The Brown Knight

Sir Aldric was celebrated throughout the realm as an exemplary warrior and devoted servant of the crown until the cursed night he ventured into the Verdant Mire seeking a legendary artifact—a quest that ended not in glory but in unspeakable horror, as an ancient ritual transformed his noble form into that of a common earthworm, a degradation so complete that even his beloved Lady Meredith could not bear to look upon him once she discovered the truth. Refusing to surrender his oath or his identity to such cosmic cruelty, he sought out the reclusive artificer Grimwald in the industrial quarter of Thornhaven and commissioned a masterwork of engineering: a bronze and steel exoskeleton that would serve as both his armor and his prison, complete with a voice apparatus to preserve his dignity, an internal feeding mechanism to sustain his writhing body, and a waste processor to contain the evidence of his metamorphosis. Now he patrols the kingdom's roads and defends its people with the same unwavering dedication he once possessed, though his armor never comes off—not for bathing, not for sleep, not even in the privacy of his chambers—and his eccentricity is attributed to the obsessive habits of a damaged mind rather than the desperate measures of a dying man. Yet beneath the polished metal and mechanical whirring, the Brown Knight harbors a consuming terror that gnaws at his consciousness with each passing season: the terrifying uncertainty of whether his remaining years can be counted in decades or merely seasons, driving him to pursue whispered rumors of sages, alchemists, and forgotten tomes that might hold the key to his salvation before his brief earthworm lifespan expires and renders all his service meaningless.

Strength

16, modifier +3

Dexterity

12, modifier +1

Constitution

20, modifier +5

Intelligence

14, modifier +2

Wisdom

10, modifier +0

Charisma

16, modifier +3

Knight's Strike

Melee weapon attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2d8 + 3 slashing damage.

Shield Bash

As a bonus action, make a melee attack with your shield. On hit, deal 1d6 + 3 bludgeoning damage and knock the target prone.

Voice of Command

Once per long rest, you can issue a command to one creature within 30 ft. that can hear you. They must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be compelled to follow your command on their next turn.

Exoskeleton Fortification

As a reaction, reduce damage taken by 1d10 + 5. This ability can be used once per short rest.

Worm's Resilience

Once per day, you can heal yourself for 3d8 hit points by consuming organic matter. This action takes 1 minute.

Eternal Vigilance

The Brown Knight cannot be surprised and always acts in initiative order.

Mechanical Resilience

Resistance to poison and psychic damage due to his exoskeleton.

strength

+6

dexterity

+4

constitution

+8

intelligence

+5

wisdom

+3

charisma

+6

poison

psychic