Birdwatcher

* COS 2

Birdwatcher was a high-ranking CLA operative killed by the Barovian Freedom Fighters.

## Description

### Appearance

Birdwatcher was a average-height, average-build warforged.

## Backstory

Little is known about Birdwatcher prior to his employment with the CLA. From the memories Tokili recovered, it is known that Birdwatcher ended up in a junkyard after an act of kindness, and was sought out by the CLA rather than applying himself.

## CLA Work

Birdwatcher combined technology, magic, and birds for an unknown end goal. His grander plans involved the gems from the Wizard of the Wines Winery, which he successfully stole at some point during the eight-year downtime.

## The Barovian Freedom Fighters

Birdwatcher sent a hostile, souped-up roc after the Barovian Freedom Fighters almost immediately upon their return to Barovia, at which point they did not know of his existence or the CLA's involvement.

In session 3, Birdwatcher used a winery-gem-powered helmet to reanimate and control Argynvost's skeleton. However, the party took down the dragon mid-flight, reclaiming the gems and the corpse.

After the Argynvost incident, the party recognized Birdwatcher as a threat, so they flew to his base of operations—Yester Hill. There, they defeated him and his bird army in aerial combat.

### Birdwatcher's Memories

After the Birdwatcher's death, Tokili salvaged Birdwatcher's head to try and gain information from it. The memories he can recover replay Birdwatcher's side of various conversations, giving insight into his backstory and time with the CLA.

Because the memories have no timestamps or explicit indication of who Birdwatcher is speaking to, it is left up to interpretation when these conversations occur and who they are with. It is not known if Tokili finds the memories in chronological order, reverse chronological order, or entirely scrambled.

#### Memory 1

Memory 1 chronicles a low point for Birdwatcher—being in a junkyard after an act of kindness backfires. This presumably happens before his employment with the CLA, and possibly even before Memory 1, given the first memory has Birdwatcher mention being helped and accommodated. This memory also suggests Birdwatcher worked with birds before his time with the CLA, as whistling was how he controlled birds in combat.

```
[silence]

**Birdwatcher:** “I suppose if you were here to kill me you would have already done it.”

**Birdwatcher:** “Who are you?”

[silence]

**Birdwatcher:** “An offer?”

[silence]

**Birdwatcher:** “The one act of kindness I have ever done and it ends up with me battered and broken in a junkyard. I don’t know what you want, but it’s not like I have much of a choice.”

**Birdwatcher:** “Wait. Before you take me to god knows where...”

[sharp whistle]

**Birdwatcher:** “Let me bring some of my friends.”

```

#### Memory 2

Memory 2 seems to be another conversation between Birdwatcher and an employer, possibly a superior at the CLA. He refers to "the other 2" (presumably Cipher and Thorn), working a special assignment in the same location as them (Barovia), and facing resistance from a group (the Barovian Freedom Fighters or the Van Richten Society), all reinforcing the theory that this conversation is him receiving mission information from the CLA.

```
**Birdwatcher:** “Yes, I understand. Your accommodations have been more than adequate. I have… improved all your operatives as promised, what now?”

[silence]

**Birdwatcher:** “A special assignment? Sounds… interesting. How many agents will be at my disposal?”

[long silence]

**Birdwatcher:** “Yes, I understand. And I won’t be met with any resistance?”

[much longer silence]

**Birdwatcher:** “... and if I encounter this group?”

[silence]

**Birdwatcher:** [sigh] “I see. I will not fail you.”

```

#### Memory 3

Memory 3 plays a conversation between Birdwatcher and a subordinate. He seems \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

```
**Birdwatcher:** “Yes, this is exactly what I needed. The ritual of transference is almost complete. Wait over there for further instruction.”

[silence]

**Birdwatcher:** “You’ve been what?!”

[silence]

**Birdwatcher:** “Who reassigned you to that fool?”

[silence]

**Birdwatcher:** “...that charlatan. What does he need more help with? While he’s busy running that town, I’ve been meticulously rearranging this entire ecosystem!”

[silence]

**Birdwatcher:** [sigh] “Yes, you may go. It’s not like I need the help anyways. I’ll send the pack to escort you.”

```

## Trivia

* Birdwatcher was responsible for the extinction of the Barovian Roc.
* Tokili is currently in possession of Birdwatcher's head.