Laid Doll (5e Race)

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Laid Doll

“	Oh? A dogged fellow, aren't we? Or is it merely thy habit, to talk to dolls?	”
—Ranni the Witch

Creation and Life

A laid doll is created via the rope-making process known as laying. When creating a doll, one must be highly skilled in not only the art of laying but also in Frost and animation magic. Few animated beings are made in this way, as the method, originally invented by a great snow witch, has been lost to time. All dolls are created for a reason, whether it be to serve a master, perform a task, or in order to preserve/extend one's life. The life force in a doll can either be created by the transference of a soul into a doll's body. Depending on its creator's wishes, the doll may or may not retain its past memories. Dolls created to serve often outlive those they serve and are either decommissioned or secretly integrated into society, but most end up living on the outskirts. In the modern day, Laid Dolls are as rare as can be, most people may only ever catch a glimpse of one in their entire life.

A laid doll is a magically animated being, a large doll fashioned of hempen rope. Often their rope base is surrounded by some sort of stylish exterior, fashioned from wood or other materials covered in magically created flesh. The only sign of this interior peeks out at the joints of the doll, corded ropes filling out most of their body. Most laid dolls are fashioned to look like other humanoids, but some are fashioned much more oddly. Most dolls might look like the average person of the race they are based upon but with largely unmoving features. Dolls may be edited by their makers, in some cases adding new limbs, or in others exchanging an old and broken exterior for a newly made one.

Truly a Laid doll can look like anything. A model of a legendary dead bard. A maid with rosy cheeks and eyes fashioned of painted wooden orbs. A rotund doll with a large storage compartment where one's stomach might be. Every doll is different, made only to suit the needs of its creator.

Attitudes and Beliefs

Due to the constructed nature of a Laid Doll, they generally have very little personality or care for things besides what they might've been made for. Still, dolls can be imbued with personality by their creator. A doll made for a dwarf might have dwarven sensibilities, or one fashioned for a druid may take special care of animals or plants. Laid dolls can, after enough time without direction, develop their own personalities and become more like other people. A laid doll who was used to train a young squire might gain a knightly will and a valorous heart, or one left in a garbage heap for decades may be grungy and crass. Some might mirror people they once knew before gaining autonomy as well, becoming almost exact copies, minus the living flesh and blood.

Laid Doll Names

When naming a Laid Doll consider their purpose for living. There is no real pattern to their names however each doll has a birth name unknown to even them that was given to them by their creator. These names are, at most, formalities only given in order to keep track of an artist's works. Many will opt to etch the birth name inside of the doll's head before creation.

Laid Doll Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom increases by 1
Age. Laid Dolls do not age and show no signs of it. You are immune to magical aging effects.
Alignment. Your alignment is often in line with your commissioners as dolls rarely stray from their set path.
Size. Dolls range in size from around two and a half feet up to around six feet tall. They aren't at all heavy weighing 50 pounds at most. Your size is Small or Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. Your magical creation allows you a greater vision in the dark. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you 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.
Living Construct. You are a living creation so you do not need to eat, drink or breathe. You may eat if you like however it will give you no benefit. When you rest you enter a semi-inactive state, where you are still conscious, for 6 hours and you gain the same benefit as a long rest. You have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and resistance to poison damage. You are immune to diseases and magic cannot put you to sleep.
Ancient memories. Due to the nature of your creation, the memories of the soul that resides inside of you may spill out to a degree. You have proficiency in the History skill.
Bouncy limbs. Your lack of a real bone structure allows you to survive falls from greater heights. You take half damage from falls.
Icy Veins. Due to the nature of your creation, you accumulate motes of magic in your fingertips that may be expelled in the form of the Frostbite cantrip. Calling upon the magic that courses through your woven veins, once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the moon blade spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Random Height and Weight

Table: Laid Doll Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
2′ 6″	+6d6	20 lb.	× (1) lb.

Suggested Characteristics

When creating a Laid Doll, you can use the following table of traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws to help flesh out your character. Use these tables in addition to or in place of your background's characteristics.

d8	Personality Trait
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

d6	Ideal
1
2
3
4
5
6

d6	Bond
1
2
3
4
5
6

d6	Flaw
1
2
3
4
5
6

0.00

(0 votes)

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