Vect
Very gradually, by degrees, pale blue hues invade
the quiet of night, and Hammerer knows that only a few hours
remain until dawn. Throughout the afternoon, evening, and
night, he has meticulously inspected his tools, a wide array of
mallets, sledges, and, of course, hammers, cleaning them,
performing repairs, and organizing them by size and by color,
only powering down for a few hours in the middle of the night.
Through the walls of his workshop, Hammerer can see the
heat signatures of people waking up and preparing breakfast;
he performs a similar ritual, polishing his chassis and running
diagnostics for the day ahead. Mentally, he has a checklist of
duties and chores before he begins the day’s work.
Finally, the clocks strike seven, and Hammerer leaves his
home, a room barely ten feet square, and heads out into the
town. Somewhere in the market, a child cries for his mother to
buy him a toy, and Hammerer puzzles at this behavior; work,
after all, is far more interesting than frivolity.
- A typical morning for Hammerer, a vect craftsman
Living constructs designed by dwarves as laborers, the vect
are now free to search for meaning across the width of the
'verse.
Evolved Golems
The vect were preceded by unthinking golems of various
designs but, though they are still constructed rather than
born, they are now fully living beings. Underneath their
armored exteriors lies an organically-influenced anatomy,
with a circulatory system crafted from leather piping and a
network of magic nerves. At the core of each vect unit is an
everlasting construct core, tinged with the influence of the
Spark that awoke them.
Vect bodies are humanoid in shape, but unmistakably
uncommon to see a vect standing watch over his party,
mechanical, with large air intakes, protective
sharpening tools and repairing armor while the others sleep.
shoulderplates, toothless jaws, and glowing mechanical
eyes. Though each of the Foundries produces its vect in
slightly unique proportions, the general shape is always the
Mechanical Minds
same, and vect can normally scavenge spare parts from the Although vect units experience the same fear, anger, pain,
deceased if they are ever grievously injured. In fact, many loss, and other emotions that humanoids do, their
vect choose to install specially-designed embedded expression of them is muted. Neither do their mechanical
components to improve their bodies, up to and including faces and harsh, metallic voices endear themselves, driving
replacing limbs with appropriate tools. If a vect unit is a wedge between vect and most other living things. Many
preparing for a dangerous journey, their preparation will vect, therefore, seek refuge in logical thinking. Some
likely include purchasing embedded components as become emotionally distant and lack introspection, whereas
replacement parts. others plumb the philosophies of existence and consider
Vect can work tirelessly and never need to sleep, instead what it means to be alive. These become the two extremes,
entering a dreamless period of inactivation each day. Most between vect who seek to embrace their status as living
vect create endless lists of goals and chores, taking comfort things, and those who wish to banish all within themselves
in the sequence and monotony of tasks to break up the that is not construct. The vast majority of vect exist
endless march of days, weeks, and months. It is not between these extremes.
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Vect are most comfortable existing within a small group Alignment. Vect possess mechanical minds, which find
of some kind, as long as it is dedicated to a purpose. logic comforting. Generally, vect are lawful.
Temples, adventuring parties, and voyages of exploration Size. As constructs built by massive forges, the vect
are deeply attractive to the vect. could conceivably be perfectly uniform, like the golems
that preceded them. However, the Foundries are either
Search for Meaning inherently flawed, or otherwise have a fondness for making
All vect are keenly aware that they were once nonliving diverse vect units, for each created vect is in some way
material which suddenly came to be fully-formed as a unique. Vect units stand between 5 and 7 feet tall and
living thing. And while there is no doubt that vect are alive, average about 150 to 300 pounds. Your size is Medium.
the destination of their souls upon death is another matter Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
entirely. The philosophical implications of this are not lost Thermal Vision. You can use a bonus action on your turn
on them, and the questions of existence echo loudly inside to switch from your normal vision to heat-detecting thermal
some vect. vision or back again. Your thermal vision can see 20 feet
Though the Foundries are intelligent beyond measure, through darkness and heavily obscured conditions, but you
they are wordless in their duties, and ascribe no grand are blind beyond this radius. You can't discern color with
meaning to their creations. your thermal vision, nor can you see through invisibility,
Some vect find comfort in faith, normally worshipping illusions, or magical darkness. This vision penetrates most
gods of arcana, smiths, and constructs. Others seek materials, but is blocked by any one-inch barrier.
permanent distraction in quests and chores. Others still look Construct Anatomy. Even though you were constructed,
to the 'verse for answers, and seek meaning through you are a living creature. You are immune to nonmagical
understanding. diseases. You do not need to eat or breathe, but you can
ingest food and drink if you wish.
Vect Names You have advantage on saving throws you make against
exhaustion.
The original vect were divided into working groups and
Instead of sleeping, you enter an inactive state for 4
given numbers by their dwarven keepers; nothing more was
hours each day. You do not dream in this state; you are
necessary. Now, however, all vect choose their own names,
fully aware of your surroundings and notice approaching
usually designations reflecting some function or purpose,
enemies and other events as normal. You can still be placed
though some vect choose to be identified by their serial
into a torpor by sleep-inducing magic.
number, or a nickname given to them by others.
Inflexible Mind. Your mechanical mind is inherently
Vect Names. 176, Armory, Bolts, Clunk, Crusher, Glitch, logical, and is not easily swayed. You have advantage on
Hammerer, Keeper, Lifter, Null, Phong, Scarce, Three- saving throws against being charmed.
Four-Three, Titan, Unit Seventeen, Watcher Embedded Armor. You can embed special armor
plating directly onto your metal body. Installing or
Vect Traits uninstalling this embedded armor requires 1 hour of work,
Your mechanical body is driven by an inexhaustible and occupies the same place on your body as armor
construct core, and has the following traits: normally would; you can't wear conventional armor while
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score you have embedded armor installed. This armor also takes
increases by 2. the External slot for your vect components.
Reconfigurable Ability Score Increase. One ability At 1st level, you choose one of the following types of
score of your choice increases by 1 and you can change this embedded armor, though you can install other types if you
selection whenever you finish a long rest. You can't acquire them in the world.
increase Constitution using this trait and you can't increase Velocity Plating. Your movement speed increases by 5 feet
any ability score above 20. and your jump distance increases by 5 feet.
Age. With the proper replacement parts and activities to Composite Plating. Your Armor Class equals 13 + your
occupy yourself, you can conceivably exist indefinitely. Dexterity modifier.
The vect are known to degrade and lose their sanity, Juggernaut Plating. Your Armor Class equals 16. You can
however, if they live too long without an explicit purpose. only install this embedded armor if you are proficient
It is not known if this insanity visits all vect at old ages, or with heavy armor.
just those whose resolve wavers. Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common.
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Art by Martin Kirby
License
This material is being released under the Open Gaming License.
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to make it enforceable. 15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document 5.0 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.;
Vect Copyright 2017, Mage Hand Press; authors Michael Holik, Jaron Mortimer, Benjamin Richardson, Matthew Pennell, Jason Sinclair
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