How to increase Dodge?

This is the second game in a row I've had a problem. Last time I was a
human and acquired Dodge somehow (maybe from Bart?) This time, I'm a
grey elf and started the game with it. In both games, it's been very
hard to increase; when I level, the maximum possible just never seems
to increase. I have a reasonably high dexterity (39 now, I have the
rune-covered trident and the bracers of war, but also some dexterity-
reducing corruptions) so I don't think that's it. Last game, it maxed
out at 71 at level 50 and just wouldn't let me increase it further.
This game, it's stuck at about 55 (I'm level 23). Is there something
I'm missing? Or is the Dodge ability just very hard to improve?