Portraitborn

Tiny construct, neutral

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 2 + your Intelligence modifier + 5 times your artisan level (the nutcracker has a number of Hit Dice [d4s] equal to your artisan level)
Speed 25 ft. (soldier) or 30 ft., 60 ft. rolling downhill (captain)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
4 (-3) 15 (+2) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 7 (-2)

Saving Throws Con +0 plus proficiency bonus, Dex +2 plus proficiency bonus
Skills Athletics +2 plus proficiency bonus, Perception +0 plus proficiency bonus x 2
Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 + (proficiency bonus x 2)
Languages Understands the languages you speak
Proficiency Bonus equals your bonus
Challenge

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Combustion Engine. When the nutcracker suffers a critical hit or dies, roll on the Combustion Engine Malfunction table.
  • Constructed Nature. The automaton doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.
  • Faultless Tracker. The nutcracker is given a quarry by its creator. The nutcracker knows the direction and distance to its quarry as long as the two of them are on the same plane of existence. The nutcracker also knows the location of its creator.
  • False Appearance. While the clockwork soldier remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal nutcracker.
  • Repairable. The nutcracker host can be repaired using woodcarver’s tools. See Chapter 3: Equipment (Repairing an Innovation).

ACTIONS

(Require Your Bonus Action)

  • Musket (Soldier Only). Ranged Weapon Attack: your spell attack modifier to hit, range 30/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d8 + proficiency bonus) piercing damage.
  • Bayonet (Soldier Only). Melee Weapon Attack: your spell attack modifier to hit, range 30/60 ft., reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + proficiency bonus) piercing damage.
  • Saber (Captain Only). Melee Weapon Attack: your spell attack modifier to hit, range 30/60 ft., reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + proficiency bonus) piercing damage.
  • Bugle (Captain Only). When a nutcracker captain detects its quarry, it bugles, audible within 300 feet of it. The captain continues to bugle until it can no longer sense the creature and for 1d4 of the nutcracker’s turns afterward.

ABOUT

The creature in the two-dimensional portrait steps right out into a three-dimensional space before your very eyes! Portraitborn are beings of magic that come to life. They are not mere portraits, but beings that live in an extradimensional space made of paint. To the surprise of those who engage them, portraitborn can leave their portraits.

When entering the three-dimensional world, portraitborn appear as waxy, solid figures, looking much like they did in their portraits. Portraitborn can return to their portrait and, if there are objects painted there, use them to the fullest.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

5E RPG: Steampunk Adventures. Copyright 2022, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC; Author Michael Tresca.

This is not the complete section 15 entry - see the full license for this page