Homebrew Arcane Puppet Species Details

“A life without a soul, no life at all. Nothing.”

The large puppet- nearly human sized- sat completely limp on the stool, lifeless as always, oblivious to the witch producing strange sigils, and her assistant aggressively taking notes. The hollowed-in eyes disturbed her slightly, not like the button eyes she was used to sowing.

“So, to create life, we need..?" The woman asked expectantly, not looking away from her ancient book.

“A soul!" The human immediately responded, followed by a look of confusion, "But how will we..?"

“Oh, there are many ways to harvest a soul. It is not as if we still live in the ancient ways of this tome I have here. It is merely.. helping us along the way. As for where the soul comes from..." The witch stated confidently, snapping the book shut and turning to her assistant, "It has been closer to us than you could imagine." She drew closer to the human.

They looked up in fear, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety on their face. However, it is far too late for negotiations, there's just one final step.

...
...
...

The puppet's eyes began to glow with a light blue spark.. A soul not their own, but a life anew.

— Pipsi Whittul, Dimmed Flames

Wooden arms, cloth skin, strings hanging up wrists, whatever the material, all of these magically living people have one similar characteristic. A soul inserted into what most would consider an overly sized childrens toy, by many sorts of means, these are what heretics, wizards, and haunted ones alike claim roam the material plane, no matter how few, this is the flickering of an Arcane Puppet.

An Inanimate Form

Arcane Puppets often look human, but due to how little of them roam this world, they often take up appearances similar to their creators, often of hagspawn, mages, or other magic users. That being said, they are often sculpted off of their owner's species, some dragonborn, elven, even gnome Arcane Puppets can be found. Regardless, they are puppets after all, and are usually made of wood or cloth, held together by the same magical form that is trapped by it's body. Arcane Puppets can hold many different appearances, and it's up to you to decide which.

Curious and Heart-Following

Very few Arcane Puppets exist in the world due to how much magical expertise is needed to even make an attempting at creating one. As well as making the puppet, the form mustn't have too many flaws in it's work, lest there be grave consequences.

Lacking a homeland, Arcane Puppets- at least, the ones not under the care or control of a master- tend to be wanderers. Due to having fully formed minds upon birth, they are usually quick to form moral systems, opinions, and personalities. However, they are often not affected or fazed by societal customs or expectations, simply going by life on their own set of rules. Or lack thereof.

Puppet Names

Arcane Puppets are usually named by their creators, however, occasionally that is impossible, for one reason or another. Every Arcane Puppet is different, but an interesting trend is the puppets naming themselves after one of their favorite objects, or concepts, or feelings. Arcane Puppets can be found with names from "Sunray" to "Kindling"

 

AN UNINTENTIONAL GIFT

While many Arcane Puppets are under service by a master, which is a hypothesis why so little are found in public, their creation often gives them several choices that some cannot make so early into their life. Being completely free and on their own gives them an opportunity to pave their own destiny forward, even if somewhat blindly.

 

Arcane Puppet Traits

Arcane Puppets possess souls not of their own, but such souls give them new life to use as they wish.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 2.

Age

The aging process of an Arcane Puppet depends on a number of things, mostly what they are made of, but as far as most can tell, Arcane Puppets live as long as their bodies can suppor their magical forms.

Size

Arcane Puppets are usually about the size of a human, but due to being sculpted, are frequently also a bit smaller. Your size is Medium or Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Glowing Features

Thanks to your true magic form within your mechanical body, at least 1 part of you glows with your magical energy. You emit a dim light in a color that fits your creation for 5ft around you.

Magics Within

You know the prestidigitation cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the hex spell as a 2nd-level 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 enthrall spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Common Sign Language.