Opal of the Maw

Opal of the Maw

Opal was born with a chip upon her shoulder; remarkably gifted by relentlessly unacknowledged due to her bloodline, she forged on ahead attempting to one day gain recognition for her talents. On the way she discovers there is more to life than gaining the admiration of those who once slighted you.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Opal is a very lithe and slender creature. Her physical strength is minimal and this is reflected in her slim frame.

Body Features

Opal bears all the traits of a tiefling; mainly horns and a tail. A vampiric puncture wound had healed into a scar on the right side of her neck. Additionally, there is a healed bite mark on her left shoulder from a werewolf attack. Lastly, a long winding scar over her chest and torso left over from bring crushed by Baba Lysaga.

Facial Features

Opal has very light lavender skin with a sprinkle of freckles over her cheeks and bridge of her pointed nose. Her face is very delicately shaped but she wears a pair of big, silver, circle-shaped glasses to hide it, fearing it makes her look too juvenile. Her thick hair is the color of dark wine and cut into a fluffy bob with a straight fringe above her sharp eyebrows. Her eyes were an injury permanently rendered one a murky red colour.

Identifying Characteristics

Two short, ridged, mulberry-coloured horns poke out from her head - one, however, has been broken just above her hairline. She also has long, nimble lavender tail with a small spoke at the tip.

Physical quirks

Often very closed-off and aloof with many hand gestures.

Special abilities

Racial Abilities:

60ft dark vision

Resistance to fire

Cast Hellish Rebuke once per day

Cast Darkness once per day (charisma DC)

Cloistered Scholar Feature:

You have information about your cloister and you may use it's library freely. Other libraries are also more likely to admit you.

War Caster Feats:

Gain advantage on concentration vs damage checks.

You may cast while holding a weapon.

Your cantrips deal half damage when the target saves against it.

Once per long rest your evocation spells deal extra damage equivalent to your Intelligence modifier.

Locket of Torm and Mystra

Whisper "home" into the locket and once per day it casts the light cantrip (with a dull, pink glow).

Whisper "we're home safe" to dissipate the glowing light.

Wizard Tower Abilities:

Spell research time is halved

Teleportation Circle

Apparel & Accessories

Currently, Opal wears a white, collarless, button-up top tucked into a pair of high-waisted burgundy pants. A myriad of small pouches and flasks hang off the belts around her hips. A pair of dark, leather knee-high boots are on her feet and if the situation calls for it she wears a dark burgundy robe, left open, over this outfit. Two tear-drop opal earrings hang from her ears alongside a few singular studs.

Specialized Equipment

She is now wearing Hat of Wizardry as well as the fang of the vampire lord, Strahd, hanging from her ear. The fang of Emil, the werewolf that bit her in Borovia is also tied to her belt.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Opal grew up in Candlekeep, the fortress library overlooking the Sea of Swords, along the Sword Coast.
She was taken there after a priest, returning to the Temple of Oghma within Candlekeep came across the abandoned baby while waiting on his dawn ferry from Balder's Gate to Candlekeep. She was inside a rotten, wooden bucket that had been left in the ocean, seemingly with the hope of letting the water dispose of the unwanted child. Her infantile screams were almost muffled by the crashing waves, but he managed to spot the bucket bobbing out to sea. Taking mercy on the malnourished thing, he tore linen from his cloak, wrapped her up and delivered her to Candlekeep.
The first tielfing to be housed at Candlekeep, Opal came to know the prejudice against her infernal bloodline well. The inhabitants of the surround areas often whispered all kinds of malicious drivel about the little "devil-child pet" the monks kept and would never allow their to speak with her.
She did, however, find solace in the arcane arts and quickly began showing a natural aptitude for spell craft. Consequently, the monks immediately enrolled her in wizardry classes. Since that moment, Opal dedicated herself to proving every insult wrong and becoming the most successful wizard possible.
Her teenage years were slightly better, as she had won over many people with her wit, diligence and intelligence but still, there were some folk who would never change their minds. Many merchants and visiting nobles cautioning their sons not to look you in the eyes, lest they be seduced by a succubus in disguise. Similarly, young squires and guardsmen stationed at Candlekeep for training often either belittled her, sought to fight her or foolishly bet that one of them could bed the demon before their visit was over. The only folk who treated her kindly was the inn owner, Marcella "Marcy" Marsa, her son Asa Marsa and their stablehand, Killian Eldoor.
This is where she also met her rival, Vadania Galanodel. Vadania was everything Opal wasn't - rich, showy and glamorous. Opal would step toe-to-toe with her in class which only served to drive each of them harder. Initially cruel to Opal, Vadania has settled into a more friendly rivalry with her as they have grown.
The monks would go on to entrust Opal with ascribing duties as a young adult. When she showed proficiency in this, they also allowed her to stand as an appraiser at the Halls of Wisdom. To gain entry, a visitor must gift the library collection with a new tome of immense value - nothing valued under 1000gp. Visitants would often scoff in disbelief or scowl in horror when first encountering the tielfing but Opal learned to overcome this by shrewdly reminding the patron that she, and she alone, was the only thing standing in the way between them and entry to the Halls of Wisdom.
Before her 24th birthday, Angmar Anoram, her teacher passed away of natural causes. However, before he died, he gave his student a letter - inside was a signed request for a pilgrimage of knowledge. Opal, who only knew a life of seclusion within the walls of the keep, was being granted a chance to venture into the outside world (much to the chagrin of Vadania).
Secretly, Opal knew exactly what tome she wished to hunt for - the lost diaries of Farideh, the Brimstone Angel. Farideh was a tielfing warlock and hero who fought many battles and became an exemplary to all tieflings living outside the shadows. Though she would not care to admit any sentimentalism, Opal secretly wishes to find her writings and publish her own anthology to spread more positive views about tieflings in the future. That would be her contribution to the annals of Candlekeep library.

Gender Identity

Female

Sexuality

Heterosexual

Education

As she grew and started to show talent in the magical arts, the monks of Candlekeep enforced a strict schedule of training and formal education upon the young tielfing.
Her main teacher and mentor was Angmar. A former head appraiser, he spent his twilight years training young wizards who study within Candlekeep. He was very tough on Opal but he would reward her devotion with free access to the Great Library.
On his deathbed, he gave Opal her last task in the form of a Letter of Pilgrimage. This was Opal's opportunity to take all his past lessons and use them to traverse the outside world and gain knowledge herself.

Employment

After being given a Letter of Pilgrimage by Angmar, she began she found herself under the employment of Gundren Rockseeker. He wished for Opal to come along on his quest to find the Spellforge as a representative of Candlekeep and this began her relationship with the town of Phandalin and The Maw.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Gundren Rockseeker and Mines of Phandelver

• Saved Gundren Rockseeker and Sildar Hallwinter from being held hostage after being kidnapped during a goblin onslaught.
• Located the Spellforge and cleared Wave Echo Cave so Gundren could research the item safely.

Defeating the Redbrand:

• Discovered the Redbrand was being led by Iarno "Glasstaff" Albrek, a friend to the Rockseeker family. He was incapacitated and given to Sildar Hallwinter. Opal now carries his infamous Glasstaff.
• The Maw infiltrated the ruins of Trascendor Manor and slayed the sect of Redbrands who were terrorizing Phandalin, thus freeing them from their tyranny.

The Slaying of the Black Spider (Part 1):

• The Maw discovered The Black Spider's role in the terrorism of Phandalin. The Maw incapacitated the Black Spider in Wave Echo cave. However, Arvaard decided to kill him in an attempt to permanently stop his wave of terror. The town was saved.

The Iron Gauntlet:

• Daran Edermath recognized Opal's dedication to justice and offered her the role of a chevall in the Order of the Gauntlet. She began training with him sometime soon after.
• During a sparring match against Daran and Dadalan , Opal (with the aid of Gatura ) manage to defeat her mentors.

The Curse of Strahd:

• Rescued two children from the Bonegrinder Mill. Their names are Freek (7) and Myrtle (5). The Maw bring them safely to the Church of Saint Avaral to be looked after by the community with some money to assist in buying them food.
• Uri and Opal fooled Lady Watcher into letting them go to murder her rival. Instead they forge a plan to rescue her wereraven hostage and slay her during the rescue.
• During the chaos ensuing from Lady Watcher's death, Van Richten set his massive saber-toothed tiger, Diane Keaton, on the town. While the guardsmen are distracted, Androv and Nemina the wereravens fly to the Kolyana's in order to inform them of what transpired and command them to flee the area. Opal sent a flare over the West Gate to inform the others to flee through and The Maw successfully escape Vallaki.
• Reinstated the trade of wine to the Matrikov Family's The Blue Water Inn in Barovia
• Rescued the Wizard of Winery Martikov's family from tainted druids and retrieved their magical seeds.
• Uncovered the secret behind Strahd's obsession with Ireena, the reincarnation of Tayana, Strahd's brother Sergei's wife, whom he desperately wanted.
• Successfully revived after The Maw steal the Vallaki Burgermaster's wife's wedding dress for the Abbots creation, Visilka.
• The Maw find Sergei Von Zarovich's sword in Kresk's Amber Castle.
• The Maw fight Strahd's manservant, Rahadin, and defeat him inside the Ravenloft Castle.
• The Maw battle Strahd, The Black Spider and Beucephalus. The Maw chase him to his coffin, slay his brides and all stake Strahd, killing him in his coffin.
• Strahd has been slain and the souls of Sergei and Tatyana can pass on. The people of Barovia are finally free and a sun rises over the land for the first time in centuries.

Opal's Death Dream:

• Opal a pact with Alkalashazin, the demon.
• Opal meets Farideh and accepts the task of rejoining her journal.

The Evil in the Mines of Phandelver:

• The Maw, joined by Iron Gauntlet member, Gatura the Leonine, investigate strange happenings in the Mines of Phandelver. They locate the bodies of the missing travelers inside and discover a church hidden deep within the cravens. The cult inside has slain countless people in an attempt to raise a terrible sea monster but the party slays it and stops the ritual.

Journey to the Mere of Dead Men:

• The Maw investigates strange happenings in the Mere of Dead Men that involve a Necromancer of Thay who previously caused problems in Old Owl Well. We defeated him once again.

Heroes of Phandalin:

• The Maw is given the deed to the ruins of Trascendor Manor and Opal commissions a Wizard's Tower to be build adjacent to the home.
• The Maw appoint a guard-captain named Silhara.

Failures & Embarrassments

The Daran Edermath Aftermath:

• During her first few weeks in Phandalin, Opal ventured to Edermath Orchard to speak with Daran Edermath. His genuine kindness mixed with lack of clothing flustered Opal, causing her to stuttered and babble before leaving in a hurried huff.
• During the party to celebrate the liberation of Phandalin from the Black Spider, Opal succumbed to the alcohol and enjoyed the party. She managed to shyly flirt with Daran (culminating in a drunken kiss) but when final advance was rejected (due to Daran's respect for her) she responded by making a last ditch effort; going halfway up the stairs, dropping her outer robe in full view of Daran before slinking inside her room. Daran downed the rest of his drink and followed her, spending the night.
• The morning after the party, Opal woke up alone. Daran had penned her a note explaining that he needed to go tend to his orchard. He wished to respect Opal's independence once again but still, he felt rejected. Which led to weeks spent avoiding Daran.
• After coming home from Barovia, Opal also avoided him, not wishing him to gaze upon her broken form. He cornered her, late at night in Stonehill Tavern before bed and spoke to her then. She could not look at him and could not speak to him properly. Before leaving he grabbed her hand and pat it. Opal tensed up and he left.
• Opal began treating Daran coldly after this; occassionally lashing out at him when they trained. When Daran sent The Maw on their mission in the Mines of Phandelver, she fought with him before leaving.
• After accepting his offer to join The Iron Gauntlet officially, Opal trained with him, Gatura and Dadalan. This culminated in a sparring match in which she succeeded, however Daran's distant congratulations left Opal much to be desired.

The Slaying of the Black Spider (Part 2):

• The Black Spider, headless yet still moving, attacked The Maw on their way to Neverwinter while they traveled with a band of performers and bards. It desperately wanted his head back from Vogen and murdered several performers before knocking him out and taking back his head.

The Curse of Strahd:

• In Vallaki, The Maw uncovers Henrik Van Der Voort, the coffin-maker's plot to coerce Milivoj to steal the bones for him. When we sought to take them back, a fire broke loose in Henrik's coffin shop and the fight flooded into the streets. The Guards came racing to assist only for Strahd to appear, demolish many of the guardsmen and steal Vogen as a hostage.
• Opal is mortally wounded in Berez. She is left with a mania from touching the other side and ceases to care about anyone around her. She sustained a broken horn, bloodshot eye and massive scarring over her chest and torso.When she is cured, the memories flood back and she has a nervous breakdown.
• Ismark is slain in Kresk after Strahd invades and steals Ireena.

An Arcanoloth Stole My Homework:

• Opal was fooled by Ol' Crimmage who turned out to be the Arcanoloth in disguise. He charmed her and persuaded her into handing over the Diary of Strahd she obtained from Barovia. He then vanished, taking her precious relic with him.

Mental Trauma

Opal's trauma began at a young age; her obvious bloodline sabotage any acknowledgement leading her to develop an inferiority complex at a young age.
By the middle of her teenager years, her skin had become thicker and she had over-corrected this and became rather fiery. In particular, she was especially cold towards the visitors of Candlekeep; the trainee squires, guardsmen and merchant assistants often objectified or dismissed her for her race and thus she learned to hardly ever trust any genuine affection towards her. Her only brush with ardor was a brief and fleeting moment with Killian, a childhood friend, before he suddenly disappeared to chase his dreams.
Opal carried on, becoming stronger as she grew but many traumatic events have happened during her travels with The Maw:
The Death of Gobnak

• Gobnak, Opal's original traveling companion died during their travels in finding the Spellforge.

Barovia Nightmare

• While travelling to the Vistani Camp to speak with Madam Eva, Opal envisioned herself hanging from a dead willow.
• While staring vacantly into a mirror in the Wizards of Winery family home, Strahd appeared behind Opal to scare her.
• Opal is killed during the battle with Baba Lysaga. She was resurrected but not without sustaining some mania.
• In Kresk, Opal finds Ismark's body impaled on his own sword and desicrated with many iron pokers in the Abbot's temple. She touches a bloodstain on the wall and has a vision of his bloody murder.
• When searching for the lost child of the Wizard of Winery family, The Maw finds him already turned. Uri performs a mercy killing and Opal leaves the room, unable to watch.
• When the Abbot cures Opal's mania, the emotions of all the shocking things instantly flood back to her and she breaks down on the floor.
• Within the Amber Castle, Opal wakes to Ezmerelda's dead body on the ground beside her. Vogen, bewitched by the Arcananloth, was coerced into silently killing her.
• That night, as Ezmerelda lay dying, Opal dreamed of Candlekeep burning and all she loved within it dying.
• Emil betrays The Maw and attacked Opal, biting a deep wound into her neck and shoulder.
• Ezmerelda and Diane Keaton to be slaughtered again by Strahd.
• The Maw battle Strahd. He bites Opal during the battle, leaving a puncture wound on her neck.

The Caves of Phandalin

• The Maw find an old evil set free within the Mines of Phandelver. Amidst the chaos, they find a massive cathedral filled with skinned corpses at an alter. Gatura was nearly killed and The Maw was nearly destroyed by a giant fish-like being.

Intellectual Characteristics

Opal is a cerebral woman; she thinks logically and deeply about anything before acting. She is sharp with her words and only chooses to speak when it is necessary. This can change when she is flustered, embarrassed or angry - her emotions take hold of her intellect and all thoughts are muddled causing her to stutter, trip over words and rant.

Morality & Philosophy

Opal was original quite black and white with her morality; do good things to help good people. However, in her travels outside Candlekeep she has come to know the grayness of many situations and shifted her alignment. Her sense of justice has strengthen and Opal now regards every situation differently but generally believes that if peace can be achieved without fighting it should be the path taken. If action is needed, it must be to defend those needing protection and slay those who only seek to kill and destroy.

Taboos

Tiefling Bloodline

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Opal is motivated by many things. Initially, she was motivated by the pursuit of knowledge but now that she's been traveling with the Maw she is now motivated more by doing what is right by people.

Savvies & Ineptitudes

Savvies: Arcane knowledge, history, antiquities, magic and spellcraft.
Ineptitude: Physical strength, dexterity, acrobatics.

Likes & Dislikes

Likes: old, antique books and relics, poetry, the smell of rain, the sound of a fireplace crackling, peace and quiet
Dislikes: mess, dirt, disrespect

Virtues & Personality perks

Intelligence, knowledge, fairness, quality, justice, loyalty, friendship.

Vices & Personality flaws

Opal has no vices but she does have many flaws regarding her own stubbornness. She is quick to anger, vulnerable, proud and often smug.

Personality Quirks

She speaks with her fingers as she speaks; a side-effect of her years of somatic spellcraft. When deeply annoyed, her eyebrow twitches as she attempts to keep her rage bottled inside.

Hygiene

Opal is extremely hygienic. If she can avoid it, she will bypass any chance of becoming dirty, sweaty or drenched.

Social

Contacts & Relations

THE MAW:

• Vogen of Ashenwood
• Uriel Darkeyes
• Helga of Borovia
• Thantifax of Anorak
• Cu Culain (???)
• Gobnak (deceased)
• Arvaard (deceased)
• Barry (deceased)

CANDLEKEEP:

• Angmar Anoram (teacher)
• Vadania (rival)
• Killian Eldoor (friend)
• Asa Marsa (friend)
• Marcella "Marcy" Marsa (friend)
• Guard-Captain Dermot Calder (acquaintance)

PHANDALIN FOLK:

• Gundren Rockseeker (former employer)
• Sildar Hallwinter (current mayor)
• Daran Edermath (Iron Gauntlet mentor)
• Guard-Captain Silhara (captain of the guard)
• Lenean Graywind (Leionhead Costa and operator)
• Toblin Stonehill (Stonehill Tavern keeper)
• Elmar Barthren (Barthen's Provision's and operator)
• Bagrast Everstone (guard - dwarf)
• Skullcrush "Scott" Orphanrend (guard - half orc)
• Phamblin Bafflestone (gnomish architect of Opal's tower) Professor Womblegonks (Phamblin's pug assistant)

IRON GAUNTLET:

• Gatura (tabaxi beserker)
• Dadalan  (dragonborn wizard)

BOROVIA:

• Dr Rudolph Van Richten (vampire hunter, deceased)
• Ezmerelda d'Avenir (vampire hunter, deceased)
• Ireena Kolyana/Tatyana (Ismark's sister, deceased)
• Ismark Kolyana (Ireen's brother, deceased)
• Diane Keaton (Van Richten's familiar, deceased)
• Blinksy (toy-marker, relocated to Phandalin)
• Milvoj (grave-digger)
• Arik Lorensk (Blood on the Vine Tavern)
• Urwin Matikov (Blue Water Inn Tavern)
• Brom and Bray Matikov (Urwin's sons)
• Danika Matikov (Urwin's wife)
• Father Lucian (Priest of Saint Avaral's Church)
• Freek and Myrtle (Bonegrinder Mill children)
• Androv and Nemina (wereravens)
• The Abbot of Kresk
• Visilka (Abbot's creation, deceased)
• Davian Matrikov (Wizards of Winery patriarch)

NEVERWINTER:

• Fantasy Costco Lich
• Fanasy Costco Mummy Lord
• Fantasy Costco employee Sam
• Fantasy Coscto zombie Seth

PILGRIMAGE:

• Farideh (legendary sorceress, deceased?)
• Uthrol (paladin furblog of Makeli)
• Duke (fae being and sock)

ENEMIES:

• Borovian Arcanaloth
• The Black Spider
• Strahd Von Zarovitch 

Family Ties

None

Religious Views

Mystra, Azuth, Torm

Relationships

Angmar Anoram

master and mentor

Towards Opal of the Maw

0

0

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Opal of the Maw

student

Towards Angmar Anoram

0

0

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Wealth & Financial state

Trascendor Manor

A small, purple firestorm of smart-mouthed snark, terrified of looking weak and foolish. Beneath that lies fierce loyalty, compassion, that value of knowledge as the strongest weapon of all.

View Character Profile

Alignment

Lawful Good

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Hero of Phandalin, Cheval of the Iron Gauntlet, Lady Opal.

Age

24-27

Birthplace

Unknown

Spouses

Siblings

Current Residence

Trascendor Manor, Phandalin

Gender

Female

Eyes

Gold

Hair

Dark Purple/Burgundy

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Light mauve

Height

5"5

Weight

60kg

Known Languages

Common, Infernal, Abyssal and Elvish