Bloodthirsty Manikin

Tiny construct, neutral evil

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 39 (6d4 + 24)
Speed 20 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
8 (-1)	15 (+2)	18 (+4)	13 (+1)	10 (+0)	13 (+1)

Skills Intimidate +5, Stealth +6
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Cruel Slasher. During its first turn, the bloodthirsty manikin has advantage on attack rolls against a creature that hasn’t taken a turn. If the bloodthirsty manikin hits a surprised target with a shiv attack, the attack is a critical hit.
• Implacable Stalker. The bloodthirsty manikin is difficult to destroy. Even if reduced to 0 hit points, burned, dismembered, or otherwise destroyed, it makes itself whole 24 hours after destruction, returning to full hit points. The manikin can use locate creature at will to track the creature that reduced the manikin to 0 hit points. The bloodthirsty manikin can be permanently slain by casting remove curse or greater restoration while it is at 0 hit points. Pouring a vial of holy water over a bloodthirsty manikin at 0 hit points destroys it if it fails a DC 10 Constitution saving throw.
• False Appearance. While the bloodthirsty manikin remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an inanimate doll.
• Sneak Attack (1/turn). The bloodthirsty manikin deals an extra 3 (1d6) damage when it hits a target with a weapon attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally of the manikin that isn’t incapacitated and the manikin doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.

ACTIONS

• Shiv. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d2 + 2) slashing damage.
• Beguiling Gift (Recharges on Long Rest). The bloodthirsty manikin targets a creature within 5 feet that is unaware the manikin is a creature. The target must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw or spend its next action picking up the manikin. Creatures immune to being charmed are immune to this effect.

ABOUT

This smiling doll, a bit mussed from long care and love, is suddenly transfigured into an object of horror, its hideous grimace betraying its murderous intentions as surely as the dripping blade it has produced from seemingly nowhere.

The bloodthirsty manikin is an accursed menace for low-level adventurers, a seemingly harmless plaything crafted as a subtle assassin, shedding blood with blade and booby trap alike, and cursed with murderous urges that can bring it back from destruction to kill again.

Careful Crafting. A bloodthirsty manikin must be crafted of wood or porcelain and dressed in tiny clothing and accessories like a doll (rarely, a manikin may be crafted of soft fur and cloth to resemble a small animal). Whatever its outside appearance, its eyes must be crafted of polished semiprecious stones and its stuffing infused with the desiccated tissue from the hearts of at least 3 sentient creatures killed by slashing or piercing damage. These materials cost 100 gp.