Mechanus

Mechanus

Pierce was built by design, while you were built by accident. The soul is what matters, not the shape of the vessel.

-- Lord Dartain, King of the Holy Lotharian Empire

Biological Information BODY TYPE Humanoid VISION Normal ABILITIES Contructed Resilience Integrated Protection Sentry's Rest Specialized Design Physical Characteristics SIZE Medium SPEED 30 ft. AVERAGE HEIGHT 6'0" AVERAGE WEIGHT 250 lbs LIFESPAN A typical Mechanus is between two and thirty years old. The maximum Mechanus lifespan remains a mystery; so far, Mechanus have shown no signs of deterioration due to age. SKIN COLOR Steel Silver Gold Brass/Bronze HAIR COLOR None EYE COLOR Mechanus eyes are crystals can be any crystalline color DISTINCTIONS Mechanus have armored plates to form a protective outer shell and reinforce joints over root like wooden cords. Sociocultural Information PLANES Prime Material (Sytheria) ORIGIN Valis LANGUAGES Common

The Mechanus were built to fight in the War of Dominion by the warlord Ziegfried Haltharn. While the first Mechanus were mindless automatons, The Unhallowed devoted vast resources to improving these steel soldiers. An unexpected breakthrough produced sapient soldiers, giving rise to what some have only grudgingly accepted as a new species. Mechanus are made from wood and metal, but they can feel pain and emotion. Built as weapons, they must now find a purpose beyond war. A Mechanus can be a steadfast ally, a cold-hearted killer, or a visionary in search of meaning.

Living Steel and Stone

Mechanus are formed from a blend of organic and inorganic materials. Root-like cords infused with alchemical fluids serve as their muscles, wrapped around a framework of steel, darkwood, or stone. Armored plates form a protective outer shell and reinforce joints. Mechanus share a common facial design, with a hinged jaw and crystal eyes embedded beneath a reinforced brow ridge. Beyond these common elements of Mechanus design, the precise materials and build of a Mechanus vary based on the purpose for which it was designed.

Although they were manufactured, Mechanus are living humanoids. Resting, healing magic, and the Medicine skill all provide the same benefits to Mechanus that they do to other humanoids.

Mechanus Personality

The Mechanus were built to serve and to fight. For most of their existence, Mechanus had a clearly defined function and were encouraged to focus purely on that role. The decimation of the Unhallowed army gave them freedom, but many still struggle both to find a place in the post-war world and to relate to the creatures who fear them as remnants of an unholy army.

The typical Mechanus shows little emotion. Many Mechanus embrace a concrete purpose — such as protecting allies, completing a contract, or exploring a land — and embrace this task as they once did war. However, there are Mechanus who delight in exploring their feelings, their freedom, and their relationships with others. Most Mechanus have no interest in religion, but some embrace faith and mysticism, seeking higher purpose and deeper meaning.

The typical Mechanus has a sexless body shape. Some Mechanus ignore the concept of gender entirely, while others adopt a gender identity. The more a Mechanus develops its individuality, the more likely it is to modify its body, seeking out an artificer to customize the look of its face, limbs, and plating.

Mechanus Names

Most Mechanus were assigned numerical designations for use in military service. Many of them adopted nicknames, often given to them by their comrades. As independent individuals, some have chosen new names as a way to express their path in life. A few take on human names, often the name of a fallen friend or mentor.

Names: Anchor, Banner, Bastion, Blade, Blue, Bow, Cart, Church, Crunch, Crystal, Dagger, Dent, Five, Glaive, Hammer, Iron, Lucky, Mace, Oak, Onyx, Pants, Pierce, Red, Rod, Rusty, Scout, Seven, Shield, Slash, Smith, Spike, Temple, Vault, Wall

Powers and Abilities

• Ability Score Increase- Your Constitution score increases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.
• Alignment- Most Mechanus take comfort in order and discipline, tending toward law and neutrality. But some have absorbed the morality, or lack thereof, of the beings with which they served.
• Constructed Resilience- You were created to have remarkable fortitude, represented by the following benefits:
  • You have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and you have resistance to poison damage.
  • You don’t need to eat, drink, or breathe.
  • You are immune to disease.
  • You don’t need to sleep, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
• Integrated Protection- Your body has built-in defensive layers, which can be enhanced with armor: You gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class. You can don only armor with which you have proficiency. To don armor, you must incorporate it into your body over the course of 1 hour, during which you remain in contact with the armor. To doff armor, you must spend 1 hour removing it. You can rest while donning or doffing armor in this way. While you live, your armor can’t be removed from your body against your will.
• Sentry's Rest- When you take a long rest, you must spend at least six hours in an inactive, motionless state, rather than sleeping. In this state, you appear inert, but it doesn’t render you unconscious, and you can see and hear as normal.
• Specialized Design- You gain one skill proficiency and one tool proficiency of your choice.