Homebrew Gaian Species Details

Rare and elusive robotic beings. Their metallic construction and cold demeanor does little to warm them to the public eye. However, despite what one may assume, these are indeed people that have souls of their own, and have sacrificed their bodies and their lives in the search of “Truth”. 

Their bodies are made of metal and run by oil, but these people have a tangible soul still within them. This ageless feat of engineering genius are the creations of Gigel himself. Although he sacrificed all manner of people to perfect this vessel of immortality, it did little to change the heart of the wielder. Worse yet, immortality is a curse more than it is a boon, as the centuries pass on, memories fade, and convictions wane. Those who were pious soon turned bitter at their fate. Others reveled in what potential it brought, only to realize that vices of the past apply not to those made of steel. A heart of iron, it took. To move on pass the years, slowly die out and simply exist in a torpor. It’s rare to see Gaians today, as many have perished, broken along the centuries. Many live their lives as normal as one can in that state, but often muse about what it meant to be flesh. Do they truly still exist? Are they damned once they perish? Pious ones turned to Solan, and ones burning with the flames of hatred, soon took action. These embers are manifestations of latent regret, and those burdened by sins must carry this weight within their hearts.

A word of caution, to you, reader. There are many great and noble Gaians, but take note in a secret that I have discovered. An unwritten rule, so to speak. Those who had their souls planted in their robotic bodies long ago were separated by their ceremonial robes. Those close to Gigel, pious and good, wore robes of deep purple. Those who were condemned criminals, wore robes of ragged, brown burlap. When a Gaian warrior modifies their body to become armor, take up this color scheme to make clear of their past.

The story goes that long ago, an eccentric man by the name of Gigel was obsessed in learning the truth about magic. He’s heard tales and experienced visions of ascending, becoming closer to the source of all magic, obtaining “truth” and casting spells without the use of a tome. His charismatic character alongside his seemingly limitless intellect allowed him to attain a large following, alongside the eyes of the upper-echelons of Solan’s church.

Pouring over from alchemical to religious texts, he found a way to purify fire to the point where it became a ready vessel for souls. Of course, methods to find whether or not the fire was pure enough to putrefy the body but leave the soul in a clean state for sacrifice was no easy manner. When fanatics over the cause grew thin and the support for “the greater good” began to wane, more unsavory individuals were used, sacrificed in an attempt to cleanse their putrid souls. It turns out that it matters not whether one is pure of heart or not, a soul is a soul.

While this was happening, Gigel was also working on an artificial means of attaining immortality, as he felt his life waning after the years, but the truth that he sought was so near to him. So, he researched and invented a method of forcibly putrefying the body, leaving a clean soul and binding that soul to a vessel for holding, instead of sacrifice. He used trusted members of his flock alongside murderous criminals, it mattered not. His methods of transporting souls to their new shells needed to be absolutely perfect. 

However, before he could go along with the procedure himself, he finally attained his method of grasping his “truth”. He discovered the method and by sacrificing eight of the natural races by white fire, he was able to create an “artificial” substitute for the ancient’s soul, by combining the races, it made a complete circle and worthy fuel to open the Gate of Truth. 

He conducted his final experiment. An individual with crimes so heinous that the legends leave out this detail. Hundreds of lives, it’s hinted, were snuffed out by their hands. Gigel made a promise, the sinner will walk through the gate, find their inner truth, and emerge from the other end anew, pardoned from their crimes. They jumped at the opportunity, more power to crush lives and the permission to roam free? Their entire life was based on taking from others and it seems that the sinner themself was blessed by nothing other than Ardor’s own fortune. They passed the gate, saw the truth, and were burdened by the titanic weight of their own sins. Painful wails of agony and pleading were heard, coming silent only when the gate itself shut.

It was final. Only one unburdened by the hefty weight of sin can pass through and obtain the truth. Good deeds were done in the name of progress. Gigel passed through the gate.

Once he emerged from the other side, first of his kind, he became privy to all manner of things. To see the world in a new light, to channel spells without the aid of a tome. But there was an unintended result - to become tomeless and achieve truth is to lose something within oneself. Gigel lost his desire, his drive. How could one go on when they achieved everything? Obtained truth? Know all manner of things? To sum it all up by Gigel himself:

 

“Those who achieved and peered into the realm of a God, should show humility. Discover that finding truth is only the beginning. The start. To finally understand that even when we know everything, we understand nothing.” - Gigel, soon before immolating himself in the white flames.

 

It’s speculated on what truly caused his death. Did he finally find the truth and was unsatisfied with the result? Or was it the burden of the sins of all those priceless souls sacrificed for him to achieve his goal? It’s unknown, but the only remnant of his story is that becoming tomeless is still an achievement one can do today. Normally it’s rewarded to mages who’ve done untold amounts of good, but there are stories hushed deep beneath the room with a gate and white flame, behind bars where the sinners lie, of those corrupted by the power that the “truth” would bring them.

Gaian Traits

Gaians are created with no natural regeneration besides their own repair and their exoskeleton gets stronger as they age.

Robotic Body

“Dear childe of Gigel...

Dare not weep,

The blessing of truth,

Given to those who are meek.”

Gaians cannot regenerate health through rest and can only heal through Repair. Heals 4 HP per turn (not on first turn of use) and can be canceled at any time. No Cooldown.

Gaians cannot wear armor and have an innate armor class of 15 (THIS CANNOT BE CHANGED).

Upgraded Body

Your gaian body becomes heavily upgraded. Your armor class is now 17 and you regain your natural regeneration. Repair upgrades to heal for 10