Orin

Orin the Red was a changeling Bhaalspawn and a follower of Bhaal who served her god during the late 15 century DR, by playing a significant role in the Absolute Crisis. "Yes, yes, give me agony. Pluck me bone from socket. Stroke me with a jagged edge until my skin shreds wet and red."

- Orin.

Description
In her true changeling form, Orin had grey-white skin and long orange hair she kept in a single braid, the end of which was adorned with what resembled the head of a flail. She wore a suit of blood-red armor decorated with a metal belt and wore a circlet atop her head.

Personality
She was one of the most sadistic and bloodthirsty individuals to ever stalk the Sword Coast. Her lust for murder and mayhem surprised even the most ardent devotees of the Lord of Murder.

Abilities
Like other Bhaalspawn, Orin had the ability to transform into the avatar of Bhaal known as the Slayer.

As a changeling, she also had the ability to take on the appearance of other humanoids, and could deceive even their most loyal allies.

Possessions
Orin performed her killings with two unique blades, the shortsword called Crimson Mischief and the dagger known as the Blade of the First Blood. She also carried with her Bloodthirst, the dagger wielded by the mortal Bhaal when he performed his first murders in the city of Baldur's Gate. She also wore a unique ring that allowed her to retreat from danger.

For a time, she was in possession of one third of the netherstone, which she kept embedded within the Blade of the First Blood.

Relationships
Orin was born to a woman named Helena, a devoted follower of Bhaal, and Sarevok Anchev, Helena's father and Orin's own grandfather. Sarevok was the child of Bhaal who orchestrated the iron crisis that plagued the Sword Coast in 1368 DR, just prior to the Bhaalspawn crisis that erupted in the Lands of Intrigue.

She herself was served by a cadre of Death's Heads, unholy servants of the Lord of Murder.

History
"My grandfather ruled this city. A slaughterhouse ripened for my blades, and you stole it."

- Orin, to the Dark Urge.

Orin was a devoted servant of Bhaal who served directly under the individual known as the Dark Urge during the late 15 century DR. In the, the Dark Urge orchestrated a plot with two fellow chosen of the Dead Three―Lord Enver Gortash and Ketheric Thorm—to rule the Sword Coast in the names of their gods. All the while, Orin bided her time for the right opportunity to take action and seize Bhaal's favor for herself.

After the trio enslaved an elder brain beneath Baldur's Gate with the Crown of Karsus and fabricated the cult of the Absolute religious movement, Orin attacked her superior, inserted a knife into his skull, and implanted a modified illithid tadpole into his brain. She then took over his role as Bhaal's chosen in the plot, but unfortunately proved to be undisciplined. She continued to kill innocents in Baldur's Gate without restraint, seeking to further ingratiate herself to the god Bhaal.

Background
As a shapeshifter, Orin's race is fittingly ambiguous. In Baldur's Gate III itself, her race appears to be unspecified, so she could be considered human, appearance notwithstanding, with her shapeshifting power possibly due to being a Bhaalspawn or other magic. However, the Artwork from Baldur's Gate III book describes her thusly: "As a changeling, Orin the Red wields the power to impersonate, transforming in doppelganger guise to deceive her prey." While it could be using 'changeling' as a byword for doppelganger or other shapeshifter as is common in D&D sources, it goes on to give a description matching the first 3.5-edition version of the changeling race, less so the 4- or 5-edition versions. Moreover, while 'changeling' also refers to a child swapped at birth by a fey or doppelganger, Orin's parentage precludes this. Given Sarevok's association with doppelganger agents, it seems likely one of these is intended to be her other grandparent, that is, Helena's mother. In this case, Orin or her grandparent could be a half-doppelganger, as described in Dragon #313, "Strange Bedfellows". Complicating matters, changelings have been changed in each edition, from descendants of doppelgangers in 3.5 edition, another name for doppelgangers in 4 edition, and a separate fey race in 5 edition—any one of these fits Orin. Either way, Orin is expressly of the changeling race, whatever that may be.