PhoenixPhyre
2018-01-27, 05:43 PM
Note: The lore is specific to my setting. I'd like feedback as to balance--is it too much? Too little? Incoherent?
Soul-forged
The soul-forged Awakened in the echoes of the Fifth Wish in 206 AC. Each gained individuality in the body of a construct empowered by fragmented souls. Whereas those constructs were short-lived and halting, body and soul poorly integrated, the soul-forged were able and capable. Learning at a tremendous rate, they set out to carve their own place into the world around them. Driving many of them is the desire to learn to create others of their kind. Not all the construct bodies Awakened; no one knows why some did and others did not.
Each soul-forged is individual--no two share the same appearance beyond the basics. All the Awakened were in the form of a human being--two arms with opposable thumbs, two legs, a head, a torso. Some had detailed faces; others merely porcelain masks. Some had fragmentary memories of their past, others were a completely blank slate. Some were decorated in elaborate patterns, others not at all. Some wear the clothing, others prefer to go without body coverings beyond harnesses for tools.
Soul-forged Traits
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.
Age. Soul-forged are new to the world. No one knows how long they will live. Each one comes into existence as a blank slate, learning fast. Within a month they are fully adult. No soul-forged is older than 4 years old.
Size. Soulforged are approximately the size of humans, but there is much variation in height and weight. Steel-skin tend to be larger and bulkier than bark-skin. Both are more dense than humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Sleepless Vigilance. Soul-forged do not need sleep. Instead they enter a quiet state of reverie for 4 hours a day, reviewing and organizing their memories. During this reverie they remain conscious and alert; they can end the reverie at will. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.
Living Construct. As a creature of metal, wood, and stone, you resist poison damage and are immune to the poisoned condition and to disease. You do not need food or water, although you can eat normally if you choose.
Unlike most constructs, healing magic (such as cure wounds) works fine on you, as does resurrection magic.
Hardened Body. Your armor class increases by 1.
Inhuman Mindset. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common as well as one other language of your choice.
Steel-skin
The steel-skin soul-forged were first constructed in the goblin workshops of Byarsha in the southern Remnant Dynasty. Made out of metal and crystalline stone, they were built for harsh labor; in the Awakening, it became clear that their minds were like the crystal they were made of--clear and structured, able to learn and form new ideas at a tremendous rate.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength and your Intelligence scores increase by 1.
Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency in either Mason’s Tools or Blacksmith’s Tools.
Strong Frame. You count as one size larger for determining how much you can lift, pull, or drag.
Structured Intellect. You gain proficiency in your choice of Arcana, Investigation, Nature, or Religion. When you make an ability check that applies your proficiency in your chosen skill, add twice your proficiency modifier instead.
Bonus Language. You can speak, read, and write Ngyon Toi (Goblin).
Bark-skin
The bark-skin soul-forged were originally carved in the forests of Byssia as guardians of the sacred resting places of the honored ancestors. Made out of the various trees with joints of carved stone, they maintain a connection to nature and a keen awareness of their surroundings.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength and your Wisdom scores increase by 1.
Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency in either Carpenter’s Tools or Woodcarver’s Tools.
Natural Awareness. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception), Wisdom (Survival), and initiative checks made while in natural settings such as forests, mountains, or caves.
Natural Bond. You know the druidcraft cantrip. You can cast the speak with animals spell as a 1st level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the pass without trace spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the plant growth spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Your ability modifier for all these spells is Wisdom.
Bonus Language. You can speak, read, and write Metsae (Wood Elvish).
Soul-forged
The soul-forged Awakened in the echoes of the Fifth Wish in 206 AC. Each gained individuality in the body of a construct empowered by fragmented souls. Whereas those constructs were short-lived and halting, body and soul poorly integrated, the soul-forged were able and capable. Learning at a tremendous rate, they set out to carve their own place into the world around them. Driving many of them is the desire to learn to create others of their kind. Not all the construct bodies Awakened; no one knows why some did and others did not.
Each soul-forged is individual--no two share the same appearance beyond the basics. All the Awakened were in the form of a human being--two arms with opposable thumbs, two legs, a head, a torso. Some had detailed faces; others merely porcelain masks. Some had fragmentary memories of their past, others were a completely blank slate. Some were decorated in elaborate patterns, others not at all. Some wear the clothing, others prefer to go without body coverings beyond harnesses for tools.
Soul-forged Traits
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.
Age. Soul-forged are new to the world. No one knows how long they will live. Each one comes into existence as a blank slate, learning fast. Within a month they are fully adult. No soul-forged is older than 4 years old.
Size. Soulforged are approximately the size of humans, but there is much variation in height and weight. Steel-skin tend to be larger and bulkier than bark-skin. Both are more dense than humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Sleepless Vigilance. Soul-forged do not need sleep. Instead they enter a quiet state of reverie for 4 hours a day, reviewing and organizing their memories. During this reverie they remain conscious and alert; they can end the reverie at will. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.
Living Construct. As a creature of metal, wood, and stone, you resist poison damage and are immune to the poisoned condition and to disease. You do not need food or water, although you can eat normally if you choose.
Unlike most constructs, healing magic (such as cure wounds) works fine on you, as does resurrection magic.
Hardened Body. Your armor class increases by 1.
Inhuman Mindset. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common as well as one other language of your choice.
Steel-skin
The steel-skin soul-forged were first constructed in the goblin workshops of Byarsha in the southern Remnant Dynasty. Made out of metal and crystalline stone, they were built for harsh labor; in the Awakening, it became clear that their minds were like the crystal they were made of--clear and structured, able to learn and form new ideas at a tremendous rate.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength and your Intelligence scores increase by 1.
Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency in either Mason’s Tools or Blacksmith’s Tools.
Strong Frame. You count as one size larger for determining how much you can lift, pull, or drag.
Structured Intellect. You gain proficiency in your choice of Arcana, Investigation, Nature, or Religion. When you make an ability check that applies your proficiency in your chosen skill, add twice your proficiency modifier instead.
Bonus Language. You can speak, read, and write Ngyon Toi (Goblin).
Bark-skin
The bark-skin soul-forged were originally carved in the forests of Byssia as guardians of the sacred resting places of the honored ancestors. Made out of the various trees with joints of carved stone, they maintain a connection to nature and a keen awareness of their surroundings.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength and your Wisdom scores increase by 1.
Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency in either Carpenter’s Tools or Woodcarver’s Tools.
Natural Awareness. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception), Wisdom (Survival), and initiative checks made while in natural settings such as forests, mountains, or caves.
Natural Bond. You know the druidcraft cantrip. You can cast the speak with animals spell as a 1st level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the pass without trace spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the plant growth spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Your ability modifier for all these spells is Wisdom.
Bonus Language. You can speak, read, and write Metsae (Wood Elvish).