Creature Feature: Aquatic Golems

 Introducing a new feature to my RPG blog:

 The Creature Feature

 

I will be occasionally featuring a new creature from my own bestiary.  This entry features Aquatic Golems; yes, golems that operate underwater.  Read and enjoy.

 

Aquatic golems are almost always found guarding underwater lairs. The two most common forms found are either a shark, or an orca (killer whale), although other rare forms have been identified like giant squids, giant octopus, or giant eels. These golems come in two variants: Stone, or iron. Both variants are programmed to guard either a specific area, or an item depending on the wishes of their creators. The form of the golem dictates its method of attack, and damage it does in combat. Each variant has its own special attack form as well; see the creature listings below. These golems are considered greater golems, thus cannot go berserk.

Aquatic Stone Golem: The stone variant is sculpted from a single block of granite, or stone of similar hardness, of no less than 40,000 gold piece value, and one ton in weight. A master sculptor is required to make the golem, and it will take the craftsman a minimum of three months to sculpt the statue. There is be a fifteen percent chance of the sculptor causing a flaw in the statue rendering it useless as a golem, and must start over from scratch. Once the statue is crafted, a wizard of no less than sixteenth level is needed to cast the following spells: Wish, haste, polymorph any object, geas, levitate, and shocking grasp. In addition, a protection from water scroll is required. Spell scrolls may substituted to complete the spell-casting requirements so long as they are of the correct level of power. The spell-caster will need a minimum of sixty days to a maximum of ninety to cast the spells and activate the golem. There is a twenty-five percent chance of failing to activate the golem. If the spell-caster fails to activate the golem, there is a twenty percent chance of the statue becoming damaged, and rendered useless for purposes of becoming a golem. This golem weighs about 1,300 pounds.

Aquatic Iron Golem: The iron variant is made from iron of no less than 55,000 gold piece value, and weighing a minimum of 3,400 pounds. A master iron smith is needed to craft the statue that is to be the golem, and the craftsman will need a minimum of six months time. There is be a twenty percent chance of the smith causing a flaw in the statue rendering it useless as a golem, and must start over from scratch. Once the statue is made, a wizard of at least eighteenth level is needed to cast the following spells: Wish, haste, polymorph any object, levitate, geas, and lighting bolt. In addition, a protection form water scroll is required. Spell scrolls may substituted to complete the spell-casting requirements so long as they are of the correct level of power. The spell-caster needs from ninety to one-hundred-twenty days to cast the spells and activate the golem. If the spell-caster fails to activate the golem, there is a twenty-five percent chance of the statue becoming damaged, and rendered useless for purposes of becoming a golem. This golem weighs about 2,000 pounds.

	Aquatic Stone Golem	Aquatic Iron Golem
CLIMATE/TERRAIN:	Underwater	Underwater
FREQUENCY:	Vary Rare	Very Rare
ORGANIZATION:	Individual	Individual
ACTIVITY CYCLE:	Any	Any
DIET:	Nil	Nil
INTELLIGENCE:	Non- (0)	Non- (0)
TREASURE:	Nil	Nil
ALIGNMENT:	Nil	Nil
NO. APPEARING:	1 to 2	1 to 2
ARMOR CLASS:	5	3
MOVEMENT:	Sw 24	Sw 24
HIT-DICE:	7 (30 hp)	12 (50 hp)
THAC0:	15	13
NO. OF ATTACKS:	1	1
DAMAGE/ATTACK:	3-12	5-20
SPECIAL ATTACKS:	See below	See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES:	See below	See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE:	See below	See below
SIZE:	L (15' long)	H (20' long)
MORALE:	Fearless (20)	Fearless (20)
XPV:	5,000	7,000

Combat:
Aquatic Stone Golem – This variant golem attacks with a bite equivalent to the largest of sharks. In addition to its normal attack, this golem is able to deliver an electrical touch attack of 1d8+16 hit points damage (save applicable, thrice per day, 50% chance per attack); targets are AC 10 in regard to this attack. If this golem attacks a sailing vessel, the vessel's hull must save versus crushing blow, or it will cause a hole in the hull of two to three feet in diameter. Weapons of plus two, or better enchantment can only affect this golem. The golem is immune to all spells save a full wish, stone to flesh (allows normal weapons to damage the golem for the spell's duration), or rock to mud (restores all lost hit points).

Aquatic Iron Golem – This golem attacks with a bite equivalent to Orcas, or Killer Whales. In addition to its bite, this golem can cast lighting bolt (forty percent chance per round) at the eighteenth level of ability thrice per day. If this golem attacks a sailing vessel, the vessel's hull must save versus crushing blow at a plus two penalty on the die roll, or a three to four foot diameter hole results. Weapons of plus three, or better enchantment can only hit this golem. The golem is immune to all spells and spell-like powers save a full wish, electrical attacks (slow the golem by half for 1d4 rounds per damage hit die of the attack), or fire based attacks (restore one hit point per damage hit die of the attack).

Habitat/Society: Golems, being unintelligent constructs, have no organization except what was imposed on them by their creators upon activation.

Ecology: Golems neither add to, or take from any environs they may habituate in, as they do not consume any resources.

Variants: By form taken.