Homebrew Articula Species Details

"The question of whether articula are alive is no more interesting than the question of whether a paddleboat can swim."

 

Articulated mechanical constructs created by an artificer through proprietary means for any of a variety of intended functions. Articula could be fabricated as guards, attendants, entertainers, and personal companions. Articula functionality was only limited by their creator's ability and intention.

Living Construct

Articula could be made of a variety of materials and combinations thereof, including metals, wood, ceramics, bone, ivory, and carven stone. Exterior plates form a protective outer shell and reinforce joints. What sets articula apart from the typical automaton is that they are generally considered alive. Healing magic will take to articula, they are more durable than their constituent materials generally should be on their own, and any damage an articula sustains will gradually mend on its own. Although they were manufactured, articula are living humanoids. Resting, healing magic, and the Medicine skill all provide the same benefits to articula that they do to other humanoids.

Articula Personality

Articula are built for a number of reasons, whether to serve or to emulate the human condition. Many articula are drawn by a concrete purpose — such as protecting allies, completing a contract, or exploring a land. Some articula delight in exploring their feelings, their freedom, and their relationships with others. Most articula have no interest in religion, but some embrace faith and mysticism, seeking higher purpose and deeper meaning.

Articula most often take after the body configuration and proportions of humans, but more aberrant designs may well exist. Articula may ignore the concept of gender entirely, while others embrace a gender identity.

The more an articula develops its individuality, the more likely it is to modify its body, seeking out an artificer to customize the look of its face, limbs, and plating.

Quirks

Articula may display an odd personality trait or two, due either to one being relatively new to the world or their construction. The Articula Quirks table contains example quirks.

Articula Quirks

Articula Names

Names and nicknames are often given to them by their creators and comrades. As independent individuals, some choose their own names as a way to express their path in life. Articula will tend to take on human names.

Articula Traits

Your articula character has the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution or Dexterity score increases by 1, and an additional ability score of your choice increases by 2.

Age

You show no signs of deterioration due to age. You are immune to magical aging effects.

Alignment

Most articula tend toward neutrality. But some have absorbed the morality, or lack thereof, of the beings with which they associate.

Size

Articula size generally coincides with that of humans, which vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Some articula can even be as small as a kobold. Your size is Medium or Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Clockwork Consequences

Due to your incidentally artificial nature, you gain the following benefits:

• You have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and you have resistance to poison damage.
• You don’t need to eat, drink, or breathe.
• You are immune to disease.
• You don’t need to sleep, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Sentry’s Rest

When you take a long rest, you must spend at least six hours in an inactive, motionless state, rather than sleeping. In this state, you appear inert, but it doesn’t render you unconscious, and you can see and hear as normal.

Deflective Design

You are made of a material tougher than mortal flesh. While you aren’t wearing armor, your base Armor Class is 13 + your Dexterity modifier.

Role-Player

Thanks to your intentional design, you gain proficiency with two skills of your choice, or one skill proficiency and one tool proficiency of your choice.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, and one other language of your choice. Articula typically know the languages bestowed on them by their creators, including obscure dialects. They may decorate their speech with words borrowed from other tongues: Orc curses, Elvish musical expressions, Dwarvish military phrases, and so on.