Etched One

A Mysterious Legacy

The Etched Ones are a race of artificial humanoids created by a rune-mage in ages past; they vary in appearance and even material construction. Some resemble golems more than people; most are perfect facsimiles of humans, elves, or half-elves. They all bear on, in, or beneath their outermost flesh a labyrinthine pattern of tattoos and sigils, and the instinctive knowledge of how to add to or alter these markings.
The Etched Ones were scattered across the world and rendered dormant, to awaken to some unknown purpose. Some of them have no memories of their past before waking up, but most have a perfect recollection of a life, before a gap in their memories, presumably wherein they became an etched one.
Rune, the Brass Fist, was the first Etched One to awaken. Since he did, others have come into their powers and settled into roles as adventurers, farmers, scholars, or simple community members as members of the races they resemble.

Features

Age. You can appear to be any age, but you will not visibly age over time (see below). You may have memories and experiences matching your age, but there is usually a blank space between where those memories end and where you find yourself now, or recently.
Alignment. All Etched Ones are unique, and may be of any alignment.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base speed is 30.
Modular Ability Score Increase. You may increase a mental ability score (INT/WIS/CHA) by 2. If you do, increase a physical ability score (STR/DEX/CON) by 1. Otherwise, increase a physical ability score by 2 and a mental ability score by 1.
Languages. You begin with the ability to speak Common and one other language, which will generally be the one that corresponds to your form. You can also read these languages.
Unnerving Aura. You radiate a faint amount of Necromancy magic.
Etchings. The etchings of an Etched One are not just for show. All Etched Ones maintain three etchings at a time. The first is the Etched Legacy etching. This etching cannot be changed or swapped out.
Etched Legacy - The Etched Legacy etching is represented by all the lines and patterns that suffuse your flesh and organs. You are immune to magical aging and do not seem to age naturally. Additionally, your base Armor Class is 11 rather than 10 when you are wearing no armor.
At level 1, you may augment yourself with two of the following Etchings. Whenever you level, you may change one for another.
Watch-One - The Watch-One etching is a half-lidded eye surrounded by fire. You require half the normal amount of time to take a long rest and do not sleep. Instead your body goes dormant, slowing your breathing and heartrate drastically while you maintain awareness of your surroundings. Your passive perception is considered to be 10 during this time.
Commander - The Commander etching is a five-pointed crown. As an Initiative Action, you may change places in initiative order with a willing ally that you can see.
Avenger - The Avenger etching is a jawless skull. While in combat, when an ally that you can see is reduced to 0 hit points, you gain a +1 bonus to all damage roll result totals until you are no longer in combat. This bonus stacks, up a maximum equal to your proficiency bonus, and it persists if they recover consciousness.
Assessor - The Assessor etching is a glowing wand. You can cast identify, and you don't require material components when you cast identify using this feature. You can do so once, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest.
Aggregator - The Aggregator etching is a pair of joined rings. You can attune to an additional magic item.
Attendant - The Attendant etching is a droplet of blood. When you spend hit dice during a short rest, you can cause another creature to regain hit points instead of yourself.
Redeemer - The Redeemer etching is an open hand with a halo around it. If an ally you can see would fail a death saving throw, you can use your reaction to cause them to succeed on it instead. This includes death saving throws failed due to damage taken.
Update Notes - Last Updated 10/21/21

8/25/21 - Changed etched legacy from a +1 AC to a base Armor Class change. Changed wording on Avenger, Watch-One, Redeemer, and Commander. Updated flavor based on story developments.
10/21/21 - added "that you can see" to commander etching. 
2/18/22 - revised some wording. the "redeemer" etching can now be used as long as you have an available reaction. "assessor" is now available less often.

An Etched Man - Human Variant, with his etchings on the surface of his skin