Bibliarcanis, the Librarian Wraith
Medium Undead (Wraith), Neutral Evil
Armor Class: 15 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 85 (10d8 + 40)
Speed: 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)
Challenge Rating: 4 (1,100 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 20 |
Saving Throws: Wisdom +7, Charisma +8
Skills: Arcana +6, Insight +7, Stealth +8, History +6
Damage Vulnerabilities: Radiant
Damage Resistances: Necrotic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: Psychic
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Ethereal Sight, Keen Sight
Languages: Common, Elvish, Infernal; understands any language spoken within the confines of the library.
Spellcasting
**Spellcasting.** The Bibliarcanis is a 4th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). The Bibliarcanis has the following spells prepared:
**Cantrips (at will):** *Eldritch Blast*, *Minor Illusion*
**1st level (3 slots):** *Hideous Laughter*, *Fog Cloud*
**2nd level (2 slots):** *Phantasmal Force*, *Mirror Image*
The Bibliarcanis can cast spells that evoke confusion and deception, manipulating its foes and the environment to its advantage. During an encounter, it often begins combat by utilizing *Fog Cloud* to obscure vision and reshape the battlefield, followed by *Hideous Laughter* to incapacitate a key target. The use of *Phantasmal Force* allows it to create unsettling illusions that can disorient and frighten foes.
**Special notes:** The Bibliarcanis may cast spells as part of its movement, using its *Library Shifting* ability to reposition itself strategically after casting. It often prepares spells prior to combat to reinforce its defensive capabilities, employing *Mirror Image* to create illusory duplicates that confuse attackers.
Actions & Abilities
Spectral Tome Strike (Melee Weapon Attack): *Attack:* +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
*Hit:* 1d8 + 4 psychic damage. Additionally, the target must succeed on a DC 14 Intelligence saving throw or be incapacitated until the end of their next turn as whispers of knowledge cloud their mind.
Inked Bolt (Ranged Spell Attack): *Attack:* +6 to hit, range 60 ft., one target.
*Hit:* 2d10 psychic damage. On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be affected as though by *Confusion* for 1 round.
Riddle of the Void (Recharge 5-6): The Bibliarcanis conjures a riddle that fills the air around a point of its choice within 60 feet. All creatures in a 10-foot-radius sphere must succeed on a DC 14 Intelligence saving throw or take 3d8 psychic damage and become frightened until the end of their next turn. On a successful save, they take half damage and are not frightened.
Library Shifting (Reaction): When an enemy makes an attack roll against the Bibliarcanis, it can use its reaction to warp the environment. All enemies within 30 feet must make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature becomes disoriented and cannot move on its next turn.
Volatile Pages (Recharge 4-6): The Bibliarcanis can briefly flicker the pages of its form to create a 15-foot radius of difficult terrain centered on itself until the end of its next turn. Creatures that start their turn in this area must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or take 1d6 necrotic damage.
Appearance
In the dimly lit confines of an ancient library, the Bibliarcanis stands as a striking presence, a medium-sized wraith that commands attention at approximately 6 feet tall. Its ethereal silhouette evokes both intrigue and trepidation, amalgamating the form of flowing, nebulous shadows with the shifting shapes of parchment, setting a hauntingly beautiful stage against a stark white background.
The coloration of the Bibliarcanis is a mesmerizing gradient that transitions seamlessly from pale gray to soft blue, reminiscent of ink diffusing in clear water. This fluid interplay of colors enhances its spectral nature, with ink-black letters adorning the tattered pages that make up its form, each character shimmering with an otherworldly luminescence. This soft glow casts a faint illumination, creating an aura that beckons the curious while warning off the uninvited.
A unique texture defines the Bibliarcanis; its surface resembles an intangible blend of fragile paper and swirling smoke. The layers of parchment seem to flutter restlessly, as if caught in a gentle breeze, lending the creature an ephemeral quality. The swirling letters pulsate rhythmically around its spectral body, enhancing the sensation of both movement and mystery.
Though it lacks traditional facial features, the Bibliarcanis presents an enigmatic visage. Its face appears as a shifting void, occasionally revealing a pair of glowing, violet spectacles, which flicker into existence to observe intruders. From within this void emanates a haunting, echoing voice that sounds like the whispered recitation of ancient texts, echoing the knowledge housed within the library’s walls.
Its appendages are elongated and tapering, giving the impression of tattered pages unrolling and drifting on an unseen wind. The fingertips resemble curled quills, allowing the creature to manipulate books with a grace that combines care and menace. Rather than having visible legs, the Bibliarcanis hovers above the ground, gliding silently through the library, creating an illusion of drifting seamlessly amongst the shelves.
In terms of movement and posture, the Bibliarcanis exudes authority. Its upper body is held erect as it floats slightly above ground, epitomizing a watchful guardian of knowledge. It moves with a graceful fluidity, effortlessly transitioning from one shelf to another, embodying knowledge that transcends physical constraints.
Special features of the Bibliarcanis contribute to its allure and atmospheric presence. The swirling letters and illustrations that accompany it often conjure monstrous shapes, emblematic of lore long forgotten. A persistent, low hum of whispered dialogue fills the space around it, entwined with the rustling of pages, echoing throughout the library. When agitated, the creature can unleash a cloud of ink, obscuring vision and creating a tumultuous environment where shelves appear to twist and shift unnaturally.
Together, these traits culminate in a striking representation of the Bibliarcanis, a unique fusion of knowledge personified and spectral essence, its life and stories intertwined within the library’s forsaken halls. This ethereal specter, radiant with shimmering letters and vibrant hues, awaits the brave and the foolish alike, guarding the secrets of the past while inviting unquenchable curiosity into its world.
Tactical Information
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life:
In the desolate expanse of the Hollow Library, the Bibliarcanis floats amidst the stacks as an ethereal guardian and warden of the lost knowledge. It drifts through the aisles, attending to the remnants of countless tomes while seeking to preserve, restore, or even augment the lore they once held. Whispers of ancient texts swirl around it, manifesting as gentle breezes, occasionally revealing a truth about the library’s history or echoing a long-forgotten tale.
The Bibliarcanis is driven by a profound love for literature, continuously yearning to impart wisdom to those who seek knowledge within the library’s decayed walls. Its interactions with the younger generation are curious and guarded; the wraith eagerly bestows riddles or challenges upon those eager to explore, allowing a bond to form through shared learning. However, it maintains a vigilant demeanor, easily transitioning to aggression when it senses disrespect or folly in intruders. This spectral creature views those with malicious intent—be they thieves or careless adventurers—with disdain and a fervent desire to protect its sanctuary at all costs.
In moments when no trespassers are present, the Bibliarcanis often communes with the living narratives of the bookshelves, absorbing snippets of forgotten lore and keeping the memory of what was alive in an otherwise abandoned space. Its temperament reflects the somber nature of the library; it can be melancholic, reflective, and even playful, but its mood can quickly darken upon sensing a disturbance in its hallowed halls.
Combat Behavior:
When combat erupts, the Bibliarcanis initially employs a strategy of distancing itself from immediate threats, using its spectral form to float just out of reach. It engages using short, sharp bursts of supernatural energy that serve to confuse and disorient would-be assailants. Lurking Through the Pages allows the creature to meld seamlessly with nearby texts, teleporting to distractions or advantageous positions while aligning itself for the perfect sweep of assault.
Recognizing threats, it often leverages its Library Shifting feature against the most immediate danger, focusing on disrupting the enemy’s actions and orienting the battlefield to its favor. If spellcasters are present, it prioritizes them to exploit their vulnerabilities and dismantle their abilities to counter the Bibliarcanis’s magical might. Instead of brute forcing its way through combat, the wraith aims to control the tempo, resiliently evading and morphing with the environment—a constant whisper of shadows and papers in motion.
Should the tide of battle turn against it, the Bibliarcanis employs its Mindbound Capture ability with ruthless efficiency. By reducing a target to 0 hit points, it seeks to ensnare enemies, willing to retreat behind the maze of shelves if frayed, only to return with more cunning and twisted tricks. While into retreat, it may deepen the shadows, preparing a final devastating onslaught or strategically laying traps in the labyrinthine layout of the library.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions:
When approached in non-combat situations, the Bibliarcanis may manifest as a spectral guide filled with intrigue and cryptic knowledge. It embodies an unsettling personality—appearing both wise and tragic. Dialogues with the creature often unfold in riddles and whispers, requiring players to engage their minds rather than weapons. Tiny phantoms of illustrations whirl around it, each revealing hints or clues to its intentions or local lore.
In the event threats are posed, such as attempts to break or steal a tome or disrespect the sanctity of the library, the Bibliarcanis responds with imposing authority, summoning a sort of palpable dread to indicate its readiness to fight. Adventure seekers may attempt diplomacy, any offers of respect towards the library’s lore showcasing a willingness to learn may pique the Librarian Wraith’s interest, resulting in engaging conversations about its past or the secrets hidden within the tomes.
As a result, the Bibliarcanis offers players a path to redemption through knowledge, sharing stories in exchange for an attitudinal shift or promise to protect the library. However, should players act dishonorably or confrontationally, the Bibliarcanis’s demeanor shifts sharply, revealing an unforgiving side eager to unleash its wrath on those who would despoil the sacred literary grounds.
In pursuit of a deeper connection, the Bibliarcanis may respond to inquiries with layered interpretations—sometimes offering motives to the inner workings of the library while harboring an agenda to teach, whether it be through trials or collective decision-making. A fleeting entity of lost potential becomes not just a guardian of tomes but a keeper of the path toward redemption.
