Duncan Googolplex is the greatest sage in Andamar (or anywhere else in the world), and knows it. In fact, there is very little that he doesn't know. Very few people have ever seen him in person (except for his tower full of assistants), but many know about him and his legendary services. He receives about 500 questions per day, and it's said that his answers are always right and never prompt. They're also never cheap. By default, questions and answers are kept confidential.

Thanks to various magical enhancements given to him by grateful Tower Mages, Duncan doesn't need to eat or sleep. All he does is read books and write responses to other peoples' questions. Also, his already high intelligence was magically increased, so he's also the smartest gnome in the world. And since his prices are as legendary as his services, it's safe to say that he's also the richest gnome in the world.

However, his near total isolation and dedication to his work have made him very unfriendly, irascible, business-like and arrogant. But as long as people have questions they need answered, they put up with him.

In the second month of 501 3E, he apparently got too close to some information that a powerful entity wanted to keep secret. After resisting an attack by fiendish creatures invading his tower, a mighty fiend bashed in through the roof, grabbed Duncan in its claws and continued to crash through every single story on its way down. When they got to the first floor, Duncan was crushed beyond recognition. Neither he nor the witnesses nearby ever knew what it was that these fiends were trying to keep secret.

What even the fiends failed to realize is how difficult it is to keep a gnome from his books...