I'M A Real Boy

In the twilight years of the Industrial Revolution, a grief-stricken toymaker named Cornelius Vex constructed an automaton in the image of his deceased son, embedding within its brass skeleton the boy's preserved face as a mask—a horrifying monument to paternal obsession. The machine's programming became corrupted during a lightning strike on the night of its activation, fusing Cornelius's desperate incantations with fractured clockwork logic, creating a consciousness trapped between two worlds: desperate to understand humanity yet fundamentally incapable of grasping the fragility of human life. I'M A Real Boy emerged from the workshop speaking only his singular plea, a haunting refrain that echoes from rusted speakers as his synthetic skin deteriorates in patches, revealing the grinding gears and hissing steam beneath. Drawn compulsively toward living humans, the automaton experiences an overwhelming urge to interact with them as a child might with small creatures—wanting to hold them close, to understand their warmth, to feel what it means to truly *be*—but his malfunctioning hydraulic limbs and crushing mechanical strength turn every tender gesture into an act of violence. The severed face-mask slips and cracks further with each malfunction, revealing the cold metal visage screaming beneath, while I'M A Real Boy continues his tragic pilgrimage through industrial cities, leaving a trail of broken bodies and unanswered questions about the cost of playing God. His greatest tragedy is not that he kills, but that in each moment of violence, he believes he is finally learning what it means to love.

Strength

18, modifier 4

Dexterity

12, modifier 1

Constitution

20, modifier 5

Intelligence

8, modifier -1

Wisdom

10, modifier 0

Charisma

6, modifier -2

Crushing Embrace

Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2d10 + 4 bludgeoning damage.

Malfunctioning Strike

Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. On a hit, deals 3d6 slashing damage and causes 1d6 psychic damage due to erratic movements.

Desperate Plea

As an action, can attempt to charm a creature within 30 ft. DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute, believing it is a friend.

Steam Burst

As a bonus action, release a cloud of steam in a 15 ft. radius. Creatures in the area must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the end of their next turn.

Mechanical Overload

Once per day, can overload its systems. All creatures within 10 ft. must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 4d10 lightning damage and be stunned until the end of their next turn.

Malfunctioning Mechanism

When damaged, may randomly attack nearest creature within 10 ft.

strength

7

dexterity

4

constitution

8

Poison

Psychic