# Bren — The Madman (possessed)

**Look:** Gaunt thirty-something who looks fifty — hollow eyes, shaking hands, layered rags over the cut of a once-fine shirt, eyes tracking something beside him no one else can see.
**Vibe:** Mutters nonstop to an invisible companion, lurching giggle → terror → weeping; hold his gaze a beat and it isn't madness in there, it's desperation.

- Real name **Bren Aldara** — arcanist; got too close to the sealed tear in the Deep Cellar 7 yrs ago
- Possessed by **Skein** (ethereal parasite) — full block: [Skein card](skein.md)
- **Witnessed Orenn's murder** — saw a hand reach "through the between" and brand him
- Loved Orenn (fed/sheltered him) · Mags brings him food · terrified of **Xarrul**
- Lucid = truth; anything useful gets garbled by Skein

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| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA | AC | HP | Move  |
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|----|----|-------|
| -1  | +0  | +0  | +2  | -2  | +2  | 10 | 18 | 30ft  |

**Actions**
- **Doesn't fight.** Cowers or bolts. If forced: unarmed +1 to hit, 5 ft., 1 bludgeoning.
- **Detect parasite.** DC 14 Arcana examining him → anchor from another plane. *See Invisibility* or Orenn's silver mirror shows Skein in the Ethereal Plane.
- **Skein silences him.** When he tries to share something useful → DC 15 WIS save at **-2** (WIS 6). Fail = garbled words / stabbing pain. Nat 20 Persuasion or Insight → lucid, 1-3 clear sentences.

**Bonus Actions** *(freeing Skein — resolves on the Ethereal Plane; [full block on Skein card](skein.md))*
- **Sever tendril.** Needs ethereal sight. Each AC 13, 5 HP. All 6 cut → Bren free 1d4 hr.
- **Silvervein root near him.** Weakens Skein's grip for 1 round (lucid window).
- **Skein flees at ≤10 HP.** Tendrils rip free: Bren takes 2d6 psychic + stunned 1 rd. (Dispel ending early → 1d10 psychic.)

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