The Book of the Broken, The Beaten, and The Damned is a legendary tome whispered about in hushed tones throughout the realms. It is said to hold the accumulated knowledge of dark and forbidden arts, chronicling the stories of those who have been broken, beaten, and damned by their own ambitions and desires. The secrets within its pages are both a curse and a temptation, drawing the desperate, the curious, and the power-hungry alike.
As a Tomekeeper of the Forbidden Library, you have dedicated your life to the study and safekeeping of this treacherous tome. Whether by choice or by fate, you have become the guardian of this dangerous knowledge. Your past is shrouded in mystery, and it is unclear whether you sought this role willingly or were chosen by some unseen force.
You have taken it upon yourself to understand the dark arts contained within the book, to learn from the stories of the broken and the damned, and to prevent others from falling victim to its seductive power.
Adventurers seek you out for guidance, hoping to gain insight into lost magics, decipher cryptic prophecies, or seek forbidden spells to further their own ambitions. Some view you as a mentor, while others see you as a necessary evil, a necessary source of knowledge in their quest for power. Forces that crave the forbidden knowledge contained within the Book of the Broken, The Beaten, and The Damned are drawn to you. Cults, rival mages, and dark entities are among those who would stop at nothing to possess the tome and use its power for their own nefarious purposes. You are constantly on the run, always one step ahead of those who would seek to steal your knowledge.
- Skill Proficiencies: Insight, History
- Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher's Supplies
- Languages: Common speak is a given, but the Tomekeeper's hold on knowledge means that you pick up on others' native tongue quite quickly. It is recommended that you choose from the following list, though it isn't required:
- Celestial
- Draconic
- Primordial
- Elvish
- Druidic
- Undercommon
- Deep Speech
- Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, a letter from a dead colleague posing a question you have not yet been able to answer, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp
To determine the specialty of your tomekeeper, roll a d8 or choose from the options in the table below.
| d8 | Tomekeeper Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Alchemist |
| 2 | Collector |
| 3 | Discredited academic |
| 4 | Librarian |
| 5 | Professor |
| 6 | Researcher |
| 7 | Wizard’s apprentice |
| 8 | Scribe |
The Book of the Broken has granted you resilience and understanding in the face of adversity. When you spend at least 1 hour reading or studying the book, you gain advantage on saving throws against fear effects and resistance to psychic damage until your next long rest. Additionally, you can use your action to read a short passage aloud from the book, granting yourself or an ally within 30 feet temporary hit points equal to your character level + your Charisma modifier. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Spell List
| Spell Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| Cantrip | chill touch, minor illusion, spare the dying, vicious mockery |
| 1st | armor of agathys, cause fear, dissonant whispers, hex, inflict wounds, ray of sickness |
| 2nd | crown of madness, gentle repose, hold person, silence, suggestion |
| 3rd | bestow curse, feign death, nondetection, speak with dead, vampiric touch |
| 4th | blight, evard's black tentacles, phantasmal killer, shadow of moil |
| 5th | danse macabre, negative energy flood, rary's telepathic bond, scrying |
Suggested Characteristics
You can either roll 1d8 to determine which of the following character archetypes you'd like to fit into your story, or you can choose from the list to decide which fits your character best.
- Your soul has been fractured by the dark knowledge and experiences contained within the book. You carry the weight of despair and pain within you, giving you a haunted demeanor and a sense of introspection.
- The corrupting influence of the book has left its mark on you, manifesting as a subtle darkness that clings to your aura. Those sensitive to magic can sense the sinister energy radiating from you, eliciting fear or unease in others.
- The stories and secrets from the book whisper in your mind, a constant murmur of eerie voices that only you can hear. They offer guidance, temptation, or cryptic warnings, shaping your decisions and actions.
- Your thirst for forbidden knowledge has become an insatiable obsession. You find yourself driven to uncover every secret, turning over every page in the pursuit of understanding the depths of darkness contained within the book.
- The trials and tribulations you've faced have left their mark on your physical being. Perhaps there are scars, pale and jagged, or a pallor to your skin that betrays the toll of suffering. Your appearance tells a tale of hardship and resilience.
- Despite the darkness that surrounds you, you possess a deep well of empathy and compassion for others who have experienced similar hardships. Your understanding of pain allows you to provide solace and support, drawing others to you in search of understanding.
- The trials you've endured have forged a steel-like resolve within you. You possess a tenacity that pushes you forward, no matter the odds or the darkness that threatens to consume you. Your determination is unyielding.
- You feel as though your destiny is intertwined with the book and the stories it contains. You believe you have a role to play in the unfolding of a greater narrative, and this knowledge weighs heavily on your shoulders.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I often find solace in the company of books rather than people. |
| 2 | I'm haunted by the tales within the book, constantly seeking ways to right the wrongs described |
| 3 | I have a penchant for storytelling, using the book's tales to inspire and comfort others. |
| 4 | I'm perpetually curious, always in search of new stories and legends to add to the book. |
| 5 | I view the world through a lens of melancholy, finding beauty in the darkest of moments. |
| 6 | You approach new situations with caution, aware of the potential for darkness and danger that may lurk. |
| 7 | Your experiences have instilled a strong desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others, often placing their needs before your own. |
| 8 | You hold grudges and seek retribution against those who have wronged you, going to extreme lengths to exact your revenge. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Redemption: I believe everyone deserves a chance at redemption, even in the face of great darkness. (Good) |
| 2 | Knowledge: The secrets within the book must be unlocked, for they hold the key to understanding the world's hidden truths. (Neutral) |
| 3 | Vengeance: The world is a cruel place, and those who have caused suffering must be made to pay. (Evil) |
| 4 | Compassion: I strive to bring comfort and solace to those who are broken, beaten, or damned. (Good) |
| 5 | The dark magic within the book must be harnessed to protect myself and others by any means necessary, within or outside of the law. (Chaotic) |
| 6 | Honor: You adhere to a strict code of conduct and principles, placing great importance on integrity, loyalty, and keeping your word. You use examples from the book to show what happens if you step out of line. (Lawful) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | The book is my most treasured possession, and I will protect it at all costs. |
| 2 | I seek to unravel the book's mysteries, as it holds the key to my own personal salvation. |
| 3 | I owe a debt to the person who introduced me to the book, and I will repay them no matter what. |
| 4 | I feel a deep connection to others who have been broken, beaten, or damned, and will aid them in any way I can. |
| 5 | I'm convinced that the book contains a cure for a loved one's affliction, and I will stop at nothing to find it. |
| 6 | I sold my soul for knowledge. I hope to do great deeds and win it back. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm prone to moments of melancholy, losing myself in the book's tales and neglecting the present. |
| 2 | I'm suspicious of others, always questioning their motives and seeking hidden agendas. |
| 3 | I'm willing to take great risks to protect the book, even if it means endangering myself or others. |
| 4 | I'm haunted by visions of a grim future, which sometimes cloud my judgment and decision-making. |
| 5 | I'm quick to judge those who have fallen into darkness, believing they are beyond redemption. |
| 6 | The book's dark influence sometimes whispers temptations in my ear, urging me towards darker paths. |
Through your extensive study of the Book of the Broken, you have gained forbidden knowledge and insights into the darker aspects of the world. You gain proficiency in the Arcana skill, or if you are already proficient, you add double your proficiency bonus when making Arcana checks related to dark magic or forbidden lore.
Additionally, you can use your action to consult the book, drawing upon its hidden knowledge to cast a spell. Choose a spell from the wizard spell list of a level no higher than half your character level (rounded down). You must have the spell slot available to cast the chosen spell. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
The chosen spell does not count against your number of spells known or prepared. Your spellcasting ability for this spell is Charisma if you don't already have a spellcasting ability. If you already have a spellcasting ability, you can use that ability for the chosen spell.
The haunting tales within the Book of the Broken have granted you an empathetic connection to the suffering and pain of others. When you spend at least 1 hour reading or studying the book, you gain advantage on Insight checks made to understand the emotional state of a person or creature. Additionally, you can use your action to invoke the Echoes of Despair, targeting a creature within 30 feet of you. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, they experience a brief echo of the book's despair, becoming overwhelmed with sorrow and suffering. The target has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
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