Marionette
Marionette craft coincides with the craft of arcane life. Scholars dream of ending the world’s toils through magical machines. Phantom strings were one such attempt, though many rulers now forbid their creation. They drive a Marionette, but this means of control is corrupt, insidious, and recursive. Those who still craft the cursed strings might hide their creations among old theaters, circus troupes, or abandoned homes. Most appear as ordinary puppets, until the forbidden words reanimate them. Beware, their will is their master’s, in theory, but their master is not always one. They may serve a myriad of arcane phantoms, or worse, a puppet may become the master of others.
If you must fight a Marionette, remember that a snap of the strings ceases their compulsion, but bear in mind that no worldly blade can sever them once and for all.
Double your speed moving towards enemies, but whenever you are crit, fall Prone.
- •Bash.2d6 + 6
- •Flail.
If prone, 1d6 + 6 damage to ALL adjacent creatures, then stand up.
Step 1, move into melee. Step 2, take a crit. Step 3, Flail when the Heroes surround you for curb stomping.
- Ventriloquism.
1d6 psychic damage to all enemies who can hear you, then swap your position with ANY Stringbound creature.
Other Puppets can give Heroes stringbound.
- •Entwine.
(Reach 8) 1d6 + 6 psychic damage. On hit: Slowed and Stringbound until the start of your next turn.
- •Manipulate.
(Reach 2) Force a Stringbound enemy to attack for free using a weapon or cantrip.
Entwine treats Stringbound as a condition with all the effects of the family ability.
- Shears.2d6 + 12.
On Hit: if the target is Stringbound, automatic crit instead.
Remember, other puppets can inflict Stringbound, and when you crit Stringbound creatures, they fall Prone.
(1/turn) Can force Stringbound creatures to interpose for you for free.
- •Conscription.
(Reach 2) Summon 2 Puppet Minions, they act immediately.
- •Compulsion.
(Reach 4) An enemy becomes Stringbound until healed. DC 12 WIL save, you spend their action to attack with a weapon or cantrip. On save, they are knocked Prone.
Conscription for reliable damage, Compulsion for action drain and potential damage. Remember, Heroes might be able to interpose for you too.
When knocked Prone, ALL adjacent creatures smaller than you take 12 Damage and are knocked Prone.
On death: Summon 4 Puppet Minions in Reach 2.
- Thrash (2x).2d6 + 6
You may only have 3 speed, but one Thrash can substitute for another move if needed.