Ceramic Figurine

At a glance this brightly painted miniature golem looks like one of the wondrous-power figurines, and like other automatons it usually serves its maker as a guard. Most depict an alligator or other lizard, though turtles, frogs and snakes are known. All share a slightly rounded, hollow body. They understand their creator's main language but cannot speak.

Ceramic figurines are not mindless. Their low intelligence gives them a bit of cunning, so they exploit cover and their tiny bodies to creep close and strike unseen, rather than charging blindly as most golems do.

Every figurine is made with a small hole in its base so it will not burst in the kiln. Its master can fill the hollow with acid, poison, oil or another liquid and seal it, letting the figurine spray one target within ten feet, twice per filling. The effect depends on the liquid. If a filled figurine is broken by a melee hit, crushing blow or similar shock, it shatters and everyone within 10 feet must save vs. breath weapon or suffer the liquid's effect.

It can also bite, claw or otherwise attack as its shape suggests, dealing 1d4 points of damage per hit. Though fearless, it enters melee only under orders to fight until destroyed; otherwise it retreats to its master after using its spray.

It is immune to fire, cold and electricity. Shatter or shout forces it to save vs. spell or be destroyed. Weapons below +1 bounce off as if striking castle walls, while any bashing weapon able to hurt it deals double damage.

As constructs, they have no society or natural home and simply guard what or where they are told, using simple tactics within their orders.

The clay must come from the banks of a sacred lake in the jungle realm. The figure is coated in slip, a mix of clay and water, and fired in a kiln, then glazed in color and fired again. Once cool it is painted in detail and ready for animation, which takes either raise dead with animate object, or limited wish with polymorph any object.

The maker needs a fully equipped pottery workshop with kiln, wheel, tools, clays and paints. Outfitting the shop and making the first figurine costs 7,500 gp and takes a month and a half; each additional figurine costs just 4,000 gp. Any liquids for its belly must be made or bought separately.

The same strange force that grants these figurines their cunning also fills them with deep hatred for their masters. Free-willed ones can track down and swallow the liquids they need to become dangerous on their own.