Homunculus

"I have created a creature from magic and scraps. It is imperfect, but a step in the right direction." - Unknown necromancer

The exact methods to create a homunculus are detailed within the The Necromancer's Tome, though the method is imperfect. Creation requires a plethora of raw materials, notably fresh bodies, with the living providing a better result over the dead and recently deceased. Homunculi tend to be humanoid in appearance, though disfigured in various ways due to imperfections and impurities within the materials. The project was abandoned when the necromancer was unable to create a passable vessel, though he was able to perfect the transference of souls between a living body and the homunculus. 
Homunculi were documented to be living shells, possessing no soul or ability beyond a vegetative state until a soul was implanted. They live for many years, though the imperfections within the shell can cause a shortened lifespan. 5 years is the longest documented lifespan of a homunculus within the tome.