Nothics were aberrations with humanoid shapes, known for their hunched posture, greyish skin, and a single large eye that dominated their face. They were not born in their twisted forms but were believed to have once been arcane practitioners who delved too far into unstable magical knowledge. Over time, their bodies and minds broke down, warping into something inhuman. This transformation left them cursed with fragmented memories and a lingering awareness that they had lost something vital.
They tended to live in isolation, often haunting ruins, deep caves, or abandoned libraries where traces of magical knowledge remained. Nothics were drawn to arcane artifacts and spellcraft, hoarding scrolls, wands, and magical items with an obsessive focus. They were not mindless and could reason, speak, and even bargain when it served their goals. Some retained considerable cunning, while others slipped further into instinct-driven behavior as their memories faded.
A nothic's central eye could pry into the thoughts of nearby creatures, drawing out hidden truths and forgotten secrets. This ability made them dangerous even without violence, as they could manipulate, blackmail, or provoke others with information no outsider should possess. In combat, they lashed out with elongated claws and flashes of necrotic magic, striking with precision rather than brute strength.
Despite their decline, nothics were not without purpose. Many were driven by a faint, compulsive hope that their condition could be reversed. This desire led them to seek out magical items, rituals, or ancient texts, often attacking those who possessed what they could not understand or control. Attempts to cure a nothic had never been reliably documented, but their behavior suggested they were aware of what they once were and of what they had become.