and was acquainted with their practical purposes. The
most learned philosopher knew little more. He had partially
unveiled the face of the Nature, but her immortal lineaments
were still a wonder and a mystery.
- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein
In this chapter I shall discuss those rare creatures made of substances other than flesh. I have reliable information that each of the materials herein has been used in the construction of at least one golem. In some cases, I can provide firsthand information. In others, I can only provide secondhand information and my own hypotheses.
Although I cannot be entirely certain of these secondhand sources, I firmly believe it is better to err by offering the reader some potentially false or misleading information. It would be tragically irresponsible of me to hold back some information just because I believe it may hold relatively little merit or even be entirely specious. I will not make for you a decision on which your very life, and the lives of your companions, may rest.
That said, let us begin our examination.
This chapter describes golems created by obsessive nonplayer characters (NPCs) In Raventoft. As such, they should be rare and unique, like the characters who fashioned them.These unusual creatures do not necessarily match the descriptions in the Monstrous Manual tome or the Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium appendices. For example, the golem made of metal as described below does not precisely match the description of the iron golem in the monstrous manual book, though strong similarities remain. Further, only a priest or good alignment can create the common clay golem. in contrast, the monster presented here might be the creation of a mad sculptor who fashioned his vision of the perfect woman, and then brought his sculpture to life.
Note that basic ability scores are given for each of the golem types in this chapter. These are base scores only. The DM is encouraged to modify scores as she sees fit, depending on the specific type of stone used in a stone golem, the pattern of glass used in a glass golem, type of wood, and so forth.
Potential strengths and vulnerabilities of each type of golem are also mentioned. The list is by no means exhaustive. In particular, any golem could boast one or two of the extraordinary abilities listed in the previous chapter (the only exception being an ability based on the use of flesh, of course). Further, a golem might be subject to an unusual zeitgeber, and be vulnerable to a particular blessed weapon. As always, you should feel free to create unique golems and adjust the experience point totals accordingly. Match your golem to the idiosyncrasies of its maker, using the suggestions in this chapter as examples of the wide range of possibilities.
Note that any material-specific strengths and weaknesses listed in this chapter are in addition the features common to all golems, which can be summed up as follows:
Can only be struck by an enchanted weapon (+2 or better for every golem noted except straw and flesh)
One might imagine that a bone golem is simple to assemble; bone is quite easy to obtain, after all, and it does not degrade as swiftly as flesh. However, while a flesh golem can be constructed from the dead, a bone golem must be fashioned from the undead (or bones formerly so). By all accounts, bone golems are only viable when constructed from once-animate skeletons that have been defeated in combat. Further, at least ten different skeletons must be combined to create the monster. I cannot say what necessitates such measures; I only know that without them, the would-be creator is unable to fashion a thing as powerful as a golem.
Bone has a number of drawbacks when compared to flesh (which, of course, might be viewed as advantages by a golem hunter). First, this material is not as adaptable or resilient. Thus, bone golems do not appear to have the same level of regenerative ability as do flesh golems. Second, I believe that bone may actually become somewhat brittle over time, which suggests a susceptibility to shattering attacks.
A devoted golem hunter and adventurer of my acquaintance, Hataras the Quiet, has noted that blunt weapons seem to have a far greater effect on golems constructed of bone than do swords and other slashing weapons. This makes sense, as most skeletal creatures are not particularly susceptible to slashing or piercing attacks.
Only a weapon of +2 or greater enchantment can hit bone golems. When struck, a golem has a 10% chance to trap the weapon within its rib cage. An opponent must make a successful bend bars check to withdraw the weapon.Like skeletons, these golems suffer only half damage from edged or piercing weapons. However, a shatter spell makes a bone golem more vulnerable; for three rounds the spell is cast, damage suffered from weapon attacks doubles. (Thus. edged weapons cause full damage, while blunt weapons cause double.) The golem is allowed a save vs. spell to avoid this effect. Bone golems are immune to cold but vulnerable to fire. They regenerate at only half the normal rate from fire attacks, so a golem with a Constitution of 20 would regenerate 1 hit point of fire damage every 12 turns.
Bone golems animated by powerful wizards can emit a laugh so horrifying it prompts both fear and horror checks. Failing one check causes paralyzation for 2-12 rounds; failing both causes death. Most bone golems animated through obsession can also emit such a laugh. However. the creatures described in the Ravenloft MC appendices to the use this ability once every three rounds. Those animated through obsession are limited to three uses per day. Ironically, this can make them more powerful in combat, since they can use the power in consecutive rounds.
Golem, Bone: AL N; AC 0; MV 12; HD 14; THACO 7; #AT 1; Dmg 3d8; SA see above; SD see above; MR Nil; SZ M; ML Fearless (20); XP 18.000. Str 19; Dex 18; Con 20; Int 12; Wis 2; Cha3.
Clay can be found within many riverbanks and cliff sides throughout many lands. Normally, this material is used in the construction of pots, urns, and other items of great use to all. Unfortunately, this pliant material can also be formed into the body of a golem.
When used in the creation of golems, clay provides a strong, solid body. Several years ago, while battling a clay golem in the fens near Rivalis in the West, 1 and my companions were horrified to discover that traditional weapons have little effect upon the soft clay. Our swords and maces appeared to damage the golem not one whit. Fortunately for us, Antalya, our mage, used several fire-based spells on the creature. Although the flames themselves did little damage to the monstrosity, the heat from the fires apparently hardened the clay such that the creature's flesh did not dissipate the force of our physical attacks.
Setting to work with renewed vigor, we managed to shatter the golem. Our stalwart fighter, Porren. was still celebrating his shattering blow when I first noticed the clay begin to soften and reform. Several members of our group were greatly injured at the time. so we decided it to be the better part of valor to retreat and plan our strategy anew. Unfortunately, we could not again find the Golem of the Fens, as locals call it, again. For all I know it is still wandering those very fens to this day.
The clay golems outlined in the Monstrous Manual tome are fashioned by lawful good priests. They are clumsy and unintelligent, and they may become rampaging berserkers should they break free of their masters' control. But a golem molded from clay by an obsessed creator can differ markedly, for it is given life and intelligence by the mysterious powers of Raventoft.Only blunt weapons of +2 or better enchantment can strike a Ravenloft clay golem. Due to the pliant nature of its body, the creature normally takes half damage from all weapons. On an attack roll of 20, the golem can envelop an opponent, inflicting 1d6 points of damage per round. Only a successful bend bars roll will free the victim. (If it should suit the creator, an unusual clay golem might also elongate its limbs, enabling it to attack opponents up to 20 feet distant.)
Ravenloft clay golems take full damage from both heat- and cold-based spells. These magic spells make the flesh somewhat brittle. For three rounds following such an attack, the clay golem takes full damage from all weapons of +2 or greater enchantment.
Like any clay golem, a Ravenloft creation can be driven back 120 feet by a move earth spell, suffering 3-36 (3d12) points of damage. Disintegrate slows the creature for 1-6 rounds and causes 1-12 (ldl2) points of damage. An earthquake spell focused on the creature can halt it for a turn and inflict 5-50 (5dl0) points of damage.
After a round of combat, a clay golem can cast haste on itself for 3 rounds. It can do this once per day.
Golem, Clay: AL N; AC 7; MV 7; HD 11; THACO 9; #AT 1; Dmg 3dl0; SA hug; SD +2 or better weapon to hit; MR Nil; SZ L; ML Fearless (20); XP 11.000. Str 20; Dex 16; Con 20; Int 10; Wis 2; Cha 5.
According to some sages I have consulted, a powerful wizard or priest might fashion a golem out of stained glass. Such creatures take the form of a knight wielding a deadly sword. While I have never encountered such a monster personally. I have seen evidence of another unique creature of the same material, which was clearly the result of its maker's obsession.
When I began my quest to thwart evil long ago, I heard several legends about a terrifying "lady of glass." I never found any reliable evidence, however, so I discounted such tales as mere fancy. That was before I discovered a firsthand account of precisely such a golem, purely by accident.
I was visiting a remote monastery in Darkon to learn more about liches - those dreadful, undead mages. The monks had graciously consented to give me access to their old records. While the information I sought eluded me. I did discover an intriguing letter among some faded documents, ft told of a master glass craftsman with a burning hatred for priests. Thus did I uncover the following description of a lovely golem made of glass.
... and thus we ended the holy service consecrating our new chapel to our most wondrous and revered lady of the Solemn Vacs. What happened next was so foul, so horrid, that my hand quavers even as I write to you. my lord. I beg you to forgire this tailing, but I have slept little since that dreadful dawn. and I can still see the terrifying beauty of the thing in my mind's eye. As I described to you in some detail in my precious missive, the entire front wall of the new edifice was a paean to our serene lady, She of the True Word. It was built entirely of glass by a single craftsman who worked ceaselessly to finish his masterpiece, forgoing even sleep. As the last notes of music faded to quiet that fateful morn. The dawn's light touched the wall of glass. The colors weie dazzling. and I wept at the beauty I had been blessed to see. Now I wish that same beauty had blinded me, as then I woud not hav'e seen the deaths of so many good folk!
Seconds after she chapel was suffused hy the colored light, the image of our Lady. some twenty feel in height, broke away from the wall and began her attack. Some of us cast ourselves to the ground, certain we had trespassed against our goddess in some manner.
But I saw the tiny form of the craftsman standing in the doorway - his face red, yellow, and green in the reflected light. Such an expression! His face was suffused wtfh such twisted hatred that I could not bear to look on it. any more than on the violent deaths of so many of my fellows. I am ashamed lo admit I fled in the face of such horror. but...
The tale of the golem ends there. 1 believe this to be a fairly accurate account. The chapel itself was surely destroyed in the attack. Although I have been unable lo find its exact location. I believe it may have once stood in what is now the Mount Nirka region of Darken. It is probable that the golem is yet in existence to this very day. as there was a report of Just such a creature being sighted no more than twenty years ago.
Although information is minimal, I would think it likely any golem of glass would favor slashing attacks. It might also be able to use certain properties of glass to its advantage, such as heat conduction and the like.
The Monstrous manual book introduces a golem of stained glass, which takes the form of a knight and can be fashioned by high-level priests and wizards. Like such golems, the glass golem born of obsession can unleash a prismatic spray (see the spell in the Player's Handbook) once every 3 rounds. Additionally, such a glass golem may be able to focus a burning ray through its body at targets up to 100 feet distant, causing 3d8 points of damage. A successful saving throw vs. paralysis halves this damage. The burning ray attack can be used only once per day, and the golem must be exposed to direct sunlight.Regardless of their origin, only blunt weapons of +2 or greater enchantment can strike glass golems. Due to their relative fragility, glass golems suffer double damage from such attacks. Additionally, a shatter spell weakens them to the point where melee attacks have a percentage chance equal to twice the points of damage inflicted of instantly slaying the golem.
Golem, Glass: AL N; AC 4; MV 12; HD 9; THACO 11:#AT 1; Dmg 2dl2; SA see above; SD +2 or better weapon to hit: MR Nil: SZ M; ML 20; XP 6,000. Str 18; Dex 17; Con 20; Int 12; Wis 2; Cha 12.
I have heard tales of golems made of iron, though I have never faced one. Presumably, almost any metal could be used. Yet the difficulty in procuring enough of a particular metal and then working it into a suitable form is prohibitive for most individuals. Thus, metallic golems are among the rarest of all.
It is fortunate, indeed, that the above is true. for it would seem plausible that a golem constructed of metal would be so tough as to be nigh unto indestructible. However, the former supposition may also imply that these golems are not as easily reanimated as the golems fashioned from other materials.
It you are ever so unfortunate as to face a metallic foe. I would advise relying on cleverness and trickery, as opposed lo brutish physical assaults. to defeat your unnatural foe.
Unusual metallic golems can only be struck by weapons of +2 enchantment or better. (Only +3 or greater weapons can strike iron golems. See the Monstrous Manual tome for details.) All magical weapons inflict only 2 points of damage to the metallic monster created through obsession, not including strength and magical bonuses. Fire does not normally damage metal golems. (In fact, for the common iron golem, magical fire actually heals 1 hit point per Hit Die of damage; DMs may wish to adapt this ability for other metal golems, too.)Metal golems are incapable of hyper-regeneration. Additionally, electrical attacks slow such creatures for 3 rounds. If the creature is struck by an electrical attack while touching water, triple damage is incurred.
Golem, Metal: AL N; AC 3; MV 6; HD 18; THACO 3; #AT 1; Dmg 4dl0; SA Nit; SD +2 or better to hit; MR Nil; S2 L; ML 20; XP 15,000. Str 24; Dex 17; Con 20; Int 9; Wis 2; Cha 7.
This material suffers much the same strengths and weaknesses of metal mentioned above. However, if the constructor is both patient and skilled, stone is often a far less costly material with which to work.
According to the noted dwarven scholar Abordicus Slategrinder, several appearances of stone golems have been recorded in his homeland of Dubkelheit in Lamordia. Abordicus describes those golems as extremely slow. methodical, and almost invulnerable. Indeed, when faced with stone golem bent on their destruction. one dwarven clan became so desperate they triggered an avalanche to bury the creature. In the process. over half their town was destroyed.
Golem hunters must sometimes take such extreme measures to rid the world of the Created.
Only weapons of +2 or better enchantment can strike a stone golem born of obsession in Ravenloft. Further, slashing and piercing weapons cause only 1 hit point of damage, not including strength and magical bonuses. Unusual golems constructed from slate or other brittle stone take double damage from magical bludgeoning attacks.Like any common stone golem, up to three times per day the golem born of obsession can use slow on its opponents. Stone golems built from igneous rock inflict an additional 1d8 points of damage per attack due to the stone's jagged edges.
A rock to mud spell slows the stone golem for 2d6 rounds. (The reverse, mud to rock, heals all damage!) A stone to flesh spell makes the golem vulnerable to all normal attacks during the next round - excluding spell effects that do not involve the loss of hit points.
Golem, Stone: AL N; AC 5; MV 6; HD 14; THACO 7; #AT 1; Dmg 3d8; SA slows opponent; SD see above; MR Nil; SZ L; ML Fearless (20); XP 9,000. Str 22; Dex 17; Con 20; Int 9; Wis 2; Cha 8.
Though magically animated scarecrows have been known to stagger through the countryside, bent on murder, straw is rarely employed in the construction of an intelligent golem. When such a material is used, it is always due to its peculiar significance to the creator.
I have heard of one such occurrence of a straw golem. however. The halfling farmers residing near Delagia in Darkon have long believed that an intelligent creature made entirely of straw wanders the plowed fields of their countryside. As legend has it, a farmer by the name of Casdin refused to pay the taxes required of him by local law. After months of this flagrantly illegal behavior, the governor sent several members of the local guard to either collect the monies due or take Casdin into custody. The men disappeared.
A larger group was immediately dispatched to apprehend the farmer, now suspected of the far greater crime of murder. Casdin reportedly went quietly, insisting all the while the men had never reached his establishment. This seemed unlikely, and Casdin was placed in a cell in the guardhouse for the night. That very night both the men guarding Casdin, the governor, and the farmer himself disappeared.
Enraged, the governor's lieutenant sent the captain of the guard and ten of his men to retake Casdin. When the group reached Casdin's farmhouse, they discovered it had burned to the ground. The acrid scent of burning flesh drew the guards to the barn, which was untouched by the fire. Within lay the body of Casdin, burned but still recognizable. His fists, cut and scraped, were tightly clutching a bunch of straw.
Though they were reluctant to unbar their door, the neighboring family was questioned later that day. They described what they had seen: a scarecrow carrying Casdin's limp form from his burning home. The creature's straw head was wreathed in flames as it headed into the barn, where Casdin's body was eventually found.
Later, it was also noted that several pieces of straw were found in the governor's bedroom. No other similarity linked the missing governor to the charred corpse of Casdin.
To this day, local farmers refuse to place scarecrows in their fields, lest Casdin's creature take umbrage and burn their own fields and homes to the ground.
As I noted at the onset of this section, the golem I have just described is not a magically animated scarecrow. The golem is a vastly superior opponent. To distinguish which foe you've encountered, I suggest you examine the head. In all likelihood, the straw golem born of obsession will be constructed solely of straw, though the material may be stuffed into clothing. In contrast, the evil scarecrow's head will almost assuredly be a pumpkin or gourd. Truth surely is stranger than fiction, is it not?
The creature outlined here should not be confused with the scarecrow described in the first Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium appendix (even though the scarecrow is classed as a relatively weak form of golem in the monstrous manual tome). The straw golem born of obsession is immune to all fire-based attacks. It can summon a flock of ravens, which will attack the golem's opponents. The ravens surround the golem's opponents, blinding and pecking at them. These golems also have a 90% chance to surprise opponents when hiding in a field or similar environment.Weapons of +1 or greater enchantment are needed to hit a straw golem. (Note that most golems given life by the mysterious powers of Ravenloft are immune to +1 weapons; the straw golem is weaker,) Magical edged weapons cause double damage to these golems. Additionally, if a straw golem is hit by water, it is slowed for 3 rounds (as per the spell).
Golem; Straw: AL N; AC 5; MV 12; HD 9; THACO 11; #AT 2; Drug 2d6/2d6; SA raven flock; SD immune to fire, +1 or better weapon to hit; MR Nil; SZ M; ML 20; XP 3,000. Str 18; Dex 19; Con 20; Int 12; Wis 2; Cha 6.
The time-honored skill of woodcarving continues to be a common practice in villages and towns throughout the land. Most carvers use this skill to create items ranging from the most practical of bowls to the most fanciful of sculptures. Unfortunately, I have heard that some carvers have turned this same skill toward the creation of wood golems.
Although wood golems tend to be smaller in stature than most, they are still vicious opponents and should not be discounted in combat. Some wood golems are said to have a painful splintering attack in which they drive wickedly pointed shards of wood into the victim's flesh. The shards supposedly work inward, towards the victim's heart, inflicting additional damage upon the sufferer.
The wood golem introduced here is not the Ravenloft doll golem. The tatter creature is a toy that may or may not be made of wood. (Most doll golems, in fact, are stuffed animals or dolls of mixed materials.)Wood golems do not bite or cause their victims to laugh uncontrollably, as doil golems can. However, the creatures do boast an unusual splintering attack. By smashing a limb against a solid object, a wood golem can cause 1d4 large splinters to fly from its body (range 30 feet). If a splinter hits its target, it burrows into the flesh, causing 1d4 points of damage per round untii removed. Further, unlike doll golems, wood golems are not slowed by the warp wood spell. In fact, the creatures can themselves warp wood, three times per day.
Most wood golems can only be struck by weapons of +2 or better enchantment. If the golem is constructed of petrified wood, however, a +3 weapon or better is required. Magical fire attacks cause double damage. Additionally, these goiems suffer twice the usual amount of damage from magically summoned insects (summon swarm, for example). Golems made from ironwood are slowed for 3 rounds by electrical attacks.
Golem, Wood: AL N; AC 6; MV 12; HD 12; THACO 8; #AT 2; Dmg 2d8/2d8; SA splinters; SD +2 or better weapon to hit; MR Nil; SZ M; ML 20; XP 6,000. Str 19; Dex 18; Con 20; Int 9; Wis 2; Cha 7.
Compilers' Note: Since Dr. Van Richten wrote the above text, he continued to collect stories regarding golems made of other, unusual materials. Since his disappearance, we have collated these sparse notes into the following list. We have not, yet, been able to determine the degree of truth behind these "new" creatures, thus at present, we have no concrete details on the gargoyle, doll, zombie, or mechanical golem.
All four of these golem types can be found in the collected Monstrous Compendium Appendices I & II (TSR #02162).
