Living Wick (Vitae Cera)

*“I am just as surprised now as I was then, the Oushivia granted me access to the Tower. Why me of all people? Most likely because I’m as harmless as a field mouse. But that’s beside the point, as I entered the tower it was unlike anything I’d ever seen before.*

*Small wax humanoids could be seen moving back and forth, up and down the tower, all with a little flame dancing above their heads. They were carrying paper and documents, my guide explained they were filing away research papers. I’d heard of the Tower’s living wicks but to see them first-hand was incredible. I made a note to write to Andrea about them, I thought they could help her with Aramoor’s records.” -* Bartholomew Horingglow, Bestiarum Vocabulum, Aether, Vol III.

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**Place of Origin**

Living wicks were invited by the Kingdom of The Oushivia Tower. Created to help build the Tower and afterwards manage and store their extensive research and records. They have proven most valuable and have become one of the Towers chief exports across Aether.

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**Rarity**

Common, living wicks are often used as a source of cheap replaceable labour throughout Aether

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**General Overview**

Living wicks are obedient wax statues brought to life by an enchanted wick that runs from the top of their head to their lower back. When new, a living wick looks land moved like a humanoid, but as the wick burns, the wax melts and the statue takes on a hunchbacked appearance.

Living wicks are powered by flames; therefore, they have a predetermined life cycle. Typically, they are reduced to formless mush in a month, by their affordability more than makes up for its inevitable end. Without the expense of paid labour and the questionable ethics of necromancy, most find living wicks obedient and efficient.

Living wicks are only active when their wick is lit, they only respond to the telepathic commands of whoever lit them. This makes them easy to use even those not well versed in magic.

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**Race Alignment**

Unaligned - not taking a stand for either good or evil. Someone who is not trying to be good, evil or neutral; someone who is simply benign.

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**Natural Race Abilities/Affinities**

*~ Construct*

A living wick is a construct, therefore does not require air, food, drink or sleep.

*~ Controlled*

Living wicks cannot move or perform actions when they are not lit. They only respond to the telepathic commands of the individual that lit them. Living wicks can be pre-programmed by their owner to only follow a few set commands. The link is severed when the lit wick goes out, this is either when it is blown out or after a predetermined time set by the owner.

*~ Light*

Activating a living wick produces a light source like a torch.

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**Appearances**

A living wick is a small, rough wax sculpture of a humanoid that stands at attention with a halo of light flickering above its head. Most are humanoid in shape, to make users feel more comfortable around them, however, a living wick can come in any shape or size.

**History**

One of the few magical inventions to come out of the Oushivia Tower. Living wicks have been used extensively as construction workers and once fielded as an army. The golems are cheap to buy and easy to produce. There have been some reports of magic build-up, causing the golems to burst into flames. These reports are few and far between and most see this defect as a minor gamble.

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**Created by MrBiscuits**

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