Morban

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Morban (摩尔班)
Alias(es)	Professor Morban
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Tower of the Artificer, Arcanix; later its Tower Master 415
Occupation/Role	Artificer, artificing instructor, cybernetics researcher, Karl Ares's master
Status	Active 415
First Appearance	Chapter 89 89

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Artificer Level 19	406	Reached level 19 through the Spirituality feedback from his research. He intends to raise his Intelligence rather than multiclass in pursuit of Level 20. 406

Background / History

Morban was an established instructor at Arcanix's Tower of the Artificer before becoming Karl Ares's mentor. He defended Artificer students' right to paid commissioned work when other schools sought their labor for free, arguing that commissions funded the Tower and allowed poorer students to repay loans. 98

He supervised Artificer involvement in the Ninefold Path competition and supported Karl's proposals to reform it. He also used his influence to protect Karl's associates academically, offering to smooth over Nia's absences as long as her studies did not suffer. 122 166

After Karl survived the cruise-ship attack, Morban recovered him and attempted to keep him in Arcanix and the Eldeen Reaches until he attained Artificer Level 9, believing Karl had an exceptional tendency to encounter disasters away from school. 161

Morban preserved the gravely injured Mithris and made her the focus of his research into mechanical ascension. His first attempt to place her brain in a War Golem-like body failed; the body merely twitched and shut down. He later incorporated Karl's neural-coordination proposal, bionic materials, and the Kaelen Ooze into progressively more functional prosthetic bodies for her. 162 165 170 171

His later research broadened from prosthetics to Giant Runes, extraordinary mechanical devices, and a proposed “Life Casket” for such devices. He publicly backed Karl during the Prime Material Plane delegation's visit and remained intensely interested in Karl's increasingly lifelike mech. 214 269 374 376

By the time rumors spread that he could turn humans into War Golems, Morban had reached Artificer Level 19 and had made real progress in consciousness-transfer research, though he denied researching prohibited War Golem manufacturing. After Marchi resigned, Morban became Tower Master of the Tower of the Artificer. 406 415

Appearance

Morban is an older, bearded Artificer who has gained some weight. In dangerous situations, he equips rugged Arcane Armor rather than relying on conventional protection. 166 178

• Wears Mechanical Combat Boots capable of flight. 122
• Possesses rugged Arcane Armor with aerial mobility. 178
• Has used Moon Spirit Marrow symbiotic armor gifted by Karl. 211
• Replaced one of his own mechanical prosthetic arms with a bionic version that could feel touch almost like a natural arm. 171

Personality

Morban is protective of Karl but expresses that concern through stern restrictions, exasperation, and practical support. He considers Karl his favored apprentice, worries whenever Karl enters unfamiliar territory, and still respects Karl's desire to see the world rather than inherit a position at the academy immediately. 161 173 179

His devotion to research is extreme. He can lose months studying Giant Runes without noticing and eagerly pursues new theories the moment Karl presents useful materials or designs. 171 269 This curiosity also makes him ethically reckless: Mithris is repeatedly treated as a research subject, although Morban deliberately keeps her alive because he believes she may be the only living bearer of the Death Dragon Mark. 162 171

Abilities & Skills

Master Artificer

Morban is a Level 19 Artificer with broad expertise in magical engineering, Arcane Armor, prosthetics, constructs, and Giant Rune research. 406

• Approved most research funding applications during a period of major breakthroughs. 406
• Identified and tested the electrical responsiveness of Karl's biomimetic material. 171
• Used Flash of Insight to accelerate his thinking while researching the Kaelen Ooze. 166
• Developed and used specialized artificing devices, including a helmet with a permanent Detect Thoughts effect. 162

Bionic Prosthetics

Morban develops prosthetic bodies intended to retain sensation and restore function beyond ordinary mechanical limbs.

• Created a biomimetic prosthetic arm that responded to touch almost indistinguishably from a real arm. 171
• Used Kaelen Ooze and biomimetic material to reshape Mithris's body and construct a replacement War Golem body from her former bionic materials. 171
• Improved Mithris's condition from a stiff War Golem body to an outwardly human bionic body, though her former Druidic power remained severely diminished. 170 173
• Considered whether nanomaterial prosthetics could bypass limitations that prevent Druids from accepting such modifications. 215

War Golem Consciousness Transfer

Morban researches the transfer of a living person's consciousness into a mechanical body, seeking an alternative to lichdom.

• His early “wetware” experiment using Mithris's brain and a War Golem-like body failed to produce sustained movement. 162
• Later stated that conversion requires the subject to be at least a Level 14 Artificer. 407
• The transferred individual must synchronize with five magical items to stabilize their condition during the vulnerable transition period. 407
• Without that stabilization, only the soul transfers; memories, personality, and other essential traits may be lost. 407
• Morban distinguishes this work from prohibited War Golem manufacturing, despite public rumors conflating the two. 406 407

Equipment / Research

• Arcane Armor — Rugged armor equipped for combat and flight. 178
• Mechanical Combat Boots — Flight-capable boots used to rapidly leave his office. 122
• Moon Spirit Marrow Symbiotic Armor — Armor gifted by Karl and worn during Morban's trip to Stormreach Bay. 211
• Detect Thoughts Helmet — A permanent-effect device used to communicate with Mithris while she was in life support. 162
• Golden Ear Harp research — Morban studied the legendary Giant instrument and hoped to use its principles in creating a “Life Casket” for extraordinary mechanical devices. 214

Relationships

• Karl Ares — Apprentice and favored disciple. Morban mentors Karl's artificing, protects him from institutional pressure, and later advises him on spiritual growth and multiclassing as a Sorcerer. 89 161 415
• Mithris / Number 18 — Research subject and recipient of Morban's prosthetic-body experiments. He keeps her alive, monitors her condition, and gradually equips her with increasingly viable bionic bodies. 161 162 171 173
• Galin — Old friend from the Tower of Conjuration. Galin warns Morban about rumors surrounding his War Golem conversion research and helps discuss its implications. 406 407
• Marchi — Former Tower Master of the Tower of the Artificer. Morban respected Marchi's authority before ultimately succeeding him after Marchi's resignation. 179 415
• Number One — Mechanical assistant used to manage Morban's office, guide Karl to the laboratory, and monitor Mithris when she was permitted outside the lab. 165 170 173

Notable Quotes

“From now on, you are to stay in the Eldeen Reaches and Arcanix and not wander off. I won't let you leave until your Artificer level reaches level 9.” 161

“Although my technology has lowered the threshold compared to lichdom conversion, it still requires the individual being converted into a War Golem to have at least an Artificer level of 14.” 407