Homebrew Edgewalker Species Details

 “After making our way through miles of forest, it was quite a shock to stumble across a stone cottage! Not only was the master home, but he worked in plain view. His palms were as broad as plates, and his skin gleamed like polished metal as he dug in the soil, though I cannot remember the shade.

Jensa distinctly heard the thing speaking in hushed tones to a bluejay that landed before it...and the jay answered! Then the foolish man tripped, and the thing turned so fast we could do naught but cower. His eyes glowed a...a color, and in a pleasant voice, he said "Hello travelers! It is not yet time for your passing. Please return to your homes at once." 

One moment, we stood in the deep forest. The next, we were both standing in the center of the barracks. Was it magic? Or something greater?

If only I could remember what the damned thing looked like. It's as if I am meant to forget!"

-Mardros the Ranger, in his report to Commander Fylia Swiftfox of the Setessan Fox Guard 

 

The Edgewalkers are known only to themselves and their shadowy creators. Until now, their presence on Theros was concealed simply by their task- to remain in the great forests that surround the land to the North and East, and uphold the command (literally) etched upon their hearts: 'None may pass the forest until the proper time.'

Now, a choice few have received a transmission from am unknown source, directing them away from their eternal watch and into the world of Theros. 

 

Mysterious Origins

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 Edgewalkers live a solitary but unified existence, assigned to eternally guard the forest borders of Theros from mortal crossing (if they somehow survive the perilous trek). No Edgewalker remembers who built them, or why they were built. A few individuals hold early memories of bright litghts, and a feeling of the wind rushing over them. Some Edgewalkers have special skills that allow them to repair the others, or to rebuild a new Edgewalker from a dead one's frame. Strong and clever, they spend all their days compulsively  patrolling their area of the forest, and gathering research on the flora, fauna and weather. This research is compiled into lists, and stored for a purpose unknown even to the Edgewalkers themselves.

 

Unprecedented Sentience

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 Humanoid in shape, Edgewalkers are constructed of forged skeletons and woven mesh muscles under impossibly-flexible metal skin. Each Edgewalker is built with hair in a matching shade darker or lighter than the metallic color of their skin, and this hair does not grow. Peel back the skin, however, and the vague similarities to humanity end. Within a nest of cords, strange wires, tubes, and gears, these beings hold a secret. Hidden deep in their chest is a prismatic crystal that produces conciousness, energy and magic unlike any known to Theros. The crystal grows and shrinks in ever-changing fractals, floating within a spherical cage, and pulsing with color and light depending on the Edgewalker's mood.

 

 Purpose Built

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 Upon this sphere is etched their command, and since the 'proper time' was never named (or the information was simply lost to the ages), the Edgewalkers guard the forest-border fiercely with powerful magic and great innate strength. Designed with the ability to learn, Edgewalker oral history vaguely suggests each was given an 'option' to choose the course of their skills, allowing them to specialize in martial arts, arcane magics, or even to devote themselves to one of the great Gods in the sky above. This tradition continues with all 'new' Edgewalkers built by their peers. 

 

Edgewalker Names

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Edgewalkers have 'names', though not in the traditional sense. There are a series of numbers physically etched into the metal shell of their cores, unique to each Edgewalker. Some that 'live' in close proximity to one another have shortened these numbers to 'nicknames' such as Twenty-Four, Number Eight, or simply Seven. Others begin to refer to themselves by the nickname assigned to them by the animals they share the forest with- Hot Metal Smell, Loud Walker, or Shock.

Edgewalker Traits

Those few Edgewalkers that venture from their posts are equipped with a variety of talents that may prove useful in the greater world.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Edgewalkers have an innate awareness of time passing through through the seasons, and most measure their ages in 'springs'. The average age is 400-500 springs. Edgewalkers are hearty, but their breaking down is not entirely unheard of. They do not die of natural causes, and 'aging' is not a concept they understand as mortal creatures do.

Alignment

Edgewalkers begin 'life' as True Neutral, and often stay that way for their entire, unchanging existences. However, a an Edgewalker who has left your post, you've encountered other lifeforms that bring you new thoughts and ideas. Your alignment can be any Good or Neutral alignment.

Size

Tall and slender, Edgewalkers are usually 6'-6'8", and around 280-300lbs. Your size is medium, but your metal frame makes your heavier than most creatures of the same size.

Speed

Your base speed is 30ft.

 

Crystal Heart, Crystal Mind

Your mechanical body is controlled through a living crystal core, and can be healed through healing magic. You are immune to disease. You do not need to eat or breathe, but you can ingest food and drink if you wish.

Instead of sleeping, you enter an inactive state for 4 hours each day. You do not dream in this state; you are fully aware of your surroundings and notice approaching enemies and other events as normal.

 

Dignified Guardian

Sometime in your far past, you were trained in the arts of diplomacy and rhetoric, and your unprecedented appearance dazzles those who encounter you. You have proficiency in Persuasion. In addition, attempts made to determine information about you (Perception) are made at disadvantage. 

 

Expel

You can attempt to use your strange magic to teleport up to two (2) persons. As an action, the target(s) must succeed on a Charisma saving throw (DC 8+ your CHA mod.) or be teleported instantly to the location they consider home within the plane of Theros. 

 

Languages

You speak an archaic but viable form of Common.