Buy me a coffeeThe Silent Warden: Mannequin Robot
“Discover the terrifying truth behind the Mannequin Robot—designed to look human, but their creepy movements will leave you questioning everything!”
The Mannequin Robot is a humanoid construct designed with lifelike features, though its true nature is unmistakable upon closer inspection. Standing at a height similar to a human, it has smooth, shiny pale synthetic skin that mimics human flesh, but its cold, unnervingly flawless texture feels unnatural. Its face, devoid of expression, remains eerily blank, with glassy, emotionless eyes that give it an unsettling presence. The robot’s movements are jerky and mechanical, with rigid motions that betray its artificial origin. Despite its human-like exterior, the mannequin’s imperfections—such as its stiff posture and the faint hum of internal machinery—are ever-present.
Behaviorally, the Mannequin Robot is programmed for basic labor, designed to assist in repetitive or dangerous tasks. While its creators intended it to seamlessly integrate into human environments, it has a profoundly disconcerting effect on people. Its subtle wrongness, the lack of warmth in its actions, and its inability to fully mimic human behavior make it a figure of suspicion and fear. The robot does not interact emotionally or show empathy, operating in a cold, utilitarian fashion. Its movements and responses, though functional, often appear disjointed and robotic, further distancing it from the human form it attempts to replicate.
Mannequin Robots can be found in various environments, often in industrial, hazardous, or labor-intensive settings where human workers might be at risk. They are typically solitary, though they may work in small groups of similarly designed models. Despite being constructed to handle menial tasks in settings such as factories, warehouses, or disaster zones, the eerie presence of a Mannequin Robot makes it a rare and often unwelcome sight.
The Modus Operandi of the Mannequin Robot is strictly task-oriented: it performs its duties mechanically without deviation, from lifting and moving heavy objects to performing hazardous repairs. Though it can adapt to a variety of environments, it lacks initiative and any form of creativity. Its programming is limited to specific actions and responses, with little to no capacity for independent thought.
The robot’s primary motivation is simply to carry out its pre-programmed tasks. It operates with the singular purpose of completing assigned work, devoid of personal desires or ambitions. However, its creators hoped that its human-like form would encourage a more seamless integration into human-operated environments—an objective that ultimately failed due to its unsettling nature. Lacking emotional depth or social understanding, the Mannequin Robot remains a cold, efficient tool, its purpose forever tied to the labor it was created to perform.
Mannequin Robot 5e
Mannequin Robot, Pathfinder
Mannequin Robot
Medium Construct, Unaligned
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 85 (10d8 + 40)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 (+3) | 12 (+1) | 18 (+4) | 8 (-1) | 12 (+1) | 6 (-2) |
Saving Throws Con +7, Wis +4
Skills Perception +4, Insight +4, Stealth +3
Damage Immunities Poison, Psychic
Condition Immunities Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Primordial
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
TRAITS
False Flesh. The Mannequin Robot’s synthetic flesh gives it a +8 bonus to Disguise checks to appear human, but it cannot perfectly mimic specific individuals. Any creature that touches the robot’s cold, synthetic skin or inspects it closely (such as through a Wisdom (Insight) check) automatically realizes its true nature as a construct.
Immovable. When the Mannequin Robot is standing still and not engaged in combat, it has advantage on Stealth checks to remain unnoticed in dim light or darkness.
Vulnerabilities. The Mannequin Robot is vulnerable to lightning damage, and its cold, lifeless body is susceptible to critical hits.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Mannequin Robot makes two Slam attacks.
Slam.
Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
Electric Shock (Recharge 5-6). The Mannequin Robot can release a burst of electricity from its body, striking all creatures within 10 feet of it. Each creature must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.
Grasp of Cold (Recharge 5-6). The Mannequin Robot grabs a creature within 5 feet of it, holding them in a bone-crushing grip. The target must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw or become restrained and take 10 (2d6) cold damage at the start of each of the Mannequin Robot’s turns. The target can escape the grasp by using its action to make a Strength (Athletics) check against the DC.
REACTIONS
Repulsive Shift. When a creature within 5 feet of the Mannequin Robot hits it with a melee attack, the robot can use its reaction to twist its body unnaturally, causing the attacker to be pushed back 10 feet. The attacker must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
TACTICS
The Mannequin Robot fights with mechanical precision, relentlessly attacking with its Slam attacks. It prefers to engage at close range, using its Grasp of Cold to restrain a vulnerable foe, making them an easy target for its subsequent strikes. When surrounded, it uses its Electric Shock to deal with multiple foes at once, leveraging its recharge mechanic for area damage.
If engaged in a prolonged combat with a stronger foe, it will use Repulsive Shift to push attackers away and buy itself time to reposition. The robot’s lack of emotions or fear makes it immune to intimidation, but it can be outsmarted by clever foes. It will prioritize any perceived threats that come near its creator or important targets.
ENVIRONMENT
The Mannequin Robot is often found in abandoned, industrial, or mystical ruins where technology and magic mix. It might be guarding a forgotten treasure, ancient knowledge, or simply be part of a larger mechanism designed to maintain an environment. It may be found in laboratories, dungeons, or arcane forges.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The Mannequin Robot can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Mannequin Robot regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
- Slam Attack. The Mannequin Robot makes one Slam attack.
- Shocking Surge (Costs 2 Actions). The Mannequin Robot releases a burst of electrical energy in a 10-foot radius, dealing 10 (2d6) lightning damage to all creatures in range (Dexterity DC 14 for half damage).
MOTIVATION AND BEHAVIOR
The Mannequin Robot was created for labor or protection but lacks any true sentience. It operates on a strict set of commands or routines. It will continue to perform its assigned task until destroyed or reprogrammed. Its lack of empathy and inability to recognize its own limitations makes it an effective but dangerous tool—unrelenting in its purpose, yet disturbingly lifeless. It may be an ancient creation left to operate in a ruined kingdom, guarding the remains of its creators’ secrets.
VARIANTS
- Athlete Model. More agile, this variant has a +2 Strength and +2 Dexterity modifier, granting it enhanced speed and Acrobatics skill. It may use Dash as a bonus action on each of its turns.
- Rescue Model. A tougher variant, it has resistance to lightning and fire damage, and its Grasp of Cold becomes more potent, dealing 14 (3d6) cold damage.
- Security Model. Equipped with advanced combat capabilities, it has proficiency in simple weapons, Improved Initiative, and natural armor (+2 AC). It can also wield a Heavy Crossbow in ranged combat.
Mannequin Robot
This impassive humanoid has shiny, pale skin and an eerily expressionless face.
Source Numeria, Land of Fallen Stars pg. 57
Originally posted in Archives of Nethys
Designed to labor at tedious or hazardous tasks, mannequin robots were intended to both look and behave like humans. Their designers felt that humans would find the mannequins more comfortable to work next to than conventional robots – but they were mistaken. While the mannequins superficially resembled their makers, their inhuman behavior, subtly wrong appearance, and unnatural movement, as well as the unyielding cold of their synthetic flesh proved disturbing, and the humans they were meant to work alongside reflexively distrusted them. Though many were produced for a variety of tasks, the mannequin line of robot was deemed a failure. The next generation of human-form constructs took the form of a true artificial life form: the android.
Mannequins look more or less human, but their jerky, mechanical movement, imperfectly simulated behavior, and artificial construction give them away with any close interaction. Mannequin robots vary in size and shape as much as humans, but weigh at least 200 pounds because of their metallic endoskeletons.
| Mannequin Robot CR 2 |
| XP 600 N Medium construct (robot) Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision; Perception +6 |
| DEFENSE |
| AC 13, touch 11, flat-footed 12 (+1 Dexterity, +2 natural) hp 31 (2d10+20) Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +0 Immune construct traits; Resist electricity 5, fire 5 Weaknesses vulnerable to critical hits, vulnerability to electricity |
| OFFENSE |
| Speed 30 ft. Melee 2 slams +4 (1d4+2) Statistics Strength 15, Dexterity 12, Constitution -, Intelligence 10, Wisdom 11, Charisma 1 Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 15 Feats Alertness Skills Disguise – 4 (+4 to appear human), Knowledge (local) +4, Perception +6, Sense Motive +6; Racial Modifiers +8 Disguise to appear human Languages Common, Hallit SQ false flesh |
| SPECIAL ABILITIES |
| False Flesh (Ex) The synthetic flesh and hair of a mannequin robot give it a +8 bonus on Disguise checks to appear human (but not to impersonate a specific human). Closely inspecting a mannequin or touching its cold, synthetic skin automatically reveals its non-human nature. |
| ECOLOGY |
| Environment any Organization solitary, pair, or band (3-8) Treasure standard |
Variants
The mannequin robot described above represents a typical model, designed for menial labor or basic service. Other models resemble the base model, but have different capabilities. If no CR change is noted, the model has the same CR as a standard mannequin. Specialized mannequins advance by taking class levels, generally in non-spellcasting classes such as fighter, gunslinger, monk, and rogue.
Athlete (CR +1): Designed to compete in robotic sporting events, an athlete model has +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, Fleet in place of Alertness, and a +5 racial bonus on Acrobatics checks.
Recreation (CR +1): Designed for entertainment and leisure purposes, a pleasure model has a +4 bonus to Charisma, has Skill Focus (Perform [any]) in place of Alertness, and can scan the minds of creatures within 30 feet (as detect thoughts).
Rescue: Designed for rescue and retrieval operations in conditions too dangerous for unprotected humans, a rescue models resistance to electricity and fire improves to 10.
Security (CR +1): Designed for assisting human security forces in dangerous situations, a security model has +2 Dexterity, Improved Initiative in place of Alertness, +1 natural armor, and hardness 5. Security models are proficient with firearms, simple weapons, and light armor.
Target: Designed as an active target for weapons practice, a target model has +2 Dexterity, a 10-foot increase to speed, hardness 5, and Dodge in place of Alertness. Reducing a target model below half its maximum hit points causes it to shut down for 10 minutes.