamordi had described -- a place lost to the jungle known as Kragnek-Dzu. The ruins were of obvious dwarven design, though old, and abandoned. It appeared that the Gigas had made their encampment for invasion here in these ruins.

We suffered heavily casualties at the hands of the Gigas on the promenades within the fortress, but recovered quickly. In exploring the fortress, we noted a deformed mithril anvil of substantial size in what appeared to be a rubble-strewn marketplace. The entire area was bubbling with pyroclastic rock and volcanic eruptions. Among them was a massive boulder of dark, glaes-veined basalt. Climbing atop the boulder, I immediately realized it was draining the mana from the area. Spells fizzled, songs failed, magic of all forms seemed incapable of manifesting on the rock. 

We were immediately attacked by the boulders resident, an enormous fire giant taller than any I have faced. Wielding a scintillating obsidian claidhmore, he furiously assaulted our cohort. When slain, his body would melt into molten magma, sink into the boulder, and he would reform moments later healed and energized. Screaming praise to V'tull, and demanding blood for his god, he began to challenge our party to duels. Each of his defeats was brief and his renewal swift.

After the fifth.. or sixth slaying, I lost count, I thought it wise to remove the giants corpse from the regenerative boulder. While our assembled company was defeating him easily, attrition would eventually be our downfall. Or more Gigas may surround the boulder. Grabbing his form before he was able to melt, I hauled him off the boulder and onto the promenade. The giant immediately decayed to ash.. and then hell broke loose. Magma erupted from all sides, immediately killing me and maiming others. I was eventually healed and resurrected by the town cleric.

  
Vathor sketch by Oro
Upon returning to what we now know is likely Kragenk-Dzu, I was greeted by an army of diving vathor! Flying demons, whose demonic essence deflected all manner of magic. I provide here a rough sketch. Should you see such creatures and not be at the pinnacle of fighting tenacity I'd strongly advise running away. Needless to say, I was slain, brutally. But bore witness to the amazing prowess by our assembled party. They slew many of the demons before we were ultimately forced to escape with many injured and deceased.

Reporting back to Gamordi, he seems convinced the ruins we uncovered were indeed Kragenk-Dzu. He advised that the boulder, and the anvil we had spotted, were part of an ancient and magical forging center of the city.

Preparations are being made to return and hopefully recover more of the lost dwarven city in the near future.

To the best of my recollection,
Oro

Luck For Its Own Sake

  
Skipping rocks on Lake Marliese
Artist: Created by the uploader with Midjourney
A hastily written note on a half scrap of paper is shoved into the binding of a timeworn leather journal in Oro's possession

A down trodden minstrel named Nolec happened upon a magical stone near Lake Marliese that defied all natural laws of movement. He guided a number of us around Wehnimer's to investigate its properties. In coaxing it with song I revealed that the object was magically imbued. The bard led us to the temple of Cholen in Solhaven, where he summarily suffused the stone into a pair of socks. Before his rapid and magical disappearance, he imparted upon me the ability to foist luck and good fortune on whomsoever I choose. Lovely.

Oro

The bottom edge of the page is stained a dark amber. In a different ink beside the stain a brief and sloppily written addendum reads. 

All knaves.. useless Kings.

Past Expeditions

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Trade Expedition to Nielira Harbor

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The entrance to the hive
things i'll write in pre
date
stuff first
Read on...
stuff second

Investigating the Kiramon Hive Emerging in Zul Logoth

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The entrance to the hive
things i'll write in pre
date
stuff first
Read on...
stuff second