Homebrew Animated Book Species Details
Animate Object
In a world absolutely rife with magic, controlled and wild, strange things are bound to happen. Including, possibly, hypothetically, a book gaining the ability to not only move of its own accord, but to develop cognition. In effect, an otherwise inanimate prop, becomes a living being with its own personality, merits and flaws, fears and motivations. The origins of each book will likely vary, perhaps wildly; an intentional enchantment of a wizard tired of carrying his spell book, a burst of wild magic, or another being transmogrified or cursed to this fate, ..., etc.
Animated Book Traits
Being of both artificial and magical construction, such a state confers several benefits and drawbacks.Ability Score Modifiers
+2 to Charisma, Wisdom, and Intelligence. -2 to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution.
Float Like a Butterfly
Advantages
- A book can pass deftly through any occupied space and occupy the space of a willing being (i.e., being carried), and can hide behind any being larger than itself.
- Being Tiny, a book has advantage against ranged attacks.
- While a book is levitating, it will not trigger ground-based traps. Also, the book has advantage against falling checks and is resistant to falling damage.
- When still and not casting overt magic, the Animated Book will be ignored by beasts and has advantage on Stealth checks. With a successful Stealth check, Detect Magic reveals the book to be enchanted, though it may still pass as a simply enchanted book.
Disadvantages
- Being Tiny, a book has disadvantage on strength checks against all beings larger than itself.
- A book does not have any manner of complex appendages and, thus, has difficulty interacting with the world. So, books have disadvantage on mundane Dexterity checks, but cannot accomplish dextrous handicraft.
- A book is made of delicate and flammable materials. Anytime a flame comes within 10ft, the Animated Book must make a Will save. Furthermore, when subjected to a successful attack involving fire, the Animated Book will take an additional 1d6 Fire damage
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