Bladebeast (5e Race)
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Bladebeast[edit]
Metallic clanks approach from the hallway. A head-faced piece of metal peaks from the hallway and turns toward the gazer. Red lights where the eyes would be flash menacingly as the robotic beast lunges down the hallway, opening its jaw and clamping down on the gazer's neck. The gazer gasps in surprise, then pain, then silence as they fall to the floor, lifeless.
The artificer hammers away at her masterpiece. A sleek, mechanical beast with integrated crossbows to protect her. As she places the last piece of plating on the machine and pulls a string on the back of its neck. The beast rises, and the first bladebeast is created.
Bladebeasts are created to fight. They may be created with capabilities for intelligence, or may attain it through magical or mundane means. Whatever the case, they are conscious weapons that can move of their own will.
Mechanical Beasts[edit]
Bladebeasts are often the result of controversial and cutting edge experimentation. They are all constructed in a way that resembles some sort of animal: Be it an elk, a wolf, a bear, even a rust monster. This is only the surface of a Bladebeast, as inside of that bestial exterior lies great intelligence that the Bladebeast's creator may or may not have wanted.
Bladebeasts are often created in times of war by great inventors and artificers. Most only know a life of violence and bloodshed, as that's all they've been taught and built for.
Built to Serve[edit]
Though Bladebeasts are intelligent creatures, they are rarely made with free will as their creators think that would get in the way of their mission. This creates a rift between a Bladebeast and its creator. The Bladebeast desires freedom, but the creator needs a weapon.
Sometimes, this results in the Bladebeast running away from the creator one way or another, so that they can pursue their own lives, and their own free will.
Society[edit]
Bladebeasts are quite rare creatures, and as such don't often form large groups. They can, however, be created in packs that they have close ties to. These packs are considered quite dangerous when they work together, and are often avoided.
Bladebeast Names[edit]
Bladebeasts are often given code names, such as LQ-84i, as they aren't often considered deserving of a "real" name. As a result, their companions or themselves often create a name for them from that code or their appearance.
Names: Fido, Rex, Shield, Berenstain, Wolfy, Spike, Toothy, Pounce, Kitty, Bloodshed, Sword, Bow, Lance, Pinky, Little, Big, Thagomizer.
Bladebeast Traits[edit]
A Bladebeast is created to fight, and cursed with intelligence so they understand that freedom is possible, but they may never receive it.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1, and your Intelligence increases by 1.
Age. Bladebeasts technically do age, but their age is simply acknowledged as a mark of wisdom or tenacity. At most, a Bladebeast will be rusty or worn from years of abandonment.
Alignment. Bladebeasts generally hold to the will of their creator. Because of this, Bladebeasts are typically of a lawful alignment.
Size. Bladebeasts can vary wildly in size, as their creators all make them for different purposes, though they are all considered medium size.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 ft.
Darkvision. You have darkvision out to 60 feet of you. You can see in dim light as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Construct. You are an artificial being made of durable materials, almost always metal. Your creature type is construct instead of humanoid. As such, spells like cure wounds don't affect you, and you are immune to spells like crown of madness or dominate person because they specifically target humanoids. You are immune to poison damage, being poisoned, and diseases. But thanks to your artificial creation, you have vulnerability to lightning damage. You do not need to eat or breathe, and any food you do attempt to eat is eventually jettisoned out of your body. Rather than sleeping, you enter an inactive state for 6 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.
Opposable Cables. While most races have at least one hand, Bladebeasts have none. This does not stop you from operating complex machinery or tools, however, as you have multiple Cables that stretch out of your body that function as hands and arms. There are a number of these cables equal to your proficiency bonus. You can grapple one creature with each of these cables, and your cables are the only way to hold your weapons and equipment effectively. You can use your object interaction to conceal or reveal any number of your cables, and while they are concealed you cannot use them.
Integrated Weapons. Over the course of an hour, which can take place over a short or long rest, you can integrate a number of weapons that you are proficient with into your body to a maximum equal to your proficiency bonus. While these weapons are integrated into you, they can not be removed against your will. You gain proficiency in any weapons you integrate into yourself. If you already have proficiency in an integrated weapon, you apply half your proficiency bonus (rounded down) to attack rolls with that weapon. You can equip any number of your integrated weapons when you reveal your cables. If a weapon requires you to wield it with two hands, it takes two cables to wield it. When you try to integrate another weapon when you already have your maximum number integrated into you, the oldest weapon falls off of you, and the new weapon is integrated. When you try to attack using a weapon that you don't have integrated, you make all attacks with that weapon at disadvantage.
Mendable. When the mending spell is cast on you, it has the following alterations: It has a casting time of 1 action. If you have 0 hit points you become stable. As part of the casting of mending the caster may expend any level of spell slot to cause you to regain a number of hit points equal to 1d8, plus their spellcasting ability modifier. For each level of the spell slot expended you regain an additional 1d8 hit points.
Armored plating. Thanks to your durable construction, you have enhanced defensive capabilities. You have a +1 bonus to your armor class. Any armor you wish to wear can be equipped as normal or integrated. Integrated armor can only be equipped over the course of a long rest, and requires another long rest to remove. You can put integrated armor on in the same long rest it takes to remove it. While you wear integrated armor, you have an additional +1 to your armor class.
Languages. You can speak, read and write Common, as well as the language of your creator.
Subrace. Bladebeasts are often built for a few key purposes, depending on their creator. These are divided into Assistant, Guard, Scouter, and Warrior.
Assistant[edit]
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Assistant's Tools. You were designed to assist your creator. Either by giving them an opponent in dragonchess or a crafter. You have proficiency in one tool of your choice, including vehicles, gaming sets, musical instruments, and any other kind of tool.
Integrated Tools. You can integrate tools in place of your weapons, and they work exactly like your integrated weapons, including proficiency.
Guard[edit]
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Protective Instincts. You have proficiency in Perception.
Defensive Capabilities. You were built to defend, and you utilize your skills well. As a reaction, when another creature within 5 feet of you is hit with an attack, you may force the attacker to reroll the attack. They must choose the lower dice roll. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
Scouter[edit]
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Light-footed. Your base walking speed increases by 5 feet.
Camouflaging Plates. You have numerous camouflaging plates integrated into your body, which allow you to blend in with your surroundings. As an action, you can change the color of your plates to match the color and texture of your surroundings, giving you advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in those surroundings.
Warrior[edit]
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Vicious Efficiency. Immediately after you reduce one creature to 0 hit points, you may use your reaction to move up to half your movement speed closer to another creature.
Extra Weapon. You can integrate an additional weapon into you when you integrate weapons into your body.
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