Nutcracker Soldier

Medium construct, unaligned

Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 5 times your artisan level (the clockwork host has a number of Hit Dice [d8] equal to your artisan level)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
17 (+3)	18 (+4)	18 (+4)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)	16 (+3)

Saving Throws Con +4 plus proficiency bonus, Dex +4 plus proficiency bonus
Skills Insight +2 plus proficiency bonus, Persuasion +3 plus proficiency bonus
Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning
Damage Immunities necrotic, psychic
Condition Immunities exhaustion, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11 + proficiency bonus
Languages Understands the languages you speak
Proficiency Bonus equals your bonus
Challenge–

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Constructed Nature. The automaton doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.
• Repairable. The vril host can be repaired using tinker’s tools. See Chapter 3: Equipment (Repairing an Innovation).
• Telepathic Bond. While the clockwork host is on the same plane of existence as its master, it can magically convey what it senses to its master, and the two can communicate telepathically with each other.
• Vril Engine. When the vril host suffers a critical hit or dies, roll on the Vril Engine Malfunction table.

ACTIONS

(Require Your Bonus Action)

• Vril Rod. Melee Weapon Attack: your spell attack modifier to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + proficiency bonus) force damage.
• Vril Ray. Ranged Spell Attack: your spell attack modifier to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + proficiency bonus) force damage.
• Wheel of Misfortune (1/day). The host can bestow a curse on a creature it can see within 60 feet of it. The host uses a wheel to decide what the curse is, from one of the following (1d4): 1) vulnerability to a damage type, 2) loss of a spell slot, 3) an ability score reduction by 2 points, 4) disadvantage on saving throws against a certain condition. The creature must make a Charisma saving throw against your spells save DC. Failure means it is cursed for 24 hours. A remove curse spell ends this effect.
• Wheel of Fortune (1/day). The host can bestow a blessing on a creature it can see within 60 feet of it. The host uses a wheel to decide what the blessing is, from one of the following (1d4): 1) resistance to a damage type, 2) addition of a spell slot, 3) an ability score increased by 2 points, 4) or advantage on saving throws against a certain condition. The duration is 24 hours.

ABOUT

This nutcracker is brightly painted and walks stiffly and mechanically with a protruding nose and animated lower jaw, which opens and closes with a gnashing of white teeth.

The art of making clockworks is highly coveted by the keygnomes. When the keygnomes fled their bondage, a few remained behind, teaching their art to a dwindling number of human apprentices. Of those, some turned to crime, using their knowledge of clockworks to create entire nutcracker armies.

Nutcrackers have the appearance of animated nutcrackers. They are usually armed with rifles (attached to them) and have a limited range of motion. Nevertheless, they are relentless in swarms and are often used to pursue tiny targets that larger beings can’t reach. A hole in their back is used to wind them up with a key.

Nutcracker soldiers are led by nutcracker captains, who are mounted on a horse. They have one globular “hand” holding a bugle which is connected to the captain’s face and another wielding a cavalry saber. In turn, the captain is attached to a wooden horse that stands on a rolling platform.