Ogden

Portrait of Ogden

Ogden is a half orc barbarian and member of the Coyotes. As a bear totem warrior, he is known for his large stature and physical strength.

## Description

Ogden gets many of his physical traits from his orc side. He is the tallest of the Coyotes, with grey skin, heavy features, and impressive muscles that all give him rather an intimidating look. However, in contrast to first glance, he keeps himself relatively well-maintained. His long black hair is usually tied back, occasionally with colorful bits of string or interesting plants braided into it, and he is clean-shaven, which shows off a scar across his jaw. He dresses in simple, functional, and often homemade garments, which include a shoddily crafted red and blue scarf in colder weather. He also carries a variety of bags and satchels, which collectively hold the sum of his possessions. His eyes are green, but when provoked to rage they turn black, much like a bear's.

## Biography

### Early life

Ogden was born in an orc village in the foothills of the Zendi mountains, north of Ålhem, Zenaida. His mother was an unknown human who disappeared soon after he was born, so he was raised by his orc father, Vroghar. He also had a few half siblings, who were usually favored by Vroghar. As a child, Ogden was smaller and less assertive than his full orc kin, and was something of an outcast. Even as he grew older and stronger, he still was never seen as one of their own. Eventually, he took to hunting as an escape and would wander far from the village into the surrounding forest.

At 11 years old, Ogden met a bear pelation named Shienhu. She was a botanist staying in Ålhem to study the forest, and quickly took him on as a pupil. She taught him to read and told him about the world outside of Zenaida. He would visit her more and more frequently, until he stopped returning to the tribe altogether. Around this time, he took the name Ogden in an effort to be seen as more human than orc. He also formed a close bond with Olli Cadwyll, Shienhu's other adopted apprentice.

### Ålhem

Shienhu eventually settled in Ålhem permanently, where Ogden and Olli lived with her in a small cottage on a local farmer's land until she died of old age in 482, leaving the two boys on their own. Afterwards, Ogden and Olli's bond grew even closer and would later evolve into a romantic partnership. During this time, Ogden made a living mostly through hunting and foraging.

War in Zenaida broke out in Ring of 485. Olli was conscripted not long after, further fueling the hatred of the Sobrian Empire originally instilled in both of them by Shienhu. Ogden tried to stop the officers, raging for the first time in the process, but to no avail. The confrontation only left him wounded and with no way of reaching Olli. After a month, with nothing left for him there, he left Ålhem.

### Traveling Zenaida and Dormoon

After leaving Ålhem, Ogden traveled south. His original intention was to look for Olli, but that was ultimately unsuccessful and he instead fell into a routine of aimless wandering. He did odd jobs and manual labor wherever he could find it along the way. For a short period he had a horse, which he won in an arm wrestling contest but was later stolen. Eventually he crossed from Zenaida into Dormoon. He lived on the road for about two and a half years before meeting the Coyotes.

### The Coyotes

On Fume 1, 487, while passing through the small town of Bittercreek, Dormoon, Ogden received a letter from Wennett asking for help getting his brother out of jail. It was this summons that brought together the group which would come to be known as the Coyotes.

## Personality

Ogden, though an imposing figure and formidable in combat, tends to be more of a gentle giant. He often takes a pacifist stance compared to most of the Coyotes, preferring to solve problems without bloodshed if possible, and showing mercy to enemies. He might even be considered the moral compass of the party, if it weren't for his inability to stand up for his own beliefs, and tendency to follow rather than lead. While not weak willed, he tries to see the best in people, which sometimes lends itself to his being especially gullible and easily persuaded. However, when driven to stand up for something (or someone), he will do so ferociously and without regard for his own safety.

Though having a practical knowledge of the world, Ogden grew up far from society and, as such, is not the most intelligent or well informed aside from what he learned from Shienhu. He tends to be curious about the world and enjoys collecting trinkets, whether or not he understands them. Wanting to distance himself from his orcish roots, he also carries with him a small book of manners and etiquette, with which he hopes to cultivate a more refined outward demeanor. He is also one of the more religious of the group, having a strong personal connection to Pele, the god of animals, and more recently to Dusk. He believes there is power in nature, and that Pele is therefore an aspect of Dusk.

## Relationships

### The Coyotes

He is one of the original Coyotes, and while they have not been together long, their shared experiences have brought him closer than he has been to anyone in years. He sees them as a found family of sorts, and after only a few weeks he would gladly give his life for any one of them. He does have his disagreements, though, and has had to strongly consider his own morals on more than one occasion.

#### Johnny O'Collier

Johnny is the person in the party most similar to Ogden in many ways, yet also the one who he has been the most directly at odds with in the past. Johnny's views on Zenaida and the Empire's involvement in it conflict drastically with Ogden's. However, they share a similar background, hobbies, and devotion to their newfound purpose in service of Dusk. In spite of their differences, they have been growing closer and seeing more eye to eye over time, and as Ogden has watched Johnny's improvement, he has come to consider him a good friend.

#### Jugemu

Ogden doesn't quite understand Jugemu, but respects him and his abilities. He finds his methods to be overly vicious at times, and if he knew Jugemu's background in Kinu he would likely find it detestable. But ignorance is bliss, and he simply finds Jugemu to be a pleasant colleague and drinking buddy.

#### Ryder Ligaw

Ogden has been mistrustful of orcs since childhood, and Ryder was the first person he met who changed that. Thanks to his confident and amiable nature, Ryder has swayed Ogden's views to be much less guarded. The idea of seeing the ocean and even sailing on it has intrigued him, and he wishes Ryder the best in his piracy career. This view might be different if Ogden actually knew what piracy was.

#### Vêda Jesterka

Ogden's views on Vêda have changed drastically over a short period of time. When they first met, he saw a tiny, relatively timid kobold and felt the need to protect her. But he quickly learned of her true nature (not least of all from their drinking contest) and is now even a little afraid of her at times. He greatly respects her intellect, and as she is a college-educated scientist, he has always trusted that, regardless of whether he understands it, whatever she says is most likely true.

### Shienhu & Olli

Ogden does not mourn his lack of birth mother, instead regarding Shienhu as his true mother figure. Even after her death she continues to be a guardian of sorts, as he has since adopted the bear as his spiritual totem in memory of her.

Olli was his closest friend from a young age, and a companion through everything. Though Ogden has now given up almost any prospect of finding him, much less finding him alive, there remains a faint hope that he may be out there somewhere.

### Pets

#### Bo

Bo is Ogden's large black warhorse. She once belonged to Tabs, a member of the Saguaros, and is named for her original owner's signature Morte Bolto gun. Ogden is quite attached to her, and though she can be temperamental, she has been a reliable steed and companion.

#### Jim Stroganoff

Jim is a mostly decayed, yet inexplicably still alive, cooked crab. It was intended to be consumed as food in Doc Garrison's extradimensional courtroom, but Ogden instead kept it. It has continued to decay over time and now exudes a strong foul odor.

## Equipment & Abilities

Ogden's physical prowess is his most notable ability. He is able to lift up to 1200 pounds and has, on one occasion, bent metal train tracks with his hands. As a barbarian, he can also enter a state of rage, in which his abilities are greatly heightened. While in this state, he has little control over his own actions, and usually has no memory of the event afterward. There is presumably some amount of magic involved, as his eyes will change color and he takes on a certain bearlike aspect that cannot be fully explained by his physical state alone. Ogden himself is unaware of this fact.

One thing he is particularly known for is fighting unarmed, and using improvised weapons (most often stones). This allows him to not be reliant on a weapon, but more importantly, when he must resort to violence it allows him to deal non-lethal damage. He does carry a massive great axe, but it is mostly for show and he will only use it in moments of either powerful anger or mortal peril.

He can play the banjo well and enjoys knitting, although he is not particularly skilled in it. He also speaks Orcish and Goblin in addition to Common.

## Trivia

Shienhu is the one who originally suggested the name Ogden. He does not officially have a last name, as he did not wish to be associated with his father's name but did not take Shienhu's either.

The scarf he often wears was originally made for Olli.

Ogden's alignment is neutral good, making him the only good-aligned member of the Coyotes.

He has traveled with the Coyotes as a group since meeting them, with the exception of one night before entering Taurus. During this time, he fell behind and lost track of the others. Being unfamiliar with the area, he made his way back to Quasnos' shop. After some brief quality time together playing horseshoes (or some rough approximation), Ogden then headed into Taurus, where he caught up with the group.

He dislikes seafood.

His order at Arby's would be the Steakhouse Garlic Ribeye Meal.