The Hateful Hermit
The Hateful Hermit was a reclusive misanthrope and Bokken’s estranged brother. He lived alone in a massive oak tree deep in the forest, known for his violent hatred of people and rumored to have committed several murders. The party confronted and killed him in Arodus 4710.
Description
The Hermit was a bitter, cruel man who had withdrawn from all human contact. He lived in extreme austerity in a dwelling carved from a massive oak tree, with crude furniture grown or carved from the trees themselves. His home was deliberately ascetic, stripped of any distraction or indulgence—no books, no scrolls, nothing written except a single cloth map.
He kept a red puma into service through abuse and mistreatment.
The Hermit had cared deeply for someone once - the woman in the locket. His home showed signs of deliberate self-denial. He’d stripped away all comfort and connection.
The forest itself seemed to dislike him. Stories described him as “a spirit of rot and resentment in humanoid form.”
The Locket and Map
Hidden beneath the leaves of his bed, the Hermit kept two precious items:
- A brass locket containing a faded image of a young woman, features too blurred with time to identify
- A hand-drawn map of the surrounding region with crude markings and one location marked with an X (later identified as the Lonely Barrow)
The locket had been wrapped in cloth. It meant something to him. The party planned to bring it to Bokken to see if he could identify the woman.
Relationship to Bokken
The Hermit was Bokken’s estranged brother. The party learned of his existence from Elga the Apothecary. The brothers had been separated for many years. The reasons for their estrangement remain unclear.
Encounter with the Party
Date: Arodus 4710 (Session-17)
The party tracked the Hermit to his oak tree dwelling following leads from Elga the Apothecary. Lizzy sent Ryu to scout and heard angry swearing, the crack of a whip, and distressed wings.
The Approach:
- Lizzy disguised herself as a Dryad
- Djacques disguised himself as a Ghoran
- Kairos turned invisible
- Lizzy invoked Nyrissa’s name: “By the power of Nyrissa, give me back my tree!”
The Battle:
- The Hermit burst from the tree and launched a poisoned dart at Lizzy
- Lizzy summoned a Yellow Musk Thrall
- Djacques used Command to force him prone
- Kairos Spellstruck with Ignition
- The Hermit’s puma attacked Kairos
- The Hermit downed Kairos with his whip and vicious insults
- The Hermit fled, abandoning the puma
- Lizzy convinced the puma to surrender
- Kairos finished the Hermit with her Wand of Force Barrage
Aftermath:
- The party rescued Noor from her cage. She was malnourished and covered in small cuts
- The puma (renamed “Spot”) joined Lizzy
- The party searched the Hermit’s austere dwelling
- They recovered the mysterious locket and map
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Human |
| Alignment | Evil |
| Occupation | Hermit, murderer |
| Family | Bokken (estranged brother) |
| Location | Oak tree dwelling in the forest (Arodus 4710) |
| Status | Deceased (killed by party in Arodus 4710) |