The Forged

Forged are bulky humanoids covered in plates of metal and stone. A skeleton of these materials supports woody fiber bundles that comprise a forged's muscular system. Forged bodies have an internal network of tubes filled with a bloodlike fluid that nourishes and lubricates their systems.

The forged were made as workers, engineers, and architects for Aelfred’s grand project. Although they are constructs, they have much in common with living creatures, including emotions and social bonds, and perhaps even souls.

### Constructed Individuality

Forged heads have simple humanlike features. They have heavy brows, prominent cheek ‘bones’, and no noses or visible mouths. A forged's eyes sometimes glow when he or she experiences certain intense emotions. The forehead of each forged bears a unique rune, inscribed at the time of their naming ceremony. Lacking great variability in appearance their names help give forged a sense of individuality, and are often reflective of prominent traits or features they developed prior to the naming ceremony.

Forged possess an artificial and relatively sexless shape. They don't reproduce like other humanoids, they are assembled. A forged can modify its body, adding and removing limbs as necessary. A forged feels pain only from real injury. These physical modifications allow forged to vary in appearance as much as any other humanoids, although some see the modifications as a rejection of the original design created by Aelfred. Such modifications are usually permitted only when a Forged has reached the age of majority in the land they call home, and most stick to relatively modest changes to superficial features. Forged can have unique personality traits, though, as they are constructs, those are restricted in some ways. They experience anger, pain, fear, and hatred like their human creators. All forged naturally seem reserved, stoic, and pensive, hiding an array of emotions behind their inexpressive metallic faces. Their faces were not designed to display facial expressions, so it can seem like they are distant to the conversation.

Despite their lack of physical facial expressions, they're not completely without them, as their eyes tend to brighten when experiencing strong or specific emotions. Some forged have their faces modified to be more expressive for their companion's comfort, but these expressions are learned rather than natural and often appear stilted and awkward.

### Forged Names

Because the forged lack any notion of biological gender they make no distinction in being referred to as “he”, “she”, or “it.” Among themselves they usually refer to each other by their names, either their full given name, some portion of it, or a nickname that is meaningful to the group involved in the discussion. Forged living among those strange ‘meat’ based people often adopt a gender, usually that which they most resemble, for ease of conversation. A forged’s name is an important aspect of their identity, it is chosen by them and those they were close to during their early years. The name, once chosen, is granted to a forged only on their completion of the naming ceremony, this ceremony usually takes place on their seventh year and involves a series of rituals as well as the completion of a project that benefits the community in which the forged lives. Prior to the ceremony forged are referred to by the what number they were in their batch, although most are given nicknames to ease conversational difficulties, and those names often stick and come up again in conversations with the forged that raised the individual. The name of a forged is often telling of its attitudes and personality traits. If a forged commits a serious crime, it is added or even replaces their name, if they are banished from society their name is erased from history.

Because of the importance that names play in forged society, they are often careful about the names of others, and they do not accept nicknames or monikers lightly. The easiest way to insult a forged is to call it something humiliating, or worse, to make a joke or play-on-words from its name.

**Forged Names:** Runs with Celerity, Laughs with Mirth, Fast Reader, Fearless, Built Wrong, Cave Diver, Built with Grace, Lacking Brains, Dense, Overly Ambitious, Speaker of Lies, Witless Theif

## Forged Traits

As a Forged, you share many traits with others of your kind.

**Ability Score Increase.** Your Constitution score increases by 2.

**Age.** Forged usually mature mentally after around a decade, although they respect the local age of majority if they live among the other races. Though they do not age, eventually they suffer from disrepair.

**Alignment.** Young forged are often naïve, and easily influenced due to their inexperience. As such, Forged can mature into any alignment.

**Size.** Forged are generally broader and taller than humans, standing well over 6 feet tall and weighing close to 300 pounds. Your size is Medium.

**Speed.** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

**Living Construct.** Even though you were constructed, you are a living creature. You are immune to disease. You do not need to eat or breathe, but you can ingest food and drink if you wish, and have the requisite orifices.

Instead of sleeping, you enter an inactive state for 4 hours each day. You do not dream in this state; you enter a trance and are somewhat aware of your surroundings, you have disadvantage on noticing approaching enemies and other events.

**Armament Attachment.** You can spend one minute attaching or unattaching armor, a one-handed weapon, shield, or arcane focus to your body. Weapons and shields must be attached to one's arms, and when successfully attached completely occupy that arm's hand, but an arcane focus can be attached in any place that is on the front of the body and conspicuous, like the chest, the forehead, the palm, the back of the hand, the forearm, etc.

Any attached object cannot be removed from you unwillingly unless you cannot take actions. An attached club, dagger, handaxe, light hammer, mace, and sickle can be hidden in your forearm. You can spend a bonus action to hide such an attached weapon, freeing up your hand, or have it pop in to place, occupying your hand. You can also store some small items, like potions, inside of these forearm compartments.

**Languages.** You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

## Alternative Models.

Built for specific purposes, several different types of Forged exist. These alternative models count as subraces. Choose one of these models.

### Lifter

Created to provide the labour needed to finish Aelfred’s project, the lifters are tough and strong. Forged of this model make for excellent fighters and bodyguards.

**Ability Score Increase.** Your Strength score increases by 1.

**Composite Plating.** Your construction incorporates wood and metal, granting you a natural armor of 12 + your Dexterity modifier so long as you are not wearing any armor. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield's benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

**Powerful Build.** You are designed to lift and push heavy loads, you count as one size larger for the purposes of how heavy a load you can carry, push, drag, or lift.

### Speaker

Created to serve as leaders for the forged, the speakers are well spoken and can navigate social situations with grace.

**Ability Score Increase.** Your Charisma score increases by 1

**Skilled Tongue.** You can speak, read, and write an additional language of your choice.

**Social Grace.** You gain proficiency in one of the following skills: Persuasion, Deception, Intimidation, or Performance.

### Architect

The Architects were created to ensure that construction of the project went according to plan, they are generally fewer in numbers than the other models.

**Ability Score Increase.** Your Intelligence score increases by 1.

**Inquisitive.** Your model gives you the capacity to store more information. You gain proficiency in one of the following skills: Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature, or Religion.

**Worklight.** Used for inspections. You know the cantrip light, with Int as your spellcasting ability, and can cast it without a focus and without the verbal or material components.