Orin: Difference between revisions

| description = Orin the Red is one of the {{FRWiki|Chosen}} of the Absolute and the leader of the Bhaalites in the city of Baldur's Gate.

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| race = [https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Changeling Changeling]

| family = [[Bhaal]] (great-grandfather ''and'' grandfather)<br>[[Sarevok Anchev]] (grandfather ''and'' father)<br>[[Helena Anchev]] (mother ''and'' sister)<br>[[The Dark Urge]] (great-uncle/aunt ''and'' uncle/aunt)

| hometown = [[Temple of Bhaal]]<br>[[Baldur's Gate]]

'''Orin the Red''' is one of the Chosen of the [[Absolute]], the enigmatic [[Cult of the Absolute|cult]] taking over the Sword Coast, and serves as one of the main antagonists in [[Baldur's Gate 3]].

==Overview==

===Background===

Orin is the {{FRWiki|Chosen}} of [[Bhaal]] and one of the three masterminds leading the [[Cult of the Absolute]]. As such, she is one of the main antagonists of the game and a key objective in defeating the cult and the enigmatic [[Absolute]].

Hinted at first though notes, she is properly introduced at the end of Act 2 as one of the conspirators of the cult along with [[Ketheric Thorm]] and [[Enver Gortash]]. Through cunning and murderous devotion, she and her allies have established a solid Bhaalite foothold in the city of [[Baldur's Gate]]. Now, empowered by a [[Orin's Netherstone|netherstone]] and with cult's plans in motion, she intends to paint the city crimson with blood in a mighty offering to Bhaal.

* Fighting her is required in order to obtain her Netherstone and proceed with the story

* In combat, she uses her deadly powers given by Bhaal himself to deal large amounts of damage quickly while being supported by her cultists

* She can trick the party with her disguises and will kidnap someone important to the party

* [[Get Orin's Netherstone]]

** [[Rescue Orin's Victim]]

** [[Impress the Murder Tribunal]]

Orin has pale blue-grey skin with swirling, smoke-like plumes of red undulating across it. Her eyes are dull grey, contoured by dark eyeliner, giving her an intimidating look. Her straw-colored, braided hair falls to the backs of her knees in a fastening reminiscent of a flail. Her armour is bright blood-red, rigid and rough like chitin. She adorns her head with an ornate silver tiara with the centerpiece shaped in the form of a person supplicant, a single crimson gem giving her appearance some color.

Orin is cruel and sadistic, but artistic and creative in her own twisted way.{{cite text|name=kill|Concerning Orin the Red|[[The Dark Urge]]}} Her demeanour is immature and almost childish; Orin easily loses her composure when things do not go her way, enacts small rebellions against the authority figures in her life, and enjoys, in a arguably playful way, toying with her victims.{{cite text|Experiment on Cruor|Orin the Red}} She derives sadistic pleasure from taunting her victims with the gory details of her deeds.  

 

When she impersonates another character with her shapeshifting abilities, she will initially be able to convincingly mimic their personality. Her true nature tends to break through the mimicry, however, as she is often unable to contain her bloodlust, resulting in her  becoming more openly violent and sadistic, invoking threats and fantasies of extreme violence and grotesque brutality before shifting back into her base appearance.

 

Her deranged devotion to Bhaal hides her true desire for acceptance and belonging as she is constantly looking for approval from her father Bhaal. Though uncommon, she extends her admiration to those she respects for being brutal devouts of Bhaal such as Sarevok. Her confident and vicious demeanor shatters, however, when confronted with the truth of her origins, and displays true fear when forced by Bhaal to become his tool instead of doing it willingly.

Raised believing she was fathered by [[Bhaal]] himself, Orin was in truth born of an incestuous relationship between [[Sarevok Anchev]] and his daughter [[Helena Anchev]], intended to be the perfect offering to the Dread Lord.{{cite text|name=incest|A page from Sarevok's book|[[Sarevok Anchev]]}} Though he routinely mistreated and abused them, both Helena and Orin worshipped and loved Sarevok, enduring the hardships of growing up as a Bhaalite. Orin received the bloody teachings of Bhaal, becoming in time the youngest Unholy Assassin to follow the steps of god of Murder. Such was her gift in killing that she was anointed Bhaal's Chosen.

When Orin was still a child, Sarevok, knowing Helena desired to be Bhaal's Chosen, ordered his daughter to kill Orin as an offering to Bhaal.{{ref|[[Bhaal_Temple#The Chosen's Room|Orin's Chambers]], lines spoken by Helena Anchev when asked how she died.<br>''"I... wanted... to be... Bhaal's... Chosen... Sarevok... told me... she... must be... my... offering..."''}} Helena attacked Orin but she was overcome by her child who ultimately cut her down. Bhaal deemed the young changeling exceptional, and ordered Sarevok to look after her henceforth.{{ref|[[Murder Tribunal]], lines spoken by Sarevok Anchev when discussing Orin.<br>''"Orin's gifts surpassed even her mother's. (...) When Orin was but seven years old, she tried to smother the child as an offering to our Lord. (...) It was her mother's blood that soaked the sheets. Orin had cut off the very hand that tried to end her. (...) This was Orin's tribunal. She was judged, and she was found ''exceptional''. My Lord made his choice - I abided by his words."''}}{{cite text|name=incest}}

Orin served Bhaal directly under [[The Dark Urge]] as their second in command, though the two were often at odds about the correct way of offering souls to Bhaal. Orin believed that the Urge mutilated their victims without consideration, and what their Father truly wanted was beauty and consideration in the kill.{{cite text|name=orinkill|Blood-Envy for the Unworthy|Orin the Red}} The Urge, on the other hand, understood that Bhaal cared only for the quantity of murder performed in his name, nothing more.{{cite text|name=kill}}

Yearning for respect and status, but dismissed and looked down on by Bhaal and Sarevok alike, Orin brooded as she waited for an opportunity to become her father's favored.{{ref|Murder Tribunal, lines spoken by Sarevok Anchev to the Dark Urge after becoming an Unholy Assassin.<br>''"Cleanse the temple of Orin's girlish shrines and bring your primal slaughter back to Bhaal."''}}

The Urge joined forces with [[Bane (God)|Bane's]] Chosen [[Enver Gortash]], and together, they formulated a plan to steal the [[Crown of Karsus]], an ancient arcane object of immense power, and subjugate an [[Elder Brain]] with it in order to create a soulless army to destroy the world with.{{cite text|Scrapbook of Letters|The Dark Urge, [[Enver Gortash]]}} After recruiting [[Ketheric Thorm]], [[Myrkul|Myrkul's]] Chosen, Orin joined the three in the raid to plant the Crown on the brain beneath [[Moonrise Towers]].  

It was during this time that Orin saw her opportunity and struck, driving a dagger through the Urge's skull and planting an [[Illithid]] tadpole in them.{{ref|name=morphic|[[Morphic Pool]], lines spoken by the Netherbrain when confronted by the Dark Urge and their companions.<br>"''You placed the Crown upon me in the depths of Moonrise Towers, and there I was born. (...) Your plan was devious, your cruelty unparalleled. I would have followed it, were your mind not destroyed by your sister."''}}{{cite text|Memoir Notes with Recent Addenda|Enver Gortash}} With her former rival left to die and a tadpole devouring their brain, Orin took the Urge's place as Bhaal's Chosen and third member of the conspirators.{{cite text|Elder Brain Domination|[[Ketheric Thorm]]}} Orin would prove undisciplined in her role, however, as her bloodlust could not be contained, and rapidly grew to be disliked by the other two who saw her as little more than a necessary nuisance to their plan.{{cite text|Journal of Enver Gortash|Enver Gortash}} At some point between the betrayal and the events of the game, Ketheric and Orin tricked [[Minthara]] into a trap where she murdered her allies and captured her. She then used a tadpole to convert [[Minthara]] into a [[True Soul]].

If the Dark Urge is not chosen as the player character, their corpse will be found in Orin's chamber during Act 3, tortured to death by their sister.{{note|This corpse uses the [[Dragonborn#White_Dragonborn|White Dragonborn]] form for [[The Dark Urge (origin)|the Dark Urge]], as seen as the in-game default choice for the [[Origin]] and in promotional footage for it.}}

 

== Involvement ==

Though Orin is not present in the first act of the game, her involvement in the plot is alluded to when the [[Absolute]] attempts to take over the party's mind and they see a vision of her Chosen shortly before being repelled by the [[Mysterious Artefact]]. The player character can also see a vision of her manipulating an enthralled [[Minthara]] when first meeting the latter in the [[Shattered Sanctum]].

Orin first appears alongside [[Ketheric Thorm]] and [[Enver Gortash]] in the [[Mind Flayer Colony]] beneath [[Moonrise Towers]]. An argument breaks out between Gortash and Ketheric and is stopped from becoming a fight due to her intervention. Having successfully kidnapped [[Ulder Ravengard]], she also takes the opportunity to plant a tadpole in the duke's eye as part of their plan to take over the city. She then joins the other Chosen and uses her [[Orin's Netherstone|netherstone]], ''the Lash of Bhaal'', with them to order the [[Netherbrain]] to march the Absolute's armies on [[Baldur's Gate]].

{{main|Get Orin's Netherstone}}

 

Gortash may offer an alliance with the party if spoken to before confronting Orin. Tired of her theatrics and unreliability, Gortash will offer to join forces to subdue the Netherbrain for good and rule the [https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sword_Coast Sword Coast] together if the party slays Orin and brings her netherstone. In order to convince the party, he also reveals that their camp has been compromised by Orin who is masquerading as a party member.{{note|Although Gortash reveals this, the party is unable to act on this information as the actual replacement does not happen until Orin reveals it herself in the Lower City.}} If agreed to, Gortash proves to be true to his word if his conditions are fulfilled.

 

 

In order to get Orin's netherstone, the group will need to visit the [[Murder Tribunal]] in the [[Undercity Ruins]] as the [[Temple of Bhaal]] is open only to those deemed worthy by Bhaal. At the tribunal, the party is welcomed by a familiar face, [[Sarevok Anchev]]. Sarevok will reveal how the Bhaalists survived the events of years prior, as well as his connection to Orin as her grandfather. If confronted by The Dark Urge, he further elaborates on Orin's involvement in their fall from Bhaal's grace, excited at the prospect of a Bhaalspawn duel in the ranks of the cult. He will require offer passage to the Temple of Bhaal if the party proves to be worthy by becoming an [[Cult of Bhaal#Unholy Assassins|Unholy Assassin]], which requires impressing the tribunal with a killing prior and then the sacrifice of a celestial being. Alternatively, the party can simply decide to fight Sarevok, a prospect he welcomes eagerly. Either given as a worthy Bhaalite or looted from Sarevok's corpse, with the [[Amulet of Bhaal]] in hand, the party can finally confront Orin.

 

Orin will be found at the Altar of Bhaal, deep within the temple. There, she will be toying with her kidnapping victim surrounded by Bhaalist cultists. When approached, Orin will threaten to kill her hostage, though she can be convinced otherwise through dialogue. The Dark Urge can persuade her to duel them as is bhaalist tradition, to which she will eagerly agree.  

Alternatively, if the party used {{SAI|Speak with Dead}} on [[Helena Anchev|Helena Anchev's]] corpse they can discover that she betrayed Orin on [[Sarevok|Sarevok's]] orders. Revealing this to Orin causes her to completely lose focus on killing her kidnapping victim. If the party then choose dialogue options without ability checks, Orin will become enraged and call on Bhaal's power to transform into the [[Slayer]]. However, the party can also choose to taunt her further by succeeding a {{Ability Check|Deception|25}}, {{Ability Check|Persuasion|25}}, or {{Ability Check|Religion|25}}, which cause Orin to completely break down since she is unable to cope with the truth. [[Bhaal]] will then speak to her through the giant skull in the back of the room, commanding her to fight and unnaturally twisting her body to force her into the Slayer form. Regardless of the outcome of the conversation, Orin will attack when it concludes.

Once defeated, the party is able too loot her corpse and find {{MdRarityItem|Orin's Netherstone}}.

== Orin's shapeshifting ==

Orin will use her shapeshifting abilities to harass the party twice, using one of the disguises listed below. Following the second transformation, all further interactions with the NPCs below will be genuine.

Meeting one of Orin's impersonations for the first time as the Dark Urge earns the [[Haunted One|Personal Relations]] [[Inspiration|background goal]].

Orin can only be at one place at a time: if a disguised Orin stays in the visual range of a party member she can't take the appearance of other NPCs elsewhere and thus is effectively pinned in place. This way it's possible to talk to the other genuine NPCs without triggering Orin's apparitions.

These NPCs can also be 'saved' by not speaking to them until the party reaches Gortash at [[Wyrm's Rock]]. Once Gortash informs them that Orin has compromised their camp by shapeshifting into one of their companions, she will no longer attempt to impersonate any of the potential NPCs listed below.

===Disguises===

* [[Lens]], a journalist for the [[Baldur's Mouth|Baldur's Mouth Gazette]].

* [[Gyldro Angleiron]], a blacksmith in the [[Rivington General]].

* A dying [[Stone Lord]] thug near the [[Western Beach]].

 

Orin serves as one of the main antagonists of Act 3 of the game alongside [[Enver Gortash]]. Her defeat is required before facing the final threat of the game: the [[Netherbrain]].

=== Loot ===

* {{MdRarityItem|Mutilated Carapace}}

* {{MdRarityItem|Bloodthirst|alias=Netherstone-Pommelled Bloodthirst}} – separates on pick-up into:

** {{MdRarityItem|Bloodthirst}}

** {{MdRarityItem|Orin's Netherstone}}

 

Fist Rowan.jpg|Orin masquerading as Fist Rowan.

Dying Thug.jpg|Orin pretending to be a dying Stone Lord thug.

* {{MdRarityItem|A page from Sarevok's book}}

 

 

{{Q|Come to me, Father. Set my flesh to your unholy purpose.|Orin the Red|align=center}}

* At launch, the party could temporarily obtain '''Blade of the First Blood''', a [[Shortswords|Shortsword]] version of [[Bloodthirst]] wielded by Orin, by killing Orin and looting her before the end of the battle. This seems to have been fixed since.

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* {{FRWiki|Orin|long}}

 

[[Category: Followers of the Absolute]]

[[Category:Available to Speak with Dead]]