Frankenstein (5e Race)

Frankenstein

As the lightning struck the metal rod, the room lit up bright white, a loud ringing resounded through the room. The doctor hadn't let go of the lever in time; the force of the strike sent her backward into a wall across the room. By the time she came to, the sun was rising and sounds of chirping birds could be heard. The doctor lifted her goggles off her head as she rubbed her eyes. She looked towards the table where the mass of recreated man had been. She squinted her eyes, the sunlight nearly blinding her. She lept towards the empty table.

"He's gone! He's alive! Doctor Frankenstein's formulas actually work!" She cried, triumphant.

As she gathered herself, loud footsteps approached her from behind. She turned and faced the creature, handing him a bundled pile of papers with complicated formulas scrawled all over the pages.

"Hello, creature. I am your creator, and you will follow my every order." She addressed him, confident and stern. The creature slowly nodded, seeming to understand her command. The doctor clapped happily, laughing as she started heading for the door. "Perfect! Now--" as she walked past him, she grabbed her creature's arm, and tugged firmly to encourage him to follow, "we go share you with the world."

Physical Description

Image Created by Nat Jones for the cover of Rue Morgue Magazine.

Frankensteins can have a natural human skin color or they can be green from rotting flesh depending on how long they had been dead before they were revived. They can range in height and weight because of the parts that they gain from different people. Generally, they are created from humans, but they can be taller than humans because of the different body parts they have. They can be made completely of one body, but they are rare and require an extremely intelligent and wise scientist. Usually, they have bolts in their head or neck allowing them to channel electricity to a degree. They are generally covered in stitches and occasionally their hair will have turned green because of moss growing on their hair after they died. Frankensteins generally have some kind of mechanism used to help their hearts beat. Machines can be used to help move them around, giving them a rather hefty weight.

History

Long ago, a human scientist by the name of Dr. Frankenstein created the first Frankenstein "Monster", however as the procedure improved to use science to revive the dead, the Frankenstein "monsters" became more and more intelligent. Therefore, instead of calling them "monsters", they are now known as Frankensteins, in reference to their original creator. However, as they are still a relatively new race, they are rare and there are very few scientists with the intelligence and skills required to create more Frankensteins. Unfortunately, Frankensteins still have not been found capable of reproduction, so they can only rely on scientists to create more of them.

Society

Originally, Frankensteins always had to have a master or someone to take care of them in order to function properly due to their unfortunate lack of intelligence. Now, though it's still quite rare, some Frankensteins can live on their own. Those who do are generally alone, afraid to show their faces to most as many races believe them to be morbid creatures that should never have been given life... again. However, due to a Frankenstein's natural defenses, they can live quite well on their own. For some reason, the majority of children seem to like them despite their generally grotesque appearance, so it's fairly common to see an orphan child following after a Frankenstein and it's unlikely a Frankenstein will do much about it. It generally seems to be the case that children are usually intrigued by a Frankenstein's appearance and demeanor. Considering that Frankenstein's are unlikely to harm children, or small animals for that matter, due to their lack of threat and a general sense of commonality with people that are new to this world from their apparent memory loss after resurrection, children usually find them to be fairly gentle and safe enough to look into. However, animals and those who can turn into animals have a general distaste for Frankensteins that can cause them to irrationally attack a Frankenstein without first fully knowing that what they sense is, in fact, a Frankenstein due to the smell of their flesh and the mild static that they sometimes give off.

Frankenstein Names

Frankenstein's are generally named similarly, if not the same, between the males and females of the race. Usually, they can no longer remember their name from before they died or they can no longer be called that name because they are made from parts of many different bodies. They are often named like pets due to their low intelligence and tendency to not really think for themselves, so they don't usually have very human names. Freed Frankensteins, occasionally change their names to more human-like names. Some even choose additional surnames or adopt the surname of their previous master/mistress to portray to others that they are now equal to the one they once followed, in such cases, they sometimes use the surname as their first name to erase their previous leader's notoriety. If a Frankenstein who is incapable of living on their own is freed from a cruel master, the one who freed them and/or intends to help them often suggests for them to take on their surname to indicate a more equal/familial relationship, whether the Frankenstein takes them up on that offer depends on their personality or the persuasion of the person offering. If they are freed from one master/mistress to follow another, a name change may occur depending on the amount of thought their new leader gives them, though it's unlikely that they will receive a surname.

Male: Bolt, Spark, Stitches, Stitch, Electro, Zap, Bob, Puppet, etc.

Female: Electra, Bolts, Sparks, Stitches, Zaps, Bobette, Poppet, etc.

Frankenstein Traits

Frankensteins are large humans, created from the parts of other, deceased humans. Although this may seem like a grotesque combination, frankensteins make great allies, but also great enemies.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Constitution score increases by 1.
Age. You can live anywhere from 100 to 500 years.
Alignment. Generally, frankensteins are truly neutral or chaotic neutral, due to the fact that they usually have masters to obey. However, those with more intelligence can also be lawful neutral because of their ability to grasp concepts such as law and morality.
Size. Normally they range from 6 to 8 feet tall and weigh more the most humanoids. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Grotesque Form. Your face, with its scars, and your big body are rather daunting. You are proficient in Intimidation skill.
Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Undead Soul. Due to your undead soul, you do not need to eat, sleep, breathe or drink. Instead, you must enter a semi-conscious trance for 4 hours a day. Remaining in this trance for 4 hours a day gives you the same benefit 8 hours of sleep for a normal human would give. Additionally, you cannot drown due to the fact that you don't need to breathe, but you cannot swim either as creatures such as yourself tend to sink.
Death's Body. Because your body has already died, it is a bit sturdier against toxins that affect the living. You are resistant to poison damage. However, because your body has undead properties, you are vulnerable to radiant damage.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language their choice.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 5''	+2d12	100 lb.	× (1d4+2) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Suggested Characteristics

When creating a Frankenstein character, 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. Frankensteins, generally, have a natural need to have a master. Those who don't are of high intelligence (15 or higher intelligence upon rolling). They have a hard time communicating with people due to their history and their grotesque appearance. Although these are suggested characteristics, it is advised that you create your own characteristics, remembering the fact that they usually are very dumb with generally no more than one thing on their mind. These suggested characteristics are mostly only suggested if they are the ones lacking intelligence (although a few are really only applicable if they are above the intelligence threshold listed previously), those that are intelligent have slightly different characteristics, but they should be very rare. The intelligent ones are generally still violent and asocial with one thing focusing them, but have better speech and can think for themselves, not needing to work in a group. The master/mistress may be someone in the party, or it may be an NPC, this will be up to the player and Game Master to decide.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I like shiny things, so don't you dare take that sword! (Likes Shiny Things, Easily Distracted)
2	Aww. Come back you adorable little squirrel. (Enjoys/Protects Nature)
3	I don't want to think any more. My brain hurts. (Low Intelligence)
4	Can I help with something? What do you need master/mistress? (Obsessed With Helping Those In Charge)
5	Why can't you learn to leave me alone. (Antisocial)
6	Look at all the clouds, it's a nice day, so bright out.... Oooh, look at the pretty stars. Ah, how the time goes by. (Easily Distracted, Forgetful)
7	I'm too strong for you, puny. (Obsessed With Strength, Likes to Destroy Things)
8	Oopsy, didn't mean to do that. (Clumsy, Generally Too Big to Move Around in Most Spaces Properly)

d6	Ideal
1	Respect I was created by humans, but what they do is not my issue. (True Neutral)
2	Violence If you are in my way, I will kill you. (Chaotic Neutral)
3	Loneliness I don't need your help, leave me alone. (True Neutral)
4	People You help me, me help you. Everybody wins! (True Neutral)
5	Obedience Of course, Master/Mistress, whatever you say. (Depends on Alignment of Master/Mistress)
6	Loyalty Yes, I'll obey your laws, your principles, your ideals, but if we disagree, we'll have to be agree to disagree. Okay?! (Lawful Neutral)

d6	Bond
1	Anything for Master/Mistress. (Main bond with Master/Mistress)
2	I'm done with you people. Leave me alone. I only need me. (Bond with Self)
3	These people have taken me in and protected me. I will repay the favor. (Loyal to the Party)
4	I really want to touch those adorable little animals. (Protects Nature)
5	I've been killed once already. Now I know I can only rely on me. (Put Their Needs Before Others)
6	Me like the corpses and me like to SMASH. (No Real Bond, Destructive)

d6	Flaw
1	I hurt someone by losing control of my anger. Never again. (Fight Over Talk)
2	Me called stupid. You STUPID, Me NOT Stupid. Stupid. (Low Intelligence)
3	I won't ever let Master/Mistress get hurt. Kill me instead. (Extremely Loyal)
4	I can't forget that... experiment. It's shaken me to my core. (Easily frightened)
5	Why won't you let me die? I was content to die before I became this... Monstrosity (Depressed/Careless)
6	I don't need anyone else, but me. (Self Reliant)

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