Púp’pèts (3.5e Race)

Púp'pèts

Simply referred to as "Puppets", these are a race of peaceful and knowledge seeking beings. The source of their knowledge and life comes from the very entity who created them.

"There are many in this world who would see me dead. Few of them have ever met me, and fewer still will ever know the truth of any of us."

                                                                    - John White, "The First Puppet", alleged holder of The Spark.

Personality

In spite of discrimination, most of them will go out of their way to succeed in their work and crafts, being generally positive or kind. There are those who resent it, however, and they tend to be either more withdrawn, both from other races and their own, or they go out of their way to cause confrontations.

Physical Description

As their name implies, they look like, well, puppets. Their eyes resemble buttons and their skin is comparable to the texture of burlap or rough cloth. Their mouths are nearly invisible when closed, though their facial expressions are quite visible otherwise, with a nearly round head. They stand roughly 6 feet tall, their build always appearing almost frail. They are often surprisingly light, clocking in at only about 80 to 90 pounds. Their limbs are all about the same size, just a couple inches longer in relation to their body than a human. Their hands and feet are similar to that of a mannequin; while their hands still posses all five digits, their feet lack any form of "digit". At key joints, such as shoulders, hips and neck, it seems as though the limbs are a separate entity, joined similarly to how a puppet might be, though this is not actually the case. It should be noted that Púp'pèts don't physically age. However, after several years, they may begin to feel a, literally, burning sensation in their chest. It does not cause them pain, however this usually means that their inner life will expire soon, usually within 15 years. Their have been cases where the feeling passes, and it is technically possible for them to live forever.

Relations

Other races tend to steer clear of them, sometimes fearing them or hating them. There are those who have nothing against them, and those who feel pity for them, but the majority wavers toward fear and hatred. In spite of this, they tend to get along with other races quite well, or those who don't actively avoid them. An exception to this is that under almost any circumstance, if one of them is threatened to the point of extreme violence, any others in the area will actively attempt to protect and help that individual. They have very successful and law abiding societies, often keeping clear of other major cities so as not to disrupt them. Their societies are often quiet, although there is always much going on, and one could have a conversation with another amidst a bustling crowd and hear every word without effort. There are those who resent the fear and hate from other races, but they will be discussed more under Alignment.

Alignment

They are almost always Lawful , usually Neutral , as most of them simply go about their lives without causing trouble, aside from protecting their kin. Those filled with resent, however, usually end up taking a path that is much darker, often becoming mercenaries or bandits against other races. Though they are still usually Lawful due to a sense of pride or justice, they often end up becoming Evil , even Chaotic in extreme cases, or Neutral Chaotic in lesser ones.

Lands

They often find themselves at their best in cities, particularly their own. Aside from this, they prefer the company of others in any circumstance, although usually their own if for no other reason than they find that other races tend to disagree with them.

Religion

They usually worship peaceful, Lawful, Good, or knowing gods. They tend to respect the religions of others, although they might frown on darker religions. One particular note is that a particular group of them worship the entity that created them. While not technically believed to be a god, they often revere it as one, and refer to it loosely as "Șpǽŷřůťţčќ" in their tongue, or "The Spark" translated loosely to Common.

Language

They can speak Common and their own language, loosely called "Puppet Tongue" or "Puppetry", partially in humor, partially in sarcasm. It should be noted that no other race can learn Puppet Tongue. It's not that they haven't tried, it's simply that no other race has been able to physically comprehend the very language, often losing their grip on even simple words after a short time. This doesn't mean it's impossible to learn, just so difficult it seems that way.

Names

Rather than being born, they are simply "created". They basically "pop" into existence in various places, usually in cities, most often in their own. When created, they appear to have knowledge of their own name, ranging from any number of odd syllables and sounds in their own tongue, which often translate into surprisingly simple names in Common.

Racial Traits

• Intelligence OR Wisdom +2; Strength OR Constitution -2; They are gifted a powerful inborn pool of knowledge, which they may dedicate to any number of studies, while their capabilities in terms of "brute strength" are often less, usually simply because they dislike that very term.
• Humanoid; Their proportions are easily comparable to that of any humanoid race, though perhaps somewhat odd.
• Púp'pèts are Medium creatures.
• Púp'pèts are "immortal". They don't physically age, although over time their bodies can become overburdened with the very energy that makes up their soul. The age chart is for reference purpose only, and aging effects do not apply to even dying Púp'pèts.
• Púp'pèts' base land speed is 30 feet.
• Púp'pèts take a -4 penalty on Diplomacy or similarly related rolls against anyone who is heavily biased against your race.
• Inner Life: Your Hit Die roll cannot fall below 2, however your maximum of the same roll is reduced by 1. This applies to your starting HD. Púp'pèts, as stated, may not be the most physical race, but their Spark Energy grants them a reliable buff against that.
• Inner Strength: You can make a Concentration check in place of an Endurance check. Púp'pèts spend much of their life focusing on studies and knowledge, giving them the invaluable skill of "mind over matter".
• Inner Knowledge: All Knowledge skills become Class Skills and your gain a +1 to Will. Having devoted their lives to study and knowledge, combined with their inbred library of it, there is almost nothing a Púp'pèt can't learn.
• Inner Spark(Ex): When you fall below 0 HP (even if you're unconscious), you can make a Will save during your turn (DC 15 + damage past 0 x2). If you succeed, you regain consciousness, gain 1 HP, and become stable. You can make one non-attack based Action this turn without drawing an attack of opportunity, after which you cannot perform Move Actions, although you can perform melee attacks on any adjacent targets with no bonus.
• Final Spark(Ex): Should worst come to worst and you should die in combat, you have one final action you can perform: a Final Spark. Upon dying, a Púp'pèt's Spark Energy leaves their body, which dissolves to ash. With their dying energy, one can channel this energy into a final attack. This attack is unaffected by damage reduction, including feats that reduce damage from save related attacks, and cannot be dispelled, etc. Against any one enemy within a range of 60 feet/level, deal d20/level, while the target can make a Will or Fortitude save (DC 20 + deceased's level + deceased's Will), where a successful save deals half damage. A 3rd level Púp'pèt would deal 3d20 against a target within a 180ft range, with a DC of 23 + Will.
• Automatic Languages: Common , "Puppet Tongue". Bonus Languages: Any non-secret.
• Favored Class: Sorceror.
• Level Adjustment: N/A

Vital Statistics

Table: Púp'pèts Random Starting Ages

Adulthood	Simple	Moderate	Complex
5 years existence	1+d4	2+d4	2+d6

Table: Púp'pèts Aging Effects

Middle Age^1	Old^2	Venerable^3	Maximum Age
42 years	81 years	157 years	N/A
At middle age, −1 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At old age, −2 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At venerable age, −3 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha.

Table: Púp'pèts Random Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	5' 10"	+d4	78 lb.	+d12 +3 lb.
Female	5' 8"	+d4	71 lb.	+d10 lb.

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