Thinking a lot about Orym choosing a rabbit when asked what animal he would pick if cursed with lycanthropy.
Because, it makes sense. Orym is small, quick, agile, jumps well, and is highly perceptive. That definitely evokes rabbit imagery. But a lot of Orymās identity is also tied up with being a protector ā giving people AC bumps, the shield being as much a part of his fighting style as his sword, even his title: Saviour Blade of the Tempest. He wants to be a āShield that protects Exandriaā; his priorities about saving the gods are less about the gods themselves, and more about protecting the people of Exandria from the unintended consequences and bloodshed of releasing Predathos. And it wouldāve been very easy to pick a large, strong predator to try and evoke the sense of a protector ā a wolf, for example, an animal associated with loyalty and protecting its pack. Yet Orym chose a rabbit.
And I think thatās interesting, because rabbits are often seen as ācuteā animals ā but theyāre also a prey animal. In fact, theyāre a common food source for many animals across several ecosystems: foxes, wolves, wild cats, dogs, birds of prey like eagles or owls, coyotes, stoats, and humans (and thatās just off the top of my head). Rabbits are skittish, easily frightened; to be rabbit-hearted is to be timid or cowardly. They are not generally associated with fierceness or prowess in fighting. Mice and rats are prey animals too, but typically seen as vermin (rabbits are sometimes seen as vermin too, but a farmer could eat a rabbit ā they wouldnāt eat a rat). Deer are prey, but they have hooves and antlers that bring a danger to hunting them, for any animal ā the difficulties of hunting rabbits are more related to their evasiveness, speed and good hearing than any life-threatening danger they might pose. Rabbits are, first and foremost, prey animals. They are killed and eaten, so that another animal might live.
Which made me think a lot about one of Orymās other key traits: self-sacrifice. Bait and switch doesnāt just bump up his allyās ACs, it specifically switches their place to put him directly in harmās way. Goading attack is meant to encourage enemies to attack him instead of his friends. He literally made a deal with a hag, essentially exchanging his own life for power to protect his friends. How many times has he gone down in a fight? Heās not the only tank ā but unlike Ashton (and Chetney, who also uses āself-sacrificeā in his fighting style with his blood curses) he has no abilities to reduce the damage from the hits he takes (barbarian rage and the werewolf form).
(Side note: I think itās pretty interesting that Chetney, the wolf, has attacked Orym, the rabbit, more than anyone else when losing control. That Orymās facial scar was given to him by a friend, not a foe).
Of course, Orym isnāt the only character with self-sacrificial tendencies (FCG wins by a landslide), but I just canāt stop thinking about how weirdly perfect it is that he chose a rabbit for his animal. Rabbits are prey animals. They are eaten, so that other animals may live. Orym takes the hits, he goads and switches with his team mates to put himself in danger, he makes a deal with a hag at the cost of his own life. Heās a soldier, throwing his life away for a cause over and over again because Ludinus must be stopped, because Keyleth has put her trust in him, because itās the only way to protect his friends, to protect everyone, because itās the right thing to do. Orym is a rabbit. Heās always been a rabbit. That day in Zephrah, it could have easily been Orym who died instead of Will and Derrig ā āunfortunate but necessary sacrificesā, as Ludinus viewed the attack. Itās unfortunate they had to die, but it was for the greater good, according to Ludinus. Itās unfortunate that a rabbit has to die, but it will feed a family of foxes, or stoats, or even a hungry human, so itās acceptable, right?
Orym is a rabbit. He is giving himself to a greater cause that could very easily kill him ā he already willingly signed his life away to Nana Morri. Because thatās what rabbits do. They die to feed others.
And the theme of being disposable is present across the entire group, not just in Orym ā Bellās Hells has been called a āparty of NPCsā before. Aside from FCGās death, Iād say Laudna perhaps fits this theme the best: she was literally murdered and hung from a tree simply because she looked similar to Vex, acting as a warning to adventurers she had never met before. But FCGās death was ā rightfully ā viewed as a terrible tragedy by the group. Laudnaās decision to remove Delilah, finally freeing herself from her abuser and emphasising she is more, and deserves to be more, than just some disposable puppet ā this was rightfully viewed as a very good thing! But Orym seems to be embracing this identity of self-sacrifice instead, rather than this mindset being properly challenged or acknowledged as a bad thing. After all, thereās no time. Thereās too much at stake. Keyleth, Bellās Hells, all the memories of those who have died in this fight, all the people who might die if Predathos is released and kickstarts a second Calamity ā theyāre all relying on him, right? A rabbit feeding so many animals with his sacrifice. And itās not malicious compared to the way that, say, Delilah killing Laudna was an incredibly evil, fucked up and unnecessary thing to do. If Orym died to save everyone else, well, at least everyone else would be saved, right? Saving lives is good, isn't it? How could he complain?
Because rabbits are prey animals, and Orym is a rabbit too. Destined to die so that another animal may feed.
Except, thatās not true. Rabbits are more than just prey. Theyāre highly social, and thrive best living with others. Theyāre playful, they enjoy running around and kicking their legs just to show their enjoyment. Theyāre inquisitive and mischievous, even being associated with tricksters in some folklore and stories. Theyāre also associated with innocence, playfulness, spring, youth ā all manner of things, depending on the story or culture. And theyāre not helpless, either, even if they might be thought of as such. They can bite and scratch and draw blood quite easily if they want to! In fact, freezing up isnāt their only response when being attacked by a predator, they are known to fight back if cornered. They can sprint quickly, they have excellent hearing and senses of smell, they know how to evade predators.
Rabbits are prey, and they are also survivors. They have their own social dynamics, their own habits and dislikes and preferences. They are more than just a wolfās meal. And Orym is more than a soldier, too. Heās more than a ānecessary sacrificeā, heās more than just a shield and sword. He deserves more than to die for a cause. He deserves a happy ending, just like everyone else. I hope he remembers that.
Orym is a rabbit. And the message isnāt that he shouldnāt be a rabbit. Itās that rabbits are worthy of surviving, too.