Brother Ptolem of the Veiled Eye
MystaransLore Keeper and Archivist
Brother Ptolem of the Veiled Eye serves as Lore Keeper and Archivist within Mystarans. Brother Ptolem of the Veiled Eye is identified as Mystaran. Primary residence: The Infinite Library beneath the Tower of Whispers. Commonly described traits include Traits: Obsessively curious, socially awkward, fiercely protective of knowledge, surprisingly brave when defending books, Mannerisms: Mumbles to himself while reading, organizes everything by obscure systems only he understands, becomes agitated when books are mistreated, and Voice: Crackly and dry like old parchment, with a tendency to quote relevant passages mid-conversation.
"Knowledge is not power. Knowledge is responsibility. Power is what fools seek.""
Identity
- Residence
- The Infinite Library beneath the Tower of Whispers
- Civilization
- Mystarans
Appearance
Physical: Ptolem is stooped with age but moves with surprising speed when motivated. His left eye was replaced with a crystal orb that stores everything he reads. His right eye is milky white but somehow sees more than most.
Clothing: He wears the traditional brown robes of the Lore Keepers, covered in ink stains and small burns from ancient texts. His sleeves contain hidden pockets full of reference scrolls.
Distinguishing Marks: His crystal eye glows different colors based on the type of information he's processing. His fingers are permanently stained with ink from handling ancient texts.
Relationships
- Family - Estranged from his birth family who considered his obsession with books unhealthy; considers the library itself his family now
- Allies - The other Lore Keepers, though he finds most of them intellectually inferior; the library's guardian spirit who speaks to him in dreams
- Rivals - Book thieves, fire elementals, and anyone who wants to remove texts from the library
Personality
- Traits: Obsessively curious, socially awkward, fiercely protective of knowledge, surprisingly brave when defending books
- Mannerisms: Mumbles to himself while reading, organizes everything by obscure systems only he understands, becomes agitated when books are mistreated
- Voice: Crackly and dry like old parchment, with a tendency to quote relevant passages mid-conversation
Backstory
Ptolem has served in the Infinite Library for seventy years, organizing prophecies, histories, and magical theories that span millennia. He was once a promising seer but sacrificed his natural gift to save a section of the library from a magical fire. In exchange, the library's guardian bound his consciousness to the archives, giving him perfect recall but making him unable to leave for more than a day.
Daily Life
He catalogues new acquisitions, assists researchers (reluctantly), and maintains the protective wards that keep the library's more dangerous tomes contained. He sleeps in a nest of books in the Restricted Section and considers the library's collection his true family.
Secret
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Story Hooks
- 1 He possesses crucial information about an ancient artifact but will only share it if the party retrieves a stolen book from dangerous thieves
- 2 The library's guardian has gone silent, and he fears something has breached the Restricted Section