Ori Vaultdigger

Dwarf Shaman/Great Elder - Mike in The Kings of Krell Caverns

Background

Treasure hunter who used others' greed against them to provide peace and enlightenment for the rest.

Has been derisively nicknamed "Slave to The Rich, King of The Poor" for managing to find and sell many rare treasures, while having few possessions himself.

Wears a variety of clothing in his treasure hunting, as long as that clothing is a tight black V-neck tee that shows off his ample and protruding chest hair of grey and black. To accomplish this look, Ori's facial hair of choice is a thick handlebar moustache. Think Sam Elliott, all tan and handsome and shit.

Ori Vaultdigger has employed many sidekicks, (affectionately named after himself) The Vaultdiggers.

History

Ori grew up rich, the second son of Datoli Doomender. His older brother, Dorfe groomed to take up the mantle of King of Traeoric, a dwarven nation settled with a healthy mix of courage and insanity by the Doomender clan on the island of Maras-Dantia (the Dantia side of course). It was a happy childhood, and Ori (then known as Dori) wanted for nothing.

Except for a destiny. While his father never treated him any differently, there was no getting around the fact that there were different expectations out of each of his sons. Dorfe would assume control over a kingdom of tough and bold dwarves, who lived under constant peril at the monsters they had chose to live in close proximity to (along with vast riches). It was not an easy kingdom to control, as most of their countrymen were former criminals and exiles of other dwarven clans. But death from above (as well as the usual below) has a way of bonding one dwarf to another. They would be loyal. As long as Dorfe could prove himself.

The trials for dwarven nobles on Dragon Island (as it is commonly known) involve scaling Mt. Pires. The Doomender clan believes that the each of their clan comes of age to lead at the time of the island's choosing. Because of this, the climb of Mt. Pires has 140 caverns. Each cavern is said to be waiting for each King of Traeoric to explore, and him alone. Upon exiting his cavern the new king will have come back with knowledge and relics of the past that will help the Kingdom of Traeoric's future. As Dorfe was to be the twelfth King of Traeoric, many remained unexplored by anyone … Except for one dwarf looking for a purpose in his life.

Ori (then known as Dori) at first began exploring these caverns (he never got to all of them, but more than he should… which started with the first he explored) out of despair for a destiny not given simply by his birth order. Then curiosity took hold at what he would find. And what he did find changed him.

Being young, he of course took what relics he found. Axes, bracelets, and jewelry that according to the teachings of his elders should never have been attainable to him. But in the last cavern Ori (then Dori) explored he found knowledge that ended this immature and selfish worldview, and he was reborn as the protector he is today.

The last cavern had a particularly easy descent. The path was unkept, but Ori (then Dori) could tell that the craftsmanship with which it had been laid was immaculate. The last cavern didn't require lighting as gemstones were set within the mountain stone at just the right angles to catch the sun at different points in the day and light the way to a door. The last cavern had a door that was locked from the outside. Ori (then Dori) opened the door.

The last cavern had a dwarf residing in it. Said he had been there for decades. Said Ori's (then Dori's) family was cursed. Said the curse toyed with his clan, that the caverns weren't looking for a new king. They were looking for the conduit which would unleash the clan's true master. Said the name Doomender was a joke to the island, not a past accomplishment but a warning of their future.

Ori (then known as Dori) took the only thing this dwarf had on him (as was the custom of the legend). A magical key that "opens any door, except one you want it to open" the dwarf said. Young Ori (then Dori) nodded it at this and started to head back the way he came… then he stopped. "It's time the island let you go. You've delivered the message."

As if he had given up all hope of this event ever coming to pass, the dwarf's face, once threatening, softened. And he quietly followed Ori (then Dori) out of the cavern. He noticed that the noblemen didn't even turn around once as they made the climb back out to the world he had long been locked out of.

Ori (then Dori) only had one question. He had climbed up and down in to many caverns at this point. He had found water streams where many a dwarf would have died from dehydration. He had found light and air where darkness and death would be certain for most. And today he had seen the bones with small remaining amounts of meat and a single large cup sitting on a floor, above which were beams of light…. along with scratch marks along the wall. As if something was dropped and sent back over many many years. Someone had kept this dwarf, and the reason was to deliver a message to his family. So the only question Ori (then Dori) had was, "What is your name, dwarf?"

"Zanven Lorearthen. And what is yours?"

Dori doesn't know why he lied to Zanven that day. It wasn't out of fear. It just felt right. "Ori Vaultdigger," he said for the first time in his life. It was then that Ori saw something else that gave him a hint about this dwarf and this vault. "Vaultdigger? What happened to the Doomender clan?"

The question provided an answer. Not one that Ori was proud of. He was happy to have a new name. He would need it after he bought safe passage to Taern for Zanven Lorearthen. He would need it after he confronted his father and told him what he had found… what he had done. His father would be angry when he told him that he had entered the cavern that held Lorearthen. The cavern that his father must have visited every few days to keep his prisoner alive. Zanven Lorearthen. The true king of Traeoric.

The library, a cavern that Ori had never once explored before, confirmed his suspicion. The Lorearthen clan had long served in aid of the Doomenders. Zanven Lorearthen had once been Datoli's Hand and best friend. But he had supposedly perished when Datoli came of age and entered his cavern on Mt. Pires. The Lorearthen clan had been well taken care of, but Ori suspected that his father's visiting of Zanven showed a deep sense of guilt.

"What was in that cavern was a beast unlike any my kind may have ever encountered," Datoli started to recall quietly after Ori confronted his father. A sense of relief as he unburdened himself with his terrible deed, "Zanven was a true believer. He believed in us, our ways, the dwarves of Traeoric. But he was also my best friend. He shouldn't have been watching as the beast knocked my axe away and went for the killing blow. It was my cavern, my beast to fell. But his loyalty to me, as a true friend wouldn't allow it. He entered the cavern and repelled the beast's attack. It retreated, taunting us the whole way, but retreating just the same. I was wounded, but would be able to make it back, though not in any sort of graceful fashion. Zanven though… there was something in his eyes, a realization… if our ways were true, then it was he who was meant to be king. Unfortunately for Zanven, I had the same realization."

"I left him there, shut the door, the only item I took away from that cavern was my life. And what troubles me is that I'm also a true believer… and I think that cavern wanted me to leave alive… and to leave my best friend behind, in the darkness."

"Was I meant to be king? I don't know. I am… I was. My betrayal has taken from me a life worth living. I fear that happiness has come too late. You showed a selflessness that I never had. Perhaps both Zanven and I were right… perhaps there is a time for tradition, and a time to break it. Perhaps it is you who are to be king?"

Ori had no interest in maintaining the illusion of this belief system, one that he found even his father had discarded when it suited him. However he would use this flaw in his father for one last bit of good. He told the old king which cavern his older brother Dorfe should "find as his own". A safe cave. One with an item of great power, and a sign that would immediately put Dorfe in good favor with his people.

Then Ori left his clan and his home with a new purpose. He was good at finding things. Secrets long thought lost or even worse, purposely hidden. Sometimes he wishes he had never entered that cavern that held Zanven Lorearthen. But instead of dissuading him from exploring the world's secrets he has decided that the best course of action is to learn as much as he can, exploring libraries as well as dungeons, and find out about the dangerous secrets hidden high and low… And then bring them out into the light.

Status

Living

Residence

  • The Mountains Near Ardot (Greed, Lies, and Fishermen)
  • Taern (Kings of Krell Caverns)

Occupation

  • Adventurer/Explorer (Greed, Lies, and Fishermen)
  • King (Kings of Krell Caverns)

Stats:

LEVEL: 11

STR: 17
CON: 22
DEX: 13
INT: 18
WIS: 23
CHA: 11

AC: 24
FORT: 24
REF: 22
WILL: 24

MAX HP: 84

ARCANA: 16
DUNGEONEERING: 22
HISTORY: 14
NATURE: 16
PERCEPTION: 16
RELIGION: 14

FEATS

  • SKILL TRAINING (ARCANA)
  • SKILL TRAINING (DUNGEONEERING)
  • DWARVEN WEAPON TRAINING
  • WORLD SPEAKER SPIRIT ADEPT
  • INTOLERABLE COMMAND
  • STRENGTHENING SPIRIT
  • VIGOROUS SPIRT

AT WILLL POWERS

  • CALL SPIRIT COMPANION
  • WORLD SPEAKER'S COMMAND
  • PROTECTING STRIKE
  • VOICE OF BATTLE

ENCOUNTER POWERS

  • HEALING SPIRIT
  • SPEAK WITH SPIRITS
  • DWARVEN RESILIENCE
  • SUBTERRANEAN SURVIVAL
  • ENGAGING PURSUIT
  • SPIRIT COMPANION'S SHELTER
  • BRAMBLE ALLY
  • STEADFAST MOUNTAIN GUARDIAN
  • HAMMER OF THE GRASPING TIDES
  • GREAT REACHING SPIRIT

DAILY POWERS

  • SPIRIT CASCADE
  • WIND OF PAIN AND SUCCOR
  • SPIRIT CONTROL
  • SHIELD OF THE IMMORTAL FOREST

UTILITY POWERS

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