Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Orlin The Crimson
If you’ve ever heard a hammering in the woods like war drums on bark, you’ve likely heard the approach of Orlin the Crimson. A Red-Bellied Woodpecker of considerable flair and even greater volume, Orlin is the unrelenting herald of forest happenings - a thudding, tapping, sharp-eyed sentinel of the treetops.
With a crown of molten red and a belly brushed with ember-blush, Orlin earned his name not just for his color, but for the Crimson Accord - a long-standing pact among the trees to which he holds all woodland dwellers accountable. Some say he carved it himself into the Great Cedar, line by line, with nothing but determination and his indestructible bill.
A master of rhythm, Orlin is also the official herald of Emberwood gatherings, his drumming the call to council or warning of peril. He’s respected, sometimes feared, and almost always interrupting someone’s nap.
Few birds speak as boldly. Fewer still peck with purpose. And none can match Orlin’s tireless campaign to keep order, settle disputes, and absolutely ruin any termite colony foolish enough to make noise on his watch.
Oaths & Portents
Council Seat: Canopy Court - Herald of Gatherings (Court Member)
Oath: Strike the tree until the truth comes out, and let the realm hear what it needs to hear.
Portent: When Orlin drums in steady rhythm three times without pause, a council is being called-whether anyone wanted it or not.