Fantasy NPC: Master Ekkert, Doctor Of Arcana

You can now support Shaper Of Worlds on Patreon.

Master Ekkert, Doctor Of Arcana

An intricate staff with its headpiece carved into a semblance of an actual head of a bearded man floats through the air.

CR 7; 3,200 XP

LN Medium Construct

Init +6; Senses arcane sight, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +12

Defense
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18 (+4 armor, +2 Dex, +4 shield)

hp 85 (10d10+30)
Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +8

Defensive Abilities narrow frame; DR 10/adamantine; Immune construct traits

Offense
Speed fly 60 ft. (perfect)

Melee slam +12 (1d6+2)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10th, concentration +12)

Constant—fly, mage armor, shield, greater magic weapon

At Will—arcane mark, dispel magic, mage hand, make whole, open/close, prestidigitation, scorching ray (2 rays, +12 ranged touch, 4d6 fire), unseen servant (1 active at a time)

1/day—charm monster (DC 16), telekinesis (DC 17), teleport

Statistics
Str 10, Dex 14, Con –, Int 19, Wis 15, Cha 15

Base Atk +10; CMB +12; CMD 22 (can't be knocked prone)
Feats Combat Casting, Hover, Improved Initiative, Magical Aptitude, Toughness

Skills Craft (alchemy) +14, Fly +25, Knowledge (arcane) +14, Perception +12, Spellcraft +18, Use Magic Device +16

Language Celestial, Common, Draconic, Giant, Infernal

Enhanced Resistance (Ex) Master Ekkert has imbued its new frame with +3 resistance bonus to all saving throws (already included in the stat-block).

Narrow Frame (Ex) As an animate staff, Master Ekkert has a very narrow frame that is harder to hit than a typical Medium-sized target, easily throwing the opponent's reflexes off, and bestowing 20% miss chance on anyone trying to hit if he moved on his last turn.

A renowned scholar of arcane arts, respected teacher, bold innovator, and superb artificer, Master Ekkert was getting worried about his legacy, seeking a way to extend his life and continue his quality work. The solution he finally decided on, was to bind his spirit to a magic staff of his own creation, living forever on in an immortal and durable form, instead of frail and failing flesh.

The truth is that Master Ekkert had failed—his creation inherited most of his memories and awakened sapience that thinks it is the Master Ekkert, but the magician's actual soul had passed on into afterlife, and Master Ekkert the intelligent staff is nowhere near as capable when it comes to magic in comparison to the original Master Ekkert.

Regardless, the staff is deeply convinced to be Master Ekkert, trying to continue his work, maintain his reputation, and reap the accolades owed from the magical academic community. It will dismiss or ignore any circumstantial evidence that real Master Ekkert truly died, though is forcibly faced with strong evidence that it is not him, it might suffer a deep personality crisis, potentially shattering its sense of self.