Ardax the White-Hair

Character overview

Steward of Urgir, leader of the Empty Hand Hold, and organizer of Torrentmoot, Ardax the White-Hair is a straightforward orc who values a person’s word and treats even minor dignitaries with genuine respect.
He is heavily muscled, with white hair, and is typically seen in a well-made coat of aurochs leather and bone. At Torrentmoot, he has been seen making arrows while seated on a ragged pelt amid arrowheads, feathers, twine, shafts, and wax; he said the familiar work helped him relax.
Ardax called outsiders and dignitaries from many holds to Torrentmoot during the Flood Truce, seeking deeper alliances among Belkzen’s holds. He arranged space and food for arriving guests, then welcomed the camp from atop a log bench. He said the flood and aurochs migration were still weeks away, described the truce as a time of plenty, and urged everyone to respect it and get to know one another. He noted that thoughtful guests might find lies, make friends, and build fruitful alliances. Afterward, he spoke with nearby Orcs. At Torrentmoot, he displayed a difficult Puzzle Box as a means of teaching cooperation. When Kar, Xan, and Ilo went missing, he recommended The Group as possible rescuers. After the children returned, he watched The Group open the box through coordinated effort, praised their cooperation, and encouraged them to continue as they had been. He said the significance of the blank parchment would be revealed in time. He had heard Kar’s stories about Vanna’s heroics and learned that Gurnak had saved the child; he praised the continued presence of intellectual Orcs. Before returning to his tent, he warned The Group of trouble in the main camp involving someone who had lost a tusk.
Ardax was attended by guards and commanded scouts. He thanked The Group for rescuing a child, succeeding in the aurochs hunt, and dealing with the tooth fairies. He argued that Belkzen must retain its strength without becoming Tar-Baphon’s pawn, and asked how the holds could build relationships with neighboring peoples. He approved trusted orc adventurers whose helpful deeds could be publicized, while reserving fostering for a time when sufficient trust existed. He gave The Group gold and a Storm Skewermaul, then directed attention toward missing scouts. After undead bears appeared in camp, he reported that his scouts had killed them days earlier but had not thoroughly destroyed their bodies. He noted that smaller zombies and skeletons had also appeared, leaving a few wounded; the guards assigned to that area had been drunk, and he said he would discipline them and have the bodies removed. A few days later, he explained the flood-truce insult contests and introduced the competitors. Before the deluge, he addressed the gathering, spoke of the challenges they had overcome, and announced a safe overlook and a midday departure. At the overlook, he agreed to alert the advance guard and send scouts after Gurnak pointed out the absence of animal sounds. He thanked The Party and gave them a pouch containing a water-breathing potion. When floodwater first appeared, he called it spillover from a melted lake. After undead emerged along the riverbanks, he ordered everyone back to camp and instructed The Party to lead the return route with his guards. He and his guards later dealt with the remaining undead, allowing the stragglers to reach safety.
During the Deluge, Ardax led the party and other attendees to observe its start. When bent, misshapen creatures emerged through the rain near Torrentmoot, he and his remaining guards intercepted them and called for help. At camp, he announced that his scouts had confirmed swarms of undead nearby and that returning to Urgir with such a large group was risky. He said he would go to Urgir to raise the alarm while some of his warriors escorted the caravan to Cleft Head Hold. Warning of undead and other dangers in Belkzen, he urged the travelers to stand united and asked the party to accompany the main caravan. He then departed for Urgir, leaving them with the caravan and wishing them luck. He blessed their weapons with their enemies’ blood.

• He organized Torrentmoot, arranged hospitality for arriving guests, and commanded guards and scouts.
• He made arrows and said the familiar work helped him relax.
• He praised coordinated effort in opening the Puzzle Box and gave The Arrivals a water-breathing potion.
• He and his guards intercepted creatures near Torrentmoot and later dealt with the remaining undead.
• He welcomed outsiders and dignitaries to Torrentmoot and urged them to respect the Flood Truce and build ties.
• He recommended The Group as possible rescuers when Kar, Xan, and Ilo went missing, and praised their cooperation after the children returned.
• He discussed relationships between Belkzen and neighboring peoples, gave The Group gold and a Storm Skewermaul, and directed attention to missing scouts.
• At the overlook, he agreed to alert the advance guard and send scouts; during the return to camp, he assigned The Group to lead the route with his guards. He later asked the party to accompany the caravan to Cleft Head Hold while he went to Urgir to raise the alarm.