Darlingverse/Roric

Roric Statblock

Roric is the Whisper of Clarity, representing Darling's focused precision, discipline, and the speed needed to perceive the world exactly as it is.

Core Stats & Proficiencies

• Gender: Male (He/Him)
• Race/Class: Dragonborn (Brass) / Monk (Way of the Shadow)
• Armor Class (AC): 20 (Unarmored Defense: 10 + DEX + WIS & Bracers of Defence)
• Hit Points (HP): 70 (10 hit dice)
• Speed: 50 ft.
• STR 10 (+0), DEX 20 (+5), CON 14 (+2), INT 12 (+1), WIS 16 (+3), CHA 8 (-1)
• Proficiency Bonus (PB): +4
• Damage Resistance: Fire
• Immunities: Disease & Poison
• Saving Throws: Strength +4, Dexterity +8
• Skills: Acrobatics +8, Stealth +8, Insight +7, Perception +7

Combat & Tactical

• Monk Martial Arts Die: 1d8
• Brass Dragon Breath Weapon: (Action): 5 by 30 ft. line, DC 14 DEX save for 4d6 Fire damage, 1/Short or Long Rest).
• Unarmed Strike (Melee Attack)
  • Attack: +8 to hit, Reach 5 ft., one target.
  • Damage: 1d8 + 5 Bludgeoning damage.
• Extra Attack: Roric can attack twice whenever he takes the Attack action on his turn.

General

• Evasion (Passive) - When Roric is subjected to an effect that requires a Dexterity Saving Throw to take only half damage, he instead takes no damage on a successful save and only half damage on a failed save.
• Stillness of Mind (Action) - Roric can use an Action to end one effect on himself that is causing him to be Frightened or Charmed.
• Slow Fall (Reaction, 0 or 2 Ki Points) - Roric can use his reaction to reduce any falling damage he takes by 50 or by 100 if he spends 2 Ki Points.

Martial Arts

• Ki Points: 10 Ki Points (recover on Short or Long Rest).
• Ki Save DC: 15
• Ki-Empowered Strikes (Passive) - Roric's unarmed strikes count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
• Mental Gymnastics: (2+ Ki Points) - Spend 2 Ki Points to get an additional Bonus Action on your turn or 3 Ki Points to get a One-Use Reaction that lasts until it's used or until your next Short or Long Rest.
• Focused Aim (1–3 Ki Points) - When Roric misses with an attack roll, he can spend 1 to 3 Ki Points to change the face of the d20 up to two numbers for each Ki spent, potentially turning the miss into a hit, or even a crit.
• Ki-Fueled Attack: (Bonus Action, >1 Ki spent) - If you spend 1 ki point or on your turn, you can make one Martial Arts attack as a bonus action before the end of the turn.
• Flurry of Blows (Bonus Action, 1 Ki Point) - After taking the Attack action, Roric can make two unarmed strikes as a Bonus Action.
• Step of the Wind (Bonus Action, 1 Ki Point) - Roric can take the Dash or Disengage action as a Bonus Action, and his jump distance is doubled.
• Patient Defense (Bonus Action) - Roric can take the Dodge action as a Bonus Action as long as he has at least 1 Ki Point left.
• Stunning Strike (Attack, 1 Ki Point) - When Roric hits a creature with a Martial Arts attack, he can spend 1 Ki Point to attempt a stunning strike. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution Saving Throw or be Stunned until the end of Roric's next turn.
• Deflect Missiles (Reaction, 0-1 Ki Points) - When Roric is hit by a ranged weapon attack, he can use his Reaction to reduce the damage by 1d10 + 10. If the damage is reduced to 0, he can spend 1 Ki point to catch and immediately throw the missile back (+8 to hit, 1d6 + 5 damage).
• Opportunist (Reaction) - When a creature within 5 feet of Roric is hit by an attack Roric can use his Reaction to make one melee attack against that creature.

Way of the Shadow Abilities

• Shadow Arts (Bonus Action, 2 Ki Points) - Roric can cast one of the following spells without components: Darkness, Darkvision, Pass without Trace, or Silence.
• Shadow Step (Bonus Action or Reaction & 1 Ki Point) - When Roric is in dim light or darkness, he can us a Bonus Action to teleport up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space he can see that is also in dim light or darkness. Alternatively, after Roric takes damage from an attack, he can use a Reaction, expend 1 Ki Point and teleport. After he teleports, he has Advantage on the first melee attack roll he makes before the end of his current (if Bonus Action) or next (if Reaction) turn.
• Cloak of Shadows (Action) - When Roric is in dim light or darkness, he can use his Action to become Invisible until he moves, takes an action, or takes a reaction.

Darlingverse Stabilization

These abilities focus on achieving silence, speed, and controlling the mind's tendency to panic.

1. Minor Stabilization: Eye of the Hurricane (Bonus Action or Reaction)

• Requirement: Roric must be within 30 ft. of an ally.
• Effect: Roric channels the mental silence of the disciplined observer. He uses a Bonus Action to grant an ally an initiative re-roll, after which they can pick their old or new number until the end of combat. Alternatively, he can use a Reaction when a creature within 30 ft. is hit by an attack, reducing the damage they take by an amount equal to 2d8 + 3 (2 Martial arts dice + WIS modifier) but the damage from the highest of those two d8s is dealt to Roric.

2. Major Stabilization: The Perfect Stillness (Action & 1 Minute Concentration)

• Requirement: Roric must expend 3 Ki Points and remain in a defensive stance for the duration.
• Effect: Roric enforces absolute stillness and clarity in the area. When activated, and at the start of Roric's consecutive turns, Aberrations within a 30-foot radius must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom Saving Throw or be Silenced until the start of their next turn. While concentrating Roric applies a defensive stance, granting him +2 to AC and Concentration checks but -2 to Attack Rolls and other Ability Checks as well as reduces his movement speed by 20ft. If Roric keeps the Concentration up for a full minute, the ritual permanently removes the influence of ambient noise or distracting whispers (mental or physical) from the area, and all allies within the radius gain a +1 bonus to their Initiative rolls for 24 hours. If the ritual ends before the full minute, Roric's Ki abilities require 1 extra Ki Point per usage during the next hour. If completed, Roric requires a Short Rest or a Long Rest before performing it again.

Other

Roric: The Swift Impulse

Before Darling: Roric was a spirited brass dragonborn boy of eleven, rarely standing still. Growing up in the bustling streets of Waterdeep, he found immense joy in the thrill of movement, whether racing through the market or delivering messages for local merchants with unmatched speed. He was driven, competitive, and took great pride in his efficiency, often trying to beat his own best times. He longed for the freedom of the open road, unfettered by the confines of the city.

Captured by Papa: One blustery afternoon, Roric was halfway through an important delivery, relishing the wind on his scales, when a sudden, jarring impact brought him to a halt. A heavy net, smelling faintly of something sweet and sickening, enveloped him. He remembered a brief, desperate struggle, the tightening ropes, and then a profound, suffocating darkness as he was taken.

Papa's Basement and the Void: His next awareness was of the chilling, unyielding stone beneath him. He could hear the terrified whimpers of other children echoing in the grim, metallic-scented air. Through the gloom, he saw a looming, obscured figure—Papa—moving with terrifying precision towards a nearby cage. Then, a blinding surge of visceral terror consumed him, and the memory violently ripped itself away, leaving a hollow, echoing void where the terrible truth should be.

Life in the Darlingscape: The Executor of Action: When Roric awakened within "The Golem's Canvas," his natural drive to act and move became his core purpose in this strange purgatory. He perceives Darling's mind as a vast, interconnected network of pathways, and his role is to ensure that Darling's intentions and physical impulses are executed with maximum speed and efficiency. He often patrols the Crucible of Wills, pushing its phantom combatants to greater exertion, and races through the Mnemonic Veins, ensuring thoughts flow unimpeded.

   Closer To: Roric sees Grut as a powerful, direct force, a brute instrument for clearing obstacles quickly, and they often work together to subdue more physical aberrations. He values Zee's agility and stealth, seeing her as an ideal scout for tricky paths where speed is crucial, and they coordinate to navigate difficult mental terrains. He also respects Kael's strategic mind for efficient movement and tactical actions.

   Antagonistic Towards: Roric often loses patience with Lyra's meticulous over-analysis, finding her slowness frustrating when swift action is needed. He finds Elara's theoretical musings too detached from immediate needs, preferring to act rather than ponder. He also views Pip's whimsical antics as a distracting inefficiency, getting in the way of his constant pursuit of progress.