Automata

		Mechanics
Automata	Clockwork	Firearms	Magitech	Vehicles

Overview

Automatons - otherwise known as constructs - are inventions that imitate living creatures. The earliest and most commonly found form of construct are animated objects, which gradually improved to golems, the automatons. Like magitech, they are a unique blend of arcane power and mechanical systems. Sentient automata called 'living constructs' have emerged, and struggle to assert themselves among mortals, and ancient beings of their likeness.

Animated Objects "Helmed Horrors are named for their resemblance to Helm, Exarch of Erathis. As for horror..." First and foremost among constructs are otherwise inanimate objects, which have been animated.
Animating an object can be achieved in several ways, such as spells that move and control them.
Alternatively they can be enchanted; drawing upon the weave to gain a semblance of autonomy. Objects are most common form of construct, due to their relatively low cost and ease to create.
Their uses can vary from self-sweeping brooms, to weapons and shields that fight for their owner.
Iconic among these are animated suits of armour and weapons, sometimes called Helmed Horrors.

Golems & Vessels "Even if unthinking, it still feels cruel. Who even thought to write a manual for making flesh golems?" Golems are humanoid constructs built using earth minerals, though occasionally with organic matter.
They are made by binding an earth elemental spirit, which have an affinity with golem's materials.
Though normally supressed, the elemental may gain consciousness, and rebel against its creator. Vessels are inhabited by non earth-elemental spirits, including mortal souls and extraplanar beings.
Examples include spirit statues and myrmidons, which seek to help and harm mortals respectively.
Given the incompatibility between the spirit and body, vessels have a higher degree of autonomy.

Homunculi & Guardians "I'm both impressed and disturbed by how both lifelike and dead it seems. It's uncanny." Created using the creators own blood or solely by arcane power; these constructs are fiercely loyal.
Homunculi are the specialty of Artificers; viewing enchantment as an extension of their own magic.
Wizards may use a fragment of their own spirit to create Magen, making them able to cast spells. Artificers can also create steel defenders; robots that move through both mechanical and arcane power.
Powerful arcanists may instead create Shield Guardians, which are controlled using a magical amulet.
Infamous are the Vonindod, built by giants in the image of Dawn-Titans, and used to hunt dragons.

Living Spells "When travelling through the Feywild, be sure to treat its magic with courtesy... Just in case." Some spells have the capacity to produce spectral or illusory constructs, fabricated from arcane force.
These can vary from force-hands controlled by the caster, to the semi-autonomous unseen servants.
Most impressive are simulacrums and illusory dragons, able to perfectly duplicate existing creatures. Beyond this are 'true' living spells; magics of any kind, which have then taken on a life of their own.
This is most common in areas of wild magic, which allows them to persist without need for a caster.
Much debate is had over whether this indicates spells - or even the weave itself - possess sentience.

Modrons & Inevitables "Time is inevitable. Death is inevitable. We are Inevitable. All who resist will be returned to clay." Immortal beings from the plane of Mechanus, Modrons and Inevitables are embodiments of pure order.
Though mostly mechanical in nature, they have some living organs, such as humanoid eyes or mouths.
They are believed to be as old as the Plane of Law and linear time's advent, if not the universe itself. As beings of law for law's sake, they adhere to strict logic, despite many rules being completely arbitrary.
Thought-reading magic has found that though they have conscious experiences, they lack free will.
Individuals who display any flaw or deviation from these patterns are 'decommissioned' and rebuilt.

Warforged & Sentinels "First ancient Spelljammers, and now Warforged! Humans aren't from Asa-hiir - they're from space!" Unique are living constructs like Warforged - biomechanical automata who have sentience and free will.
Hailing from the Warwrought Isles, their creation lies in conflict of unknown origins, duration, or purpose.
Other living constructs include certain Nimblewrights and Autognomes, though not all possess free will. Precursors to the Warforged, known as Sentinels, have been found guarding pre-nomadic Asari ruins.
Purported to be a gift from the Nameless God; some think them truly inventions of ancient spacefarers.
Comparisons have also been made to the Peacekeepers, sentient protectors created by metallic dragons.