Metagolem

A metagolem is a hollow humanoid shell of metal brought to life by magic. They come in as many kinds as there are metals, from plain copper up to platinum alloys, and in general the rarer the metal, the better its armor, speed and damage per blow. Like ordinary golems they are driven by elemental spirits, but metagolems are also granted real intelligence and the power of speech. Their statistics include ratings for powering minor or major starhelms.

Metagolems are smart and fight with good tactics, yet they feel nothing and nothing can turn them from their purpose. Besides their few spells they never use weapons, relying on their fists. Once a day each, at 10th level, they can cast fly, web, magic missile, flaming sphere, stinking cloud and fireball.

Wizard spells of the enchantment/charm, illusion/phantasm and alteration schools do not affect them, nor do priest spells of the Charm sphere. Electricity never harms them; it recharges them instead (see Ecology). Like every golem they are immune to poison.

Powerful wizards build metagolems for specific aims, such as tracking down an enemy or gathering treasure. They have no real society but show an odd affection for one another, and now and then a group of them can be found lounging together on a world known for fierce lightning storms.

A metagolem has no will of its own and always works toward its maker's wishes. It shares its creator's alignment and has the equivalent of Strength 15 for lifting and carrying. Only wizards of 18th level or higher can build them, and the methods are little known.

If traveling with adventurers will further its master's aims, a metagolem may join them. It is surprisingly pleasant company but is seldom trusted, since no one knows when its hidden orders will clash with the group's plans.

Unlike regular golems, a metagolem needs periodic charges of electrical energy to keep running. Each hit point of electrical damage it absorbs fuels it for a week, up to 100 weeks of stored operation. Without power it goes dormant until recharged. Starving metagolems have been known to deliberately insult mighty wizards just to provoke a lightning bolt.