Spireforged

The Spireforged are an artificial race creation by the Kahvlarashar. Made of a flexible metal alloy developed by the dwarves, formed into the shape of one of Verail's races, powered by arcane energy and, and imbued with a living soul, the Spireforged are mentally as much people as any other race, although their origin has left them with a difficult history of trying to be recognized as such.

Spireforged were first created a couple hundred years before the Arcane War, when a prominent Kahvlarashen scientist, Revaeya Lievishar, placed his dying daughter's soul into a flexible metal body in order to save her from a disease not even the best clerics of the era could cure. Ekavhya Lievishar became the first Spireforged, and only a few would follow as experiments with the process over the next couple hundred years.

The Arcane War saw the first mass production of the Spireforged. With the physically weak bodies of the Kahvlarashar, they found themselves with a lack of front-line soldiers during the war. As the elves began to be increasingly skilled at outwitting golems and banishing summoned creatures, and with the dwarves only being willing to send a limited amount of soldiers into the fray, the Kahvlarashar turned to Lievishar's research to create a sustainable source of intelligent soldiers.

The Spireforged served the purpose of soldiers well, and their production continued after the war, primarily to act as servants for Kahvlarashen nobles. In more recent years, many nations have begun to accept the Spireforged as members of their society, and even Vhaiersoane has formed laws to allow for independent Spireforged. Even so, they are often created only with knowledge for specific tasks and, lacking the general knowledge of day-to-day life, often choose to remain in a life of servitude over trying to venture out on their own. As far as the laws for Spireforged creation go, something seems to be likely to change in the near future, as the Kahvlarashar, and even some nobles of other races, are quite fond of having access to Spireforged as servants or soldiers.

Biology
Spireforged biology varies widely based on the individual design of their bodies, but is usually made to emulate another race. They always, however, have a silvery-white sheen on their "skin" and usually their hair as well, though the hair can easily be given other colors without sacrificing functionality. Their eyes, like their Kahvlarashen creators, are crystalline, and serve as secondary power sources for the Spireforged, if the primary power crystal in their chest is damaged.

Culture
As an artificial race, Spireforged lack a culture of their own. Many end up inheriting the culture of their Kahvlarashen creators, though those commissioned by a member of a different race are likely to adopt that race's culture instead. The few attempts at creating Spireforged dominated towns have met with some success, but are far from giving them a unified nation or culture of their own.

Some Spireforged choose to live in Altera, considering the Helions to be the closest thing to their own nation they have. Most, however, consider the Helions to be different entirely, no more the same race as them than a Sun Elf is the same race as a Wood Elf.

Rather than trying to form a culture, many independent Spireforged view this as one of the few freedoms their kind possesses. Believing themselves unbound by tradition, they will often wear unusual clothing or hairstyles, and frequently act in ways that go against typical societal norms, such as running through public streets.

Spireforged who were created using a preexisting soul, especially those who chose to become Spireforged willingly, are frequently regarded as imposters. Members of other races masquerading as Spireforged, and not true Spireforged. This view is not universal, however, and many others view such Spireforged as a sign of hope, that their existence is in fact one some people would choose willingly.

Creation Process
The Spireforged creation process is kept secret by the few Kahvlarashen mages familiar with it, who in turn will only pass it on to their most trusted apprentices. All that is known to public knowledge is that it is possible to create a Spireforged by either forcing the soul of the recently deceased, in some cases such as Ekavhya Lievishar, one who is still living, or by using a synthetic soul. Spireforged using a preexisting soul are often treated as an arcane alternative to resurrection magic, or as a means of achieving immortality. The process is more expensive than even a traditional resurrection spell, however, and only the most wealthy of nobles are able to afford the process.

Synthetic souls, however, remain more of an anomaly. According to most research into the process, the creation of a new soul is extremely difficult, part of a theoretical line of magic known as Soul Alchemy. While the practitioners of Spireforged creation claim not to have discovered a means of using Soul Alchemy, this has caused some debate as to how, then, the synthetic souls are created.

Whatever the process truly entails, the unwillingness of those familiar with it to share the truth with the public has led to many theories and suspicions regarding what truly goes into creating a new Spireforged. Some theories have suggested that they are not souls at all, but an advanced form of the artificial intelligence golems possess, only capable of mimicking sentience. Others have suggested that Soul Alchemy has been discovered, but those who know it have merely chosen to lie to the public and keep it for themselves.

Racial Traits
- Ability Score Modifiers: Spireforged are made in the form of another race. They may choose to inherit the racial ability modifiers and size of any medium or small Verail race. Races of other sizes may be allowed at the DM's discretion. (Varying RP)

- Size: Spireforged may be medium or small. Medium Spireforged receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size. Small Spireforged gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty to their CMB and CMD, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks. (0 RP)

- Type: Spireforged are humanoids with the Half Construct subtype. (0 RP)

- Base Speed: Spireforged have a base speed of 30ft (0 RP)

- Languages: Spireforged begin play speaking Rashenvhaer and Common (0 RP)

- Half-Construct Traits (7 RP)

- Half-constructs gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against disease, mind-affecting effects, poison, and effects that cause either exhaustion or fatigue.

- Half-constructs cannot be raised or resurrected.

- Half-constructs do not breathe, eat, or sleep, unless they want to gain some beneficial effect from one of these activities. This means that a half-construct can drink potions to benefit from their effects and can sleep in order to regain spells, but neither of these activities is required for the construct to survive or stay in good health.

- Healing Resilience (-2 RP)

The metallic bodies of the Spireforged are less susceptible to positive energy than the flesh of most races. They receive half healing from positive energy abilities such as Cure Wounds spells and the Heal spell, though other forms of healing are unaffected.

Natural Armor (2 RP)

Spireforged gain a +1 natural armor bonus to their armor class.

Arcane Infusion (4 RP)

The bodies of the Spireforged are imbued with the arcane energy that sustains them, which they may draw upon for power.

One per day, as a swift action, the Spireforged may infuse themselves with energy, gaining a +2 deflection bonus to armor class and adding one point of force damage to all weapon or natural attacks they make during the duration of Arcane Infusion.

Arcane Infusion may be discharged in one of the following ways.

- As an immediate action, gain a +4 deflection bonus to armor class and spell resistance equal to 10 + your character level for one round

- As a swift action, add 1d4 points of force damage plus 1 per character level to a single weapon or natural attack.

- As a standard action, make a single ranged touch attack with a 60ft range which deals 1d8 points of force damage plus 1 per character level if successful.

This ability lasts for one round per character level or until discharged.