Manipulators are best described as the common hoofsoldiers of Hyacinth's armies. They are the most commonly spawned puppet, even among light puppets, and excel in a wide variety of scenarios thanks to their usage of assorted tools, moderate durability, and ample cooperative instinct. Their numbers are rivaled only by Imps. A group of Manipulators is known as (what else) an armful.

Manipulators are fairly moderately sized puppets at an average height of 3' 6" (107cm), with a build that is not notably thick or thin. Their defining trait is their arm, which bears a three fingered hand. It is with this hand that Manipulators conduct a grand majority of their tool usage and other actions. Internally, Manipulators are not anything special, with minimal excess organs. Their brain mass is disproportionately high, even for a light puppet, but they do not display any sort of magical potential. When solo, they do not display any psionic potential, but said potential rears itself when Manipulators are working in a group. It is assumed that this extra brain mass is used for other functions: tool devising, crafting, and using, as well as cooperating or formulating strategies.

Manipulators display a wide array of behaviours in combat, able to adapt to numerous situations thanks to their usage of tools and weapons. A single Manipulator may engage in combat directly with its hooves, act as a bulwark by equipping a shield, engage targets at range with simple throwing weapons like knapped stone knives, or two Manipulators may "crew up" to act as a coordinated unit, using their combined two hands to wield heavier weapons like crossbows. It is this versatility that gives Manipulators much of their notoriety, as well as their name: They manipulate available resources to their advantage.

When part of a working crew, Manipulators display a much stronger psionic potential than normal, and move as if they are singular units despite being multiple distinct physical bodies. This is another feature that Manipulators have in common with Imps, though Manipulators do not receive any durability benefits; the acute sense of parity seems to be entirely mental in nature.

Outside of combat, Manipulators are prone to a near-stubborn amount of industriousness. They can almost constantly be found attempting to knap stone toolheads, assembling basic tools and weapons, or designing new implements for themselves and their fellows. This industriousness extends to experimenting with multi-unit formations to carry heavy objects such as pieces of machinery.

At the genetic level, Manipulators display a fairly unique, but wide array of epigenetic triggers that explains a great deal of their versatility. The body has several nerve centers with which to send and receive impulses, suggesting that their versatility is as much neurological as it is physical. The wide variety of triggers also suggests that Manipulators may have once been a more specialized caste, or perhaps evolved into more specialized castes (the inbetweens of which have since been lost to time, or perhaps were skipped entirely through proper genetic maneuvering).

Manipulators are capable of a subset of specializations based on what they are holding, usually taking into account the properties and intended use of an equipped item. Specializations slowly wear off over time if a Manipulator is not equipped with any particular piece of equipment. The known varieties are:

• Bulwarks: A specialization marked by an increased hardening of the skin. Most often triggered by Manipulators equipping shields or psionic bulwarks made by Deltas, though if Manipulators spend extended periods during peacetime carrying heavy pieces of machinery, it can also trigger these changes.
• Duelists: A specialization marked by hypertrophy in the Manipulator's limbs; particularly its arm. Most common in Manipulators wielding large melee weapons like swords or polearms.
• Hawkeyes: A specialization marked by a hightened level of precision and a shift in the eyes to favour farsightedness. Invoked only when Manipulators are carrying thrown weapons, or when they are paired up for use of large crossbows.

Manipulators were created as part of the initial "batch" of puppets along with Tricksters, Reconcilants, and Imps. Originally, their role was to be the frontline grunt unit, sporting enhanced unarmed potential (due to actually having arms) with their being extremely common and having decent durability.

Over time, Manipulators have matured into a versatile tool-using class. This does grate with some ideas explored with Serfs later on, though there's still plenty of room for the two to coexist as "tool smiths" and "tool utilizers". Manipulators also occupy a frontline role, whereas Serfs are more suited for backline support. When considering new puppets, however, I always consider a Manipulator's role as a versatile frontline toolhand to be their main gimmick.