Quasimodo

“Meet Quasimodo: The Misunderstood Hunchback of Notre-Dame!”

Quasimodo was born with a hunchback and feared by the townspeople as a monster, but he finds sanctuary in an unlikely love that is fulfilled only in death.

• Alias: The Bell Ringer of Notre Dame
• Gender: Male
• Race: Human
• Occupation: Bell ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral
• Religion: Catholicism
• Allies: Claude Frollo (Archdeacon), Esmeralda (unrequited love)
• Enemies: Claude Frollo (due to conflicting interests)
• Abode/Base of Operations: Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris
• Nationality: French
• Languages: French
• Alignment: Neutral Good
• Affiliation(s): Notre Dame Cathedral
• Significant Others: Unrequited love for Esmeralda

Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell ringer, resides within the grand Cathedral of Notre-Dame in the heart of Paris. His existence is defined by stark contrasts: the majestic beauty of the cathedral and the world outside, and the darkness of his own isolated life. As an outcast, he navigates a world that often perceives him as a grotesque and deformed figure, which fills him with a constant fear of cruelty and rejection.

Despite the challenges he faces, Quasimodo dedicates himself to the task of tending to the cathedral’s magnificent bells, ringing them with devotion. The bells become his companions, his friends, and the source of solace in the midst of his loneliness. In the shadows and quiet corners of Notre-Dame, he finds refuge, away from the judgmental gazes of the world beyond.

Quasimodo’s character is defined by a gentle and kind-hearted nature, a stark contrast to the harsh judgments placed upon him. He longs for acceptance and the simple joys of human connection that have been denied to him for most of his life. Despite his isolation, he maintains unwavering faith in the sanctuary of Notre-Dame, where he both serves as a caretaker and seeks shelter from a world that has largely shunned him.

His ultimate aspiration is to find love and understanding, to connect with another soul who will see beyond his external appearance and appreciate the kind and compassionate person within. In the grandeur of Notre-Dame, amidst the towering spires and ringing bells, Quasimodo’s heart holds the hope that one day, he will discover the acceptance and belonging he so ardently desires.

Quasimodo, The Bell Ringer

Medium humanoid (human), Neutral Good

Armor Class 14 (studded leather) Hit Points 78 (12d8 + 24) Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)	16 (+3)	8 (-1)

Skills Perception +5, Athletics +5 Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15 Languages Common, Sign Language Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Background Feature: Cathedral Dweller. Quasimodo is familiar with the hidden passages and secret chambers of the cathedral, providing him with an advantage on Intelligence (Investigation) checks related to the architecture of Notre Dame.

Deaf. Quasimodo is deaf, making him immune to thunder damage and any effect that requires hearing, such as being charmed by a Siren’s song.

Tower Climb. Quasimodo can climb up or down the tower of Notre Dame at double his regular climbing speed.

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.

Hunchback Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Protective Instinct. When a creature Quasimodo can see targets him with an attack, he can use his reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll.

Loyal Guardian. Quasimodo has advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.

Gothic Sanctuary (3/Day). Quasimodo can invoke the divine protection of Notre Dame. For the next minute, he gains resistance to all damage and his movement does not provoke opportunity attacks. He can also cast sanctuary on himself without expending a spell slot, which lasts for the duration of Gothic Sanctuary.

Sign Language. Quasimodo can communicate using sign language.

Actions

Bell Ringer’s Fury. Quasimodo unleashes a devastating attack using his cathedral’s bell. The entire area within 60 feet of Quasimodo becomes difficult terrain, and each creature in that area must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw, taking 36 (8d8) thunder damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Once Quasimodo uses Bell Ringer’s Fury, he can’t use it again until he finishes a long rest.

Defender’s Shield. Quasimodo grants a friendly creature he can see within 30 feet advantage on Dexterity saving throws for 1 minute.

Reactions

Guardian’s Resilience. When a creature Quasimodo can see targets him with an attack, he can use his reaction to gain resistance to all damage from the attack.

Legendary Actions

Quasimodo can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Quasimodo regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

• Hunchback Slam. Quasimodo makes a Hunchback Slam attack.
• Defensive Guard. Quasimodo uses his Guardian’s Resilience reaction.
• Move. Quasimodo moves up to his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Divine Protection (Costs 2 Actions). Quasimodo activates his Gothic Sanctuary ability.
• Cathedral Bell Toll (Costs 2 Actions). Quasimodo can make a Wisdom saving throw with a DC of 15. On a successful save, he calls upon the cathedral bells to create a massive shockwave, incapacitating all creatures within 60 feet of him for 1 minute. Each creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of its turn, ending the effect on a success.

Equipment

Studded leather armor, Dagger, Sign language book, Prayer book of Notre Dame, Pouch with 15 gp

Currently in the World

Quasimodo is a physically deformed man with a hunchback, giving him a stooped posture. His disfigurement is severe, and a giant wart obscures his left eye, contributing to his gruesome appearance. His face bears the visible marks of a harsh and isolating life. He typically wears worn and tattered clothing, often covered with the dust and grime of the cathedral where he resides.

As the bell ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, Quasimodo can often be found near the immense bells, maintaining them or working on the mechanisms that ring them. His current surroundings are within the cathedral, a place he calls home. Quasimodo’s mood is typically a mix of melancholy and loneliness, as he is an outcast who is repulsed and feared by the general populace of Paris, although he remains kind-hearted and compassionate despite the cruelty he faces.

In the Book

Quasimodo, the deformed bell ringer, is often described as “hideous” and a “creation of the devils.” His birth marked the beginning of a life filled with physical abnormalities. A severe hunchback and a giant wart that covered his left eye made him an object of revulsion and fear from those who laid eyes upon him. Born to a Gypsy tribe, his appearance was so monstrous that he was secretly exchanged for an infant girl, Esmeralda, within his tribe. This exchange placed him on a path to a life unlike any other.

Discovered and exorcised by the Gypsies, Quasimodo was taken to Paris, where he was found abandoned within the grand Cathedral of Notre Dame. It was Claude Frollo, the Archdeacon of Notre Dame, who adopted the forsaken child, gave him a name, and raised him to become the cathedral’s bell ringer. However, the ceaseless ringing of bells in the cathedral ultimately rendered Quasimodo deaf, further isolating him from the world.

Despite the hatred and contempt he faced due to his deformity, it becomes evident that Quasimodo possesses a kind and gentle heart. His acts of violence are not of his own volition but are carried out when he is ordered to do so by others. The general populace of Paris views him as a monstrous figure, and he relies heavily on his master, Claude Frollo, serving as a loyal companion during the Archdeacon’s walks.

Quasimodo’s life takes a significant turn when he first encounters the enchanting Esmeralda during an ill-fated attempt to kidnap her. Although Quasimodo is obedient to his master’s demands during this event, he harbors no personal wish to harm Esmeralda. His affection for her deepens when she offers him water during his public punishment, a brutal flogging, earning his devotion.

Esmeralda’s fate takes a darker turn when she is implicated in an attempted murder and falsely accused of witchcraft. As she is led to the gallows, Quasimodo, who watches from the upper reaches of Notre Dame, descends with a rope and saves her by taking her to the cathedral’s pinnacle. There, he cries out “Sanctuary!” to the gathering crowd below. Despite his love for Esmeralda, she cannot reciprocate his affection. Her heart, moved by his kindness, remains repulsed by his physical appearance, an unjust fear that lingers. Nevertheless, Quasimodo becomes her silent guardian, shielding her from Frollo’s advances and thwarting the mad priest’s assault.

In a poignant attempt to convey the depth of his love for Esmeralda and highlight the difference between himself and the handsome but shallow Captain Phoebus, with whom she has become infatuated, Quasimodo places two vases in her room. One, a beautiful crystal vase filled with withered flowers, symbolizes superficial beauty, while the other, a humble pot filled with vibrant and fragrant blossoms, represents the beauty within. Esmeralda, touched by his gesture, presses the withered flowers against her heart.

The fragile peace within Notre Dame is shattered when an angry mob storms the cathedral, with Quasimodo fiercely defending it against their onslaught. His efforts prove futile until Captain Phoebus and his soldiers arrive to drive off the assailants. Unbeknownst to Quasimodo, Frollo lures Esmeralda outside, setting the stage for a heartbreaking tragedy.