Hey Lily! What do you know of the Marionettes?
You wanted to learn more about other kins, so I asked EF for an interview. But I think you should read up a bit on the Marionettes first. They aren’t as scary as you humans think. Did you know they craft their bodies out of wood and metal?
– Fiona
Theodolf introducing the all-new
BODY 9000
FEATURES
Customizations
BODY 9000, 6000, and 3000 are available in our full range of woods with metal trim in bronze, silver, or steel.
Bath Compatible
Each hatch and joint are fitted with gaskets to create a watertight seal which allows you to take a bath, just like an elf, without the internal cabin flooding. We recommend frequent reoiling of all wooden surfaces if you submerge the body in water.
Detachable Limbs
Arm and leg joint features our quick-connect fittings for easy replacement of limbs.
Deluxe Mask
Custom carved to fit your personality.
Gyro Stabilizer
Off-road ready. Also helps when you huffed a bit too much smoke.
High-Pressure Smoke Tubes
Superior smoke power delivery to all limbs.
Padded Spine Cabin
For comfort and reduced spine rattle.
Articulated Central Joint
Bend over or arch your back with the finely crafted central joint.
Elf-Like Sculpted Body
Available in proportions imitating either female, seer, or male.
Premium Posterior
Challenging the elves at their own game: Ef in the 9000 model is a finalist in the prestigious “Tush of the Year” competition.
Coxae Spine Joint
For increased mobility and spine comfort.
Thigh Hatch
With internal pockets and space for a halfsword.
Fully Articulated Hand
Dexterous fingers with fine motor skills.
Wig
Available in real goat, human, takin, and elf hair.
Engine Hatch
The side hatch can be removed for the open-side look if you want to show off your shiny internals. Remember to close the hatch before bathing.
Coxae Smoke-Stone Core
The BODY 9000 is powered by a top-of-the-line smoke-stone core mounted in the coxae joint and thigh. The core contains the following parts:
- Stick Shift
- Intake Bellow
- Flux Capacitor
- Smoke Catalyst
- Pressure Gauge
- Muffler
- Spanner in the Works
- Turbo Charger (Only on the 6000 and 9000 models)
Fun fact
The expression “get your ass in gear” comes from this kind of smoke-stone reactor. These flames, many models are automatic, but the enthusiasts still prefer the precision of a manual gearbox.
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Combat Arm
Larger metal arm with sharp claws.
Engraving
Personalize your look with a custom message or pattern.
Finger Pen
Perfect for the scribe. Not bath-safe.
Sawblade Collar
Spinning self-defense device.
Spring-Loaded Jumping Leg
One for a little boost. Two to live the bouncy life.
Flip Blade
Arm with concealed blade for all your stabby needs. Note: Not allowed within baths or other no-weapon-zones
Massive Honkers
Bellow-powered horns that tell people to move out of your way or plays a little tune.
Marionette Schematic comparison
The design can be mirrored depending on which side you dress
Hollow-Body Classic Design
The basic model is easy to craft and is still widely used. It can be made entirely out of wood, but the joints are often the first part to be replaced by metal.
It’s a hollow design, relying entirely on the smoke-stone to fill the cavity with darkness. It’s simple and reliable, but limited in strength because the darkness can easily be depleted in certain parts of the body faster than it refills.
Advanced Bellow-Pressure Direct-Injection Modular Design
The top-of-the-line model uses a reaction core to agitate the smoke-stone, creating denser darkness, which the bellows pressurize and deliver throughout the body. This greatly increases both the strength and stability of the puppeteering.
Using pipes also frees up the hollow spaces inside the body to be used for other gadgets or as storage space.
Scrollopedia Elfatica
By Barinvald Belgrath
Marionette
Anguis Mortis, commonly known as Marionettes, are the smallest creature of the Oculi Haruspex family. As with other Oculi, the Marionette possesses the eye of a dead seer to gain a connection to this world. It grows wide horns from the seer’s skull and a long spine-like tail which it uses to move like a snake.
Marionettes are unique in the Oculi family for being both intelligent and reasonable, which allows them to interact with other kin in a civilized manner.
Ability
Artificial Bodies
In their natural state, Marionettes are quite weak, but with their ability to puppeteer inanimate materials they can build and inhabit doll-like bodies. Most commonly they are carved out of wood to resemble elves, although they are often slimmer and slightly shorter to reduce the weight of the body.
A constant supply of darkness is needed to puppeteer the body. The darkness can either be taken directly out of the air when available or stored in smoke-stones that release darkness inside their hollow body.
Due to advances in technology, several improvements have been made to aid in the distribution of darkness throughout the body as well as integrating other gadgets. (See Smoke-Stone Core)
Telepathy
Marionettes have no way to physically speak but do have the ability to communicate telepathically. They can selectively speak to one or a few people, within close range, but have trouble projecting their “voice” to larger groups or over longer distances. In cases where they need to speak to an audience, they have to use a speaker of another kin to repeat their words.
People not used to hearing the telepathic voice of Marionettes might find it unsettling as it sounds like a whisper appearing from nowhere.
Sight
Marionettes have both the gift of dark sight, which allows them to see in darkness, and the ability to see into the spirit realm, just like seers.
Culture
Marionettes hardly ever gather to make their own societies. Instead, they want to integrate with the society of other kin, most notably the elves. This is why their bodies almost always strive to imitate elves.
Interaction with other kin
In Human folklore, Marionettes are seen as bad omens. There are dozens of stories where they kill and replace humans. No credible elf sources have been able to verify this ever happening, but human’s irrational fears are well documented.
Many elf cultures have accepted Marionettes into their societies. And while they are one of the most rare kin, it’s estimated that nearly a thousand live in Bloodworth.
Smoke-Stone
A naturally-occurring mineral of crystallized darkness. It grows in the shadow of mountains or other dark places. The stone dissolves back into darkness when exposed to the air until the air is saturated. It therefore needs to be stored in air- and light-tight containers.
Smoke-stone is mostly known as a drug that produces heavy hallucinogenic effects when consumed by many sentient kin. But it’s also used in other applications: As a powder, it can be thrown to instantly blackout a room. The Fiends of the Ash Crypt use a large smoke-stone to periodically fill the entire crypt with darkness, and the Marionettes use the stone to fill their body with darkness in order to puppeteer it.
