The Tragedy of Yorik the Wise

“Alas, poor Yorik… a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy; he hath borne me on his back a thousand times…”

— an excerpt from the eulogy of Yorik, as delivered by his son

Yorik the Wise is a most peculiar creature, or rather, what’s left of him is. Once the humble servant of a feudal lord, his fate took a dark turn when his master became entangled with a mysterious cult. Yorik was chosen at random to be the vessel for a powerful relic known as the Mimirian Gem, which required a gruesome sacrifice to use.

Bound to a stone table, Yorik was anointed with oil before being beheaded by the cultists. Then, as part of a complex ritual of embalming, both of his eyes were gouged out. While the lids of one were carefully sewn shut with twine, the Gem was embedded into the empty socket of the other, miraculously reanimating him. Thus began his strange new existence, not only as a bodiless head, but as an endless well of knowledge.

For centuries, Yorik has been an invaluable tool for the rich and powerful, who secretly exploit his counsel to learn things that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. Despite being at the mercy of those who hold him, Yorik still retains a measure of agency. He is generally unwilling to help those who would use his knowledge for nefarious purposes, preferring to mislead them with incomplete information.

In spite of his predicament, Yorik remains curious, with a keen mind and a memory that spans many lifetimes. However, the magic that sustains him can sometimes go awry, causing a louder, more opinionated personality named Yorik the Bold to emerge. In these moments, Yorik becomes even more difficult to manage, offering unsolicited advice and biting commentary on the state of the world around him.

Yorik’s story is as perplexing as it is tragic. His knowledge is vast, and his wit sharp. Yet at the end of the day, he remains little more than a head on a table, forever bound to be what he’s always been: a servant.