Gurnak

Character overview

Gurnak, also known as The Book Guy and Mister Glasses, is an orc devoted to recording orcish culture and history.
He wears glasses and has “the hands of a librarian.” He carries writing materials and washes his hands for the sake of books and his health.
Born sickly in Belkzen, Gurnak was raised in study by Gorash Sun Shatterer and Thraka Sindergaard. He is from the Burning Sun Hold, though he spent most of his childhood and life in Absalom, and was formerly of the Arcanamirium, where he studied medicine. He reads quickly and is compiling a volume on orcish culture, lore, and practices for distribution to centers of learning. He wants orcs to write more about their own culture and hopes to contribute so they are seen as more than stereotypes; though he has spent much of his life away from Belkzen, he regards it as home. At Torrentmoot, he questioned Vaska about her origins and earliest legend, explaining that he wanted better primary sources on orc culture. He examined Davor’s books and borrowed access to them. During the search for Kar, Xan, and Ilo, he identified ancient orc skeletons, knocked one down with wind, and used electricity and healing energy against the undead. He identified skeletal champions, attacked them with fire, and destroyed one with healing energy. When Kar struck down the white-haired undead, Gurnak took its final blow while saving him, then stabilized and treated Vaska and himself. He later supplied electricity to Ardax’s Puzzle Box, helping open it. Ardax praised Gurnak for saving Kar and counted him among the intellectual Orcs. Gurnak spoke with Kestrel about his parents’ service beside Lastwall and arranged for her to carry them a message. At the Bloodied Gauntlet, he examined a tusk socket and determined that the tusk had been removed intact with pliers or a similar instrument. He later recognized the blue tooth fairies’ markings as imitations of the hold’s. Before Ardax, he proposed sharing written knowledge of Belkzen. He climbed into the ravine to treat a wounded scout and later treated The Survivor and his companions. During the hunt, he used fire and freezing magic against perytons, then treated Vaska and Fizzik before tending his own wounds. Gurnak returned Davor’s book about orcs, pointing out its errors and its lack of orc perspectives and internal processes. He discussed writing and Belkzen with Davor and asked whether the Pathfinder Society would help fight Tarbaphon. During the fight with the undead bears, Gurnak examined them, struck one with a purifying icicle, then used healing magic to aid an injured companion and harm the remaining bear. In the insult contest, he challenged Vaska with a reference to Graskoldeth’s teaching about orcs’ strength together; Vaska won their exchanges, and Gurnak took notes. He later thanked her, saying the contest had helped with his book, and promised he had not meant offense. Before the gathering departed, he took the Cinnamon Seers Vaska had prepared. On the way to the overlook, he showed Davor his notes on the clans and their interactions, proposed writing a book together, and suggested exchanging letters and notes. Davor agreed and gave him a scroll of mirror image. At the overlook, Gurnak noticed the absence of animal sounds and birds, alerted Ardax, and suggested warning the advance guard and sending scouts. When undead emerged near the floodwater, he identified several kinds at a distance. He recognized the needledown cactus on the escape route and advised the others how to cross, then calmed a couple of aurochs during the stampede. In the rain, he struck an undead creature with vitality magic and later healed his companions while harming nearby undead. Traveling with the party, he treated wounds with medicine and magic. In a fight against undead, he treated his own wounds, took cover, and attacked a wizard with divine magic; after the wizard stunned him, Gurnak’s next attack was followed by the wizard exploding into a ball of light. He later healed Klein and repositioned himself. At Torrentmoot, he tried to calm and manage the camp’s many animals but struggled, and Solara came to help. The Party recovered fully while traveling. At the ford, he struck skin slugs with magical lashes, identified their weakness to cold, treated wounds, and froze one to death with cold magic. He examined Solara’s wounds. When Segrek asked for help finding a missing pendant, explaining that he feared others would turn against him if they learned of his curse, Gurnak asked people about it; Solara helped search, and a group member found it underfoot. Gurnak told Segrek that a potion made from three harmless herbs might help him maintain control, and Solara supported his claim.

• He has used wind, electricity, fire, freezing magic, vitality, divine magic, healing energy, magical lashes, and a purifying icicle against undead and other creatures; he identified skin slugs’ weakness to cold and froze one to death.
• He has treated and stabilized wounded companions and scouts, including his own wounds.
• He identified ancient orc skeletons and skeletal champions, recognized several kinds of undead at a distance, and examined undead bears.
• He helped open Ardax’s Puzzle Box by supplying electricity.
• At Torrentmoot, he sought Vaska’s account of her origins and earliest legend and examined Davor’s books.
• He discussed writing and Belkzen with Davor, proposed a book together, and suggested exchanging letters and notes; Davor agreed and gave him a scroll of mirror image.
• At the overlook, he alerted Ardax to the silence, suggested warning the advance guard and sending scouts, advised the others how to cross the needledown cactus route, and calmed aurochs during the stampede.
• He proposed sharing written knowledge of Belkzen, asked whether the Pathfinder Society would help fight Tarbaphon, and advised Segrek that a potion made from three harmless herbs might help him maintain control.