Orianna Rook

• She appears almost frail, ethereal. Yet there is a corded, wiry strength beneath her skin from travel and battle. Her body bears old lash scars over her back and thighs.

• Graceful ram horns spiraling back from her temples, etched with subtle silver filigree she added after her freedom.
• Long prehensile tail, often swishing thoughtfully or wrapping around a leg for comfort.

• The ghostlike white eyes.
• Tiny vein-like lines of chaotic magic radiate from them, only visible up close.

• Her music weaves nightmare and solace together. She can lull beasts and monsters, or call upon echoes of the madness she survived to frighten mortals.
• Can cast Dream and sometimes even project fragmented visions of other worlds into listeners’ minds.

• Deep wine-colored skirts that trail through mud and fog. Corseted dark leather with swirling motifs of weeping eyes and blooming nightshade.
• Often barefoot around her marsh farm, feet stained by dark soil.
• Her jewelry is minimal—simple silver rings—but her harp is inlaid with eldritch runes that faintly rearrange themselves.

• The Harp of Mourning Veil: Resonates with echoes from all the worlds she’s crossed. When plucked, strange ghostly chords sometimes follow long after the note should end.

• Sold as a child into slavery, forced to play for a criminal syndicate’s twisted banquets.
• Escaped with the help of a traveling party—fell in love with adventure and freedom.
• Saw the true form of a god of madness in one world, which scarred her eyes white.
• Married Margrave Rook (a charming, unreliable rogue), adopted tiefling orphan Eryon.
• Acquired Selune and Arastras -- Her panther and White tiger, respectfully.
• Became pregnant again, but after being abandoned one too many times by Rook, fled to Mythralune and made a home in the Velvetmires.
• Later she acquired Mirelight-- a displacer beast.

• Learned bardic traditions from old travelers, thieves, even fey tutors. Much of her skill is instinct honed by necessity.

• Now self-sufficient, tending marsh herbs and playing her harp to calm the creatures around her. Sometimes trades dream-charms or haunting songs for supplies.

• Survived a direct gaze from a cosmic horror without losing her mind entirely.
• Raised Eryon to be gentle despite a hard world.
• Created a haven in the marsh where monsters sleep peacefully.

• Feels like she failed to be enough for Margrave Rook to stay. Sometimes believes she is cursed to always be left behind.

• Often wakes in a sweat from visions of spiraling eyes, endless laughter. Her beasts lie on her bed to soothe her until she can breathe again.

• Highly intuitive; can read the smallest twitch of someone’s lips or tail.
• Easily overwhelmed by bureaucracy or cold logic.

“Mercy first—always. Even to monsters, even to those who’ve hurt me, if they reach out with shaking hands.”

• Cannot stand the sound of chains. Even jewelry that clinks heavily makes her ill.
• Slavery or removing people's ability to make choices and live life freely.

To build a pocket of true safety, even if the rest of the world burns. To ensure her children and beasts never know the cage she once did.

• Gifted with emotion, story, memory.
• Terrible at tracking money, easily misplaces coins.

• Boundless patience for the broken.
• Artistic soul.
• Unflinchingly honest in the softest ways.

• Runs away from confrontation
• Struggles to ask for her own needs.

• Margrave Rook: Husband, though their bond is strained by his repeated disappearances.
• Eryon: Her clever adopted tiefling son.

She is devoted utterly to her children—Eryon and the unborn babe—and her animal companions.

Eerie to strangers, but mesmerizing. Her voice is low, musical, carrying a mournful undercurrent.

Hums old slave songs when anxious. Taps her claws against her harp strings absently. Sometimes closes her sightless eyes as though seeing clearer that way.

• Selune (Panther): Graceful and affectionate, sleeps curled at her feet.
• Arastras (White Tiger): Massive, protective, lets Orianna rest against his side.
• Mirelight (Displacer Beast): Mysterious, shadow-twisted, with eyes that sometimes echo her own chaotic scars.

Tends marsh gardens of rare herbs. Trains her beasts with gentle melodies. Composes lullabies that might also be spells.