Denard

## V.B. Denard

**V.B. Denard** (usually referred to as just **Denard**) is an anonymous orchestral conductor, known for using magic and lighting to create bombastic "music shows". A seemingly enthusiastic and jovial fellow, Denard uses his talents to magically manipulate and rearrange his environments, making him an explosive presence on the battlefield.

As he is hidden permanently behind his mask to disguise his identity, none of his recent associates are exactly clear on the musician's origins. "Denard" is not an Orcish name, and is therefore unlikely to be the name that he was actually born with. But the story that led to the emergence of this enigmatic and eccentric figure is certainly real...

## Backstory

Denard was born to a family of battle musicians among one of the nomadic orc clans around three decades ago. He was looked down upon by his clan immediately as he struggled to obtain the raw strength that was expected of most young orc warriors, and quickly found himself relegated to the position of musician just as his ancestors. But as Denard traveled along with his clan on long distance ventures, he swiftly demonstrated his great musical talent and found himself fascinated by the natural world that surrounded him. What if there were a way to unite music and nature together?

There was one method, but for an orc, it was considered the ultimate treachery; powerful magic. The use of magic by orcs was strongly stigmatized by most orc clans, who very rarely used magic themselves and usually left its use to captured prisoners of other races from raids if they felt they truly needed it. After all, in the past, magic had been used by elves and humans to "firebomb" and incinerate thousands of innocent orcs during the many conflicts that had erupted in the world. And many orcs themselves saw over reliance on magic as a sign of weakness.

But not Denard. The beauty of music and nature were too grand to keep separate. And as a teenager, he would secretly use magic to unite them, even at the risk of his own life. As a teenager, the orc discovered that he could use magic to manipulate trees, generate "natural" phenomena such as lightning, and play his music all at the same time to create a wonderful work of art. Unfortunately, as he one day accidentally rearranged the forest right outside of his clan's encampment, it all became a little too loud to hide forever. Denard was swiftly ostracized as his secret taboo hobbies were uncovered, and his fellow tribesmen made no secret of their disdain for his activities as Denard quickly found himself overwhelmed with challenges to duel. As an Elven nation declared war against his clan at that inopportune time, the leaders of Denard's clan gave the order to execute him under the suspicion that he would be sympathetic to the far more magically inclined elves...

As the clan's warriors descended on Denard's tent, the wooden sticks propping up his shelter swiftly splintered and flew straight into their eyeballs. A lightning bolt soon descended from the sky and lit the temporary residence on fire, giving Denard just the opportunity he needed to narrowly escape with his life.

(WIP)

## Relationships

### Eve

Eve was at first skeptical of Denard's abilities, initially writing him off as just a musician during their first meeting. Denard has made verbal jabs back at her in turn, but the two are nonetheless willing to cooperate. Eve did respect Denard's anonymity by not mentioning his identity to rest of the party during the party's first gathering.