Umami

## Umami the Tortle

Like other tortles, Umami was born in the sandy beach, fighting for survival. While all his brothers and sisters ran towards the waves, Umami summoned his courage and determination, closed his eyes, and with all his energy, darted forward in a straight line. Unfortunately, he went in the wrong direction and found himself in the middle of the forest.

The forest is an inhospitable place with little chance for a small, defenseless creature to survive. However, Umami learned to adapt, embracing the dense nature surrounding him and sustaining himself by consuming the mushrooms and other fungi found there. This might not have been the best for his intellectual development, but that was never his forte from the beginning.

Umami found solace and companionship in the Muiraquitã druid tribe, but he was always regarded as an outsider by his fellow druids. His appearance only added to their perception of him as peculiar. His body is adorned with vibrant, moldy-colored patches that stand out against his skin, particularly on his black-shelled carapace, reminiscent of a tortle's turtle-like features. He wears a goat skull with horns as a mask, a striking and eerie choice that further sets him apart. Additionally, Umami always carries with him the lid of a wine barrel taken from a noble's cellar. He claims to enjoy the scent of the wood, reminding everyone that those yeasts within the barrel are also fungi.

Umami, a tortle of peculiar habits and appearance, inadvertently became the center of a covert pursuit in Aetheria. The reason: the seemingly mundane barrel lid he uses as a shield, which he took from a noble's cellar in Etherion. Unbeknownst to him, this lid possesses the unique ability to infuse wine with extraordinary properties, a secret sought after by a powerful and shadowy organization known as the "Vinum Consortium."

The Vinum Consortium:

This clandestine group, consisting of influential nobles, vintners, and alchemists, has a vested interest in controlling the production and distribution of enchanted wines across Aetheria. These wines, known for their magical properties, fetch a high price in both the arcane and technological circles, making them a valuable commodity.

The Pursuit:

The Consortium's interest in Umami's shield is purely for its wine-enhancing abilities. They remain ignorant of its more profound magical and technological capabilities. To retrieve the shield, the Consortium dispatches two skilled envoys:

Seraphine Duvall: A renowned alchemist known for her expertise in magical brews and potions. Elegant and persuasive, she is adept at extracting secrets and information through charm and subtlety.

Tobin Greycastle: A former mercenary turned Consortium operative. He is known for his brute strength and unyielding determination. Tobin is not one to shy away from using force when necessary.

Umami's Journey:

As Umami travels through Aetheria, from the enchanting forests of Mystara to the bustling streets of Glimmerport, he remains blissfully unaware of the true value of his shield. His interactions with the diverse inhabitants of Aetheria, from the Arcanists to the Technomancers, slowly unravel the mysteries of the Enchanted Barrel Lid.

The pursuit by Seraphine and Tobin brings Umami into various conflicts and alliances, each encounter revealing more about the shield's powers and the nature of the world he inhabits. Umami's simple desire to protect himself and enjoy the scents of his beloved fungi unwittingly places him at the crossroads of a larger conflict, involving the pursuit of power, the secrets of enchantment, and the unending quest for balance in the magical and technological realms of Aetheria.

In this revised narrative, Umami's adventure with the Enchanted Barrel Lid becomes a tale of innocence caught in a web of intrigue, highlighting the often-unseen value in the simplest of objects and the complex motives that drive the factions within Aetheria

### Character Basics:

* Name: Umami
* Race: Tortle
* Class: Druid, Circle of Spores
* Background: Oulander

### Vital Stats:

* Armor Class: 17+2
* Hit Points: 11
* Initiative: zero
* Speed: 30ft

### Abilities:

* Strength: 14
* Dexterity: 11
* Constitution: 16
* Intelligence: 7
* Wisdom: 20
* Charisma: 14

### Skills and Saves:

* Passive Perception: 17

### Racial Traits (Tortle):

* Description:
* Ability Score Increases
### Class Features:

* Hit Points
### Background Traits (XXX):

* Suggested Characteristics