Golem III [Mystara]

Constructs are powerful enchanted beings built and set in motion by high-level wizards or priests, and they can be made of almost anything, rock and silver among them. Both kinds here resist poison and attacks on the mind, follow their makers' orders to the letter, and serve almost entirely as guardians of treasure or important places. Lacking society, companions or any natural home, they find that simple commands nearly overwhelm their dim minds. Needing neither food nor sleep, they endure until destroyed, usually in a fight.

At rest a rock golem usually passes for a jagged outcrop of stone. Those carved with rare skill as great human statues are sometimes confused with caryatid columns, a different kind of magical construct.

They move slowly but fight with grim ferocity, pounding with two fists for 2d10 each and using no other attack. They never tire and carry out their master's orders exactly and without thought.

Only magical weapons can hurt one. Any ordinary weapon that strikes it simply breaks: blades snap and axe heads fly apart. Enchanted blunt weapons are safe, but magical edged or pointed weapons must save vs. crushing blow at -2, adding their magical bonus, or shatter. Fire, cold and electricity do nothing to a rock golem, though spells with other effects can harm it.

Construction takes a month and 50,000 gp. A wizard of 14th level or higher can make one with geas, limited wish, move earth and stoneskin.

A silver golem is a tall, gangly humanoid whose silver shell is filled with quicksilver, the source of its remarkable speed. The skin is so supple that it looks nearly liquid, and the only features are two eyes of quicksilver.

No known construct is faster. It strikes twice with each fist, four attacks per round, and always wins initiative, beating even a speed-enchanted short sword. Like any golem, though, it attacks only when and how its maker instructs.

Weapons need a +1 or better enchantment to damage it. Magical fire swells it, adding 1 Hit Die for each level of the spell used, while magical cold shrinks it by the same amount; no other spells affect it.

A destroyed silver golem leaves 100 pounds of silver worth 1,000 gp. Building one requires all the usual golem-making enchantments plus 50 pounds of quicksilver to animate it, for a total material cost of 100,000 gp. Only a wizard of 14th level or higher can do it, over six months, adding domination, haste, lightning bolt, limited wish and major creation.