Bor'Dor Dog'Son

Official art of Bor'Dor, by Hannah Friederichs.

**Bor'Dor Dog'Son** was a half-elven sorcerer encountered by Bells Hells just after the Apogee Solstice. He is played by Utkarsh Ambudkar.

## **Description**

### **Appearance**

Bor'Dor was exceptionally tall (6'4" and a half) and thin, but stood constantly slightly stooped over. He had long, delicate fingers and appeared to be young. His skin was brown with shades of green and gold, his hair was unkempt, and his eyes were very large and amber-gold, with dilated pupils.

He dressed like a farmer, with a rough green wool cloak over cast-off clothing held together with rope; he stated that his father wrote a tag on the back of his coat for him.

He used a Bandana of Disguise to hide the gray marks, cracks and scars in his skin, and the deep pain in his expression, completely devoid of innocence.

### **Personality**

Bor'Dor appeared constantly befuddled by what was going on around him, an innocent in the world. He explained that magic was completely new to him and seemed to be triggered accidentally. Being in battle terrified him, and when the party was attacked, his initial reaction was to scream and vomit. Nonetheless, he managed to be effective, casting several spells in his fear. Following the battle, he apologized for "losing his cool", and that night, he and Prism commiserated over their mutual anxieties being out in the greater world. Bor'Dor stated that he believed in the goodness of people in general. He felt comfortable among the villagers of Hearthdell, as they reminded him of the people of his home.

The group later learned that much of this was a sham, an assumed persona to prevent them from discovering his true identity.

## **Biography**

### **Background**

Bor'Dor told Team Issylra of Bells Hells that he lived in the Cyrios Mountains near Pride's Call in the Dwendalian Empire. He was the son of a man that trained sheepdogs, and the family's surname may have been created honoring that profession. Although Bor'Dor met his mother at some point, he didn't remember her very well, and he hadn't seen her in a very long time. He had a very secluded childhood, somewhat lonely. At some point Bor'Dor became a sheep herder, but in 843 PD his younger brother Jesper fell sick with a fever that had been going on for weeks, and Bor'Dor had been tending him when he was suddenly transported to Issylra during the Apogee Solstice.

Later, the party learned that Bor'Dor had actually grown up on the Menagerie Coast, along with his father, brother and mother, not far from Port Damali. His mother's name was Livandra and she was blessed by the Wildmother, secretly teaching Bor'Dor her ways while they family posed as leatherworkers. One day, Bor'Dor used *Inflict Wounds* on some townspeople that were bullying him, almost killing a rich kid, but his mother took the blame and was willing to be punished (although she believed that everything would turn out well). Bor'Dor's father and brother fought to free her, almost certainly dying in the process, and Livandra's hope, as well as her faith in the Wildmother, was destroyed. She gave Bor'Dor her dagger and told him to run before casting a *Vitriolic Sphere* on herself and the guards surrounding her.

He fled to the Cyrios Mountains and used his magic to survive, eventually developing a reputation as a magic user. After a time, he was approached by a powerful organization who asked if he believed in the gods; when he said he did not they offered him a position and he found a community, becoming a low-ranking member. Bor'Dor was in Marquet at the Tishtan excavation site when the Malleus Key was activated and was suddenly transported to Issylra. He murdered a farmer there, stealing his clothing and his cart and burning his uniform with the farmer's corpse; shortly thereafter found himself at odds with Bells Hells, whom he had just seen kill many of his friends.

### **"Somewhere Out There" (3x59)**

Bor'Dor appeared in an Issylran forest, where he made a fire, staying next to it, with a slightly damaged cart and a reindeer named Ratchet. The light of the fire attracted Orym, Laudna, Ashton and Deni$e, causing a fearful Bor'Dor to fire his crossbow at the halfling (missing) and cast a surprisingly powerful *Lightning Bolt* that managed to hit the dwarf. After clarifying that the newcomers were not enemies, Bor'Dor was hospitable to them, even casting *Cure Wounds* to help Deni$e, though he later told them that he had just discovered that he had those powers. When Prism Grimpoppy arrived Bor'Dor, scared, ducked behind Laudna; after calming down again, the half-elf expressed his desire to return home to take care of his brother. While the six of them were speaking, three plant monsters appeared and attacked. Bor'Dor had never been in combat, and upon seeing the monsters (as well as Laudna's Form of Dread) he proceeded to scream, vomit, and piss himself a bit. Laudna and Orym tried to protect him, and surprisingly during the battle Bor'Dor again manifested his magic, casting a *Ray of Frost* from his back that hit a shambling mound; his next attack (*Lightning Bolt*) turned out to have no effect against the monstrous plants, but despite that (and getting poisoned by the smell of one of them), the rest of the party managed to defeat the monsters.

During the battle Ratchet had fled and Bor'Dor decided that, until he was able to return to Pride's Call, he would stay with his new friends since it was safer. During his night watch with Prism they both bonded over their lack of experience in battle or interaction with the world. In the morning, since the half-elf's reindeer had left, the wizard tried to summon a *Phantom Steed* replacement, but Bor'Dor brushed the matter off.

### **"Faith or Famine" (3x60)**

Bor'Dor traveled with his new friends following the Outerwalk Road, still concerned about his brother Jesper. While they were doing that, they passed near an abandoned gallows in a crossroads, and the half-elf expressed curiosity about the area; later he was also one of the few that noticed the magically-charged air near the leyline nexus. When they arrived in Hearthdell, Bor'Dor felt confident interacting with the townsfolk, considering them much like himself. He traded with old Hender, giving him jerky in exchange for information, and then bought laxatives from Proleff's apothecary in exchange for more information; however, when he realized he didn't have any money, he took the product in exchange for a favor owed to the herbalist.

When they met with Elder Joan Abaddina (a half-giant woman), Bor'Dor complimented her home in Giant, and while they were speaking with her, he rubbed her back a bit in an effort to be nice, which caused the soothsayer to tense up, making it clear that even if the intention was good, the gesture was not welcome; when she stated that she wanted Bells Hells to help her people in exchange for letting them use her scrying well, Bor'Dor impulsively agreed. As the adventurers approached the Fairfroth Brewery for a secret meeting with the villagers, Bor'Dor noticed that the animals in the area seemed calm, which was a good sign; then, when they were planning how to drive out the followers of the Dawnfather who were occupying Hearthdell, the sorcerer contributed his own ideas, which would eventually be accepted: he and Orym went to the Sunrise Sanctuary with beer and tobacco to gain the bastions' trust and convince them that their forces should move to Marquet to face Ludinus instead of oppressing these villagers. Initially the plan went as expected, and later Bor'Dor added the laxatives to the guards' drinks; however, when Flameguide Kiro (the temple's missionary leader) tried to take them inside for questioning, Orym alerted their allies to attack, and Bor'Dor immediately attacked one of the bastions with his crossbow.

### **"Crisis of Faith" (3x61)**

Shortly after Bells Hells and the villagers managed to enter the temple, Bor'Dor killed Flameguide Kiro by stabbing her in the neck, which caused him to vomit slightly from the shock; remembering that Prism needed the blood of a slain person for a spell, he collected some of Kiro's blood, which Mother then brought to the wizard. Bor'dor continued to fight despite his nerves, casting "Lightning Bolt" against one of the Judicators and then against the Dawnborn Angel summoned by the Flameguide's dying prayer. When the joint effort of the adventurers managed to throw the celestial to the ground, Bor'Dor approached, and wanting to end the fight, he kissed the forehead of the angel casting *Inflict Wounds*; the angelic warrior was destroyed after giving a last look of pity and compassion to the farmer.

After the Sunrise Sanctuary was destroyed the people of Hearthdell were happy, but Bor'Dor was still in shock over killing the Dawnborn Angel, and when they returned to Elder Abaddina's cottage, he expressed his wish to avoid killing any more. Before going to sleep he went with Orym, who had perched in a tree outside the Knotburrow, and they chatted a little about religion and the purpose of their group there; he praised the halfling's smooth talk and how much fun it had been to use the laxatives with the bastions. The next morning Joan kept her promise and allowed Bells Hells to use her scrying well three times, revealing that she needed an item that would allow her to connect with the person or place they were interested in; when it was Bor'Dor's turn, he realized he didn't have any items that directly connected him to his brother. He offered his dagger, hoping it would at least connect to his hometown, but the water in the well showed a modest but well-furnished house that the sorcerer allegedly did not recognize. After the party decided to travel to the Irriam Canyon to ask the Archdruid Hevestro for help in returning to their respective homes, Bor'Dor and his friends left Hearthdell.

### **"A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62)**

While traveling through the Serratus Wilderness, Prism offered advice and theories to Bor'Dor about his magic, although he rejected the hypothesis that Pelor had given him his powers and that was why the angel had given him that strange look. The half-elf talked a bit with the wind cougar guiding them, and later he collected blueberries. Before going to sleep Prism experimented a bit with his crossbow (carving Draconic runes to give it, if briefly, the properties of the *Dragon's Breath* spell, although damaging the weapon a bit) and later she, Ashton and Laudna collaborated to improvise a dummy so he could practice his magic, casting *Fire Bolt* successfully. The sorcerer also cast *Calm Emotions* on several people, so Ashton meditated a bit better, and Prism was so relaxed she fell asleep instead of Trancing. The cougar allowed Bor'Dor to sleep next to it when he asked to be its "little spoon". The following night, after Prism revealed her backstory of leaving her home plane and her family, Bor'Dor assured her that her mother was probably proud she had pursued her dreams, despite not having told her in person, making the shadow elf cry a little. He also shared the fruit leather he made with the blueberries.

The third day of the journey Prism cast *Scrying* on Jesper, Bor'Dor's brother, using the slingshot that Bor'Dor provided, but saw only an empty home. Bor'Dor appeared very worried, wondering what could have happened to his brother, although his friends suggested that maybe he had just recovered. That night, after dinner (which included a fish Bor'Dor caught and Prism *Enlarged*), Bor'Dor asked if the more experienced adventurers felt strong enough to fight Ludinus and/or Predathos, saying that although he would be willing to stab the archmage if he had the chance, his main priority was his family. Ashton let him use their Pipe of Remembrance, and the smoke showed Bor'Dor casting *Fire Bolt* surrounded by his new friends, feeling like he belonged.

When the adventurers reached the Irriam Canyon, Bor'Dor descended (although not very gracefully) using Laudna's *Feather Fall*, and when he was at the bottom he called for Hevestro, getting no response at all. After avoiding a large sleeping creature camouflaged as a flowery hill, the group entered a cave filled with prismatic crystals. When Bor'Dor took a shard using his dagger, Prism did a little experiment with it, casting *Ray of Frost* through it, which split the cantrip into nine rays of cold energy albeit weaker than the original; he kept the crystal and insisted on leading his friends through the cave, calling for Hevestro again in Elvish.

### **"A Haunted Past" (3x63)**

Bor'Dor attempted to negotiate when Evithorir appeared, explaining they were looking for Hevestro, but eventually a fight began, during which the sorcerer attacked their enemy with lightning and healed himself when he was too hurt to continue. Afterward, he healed Hevestro to consciousness and cast *Mass Cure Wounds* (which looked like blue cotton candy) on almost the entire party. As Hevestro was too tired to send them home immediately, they settled down for the night inside the cavern. As they were talking, Deni$e approached Bor'Dor with the excuse of giving him his slingshot (that she herself had stolen) and unexpectedly grabbed him and demanded to know what he was hiding. He tried to escape, but Deni$e had his arm twisted behind his back, and she continued to question him until Bor'Dor admitted he didn't have a dying brother. He claimed to have just wanted their sympathy because he was terrified; he was a leatherworker, not a shepherd, and admitted that he didn't recognize the places they scryed on. However, after more questioning, he stood and announced he would tell them the truth.

Bor'Dor got up, leaving just his recently acquired crystal in the floor, and revealed his true background, dropping his disguise to reveal his actual appearance as worn, experienced, and sad due to great loss. He cast *Vitriolic Sphere* into his crystal, damaging the entire party and knocking Prism unconscious. Bor'Dor screamed out that he saw them kill his friends in Marquet and they realized he was one of the Ruby Vanguard present at the activation of the Malleus Key at the Tishtan excavation site. Orym fed Prism a healing potion to bring her to consciousness , while Ashton attacked Bor'Dor, hitting him twice and knocking him prone. Deni$e grappled him, while Laudna *Counterspelled* his attempt to *Polymorph* into a hummingbird. Prone and grappled, Bor'Dor told her to just get it over with and end it. She assumed her Form of Dread and, refusing to tolerate more betrayals, she took his throat and cast *Hunger of the Shadow*, knocking him unconscious. Deni$e urged that they keep him alive for questioning, but Prism was still being burned by his acid cast and felt a strong sense of betrayal. She punched him in the face, weakening him even more. Despite Deni$e's suggestion, and having Orym's subtle approval, Laudna gave into her darkness and used the necrotic energy of *Wither and Bloom* to kill Bor'Dor.

Afterward, Orym lingered by his body, then pulled out the locket he had taken in remembrance from one of the slain Ruby Vanguard at the Malleus Key before tossing it onto the body, accepting they were at war. Deni$e removed the valuables from his body and then buried his ashes as respectfully as possible, but left with him the dagger gifted to him by his mother, as well as a small portrait of Bor'Dor, Jesper and their parents. At some point Prism, still hurt about the betrayal, started stomping on the grave of her former friend, yelling at him, apologizing, and starting all over again. Hevestro didn't seem to oppose the presence of the new tomb in the cave, granting the sorcerer a resting place separated from the gods that had disappointed him so much, and allowing his spirit to reunite with his lost family.

## **Relationships**

### **Prism Grimpoppy**

Bor'Dor seemed to trust Prism, as she understood his fears since they seemed to share a lack of experience in the world. He talked to her about his mother during their watch. He also accepted a cigarette when she offered one, despite not knowing what it was.

When Bor'Dor revealed his true story, loyalty, and his experience in combat, Prism felt betrayed, but Bor'Dor said that their shared connection had been real.

### **Laudna**

Although Bor'Dor was initially terrified of Laudna, he also seemed to be fascinated by her magic, expressing how beautiful it was, reaching the point of asking her to kill him in her spider-like Form of Dread (which she did, although in a disturbing way, adopting a specter-like appearance before draining his energy).

## **Character information**

### **Notable items**

* Light Crossbow
* Slingshot
* Dagger of Venom
* Beef Jerky
* Leatherworker's Tools
* Farmer's Clothes
* Hat of Disguise (looks like a bandana)
* Cloak of Protection
* Immovable rod
* Sketch portrait of his family

### **Abilities**

#### **Half Elf abilities**

* Darkvision
* Fey Ancestry

#### **Sorcerer abilities**

* Sorcerous Origin: Divine Soul
	+ Divine Magic
	+ Favored by the Gods
	+ Empowered Healing
* Font of Magic
	+ 9 Sorcery Points
	+ Flexible Casting
* Metamagic

#### **Sorcerer spells**

##### **Cantrips**

* *Fire Bolt*
* *Ray of Frost*

##### **1st level**

* *Cure Wounds*
* *Inflict Wounds*

##### **2nd level**

* *Calm Emotions*
* *Enhance Ability*

##### **4th level**

* *Polymorph*
* *Vitriolic Sphere*

## **Appearances and mentions**

* Campaign Three
	+ "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) (first appearance)
	+ "Faith or Famine" (3x60)
	+ "Crisis of Faith" (3x61)
	+ "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62)
	+ "A Haunted Past" (3x63)
	+ "Reunited" (3x64), mentioned only
	+ "A Path of Vengeance" (3x65), mentioned only
	+ "Bloody Flowers" (3x67), mentioned only (unnamed)
	+ "Kindling the Spirits" (3x73), mentioned only
	+ "The Eve of the Red Moon" (3x81), mentioned only, indirect

## **Quotations**

* "No more killing. Please. I just want to go home."
* *(about his magical powers)* "I think, when I'm afraid, the powers focus themselves."

## **Trivia**

* Bor'Dor Dog'Son's name appears to be a pun on *border collie*, possibly alluding to Bor'Dor's alleged profession as a shepherd.
	+ It was a popular fan theory that Bor'Dor was actually a border collie transformed into a half-elf with the *True Polymorph* spell, due to his confused temperament, his unfamiliarity with magic, and his curious name. This theory is very similar to one about Lionel Gayheart's origins. Utkarsh Ambudkar, however, admitted he hadn't even thought about that origin for the character.
* Some fans pointed out that there was a certain resemblance between the appearances of Bor'Dor and Bruno Madrigal (a character from the movie *Encanto*). However, Hannah Friederichs (the artist responsible for Bor'Dor's official illustration) confessed that the resemblance had not been intentional, since she was not familiar with recent animation products.
* Emily Axford proposed that she, Aimee Carrero and Utkarsh should create characters that were triplets, with only two of them being identical. However, the idea ended up being discarded.
* It's possible that the green and gold shades of his bronze skin are an indication of the divine influence inherited from his mother, as this trait is somewhat reminiscent of Reani's golden freckles, which were due to her being an aasimar. It seems to explain his Divine Soul sorcerous origin.
* He makes his own jerky.
* Bor'Dor is the first player character killed by another player character in a main campaign.
	+ Technically it could have been preceded by Zerxus Ilerez, who was finished off by his friend Nydas Okiro in an attempt to escape his deal with Asmodeus in *Exandria Unlimited: Calamity*, but since in the end the paladin accepted his fate and the sorcerer was trying helping his friend does not technically count as a proper murder.
* According to Utkarsh, when Bor'Dor saw Joan Abaddina showing mercy to one of the followers of the Dawnfather he considered seeking redemption as well, although in the end he maintained his original plans of betraying Bells Hells.
* Bor'Dor's most relaxing moment in life was to sleep next to the wind cougar in the Serratus Wilderness. However, his player believes that after death he has really found peace, reunited with his family, and even reconciling with divinity.

## **References**

1. ↑ See "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62) at 3:32:36.
2. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 1:57:43.
3. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 3:21:22.
4. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 1:24:54.
5. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 1:25:50.
6. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 2:33:10.
7. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 1:25:35.
8. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 2:21:49.
9. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) from 2:47:30 through 3:10:08.  Bor'Dor cast both *Ray of Frost* and *Lightning Bolt*.
10. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 3:20:58.
11. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) from 3:40:57 through 4:46:50.
12. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 0:50:22.
13. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 1:32:39.
14. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 1:30:22.
15. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 3:44:43.
16. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 1:33:13.
17. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 2:31:38.
18. ↑ See "*4-Sided Dive*: A Very Special Six-Sided Dive" (4SDx14) at 0:19:08.  See also at 1:45:13.
19. ↑ See "*4-Sided Dive*: A Very Special Six-Sided Dive" (4SDx14) at 0:15:37.
20. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 2:36:11.
21. ↑ It was later confirmed that Bor'Dor had stolen the sling from a farmer he murdered immediately after arriving on Issylra, and that the home Prism saw actually was the farmer's.  See "*4-Sided Dive*: A Very Special Six-Sided Dive" (4SDx14) at 0:15:54.
22. ↑ Utkarsh confirmed that although the pipe indeed revealed his proudest moment, it was because he had succeeded in fooling the others into accepting him.  See "*4-Sided Dive*: A Very Special Six-Sided Dive" (4SDx14) at 0:18:52.
23. ↑ See "*4-Sided Dive*: A Very Special Six-Sided Dive" (4SDx14) at 1:17:14.
24. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 3:44:43.
25. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 3:42:47.
26. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 2:35:07.
27. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59).
28. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 2:50:36.
29. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 2:51:08.
30. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 1:21:49.
31. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 3:12:09.  Bor'Dor states that his crossbow is a light crossbow
32. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 1:31:43.
33. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 4:07:47.
34. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 3:12:06.
35. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 0:56:44.
36. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 1:36:39.
37. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 3:11:23.
38. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 3:10:39.
39. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 3:11:31.
40. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 3:11:26.
41. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 3:11:41.
42. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 3:29:00.
43. ↑ See "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62) at 0:31:07.  Bor'Dor rolls a Natural 9, then corrects his roll and adds 6.
44. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) at 1:15:55.
45. ↑ See "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62) at 0:52:40.
46. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 2:47:57.
47. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 1:30:40.
48. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) at 3:06:27.
49. ↑ See "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62) at 0:55:20.
50. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 3:58:05.
51. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 1:26:50.
52. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 2:49:44.
53. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 2:32:54.
54. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 1:46:04.  Takes the form of cotton candy
55. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) at 3:47:21.
56. ↑ See "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62) at 0:19:07d.
57. ↑ See "*4-Sided Dive*: A Very Special Six-Sided Dive" (4SDx14) at 0:32:05.
58. ↑  Hannah Friederichs (@agarthanguide) on Twitter: "I don’t know the name! I’m not an animation person! I watched a few episodes of Duck Tales when I first got the write up for FCG and that was it for me for the last two decades." (2023-05-18).
59. ↑ See "*4-Sided Dive*: A Very Special Six-Sided Dive" (4SDx14) at 0:37:19.
60. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 0:56:39.
61. ↑ See "*4-Sided Dive*: A Very Special Six-Sided Dive" (4SDx14) at 0:16:57.
62. ↑ See "*4-Sided Dive*: A Very Special Six-Sided Dive" (4SDx14) at 0:50:33.

**Art:**

1. ↑ Official art of Bor'Dor, by Hannah Friederichs (source). This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
2. ↑ Official art of Bor'Dor, by Hannah Friederichs (source). This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
3. ↑ Fan art of Bor'Dor's endearing background, by Odd (source). Used with permission.
4. ↑ Fan art of Bor'Dor crying, by Odd (source). Used with permission.
5. ↑ Fan art of Bor'Dor's revelation, by ElesirArt (source). Used with permission.
6. ↑ Fan art of Bor'Dor and Prism on watch, by Jake Wennik (source). Used with permission.
7. ↑ Fan art of Bor'Dor's death, by Silesianna (source). Used with permission.