Barron Ormauve

—, Barron Ormauve

**Barron Ormauve** is a human former ritualist travelling with Queen Adalhard's Caravan. He is notable for several ritual-related discoveries, including Ritual Portalism, the first Greater ritual spell, and awakening the magical link between the Dwarves and runic magic. His method of ritualism involves communication with an entity within each ritual circle, referred to only as 'The Circle'.

## Life

Few records of an individual named Barron Ormauve exist prior to his joining the Caravan, and none more than a year prior. Those that do reference an itinerant ritualist known for encouraging mischief and disobedience.

Upon hearing Lady Adalhard's summons, Ormauve signed up and participated in the Battle of Etalaan, during which he aided the group by enchanting several weapons and scrying on the Necromancer, and suffered the brunt of an explosion of Arvum energy during a ritual to purify the land and weaken the Necromancer, containing much of it within a magical pendant.

He remained with the caravan, performing the Spirit Wash of Breadán Casta to turn him into a Sylven and dedicating his life to the Circle to discover the first Greater ritual spell. During the Siege of Adalhard Manor, he seized control of a ritual being performed by Arvum cultists, delaying it long enough for the rest of the Caravan to arrive and slay the participants, including the Necromancer. Seeing the damage the Arvum was doing the circle, he offered to give up magic, but was instead given a mission he did not disclose. He was offered a knighthood by Lady Adalhard for his actions at the Siege, but turned it down.

During the Arbeth-Tegerron conflict, he performed several notable rituals, including: the Spirit Wash of Sana-Rae Wyldwood; a tea party for the Halflings of the group that awakened a magical connection between Dwarves and their runes; a battle ritual that caused him and Morgan to be briefly overwhelmed with Arvum energy; and a ritual attempting to prevent cultists of the Way of the Arvum Dusk from performing their own, that killed dozens of cultists, for which he was tried and convicted.

It was also during this time that he participated in the development of Ritual Portalism. First teleporting individuals and objects between nearby circles, he would go on to use the method to investigate the disappearance of one of the Dwarven brides and later to take a group to another planet.

Upon arrival, he and the group were arrested by Kenku and sent to a barren world, subsisting on what Barron could forage. There they met Rrrr'k't Zygjy pt'!, a Beholder, who they would take back to Archaeus with them upon discovering an alien device that seemingly replicated the effects of Ritual Portalism without magic.

Returning, Barron found the Caravan during the hunt for the Journal of Jack Ketch. During this time, he taught ritualism to Rrrr'k't and performed rituals to contact the gods and send a message of peace to the Kenku, as well as closing a ritual circle that had been left open by Mrs Greenbeans after a catastrophic leakage of Arvum energy. He also expressed, with sadness, that the Circle seemed to have lost its individuality upon connecting with the network of 'circles' throughout the galaxy.

Attempting to reconnect with the circle during the Invasion of the Pale Elves, Ormauve was confronted by a Kenku, who disconnected the Circle from the network, causing it to regain its individuality but closing off Archaeus from the galaxy. Ormauve later led a ritual to rescue Jack Ketch from the Arvum; however, Ketch attacked the group and later attempted a ritual to open every circle in Archaeus to the Arvum. Ormauve managed to stop this ritual at the cost of his own magic, rendering him powerless.

## Personality and Traits

Barron is confident and roguish, with a general dislike of authority, though he is adept at working with others, including Bryonia and Magnus Brock. He has a deep and personal relationship with the Circle, which he has likened to an open romantic relationship. He can be reckless with his rituals, which sometimes have adverse effects even when their intended effects are achieved.

## Abilities

Barron was formerly an accomplished ritualist, capable of Empowered and Greater magic as well as much more experimental and unscripted rituals. He is trained in the use of one-handed weapons, and can speak Common and Human (though not read or write).

## Paraphernalia

Barron is rarely seen without his trademark red-and-gold coat, and carries a shortsword for the rare occasions he engages in combat.