Manikin

SGEH

With a touch of gold, a breath of lightning, and hours of meticulous welding and articulation, a manikin is 'born'. Often called 'marionettes' or 'living dolls', these creatures were originally the creations of the Scions, a Luyarnhian sect that seeks to craft a force capable of protecting the city. Though each manikin looks different—indeed, they can resemble any species—the thin golden stitching that joins the plates of their artificial skin is a giveaway that the creature is man-made.
Free Will. Inscribed on human eyes inside their skulls are the instructions that all manikin obey. More often than not, this includes a safety system that ensures adherence to the law and prevents a manikin from turning on their master. In some cases, a crafter might even cause the manikin to feel love for their creator. Conceived as animate objects capable of carrying out the instructions, manikin who express thoughts of self-liberation are often disposed of before these thoughts turn into acts. Though the Scions' intentions were initially noble, playing god has given them a taste for power, and they have no intention of granting free will to their animated servants.
Though designed for a wide range of functions, manikins are broadly divided into three categories:

Size: Small (2–4 feet tall) or Medium (about 4–7 feet tall)

Speed: 30 feet

Creature Type: Construct

Manikin Traits

Born to Serve

Manikins are made to be unable to hate or resent their creators. This lapse in judgment affects you in all circumstances. You have Disadvantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks.

Electric Heart

You have Resistance to Lightning damage.

Integrated Gold Plating

Your body has built-in defensive layers. You gain no AC benefit from wearing armor, but if you are wielding a Shield, you apply its bonus as normal. When you select this species, choose one of the following armor presets:

Infiltrator

Your base Armor Class equals 11 plus your Dexterity modifier. You are considered unarmored for the purpose of features that require you to not be wearing any armor. You have Advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.

Sentinel

Your base Armor Class equals 13 plus either your Dexterity modifier (maximum of 2) or your Strength modifier (maximum of 3). You are considered to be wearing Medium armor. If you don't have training in Medium armor, you suffer the associated drawbacks.

Tormentor

Your base Armor Class equals 16 plus your Strength modifier (maximum of 2). You are considered to be wearing Heavy armor. If you don't have training in Heavy armor, you suffer the associated drawbacks. You have Disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.

Living Material

You don't need to eat, drink, or breathe and have Immunity to the Poisoned condition.

Service Model

You've been created for a specific purpose. Choose one of the following benefits when you select this species:

Custodian

Typically built as an alternative to golems, custodians find use as butlers, laborers, and cannon fodder. As sentient beings, they are sworn to defend the person—or customer—for whom they were created. The death of their owner often leaves them aimless, wandering the world like masterless hedge knights in search of meaning.
You have Advantage on any ability check you make to end the Grappled condition. You also count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity. Additionally, when a creature within 5 feet of you is targeted by an attack, you can take a Reaction to jump in front of it. If the creature is willing, you switch places with it, becoming the target of the attack instead. You can use this Reaction a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Handler

Handlers are designed for espionage. Matte pigments and a slim build help handlers disappear into shadows, while their hidden weapons can be quickly equipped and stowed for swift assassinations.
You gain proficiency in the Stealth skill and with the Disguise Kit. Additionally, you can have up to two Melee weapons embedded within your body. Each weapon must have either the Finesse or Light property. Over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a Short Rest, you can remove one or both weapons and exchange them for other appropriate weapons you are holding. You can draw or stow these embedded weapons as you would normal weapons. You can't be disarmed of your embedded weapons, short of having your arms cut off.

Thespian

Made to entertain, thespians bring joy to nobles, the clergy, and commoners alike. The only type of manikin designed without lethal intent, these manikins' bodies are supported by invisible, intangible strings, allowing them to move seemingly in defiance of physics. As the plague worsened, the Scions bent their will toward the production of manikins capable of combating the Scourge, and so the number of thespians has steadily dwindled.
You gain proficiency in the Performance skill. As a Bonus Action, you can form a connection between yourself and a willing creature you can see within 30 feet via a set of immaterial strings for 1 hour. If the creature you're connected to doesn't use all of its movement on its turn (if it has multiple Speeds, pick the highest one), you can take a Reaction at the end of its turn to move a number of feet equal to its remaining movement. Once you form a connection in this way, you can't do so again until you finish a Short or Long Rest.