Living Statue

Living statues are magical constructs much like golems. Nearly all are humanoid, though other shapes can be made, and when still they are indistinguishable from ordinary carvings or castings of stone, crystal, or metal. They need no food, water, air, or sleep, and are animated by an elemental spirit bound into an artificial body.

Charm, sleep, and hold spells do not affect them, and they are immune to poison, disease, and suffocation. Though no geniuses, they have enough wit to fight sensibly. Left alone, a statue stands perfectly still, waiting to ambush the careless, and most try to take out spellcasters first. They can follow fairly involved orders and adjust them when the situation changes. Most simply pound foes with their fists; they are too clumsy to use weapons well but can be told to operate simple tools if a task calls for it. A squad guarding a castle gate might, when attacked, spill and ignite a cask of oil, drop the portcullis, and ring an alarm gong.

Crystal: The weakest type. As magical constructs they are not damaged by shatter.

Iron: These bodies absorb metal. Normal weapons hurt them fully, but a nonmagical metal weapon that hits one sticks fast unless its wielder saves vs. spell, and it cannot be pulled free until the statue is destroyed. Over the next 1d4 days the statue absorbs the metal and expels any nonmetal parts.

Jade: Saves as a 10th-level fighter. Nonmagical weapons cannot harm it, and magical weapons strike it without their attack or damage bonuses. A destroyed jade statue crumbles into worthless powder.

Rock: A hollow shell full of molten magma, which it sprays from its fingertips at one target per round (range 5/10/15) with a normal attack roll, for 2d6 damage. When destroyed it bursts, leaving a 30-foot pool of magma that deals 2d6 to anyone in it, halved by a save vs. breath weapon.

Ooze: Hollow like the rock type but filled with gray ooze, which it squirts the same way. Each hit leaves a small, stationary blob (4 hp, AC 8) that deals 2d4 to its victim every round until killed. Like any gray ooze it dissolves metal, eating chain mail in a round and plate in two; magical armor holds out one extra round per point of enchantment. A slain ooze statue splits open and releases a 3 HD gray ooze with all the usual abilities.

Silver: Immune to nonmagical weapons, normal fire, and every nonmetal weapon whether enchanted or not; magical edged or pointed weapons (type S or P) inflict half damage. Its little fists are useless, so it bites.

Steel: Nonmagical iron or steel weapons cannot hurt it and automatically stick when they strike; a round later the blade melts into the statue, which heals 1d4+1 hit points. Enchanted weapons resist absorption and do normal damage but still stick, and freeing one quickly requires an open doors roll. On a failure, the wielder still recovers the weapon but forfeits any remaining attacks that round and takes a +2 initiative penalty next round.

Living statues appear wherever spellcasters live or once lived, usually as guards or servants in castles and ruins. They have no society and exist only to obey their makers. They own no treasure but often stand tireless watch over tombs and hidden hoards.

Any wizard or priest of 9th level or more can make one if the right spells and materials are on hand; spells beyond the caster's reach may be supplied from scrolls. The creator hires a skilled sculptor or smith to produce a suitable figure and casts spells over it as the work proceeds. A wizard needs fabricate, friends, geas, conjure elemental, and suggestion; a priest needs animate object, command, quest, prayer, and raise dead. Every material must be real, not magically produced.

Crystal: Quartz or another common crystal is fine, though diamond and other precious kinds work too; one flawless, crack-free slab of human size is required.

Iron: Only pure wrought iron, smelted fresh from new ore, will serve.

Jade: Gem-quality jade is not required; any sound, unflawed block of ordinary stone big enough for a human figure will do.

Rock/Ooze: The sculptor makes seven pieces (two arms, two legs, head, back, and chest) and joins them. The body holds the magma or ooze, which flows through channels carved in the arms. The creator must provide 10 pounds of magma drawn from a volcano's heart, or a living gray ooze.

Silver: Its outer coat of pure silver, worth 50 gp, can be stripped from the wreck if the statue is destroyed.

Steel: Requires the finest steel, part of it melted down from a steel weapon that has already slain a foe in battle (a blooded blade).