#animated object

Possession? A shapeshifted cybernetic alien? Fine German engineering?

(art by Sincker on DeviantArt)

Prosthesis and mobility aids are an important part of helping people live active productive lives when they have a disability. Now, take that and apply it to fantasy and sci-fi, and you get devices that not only improve lives, but also go beyond mortal capabilities, something that can feel very empowering to folks in similar situations in the real world.

There are those that dismiss the presence of prosthesis in fantasy gaming because “magical healing renders them obsolete”, but this rings hollow when spells that regenerate limbs are so high level, or don’t even function for those born with congenital conditions.

And besides, disabled folks deserve to see themselves in gaming too.

In any case, today we’re looking at an archetype that serves as a spiritual successor to 1e archetypes like the constructed pugilist, though while those archetypes were often vague about the exact form of construct they were, the flavor of the golem grafter suggests that the construction is similar to that of creating golems, though this need not necessarily be the case if you’d like to have more clockwork-like limbs.

Whether they had an injury that needed repair and they took it further, or they have an earnest belief in the need to seek perfection in the mechanical form, these grafters replace their limbs with enchanted replicas of stronger materials. As they grow in skill in other areas, they often replace organs as well, (or possibly just master the use of a previous replacement) truly making the strength of these prosthesis their own.

In preparation for other augmentations, these grafters have their flesh augmented by magical and alchemical means in a similar way to the flesh of a flesh golem, hardening them against attack.

Some replace one of their fists with one of clay, and have it imbued with the same sort of cursed magic seen in clay golems. While not able to impede healing, their mighty strikes can weaken a foe’s resistance against other curses.

With a replacement heart, they can accelerate their own heartbeat to stimulate adrenaline and get the blood flowing, speeding themselves up the move more quickly or counterbalance effects that would slow them.

Whether they are made of stone or some other, sturdy material or design, some have replaced their legs with powerful prosthesis that give them nearly unshakable footing. Of course, just as they are immovable, they can also be unstoppable, pushing foes away.

Finally, some replace their lungs with strong mechanical equivalents that are not only more resistant to poison, but also can store such toxic gasses in a separate chamber, allowing them to exhale the poison back at their foes.

No matter how exactly you flavor or reflavor it, this archetype is a fun way to play a character with a little bit of golem in their bodies. If you’re looking just for one specific feat from it, it can be  fun way to have a character with a prosthesis that empowers them, or you can go whole-hog and become more machine than man. The more of these feats you take the better the dedication’s damage resistance and hp increase is, so it can be used with any sort of tanky build, or you could pick and choose to get a few neat gimmicks that a roguish character might find handy.

This is a relatively short archetype, but one that is just begging to take abilities based on every golem in the game in making into additional homebrew feats for the archetype. Imagine an alchemical golem stomach that can digest and vomit poison, or maybe a magnetite skeleton that makes the user hard to disarm. The possibilities are myriad and delightful.

While he is a suli, Ageshu has always had the strongest affinity with earthen elements. After losing an arm during a hunt, the young gnoll got a clay replacement limb, and was shocked to see he could manipulate it like flesh and bone. Now, he seeks other ways to transform his body, an interest that has proved polarizing to the rest of the tribe.

Having had enough of a lifetime of constant illness, Kagonne the plague giant has vowed to somehow break the curse of perpetual disease and illness over his people… or barring that, finding a way to replace flesh with something no disease can touch. For this purpose, he has kidnapped one of the greatest alchemist golem-crafters around, and his work has already paid dividends in augmented giant soldiers.

day 4: animated object (armor)

redbubble!

Ahmya Ref

This is Ahmya, a Suzurii-no-tamashi (haunted inkstone)

Ok I KNOW I said I'd get back to asks- and I will!! But I really had to share this boi first ;u; I made him for a homebrew Monster of the Week game!

His name is Hedgeinald, he's a sentient collection of foliage, fabric/paper materials, and the chopped-off head of a cane shaped like a dragon's head (he uses the other end of the same cane as an actual cane). Hedge is a part-time stage magician (with actual magic shhhh), and part-time collector and trader of non-sentient goods and decor.

Plot twist below the cut vvvvvvvvvv

Monster School Inktober 2019

Day Six: Beloved Teacher/Animated Object