Orin

Overview

Combat

Orin the Red is one of the Chosen of the Absolute, the enigmatic cult taking over the Sword Coast, and serves as one of the main antagonists in Baldur's Gate 3.

Orin the Red
Level 12
Voiced by	Maggie Robertson
Information
Title	Deathbringer of Bhaal
Race	Changeling
Hometown	Temple of Bhaal, Baldur's Gate
Family	Bhaal (grandfather and great-grandfather) Sarevok Anchev (grandfather and father) Helena Anchev (mother and sister) The Dark Urge (great-uncle/aunt and uncle/aunt)
Stats
Size	Medium
Type	Humanoid
Armour Class	20
Hit points	145 (Balanced) 208 (Tactician)
Weight	75 kg (150 lb)
Initiative	+7
Ability scores
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 18 (+4) 22 (+6) 17 (+3) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 19 (+4)
Proficiency bonus	+4
Saving throws	Str +4 Dex +10 Con +3 Int +6 Wis +3 Cha +4
Conditions
Legendary Resistance: Incapacitation Tactician	+10 to your next saving throw against being Incapacitated.
Features
Ambusher (+1)	+1 to Initiative rolls.
Crimson Weapon	Add your ability modifier to the damage of offhand attacks.
Darkvision	Can see in the dark up to 12m.
Evasion	You receive less damage from spells or effects that require a DEX save.
Exploit Weakness	Creatures hit with Bloodthirst receive Vulnerability to Piercing damage.
Fast Hands	You gain an extra Bonus action.
Immutable Form	Immune to having your form changed. +5 to saving throws against being Banished.
Legendary Action: Murderous Retort Honour	Use a Legendary Action to immediately strike back at your attacker.
Improved Critical	The number you need to roll a critical hit while attacking is reduced by 1.
Magic Resistance	Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Opportunity Attack	Automatically attack an enemy moving out of your reach.
Perfect Sentry	Cannot be Surprised.
Prey Upon the Weak	Crimson Mischief deals an extra 1d4 Piercing damage against targets with 50% or fewer hit points.
Reliable Talent	Ability checks with proficient skills have a floor of 10.
Superior Padding	You take 1 less Bludgeoning damage.
Uncanny Dodge	When an attack hits you, you only take half the usual damage.

A daughter of Bhaal and a devout practitioner in the arts of murder and pain, Orin has painted the streets red in her father's name for many years. Still to be caught thanks to her shapeshifting abilities, she now prepares to make out of Baldur's Gate the biggest bloody offering to her father yet.

“	Come to me, Father. Set my flesh to your unholy purpose.	„
	— Orin the Red

Overview

Background

Orin is the Chosen of Bhaal and one of the three masterminds leading the Cult of the Absolute. As such, she is one of the main antagonists of the game and a key objective in defeating the cult and the enigmatic Absolute.

Hinted at first though notes, she is properly introduced at the end of Act 2 as one of the conspirators of the cult along with Ketheric Thorm and Enver Gortash. Through cunning and murderous devotion, she and her allies have established a solid Bhaalite foothold in the city of Baldur's Gate. Now, empowered by a netherstone and with cult's plans in motion, she intends to paint the city crimson with blood in a mighty offering to Bhaal.

Gameplay

• Orin is a level 12 Changeling boss and one of the main antagonists in the game
• First mentioned in Act 1, she is introduced in Act 2, and properly encountered and fought in Act 3
• Fighting her is required in order to obtain her Netherstone and proceed with the story
• In combat, she uses her deadly powers given by Bhaal himself to deal large amounts of damage quickly while being supported by her cultists
• Her encounter can go different ways depending on the choices made by the party and whether or not the player character is the Dark Urge or not
• A cease of hostilities with her and her Bhaalites can be brokered if agreed to slay Gortash first
• She can trick the party with her disguises and will kidnap someone important to the party

Quests

• Get Orin's Netherstone
  • Investigate the Murders
  • Rescue Orin's Victim
  • Impress the Murder Tribunal
• The Urge

Description

Appearance

Orin has pale blue-grey skin with swirling, smoke-like plumes of red undulating across it. Her eyes are dull grey, contoured by dark eyeliner, giving her an intimidating look. Her straw-colored, braided hair falls to the backs of her knees in a fastening reminiscent of a flail. Her armour is bright blood-red, rigid and rough like chitin. She adorns her head with an ornate silver tiara, with a single crimson gem giving her appearance some color.

Personality

Orin is cruel and sadistic, but artistic and creative in her own twisted way. Her demeanour is immature and almost childish; Orin easily loses her composure when things do not go her way, enacts small rebellions against the authority figures in her life, and enjoys, in a arguably playful way, toying with her victims. This involves frequently taunting the party during confrontations.

When she impersonates another character with her shapeshifting abilities, she will initially be able to convincingly mimic their personality. As the conversations continue though, she will become more openly violent and sadistic and will often invoke threats or fantasies of extreme violence and grotesque brutality before shifting back into her base appearance.

History

Orin was born of an incestuous relationship between Sarevok Anchev and his daughter Helena Anchev. Both Orin and Helena worshipped and loved Sarevok, though he mistreated and abused them.

When Orin was still a child, Sarevok secretly ordered Helena to kill her as an offering to the Lord Bhaal. Desperate to become Bhaal's Chosen, Helena attacked Orin. Orin defended herself and killed her mother instead.

Subsequently, Orin served Bhaal directly under The Dark Urge, though the two were at odds about the "correct" way of offering to him. Orin believed that the Urge "mutilated" their victims, and what their Father truly wanted was beauty and consideration in the kill. The Urge, on the other hand, understood that Bhaal cared only for the quantity of murder performed in his name.

Betrayal

Yearning for respect and status, but dismissed by her fathers and sibling, Orin waited for an opportunity to betray her kin and seize Bhaal's favor for herself.

Meanwhile, the Urge joined forces with Bane's chosen Enver Gortash, and Myrkul's chosen Ketheric Thorm, forming the dead three. Using the Crown of Karsus that the Urge and Gortash had stolen from Mephistopheles, they enslaved an Elder Brain that was hidden beneath Moonrise Towers.

For a time, the Dark Urge was worshipped as a god at Moonrise Towers, but during or soon after a visit to the mind flayer colony beneath the towers, Orin finally saw her chance to betray them. Orin pierced their skull with a dagger and infected them with a modified illithid tadpole, making them the first True Soul and resulting in the Urge's amnesia.

After her betrayal, Orin took the Urge's place as Bhaal's chosen and third member of the Chosen Three. Still striving for regard from Bhaal, Orin proved undisciplined in her role and rapidly grew to be disliked by the other Chosen. At some point between the betrayal and the events of the game Orin had tricked Minthara into a trap where she murdered her allies and captured her. She then used a tadpole to convert Minthara into a True Soul.

Spoiler warning! This section reveals interactions with The Dark Urge.

Depending on whether the Urge is a player character, the story diverges here. If the Urge is a player character, they are found by Kressa Bonedaughter, held captive in the Mind Flayer colony beneath Moonrise for a time, and later shipped away on the Nautiloid from the game's introductory cutscene.

If the Urge is not the player character, they are tortured and killed by Orin. Their corpse can later be found in the Temple of Bhaal beyond Orin's arena in Act III.

Involvement

Act One

Orin is not present in the first act of the game, but her silhouette can be seen during the Absolute's vision which shows all the three Chosen of the Absolute.

Act Two

Orin first appears in person alongside Ketheric Thorm and Enver Gortash in the mind flayer colony underneath Moonrise Towers. Using her Netherstone, the Lash of Bhaal, she issues the order to the Netherbrain to march the Absolute's armies on Baldur's Gate.

Act Three

The player first encounters Orin in the village of Rivington, right before entering Baldur's Gate. As a changeling, she can appear to the player under the guise of several identities (listed below). She tells the party that she is aware of their goals, even goading the player to be as violent and bloody as they can while they are attempting to obtain the Netherese Stones from her and Gortash.

If the player chooses to ally themselve with Gortash during the coronation, he will reveal that one of your camp followers has been replaced by Orin.

After the player enters the Lower City there are various triggers in which Orin reveals to have shapeshifted into one of your camp followers. This starts the Rescue Orin's Victim Quest and the Get Orin's Netherstone Quest. Orin wants the player to kill Gortash and will offer to set the victim free after Gortash is killed.

In order to get Orin's Netherstone the player will need to visit the Murder Tribunal. After either becoming an Unholy Assassin or slaying Sarevok the player will be able to enter Bhaal Temple. There Orin and the kidnapping victim can be found.

Irrespective of previous choices Orin will try to kill her victim. The player can interrupt her by passing dialogue checks, thus saving the victim. Then the fight against Orin will begin.

Spoiler warning! This section reveals interactions with The Dark Urge.

When encountering Orin for the first time as the Dark Urge she will reveal their previous relationship. The Dark Urge will also be able to choose different dialogue options when interacting with her. One of the dialogue options to save the victim from Orin can be made with Advantage when playing as the Dark Urge.

Disguises

Orin's shapeshifting allows her to innocuously follow the player as several different characters in the Wyrm's Crossing area. Among her disguises are:

• Zethino, the fey Master of Love at the Circus of the Last Days.
• Fist Rowan, a member of the Flaming Fist standing near the back of the donation barn.
• Lens, a tiefling journalist.
• Gyldro Angleiron, a blacksmith in the Rivington General.
• A wounded thug of the Stone Lord.

Spoiler warning! This section reveals interactions with The Dark Urge.

Meeting one of Orin's impersonations for the first time earns the Inspirational Event Personal Relations (Haunted One background).

Once the player triggers two of Orin's transformations from the list above, all other potential disguises will be the actual NPCs henceforth.

• 

  Orin masquerading as Rowan, a Flaming Fist

• 

  Orin impersonating Gyldro, a smith

• 

  Orin posing as a journalist named Lens

• 

  Orin pretending to be a dying Stone Lord Thug

Combat

See main article: Orin/combat

Orin can be fought at the Bhaal Temple in the Undercity Ruins. For the fight, she will take the form of the Slayer (see Slayer for a list of its attacks). She will be surrounded by various Bhaal cultists under the effect of Sanctuary who will not enter combat on their own. As long as at least one of the cultists are alive, the Boon of Bhaal will take one action at the end of each turn. The Boon of Bhaal is represented by a big skull above the Chamber's door. It will be able to give Orin at least 7 stacks of Unstoppable each round.

If the player convinces Orin that Sarevok is her father, or successfully taunts her about it, Bhaal will force her to transform into the Slayer Form, and she'll start the fight with A Mist Most Scarlet.

While in Slayer form, she will have Slayer's Improved Extra Attack, allowing her to make two additional attacks after attacking with her main-hand weapon.

In Honour mode, she will have Legendary Action: Sanguine Lash in her slayer form, allowing her to use Sanguine Lash as a reaction once per round. She will also have Legendary Resistance against being incapacitated. The Boon of Bhaal gains a legendary action Bhaal's Edict - if Orin did not use her own legendary actions this turn, the Boon of Bhaal will force Bhaal's Edict upon one of your party members. If that party member is unable to kill another creature, they will die upon ending their turn.

Spoiler warning! This section reveals interactions with The Dark Urge.

As the Dark Urge the player will be able to agree to a duel against Orin. The duel will seperate you from your companions. Orin will not be granted the Unstoppable feature during the duel and the Boon of Bhaal will not be active. Dying during the duel will not result in an immediate game over, but will impact the personal story of the Dark Urge. Your allies will then start fighting the normal version of the encounter against Orin and her ritualists. While Orin will not heal any damage done to her in the duel, she will gain the Unstoppable feature she normally has.

Depending on your choices in Act 2 Orin will have different forms that you can fight against. If you have been granted the slayer's form, Orin will instead battle in her humanoid form. Note that when conversing before the fight, the Urge will have the opportunity to transform into the Slayer through dialogue. If this option is taken, they will be able to transform an additional time during combat (if the form is removed), rather than having to wait for a long rest. While in the humanoid form, she will dual-wield Crimson Mischief and Bloodthirst. She will also gain one stack of Murderous Strikes per successful hit. After gaining five stacks of Murderous Strikes, she will lose all stacks and be able to use her Deathbringer's Assault to attack seven times. In Honour mode, Orin will use Deathbringers Assault for her reaction with Murderous Retort when it becomes available.

If you do not have the slayer form Orin will instead transform into the slayer during the cutscene. Her slayer form is different from your own slayer form as it does not function like a Wildshape or Polymorph - reducing her to 0 hit points will kill her. She will also not be able to use oppertunity attacks as the slayer during the duel.

Loot

• Crimson Mischief
• Mutilated Carapace
• Netherstone-Pommelled Bloodthirst - when picked up becomes:
  • Bloodthirst
  • Orin's Netherstone

Achievements

First Blood
Kill Orin while her cultists are performing their ritual chant.

Gallery

• 

  Character portrait by Edward Vanderghote.

• 

  Orin standing over a captive Lae'zel companion.

• 

  "Come to me, Father. Set my flesh to your unholy purpose."

• 

  Orin's model.

Related literature

• Manifesto
• Concerning Orin the Red
• Blood-Envy for the Unworthy
• Experiment on Cruor

Notes

• It's possible to identify when an NPC is actually Orin, they'll be level 12, though not have the large amount of hit points that come with that level, and, when examined, one can see the NPC has Orin's passive features such as Immutable Form, etc.
• Orin can only be at one place at a time: if a disguised Orin stays in the visual range of a party member she can't take the appearance of other NPCs elsewhere and thus is effectively pinned in place. This way it's possible to talk to the other genuine NPCs without triggering Orin's apparitions.
• When a disguised Orin has been identified the player can attack the NPC. This will skip the NPC's dialogue and go straight to Orin's reveal who will vanish without giving her normal lines about Gortash. Even if the attack would have killed the NPC, Orin herself doesn't die.
• Orin's kidnapping and impersonation event during the quest Rescue Orin's Victim is not fully random; it appears to follow a priority system among the companions left in camp (that is, companions not in your active party), prioritizing companions that have the lowest approval with the player, from a list of 3 possible kidnapping victims: Lae'zel, Gale, and Halsin (or Minthara). She will not kidnap a romanced companion. If none of these companions are available, she instead kidnaps Yenna.
• At launch, the player could temporarily obtain Blade of the First Blood (a Shortsword version of Bloodthirst wielded by Orin) by killing Orin and looting her before the end of the battle, but this appears to have been fixed. ^{[Needs Verification]}

External links

Orin on the Forgotten Realms Wiki