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Brokk the Gnostic, or simply Brokk, is a venerable dwarf who seems aged beyond measure. In fact, he is a physical wreck, but his mind is none the less sharp for all that. He was birthed and reared in the dwarfhold Gabildûm, the Halls of Plenty, but like all of the seven ancient dwarfholds, his home fell to the predations of the dark forces of the Dweller. Brokk was forced to wander like the rest of his kin.
Unusual for his people, Brokk in his youth studied as a wizard, for he was always drawn to knowledge... even that of the forbidden variety. At some time in his mysterious past, he interrupted a ritual called the Final Recitation, a ceremony that was in progress using a mysterious stone tablet, and in so doing, he unwittingly bound himself to the artifact and quite literally lost everything short of his life. The trappings of his trade as a wizard, his arcane knowledge, in fact most of his memories in general were stolen by the tablet, taken by it like a forced sacrifice. In return, Brokk gained the tablet itself, and he found that his powers as a wizard were only increased, though he could no longer choose what spells to learn. All was revealed to him by the tablet, which also tormented and compelled him ceaselessly. Brokk had no choice but to attempt to regain what memories he could, to relearn the past he had lost while trying to simultaneously unlock the secrets of The Stone Tablet, as he began referring to it in his internal musings.
As fate would have it, Brokk fell in with companions as unique as he was-- Aidan of Zel, Embla the Giant, Isolde the Halfling, and others that would come in and out of his story. These companions seemed to provide some comfort, some recompense, for the things that he had lost. Yet the Tablet still would not let him rest. Ever it beckoned him down the road to dark knowledge...
For Brokk's exploits, see "The Stained Liberty Series."
Medium humanoid dwarf, neutral good
Armor Class 10 (15 with mage armor)
Hit Points 42 (14d8-14)
Speed 25 ft.
STR 6 (-2) DEX 10 (+0) CON 8 (-1) INT 19 (+4) WIS 14 (+2) CHR 10 (+0)
Saving Throws Int +9, Wis +7
Skills Arcana +9, History +9, Insight +7, Investigation +7
Senses dark vision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Dwarven, Kalish, Kelevan, Dark Speech, Farlandish
Challenge 9 (5000 XP)
No Spellbook. Because of his attunement to the artifact called The Stone Tablet, Brokk neither uses nor needs a spellbook.
Arcane Choice (1/day). Because of his attunement to the artifact called The Stone Tablet, as a free action Brokk can swap one spell he has prepared for another spell on the Wizard, Sorcerer, or Warlock spell list that is the same level or lower. The swapped spell is considered prepared. He takes 2d6 damage when he uses this ability.
Third Eye (3/day). As an action, Brokk can see into the Ethereal Plane in a 60-foot radius, read any language, or see invisible creatures within 10 feet of him. These effects last until he is incapacitated or takes a short rest.
Spellcasting: Brokk is a 14th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). Brokk has the following wizard spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): acid splash, fire bolt, mage hand, prestidigitation, shocking grasp
1st level (4 slots): command, disguise self, expeditious retreat, silent image
2nd level (3 slots): enlarge/reduce, hold person, invisibility
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, fireball, slow
4th level (3 slots): banishment, divination, wall of fire
5th level (2 slots): dream, modify memory
6th level (1 slot): disintegrate
7th level (1 slot): prismatic spray
Dagger: Melee Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 1 (1d4-2) piercing damage.
Possessions: The Stone Tablet: A cursed artifact that gives Brokk potential access to enormous magical variety but that does not let him learn from or teach others. Physically separated from it, Brokk would be unable to cast spells. The powers of this artifact are mysterious and somewhat suited to the occasion but come at a cost to Brokk. It automatically casts mage armor on him at dawn.