Delanna Mirewhisper

Name: Delanna Mirewhisper
Race: Human
Role: Tracker & Guide
Age: Mid-30s
Appearance: Delanna is a rugged and unassuming woman, hardened by years of surviving the Crimson Bog. Her skin is sun-weathered and marked with faint scars—proof of encounters with thorny branches, biting insects, and worse. She has shoulder-length dark brown hair often tied back loosely with a strip of cloth, though stray strands frequently fall into her face. Her hazel eyes, sharp and observant, carry a wariness born from years of navigating treacherous swamps and dealing with those who wander into them.

Her clothing is practical: a patched leather coat that has seen better days, a sturdy tunic, and knee-high boots reinforced against mud and water. A wide-brimmed hat, faded and battered, often shields her face from both mist and sun. A belt around her waist holds useful tools—a hunting knife, a small hatchet, vials of swamp balm to repel insects, and a pouch of dried herbs. She leans on a wooden walking stick carved to resemble twisting branches, which helps her navigate through the bog's uneven, sinking terrain.

Despite her rugged appearance, Delanna's demeanor suggests a quiet competence and no-nonsense pragmatism. She has the air of someone who doesn’t waste time on small talk but is fiercely loyal to those who earn her trust.

Backstory

Delanna is the closest thing to a local expert on the Crimson Bog. A former trapper and herbalist, she has been guiding travelers—mostly out of necessity rather than desire—for the last decade. Though she charges a steep price for her services, she is the only guide in the region with a reliable reputation. She knows the hidden pathways through the quicksand, the safest ways to avoid dangerous wildlife, and how to interpret the bog's shifting mists.

However, Delanna isn’t just a guide. She is a survivor, someone with unfinished business in the bog. Her younger brother disappeared here years ago while hunting, and she continues to search for clues about his fate. Though reluctant to talk about it, this personal tragedy drives her to protect others from meeting the same fate.

Personality

• Grimly Practical: "If you're not careful out there, the swamp’ll swallow you whole. Best to keep moving and keep quiet."
• Dry Sense of Humor: She often uses sarcasm to mask her emotions.
• Loyal (to a fault): Once someone earns her trust, she will do whatever it takes to help them, even if it puts her at risk.
• Secretly Haunted: While she acts confident, she feels deeply unsettled by the whispers that sometimes echo through the bog—particularly when they call her brother’s name.

Gear & Loot

Weapons & Tools

• Reinforced Wooden Staff: A sturdy, gnarled walking staff carved from black swampwood. Adds +1 to attack rolls and is imbued with faint, nonmagical carvings of vines.
• Throwing Daggers: Three balanced iron daggers tucked into her belt, well-used but sharpened.
• Herbalist’s Satchel: Contains dried swamp herbs, small vials of antidotes, and a salve that cures minor poison effects (1 use).

Gear

• Mossy Cloak: A durable cloak made from swamp reeds and treated leather to keep the wearer dry in damp conditions. Adds advantage to Stealth checks in swampy terrain.
• Worn Map of the Crimson Bog: Hand-drawn with notes marking safe paths, quicksand zones, and “avoid these at all costs” locations.
• Swamp Balm (2 doses): A pungent, oily salve that repels insects for 24 hours.
• Personal Item:Carved Bone Pendant: A small bone charm etched with symbols, given to her by her missing brother. She clutches it when thinking of him.

Loot/Value

• Delanna’s gear is practical rather than expensive. The map, herbal supplies, and swamp-specific gear could fetch up to 20 gold to the right buyer, but its true value is in its usefulness for survival.

Adventure Hooks Featuring Delanna

1. The Lost Brother: Delanna hires the adventurers to accompany her deeper into the Crimson Bog after hearing strange whispers that hint at her brother’s fate.
2. The Guide’s Price: A wealthy noble’s daughter has gone missing in the swamp, and Delanna agrees to guide the party—for a price. Along the way, it becomes clear that something else is hunting them.
3. The Crimson Lotus: Delanna needs to collect the rare crimson lotus for a dying friend but refuses to go alone, warning that something dangerous now protects the blooms.

Roleplaying Delanna

• Use blunt, practical language: “Step there and you’re dead. Told you to follow me, didn’t I?”
• React cautiously to magic or supernatural occurrences—she doesn’t trust things she can’t explain.
• Keep her motivations hidden at first, slowly revealing her personal loss and sense of duty as trust develops between her and the party.

Delanna Mirewhisper is a grounded, believable NPC who can serve as a guide, quest-giver, or ally in the Crimson Bog, providing practical expertise while adding depth and a touch of personal mystery to the setting.