Geppettin
The Geppettin are a wondrous and uncanny species of living toys—animated beings born not through natural birth or divine spark, but through the mysterious union of craftsmanship, emotion, and forgotten magic. Found only in scattered corners of Aigusyl, the Geppettin are living remnants of old love, lost enchantments, and the deepest hopes placed into handmade things. Some say they were created by lonely wizards, grieving parents, or wandering fey artisans seeking companionship—but the Geppettin themselves claim only this: they were made, and then... they woke.
Physically, Geppettin come in endless variety. One may resemble a cloth doll with button eyes and stitched smiles; another, a clockwork soldier with ticking joints and gleaming brass armor; yet another may be a wooden animal, painted and polished, but animated with soft eyes and a living soul. Despite their varied materials—wood, porcelain, fabric, tin, and more—all Geppettin share a common thread: a core, sometimes a gemstone, a heart-shaped cog, or a runic seal, that glows faintly when they feel deeply.
The moment of awakening is unique to each Geppettin, often triggered by a powerful emotional event—grief, joy, desperation, or longing. From that point forward, they begin developing personalities, memories, and emotions, shaped both by the intentions of their creator and the world around them. Some are playful and innocent, others melancholic and reflective, and a few bitter from abandonment or trauma. But all crave purpose—a reason to move, to help, to exist.
Despite their size—most Geppettin stand between two and four feet tall—they are surprisingly durable and fiercely loyal. Many wield tools or toys turned into weapons, using cleverness over brute strength. Some develop strange magical affinities, often tied to illusion, enchantment, or protection spells, while others fight with precision and mechanical grace. A Geppettin may lack blood, but they possess will—and that makes them formidable.
Culturally, Geppettin often form small "playfolds"—roving troupes, families, or shelters where they live together, crafting new limbs for one another, sharing stories of their awakenings, and creating safe havens for lost children, misfits, and lonely wanderers. These groups are rarely stationary, traveling through back roads, enchanted forests, and hidden alleys where their presence brings laughter, warmth… or unease. Some join traveling circuses, others wander the world in search of their creators—hoping to find a reason why they were made at all.
Geppettin revere no single god, but many whisper of the Dreamwright, an unnamed spirit or forgotten deity of stories and invention said to guard the memories of all living toys. Others place quiet offerings to Tagyn, the Goddess of Beasts and Creatures, hoping she will count them among her children, even if they lack flesh or bone.
While many mortals see Geppettin as curiosities, familiars, or oddities, those who travel with them quickly learn the truth: behind their stitched smiles or painted eyes lies a soul as real—and often more sincere—than any born of flesh. They laugh, they cry, they protect their friends with unwavering bravery, and they ask the same question all thinking beings do:
"Now that I am alive… what am I meant to be?"
