Model Zalkir

Fast, elegant, and seemingly designed for versatility, the Zalkir warforged are the swift shadows of Thaedros. Unlike their kin, Zalkir models are constructed primarily of lightweight wood, their frames allowing for remarkable speed and flexibility. The delicate carvings and intricate designs that adorn many of them have led scholars to speculate that they once served as emissaries, messengers, or even personal attendants to the Essari.

Since their awakening, the Zalkir warforged have taken to the wild places of Thaedros, driven by an unshakable instinct for exploration. More ruins have been uncovered by Zalkir expeditions than by any other group, and their discoveries have helped unlock many of the mysteries of the warforged themselves. They are the first to brave treacherous jungles, unstable ruins, and storm-torn landscapes, often returning with knowledge that would have been lost for centuries more.

Zalkir models are often seen as more independent than their kin, with a strong desire for movement and discovery. Their representative in Yldan's parliament, a restless explorer known as Fleet, is rarely present for long, vanishing into the wilds on personal quests before returning with reports of new findings.

Racial Traits

Special Abilities

Construct Resilience You do not require food, drink, or air, and you do not sleep. Instead, you enter a diagnostic state for 4 hours, during which you remain aware of your surroundings and cannot be surprised.

Integrated Repair Systems You cannot be healed by magical healing. Instead, you are proficient with Tinker's Tools and can use them to repair yourself. Once per short rest, you can restore 2d6 hit points. Acid damage cannot be repaired in this way.

Mending Repair The Mending cantrip can be used to repair your frame, restoring 1d6 hit points at 1st level, 2d6 at 5th level, 3d6 at 11th level, and 4d6 at 17th level. You can receive repairs this way a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum 1) per long rest. While effective for superficial damage, excessive mending risks affecting your inner workings.

Acid Vulnerability When you take Acid damage while unarmored, your maximum hit points are reduced by half the damage taken until you undergo repairs.

Lightweight Frame Your construction prioritizes agility and speed over brute strength. Your base movement speed is increased by 10 feet.

Reflexive Adaptation You have advantage on saving throws against effects that would impose the Restrained or Grappled condition.

Stealth Chassis Your design incorporates noise-dampening materials and smooth articulation. You have proficiency in the Stealth skill, and your movement does not trigger opportunity attacks when you take the Disengage action.

Shutdown Protocol At 0 hit points, you do not die but instead shut down. Unless your eldrite core is destroyed, you can be repaired. Destroying your core is considered permanent death, though a level 10 artificer may attempt to rebuild it.

Basic Traits

Armor Integration You do not wear armor normally. Instead, you incorporate it into your frame. It takes one hour to don or remove armor, and it cannot be forcefully removed.

Languages You can speak, read, and write Common and one additional language of your choice.

Backgrounds

Ruins Delver

Your purpose seems tied to forgotten places, and you have an instinct for navigating unstable ruins and treacherous environments.

• Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Investigation
• Tool Proficiencies: Thieves' Tools, Cartographer's Tools
• Languages: One of your choice
• Feature: Silent Step - You have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks when moving through natural or ruined environments.
• Ability Score Increases: +2 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence

Wandering Emissary

Something in your design suggests you were once a courier or diplomat, built to move unseen and carry messages across vast distances.

• Skill Proficiencies: Persuasion, Insight
• Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher's Supplies, Navigator's Tools
• Languages: Two of your choice
• Feature: Messenger's Instinct - You always know the fastest route to a location you have visited before and can recall maps and layouts with near-perfect accuracy.
• Ability Score Increases: +2 Dexterity, +1 Charisma

Shadow Operative

Whether by design or necessity, you have learned how to move unseen, bypass security, and gather intelligence where others cannot.

• Skill Proficiencies: Stealth, Deception
• Tool Proficiencies: Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit
• Languages: One of your choice
• Feature: Ghost Protocol - You can assume a false identity with ease and leave behind little trace of your passage. Checks made to track or identify you are at disadvantage.
• Ability Score Increases: +2 Dexterity, +1 Wisdom