AD&D - Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium, Vol 1 (2e)

short, the flesh heals many times faster eThe colder the temperature at which
than it did while sheathing other bodies
(see Chapter Three for details). a body is kept, the longer the process
of decay is kept at bay. Obviously, the
At this point in our discussion, we reverse is also true; the warmer the
must ask ourselves several questions. temperature, the swifter the decay.
When selecting body parts for Moisture in the air, or humidity, also
inclusion, how much tissue affects the rate of decomposition. The
deterioration and decay is acceptable higher the humidity, the more rapid the
before the body part becomes too rotting, However, humidity levels are
decayed for use? Can pieces of any secondary in importance to
body be used? For example, can temperature.
animal or monster parts be used in the
assembly of the body? In an environment well below
freezing, it is possible for a corpse to
Before we proceed to examine these remain in virtually pristine condition
horrible yet medically fascinating for an indefinite period of time,
issues, Imust first warn more sensitive untouched by even the slightest hint of
readers that the material next covered decay, This is why a body found during
is of necessity rather visceral. If the a spring thaw at a northerly lake often
following material disturbs or upsets, I appears to have died only recently,
apologize. Still, we must not allow
faint-heartedness to keep us from when in fact the victim has been frozen
knowledge.
for months. Of course, the process of
In order for a body part to be useful in
the construction of a flesh golem, the decay can never be reversed, and any
ligaments, tendons, and the like must decay that occurred before the body
not yet have rotted to the degree that was frozen will still be in evidence.
they rip and tear when manipulated. Further, once the body part is exposed
Although a flesh golem’s body is to warmer temperatures, decay
extremely powerful and resilient once continues.
it i s animate, during construction the
opposite is true. The creator must take What if the temperature is cool but
great care to stitch the muscles, not below freezing? In this case, or
tendons, and ligaments of one body when the air is very dry, body parts
part to the corresponding muscles, can remain intact for quite some time.
tendons, and ligaments of its partner. They do continue to decay, but the
This work i s both arduous and process is slowed. Under such
exacting.
conditions, it would seem reasonable
Due to the stitching and great that body parts would remain usable
amount of manipulation the body parts
must withstand, I estimate that, given for perhaps a s long as two weeks,
average conditions, body parts must
be utilized within one week of death. although such parts would surely
Beyond that period, the part may have undergo some degradation.
degraded to uselessness. Note that this
is a very general estimate, and When the air is warm but not hot-
conditions are rarely “average.” that is, in temperatures humans find
Several factors can affect the exact most comfortable-flesh decays
sneed ofdecav. The most important steadily. I venture to say that a body
are temperature and moisture. part would become useless after a
period of perhaps nine days in such a
temperate environment. If, however,
conditions were particularly moist but
not excessively hot (or vice versa),
decay would set in at a faster rate than
under so-called “average” conditions.
In such climates, flesh might become
unusable in perhaps a s few a s five or
six days. (This explains why the

’: villagers living near the Great Falls blood?”I inquired of the elders
wait no more than one day before
present. The uictims o f a vampire’s
I burying their dead. Through
foul ministrations often appear to die
1 experience, these villagers know that
warm, moist air cause bodies to in such a manner; before rising as
decompose quite rapidly, just a s meat
minions of euil but a few nights later
becomes rancid far more rapidly in the
summer than in the winter.) “No,Dr. Van Richten,” the village

leader replied, his aged hands

shaking with sorrow and fear “That

is why we took no precautions with

the lads’ bodies. It was simply an

accident that caused their deaths,

just a terrible accident.”

“I haue found that accidents are

not always what they first appear to

be,” I responded, as gently as

possible. “Pleasetell me more about

the circumstances....”

-From the journal of

-7- -G -Dr. Van Richten

Under the most extreme conditions
of damp heat, such a s a jungle
environment, decay sets in with
amazing speed. If you ever visit the
jungles of Sri Raji for example, note
the rich loam of the earth, the quickly

rotting logs, the amazing variety and
number of insects. All are signs of both
the speed and thoroughness with
which death brings decay in such a
clime. It would seem difficult in the
extreme to construct a flesh golem
under such conditions, but would-be
creators are fantastically resourceful.
At best, I would Imagine the creator to
have only two or three days’ leeway
before the flesh so degrades as to
become nonviable.

There is an interesting side note on
humidity and its effects on
decomposition. When exposed to an
extremely raw, arid climate, a corpse
may not decompose in the normal
manner. I observed this effect myself
while journeying across a desert. My
fellows and I, riding sturdy mules,
were attempting to reach the lair of a
lich whose sanctuary was supposedly

hidden beneath the dust and sand.
The wind was particularly fierce one
day, forcing us to stop and make

.~ . ... . .. ,.. ....

.& Despite this possibility, I have never
heard of such a creature.
Pi - hLLiION, T1IE 7'IiflUl:
I'd like to close this section with a
a camp early. That night, I feared both cautionary note. Do not make the
my tent and my person would be mistake of assuming that because you
ripped to shreds by the driving storm, are in a hot and humid region, the
or at the least that I would be would-be creator will be unable to
permanently deafened by the wind's finish his work. Climatic limitations can
titanic roar! be circumvented: a s always, the truly
Fortunately my fears proved obsessed will find a way if any chance
groundless. The tents held, a s did my of success exists, no matter how
ears. In the morning we emerged, remote.
ready to set off once again. As I sipped
cool water in a vain attempt to wash A colleague of mine once reported
the gritty tang from my mouth, our
stumbling across a strange room
guide, Atrawn, ran up to me. He located deep beneath the earth. Within
dragged me over the facing dune, the chamber, a gold miner had begun
collecting and storing body parts in
nearly causing to me to spill my water preparation For construction of a
skin with his urgency. golem. The miner's story was one of
loneliness and rejection, and the man
He pointed to a small group of apparently longed for someone who
bodies, which had been invisible wouldn't mock or shun him. It was
previously. Knowing the storm must fortunate for the man that my
have uncovered the corpses, I began colleague discovered his chamber, for
an examination. It was a s if all the the rejection h e would have ultimately
moisture in the bodies had been drawn faced from his golem would have been
out. The dark skin was still wrapped Far worse than any he could possibly
firmly about the bones, but it was have conceived.
extremely thin and wrinkled. Along the
necks, legs, and arms I could easily h3
make out tendons, jutting stiFfly
outward from the shrunken forms. ---4
There was no odor OF death or decay
about the bodies, only the clean, warm ...Clearly my inquiry about the
smell of the desert.
three youths' deaths caused my
By this point in my examination, my hosts great discomfort. The elders
companions had gathered around as shook their heads in sorrow and
well. Torenor the dwarf carefully confusion. An old woman stood
plucked a trinket from one of the among them, pulling her heauy
bodies, wondering aloud if it was woolen shawl closer about her frail
valuable. Glancing at the silver and shoulders. It was s h e who gave the
onyx earring, I was startled to see it only uerbal response, "They were
was a durasha, an item used by a working on the new barn when it
certain nomadic tribe as a ward collapsed on top of them. We all
worked fast as we could to get them
against evil spirits. However, the tribe
had died off years ago, killed by rivals. out of there,.. but there was naught

From both the condition of the we could do for the lads, poor
corpses and the presence of the things. "
durasha, I estimated the bodies to have
been at least a century dead. Clucking her tongue in sorrow,
Apparently, the sere climate caused the woman, one Nelly by name,
the moisture to disappear so quickly turned to stare at the ruined
from the tissue that no true decay
could set in. It would follow that buildingjust uisible through the

6similarly desiccated parts could be frees while Haualand a n d Gildred
used in.the construciion of a golem completed their excauatlon.

-, TriE CREATED ... ,.,

Presumablv, any lessening of skills '28,
would be those-relative to-the defective
The villagers had been too body part or parts (a slightly rotted
brain might create a less intelligent
terrified to search the graoes creature, for example).

themseloes, so they were quite Indeed, I suspect that certain body
parts-especially those upon which
shocked to see the mangled forms skills are based-might be more
vulnerable to decay and damage than
lying uncovered within the newly others. Eyes, brains, hearts, and other
organs should become unusable at a
re-opened graoes. All three of the faster rate due to their delicacy. Other,
less delicate body parts-limbs, for
men had been young and example-would no doubt withstand
greater abuse before they are rendered
powerfully built. Now though, each worthless.

of the bodies was missing one limb. A scientist with whom I a m
acquainted has suggested that the
Asking as delicately as I could level of decay is not truly pertinent,
save that a part must have enough
under the circumstances, I structural integrity to hold together
during the actual physical
confirmed that each man had been construction. I tend to dispute this
idea: it makes little sense, given what
whole when buried. . . . we know of physiology. However, it is
unwise to entirely rule out any
-From the journal of possibility when dealing with the
Created. Take this information, your
Dr. Van Richten own observations, and any other
sources you can find and come to your
----%-- e-: .- own conclusions. It is your life at risk.

The chamber was reachable only by
arduously crawling through a network
of small caves that followed a tiny
underground stream. Although the
outside temperatures averaged over
100 degrees and the humidity was
always high, the chamber itself was
extremely cool due to its depth and
stone insulation. Thus, the collected
body parts remained quite fresh even
though the first of the limbs' "donors"
was almost a week dead.

Sffects of Decay Wonhman Body Parts

I do not wish to imply that a week-old It is indeed possible for body parts
body part and one that is but hours
dead are of equal value. The fresher from corpses of different races, and
part would be much more valuable
from a creator's perspective. While a even different species, to be used in
piece of flesh may be usable, it does
not follow that it reflects "peak the creation of one golem. I myself was
condition." When partially decayed
materials are used in the construction involved in the destruction of a
of a golem, the creature's structural
integrity is diminished. Further, if too particularly grotesque golem who
many parts have degraded sufficiently,
the creature as a whole may not be appeared to have been constructed
viable, no matter what the creator
attempts. from no fewer than three different

Another possibility is that a member species. Its head and torso were
of the Created whose body contains
partially decayed body parts is not a s human, but one of its arms was that of
clever or powerful as a golem
constructed solely with fresher parts. a brown bear, while its legs appeared

to have been ogre limbs. It was a

terribly disfigured monster, all out of

proportion with itself, like a child's

fanciful drawing come horribly to life.

What, if any, mental and emotional

effect would this sort of meraina have?
- I

That is a question which I shall explore

later in this work. However, all my ...At this point in the inuestigation,
hypotheses and psychological
postulations are as nothing to staring I realized no vampire was at work
into the face of such a wretched being.
here. Someone, perhaps even one of
I speculate that only certain natural the elders standing before me, was
barriers would keep a creator from
being able to cobble together a golem attempting to construct a flesh
made from many different creatures.
One obvious barrier is size. If the dif- golem. Far from easing my mind,
ference between two connecting body this discouery only caused my heart
parts is too great, the creator cannot to race. For once a golem becomes
successfully stitch the parts together. functional, it can be even more
Even if the stitching could be difficult to destroy than the dreaded
accomplished, a golem with, say, the uampire!
body of a halfling and the arm of a n
ogre would have difficulty effectively Fortunately, in this instance we
using the outsized limb. In general, the
supporting frame must be of sufficient were able to stop the creator before
size and strength to utilize its limbs.
Some leeway may be assumed, he completed his dread child. That
however, due to the additional strength very evening, I and my two stolid
musculature appears to gain when
reanimated as part of a golem companions stationed ourselues
construct. I shall delve further into the around the tiny graueyard. We
subject of odd parts-and the resulting
physical attributes-in Chapter Three, caught the graue robber attempting
“Constructions of Flesh.”
to exhume yet anotliei~corpse. The
Here it is probably wise to mention man himself was crazed with
the tragic creatures known as broken
ones. Educated readers may believe desperation and need-what had
these sad beings to be almost identical brought him to such a state we uill
in nature to golems. While they do neuer know. When it became
have certain similarities, this is not at
all the case. obvious he would be unable to

Broken ones are the tragic survivors make good his escape, the man
of both scientific and magical
experiments. Humans once, their drank from a small vial in his
humanity has been inextricably
mingled with the life force of animals. possession. Moments later he
The shock of this transformation collapsed, a uictim of the powerful
forever alters the wretched creatures.
But there is an extremely important poison contained therein, and the
distinction between these beings and obsessions ofhis own warped mind.
golerns. Broken ones are alive. They
do not die in the experiments, and thus As a doctor, I use all my humble
the scientists and mages do not create skills and knowledge to fight death.
new life in creating broken ones. Yet, standing in the bitter cold of
Although terrible violation of the spirit that bleak cemetery, I knew this
occurs, no death is involved. This is a man’s death was probably for the
critical diFference between golems and best, Had he completed his work-
broken ones. and I knew it would have been
impossible to dissuade him-then

he surely would have faced a more
horrid demise at the hands of his

own creation.
-From the journal of

iocfyParfs 4nnd Dewy Usable: Body parts in “usable”
condition have truly begun to deca!
an Richten has introduced t h e and they will weaken the golem in
ubject of decay and its effect on a some small way. This is particularl)
esh golem. This topic is covered in true if organs are involved. Some
reater detail below. Such information examples of the effect of using sucl
Lan be useful in creating a history for parts during creation of the golem i
a flesh golem. a s well as in a s follows:
“customizing”a particular monster by Eyes: Vision reduced to 50%
giving it limbs that have decayed Limb: -1 to Dexterity, -1 to Strengt
almost to the point of uselessness. Brain: -3 to Intelligence
This mechanism IS particularly useful Feet: Movement reduced to 75%
to DMs who wish to create a weaker
golem for low-level parties. Decayed: This flesh is in an
advanced state of decay. Organs at
Sttges of Decay other delicate tissues in this state
cannot be used to construct a viabl
The condition of the specific parts golem. It is sometimes possible to
used in the creation of a golem can use other body parts in this state, t
affect the monster‘s base statistics they produce an inferior golem.
(see Chapter Three for a list of these Examples of the effect of using suc
statistics). For purooses of body parts during the creation of tb
determining decay, there are two golem are a s follows:
categories of body parts: organs and Limb: -2 to Dexterity, -2 to Strengt
limbs. Organs are delicate and more Feet: Movement at 50%
vulnerable to such deterioration.
Once body parts pass this final
Body parts undergo four stages a s stage, they are far too putrid for u s
they decay: fresh, good. usable, and in a flesh golem, although a zombii
decayed. Brief descriptions of golern or bone golem might be
possible game effects for each stage constructed successfully. Anyone
are given below. These are guidelines viewing such a golem should
for DMs, who may use them to “flesh immediately make a horror check
out” physical details for a particular due to the hideous appearance o f t
golem. monster (DMs option).

Fresh: Fresh body parts come Climate and Decay
from corpses that have been dead for
only a brief period of time. N o A body part’s rate of decay varies
significant decay has occurred. climate. The following table define:
six different “climates” by their hei
Good: Body parts in this group and humidity levels: arctic, cool,
have begun the process of decay, es- temperate, moist, torrid, and deser
pecially soft organs. However. their The effects of each climate on dec
general condition is still good. and are outlined below.
game effects are minimal. For exam-
ple, a golem with a tongue in “good” Of course, not every body part i
shape prior to its animation might ex- exposed to the elements. Some mi
hibit SIlightly slurred speech, but no be stored in a cool cellar or even
other impairment. The most prominent frozen to slow or stop decay. Woulr
effect involves the brain. If a brain has be creators of golems usually atter
deteric)rated from fresh to good condi- to preserve body parts in the best
tion, ttle golem’s Intelligence score is condition possible.
decrets e d by 1 point.

205

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-From the journal of Thor Hessen

he “parents” of the perspective, I have come to the
blighted creatures called decision that there is just some
golems toy with a gift that knowledge mortals are not meant to
most reserve for the gods: possess. Alas, if the world were as it
creating life. But how is should be, it would be very different
sucr 3 tw-ig possible? How can that indeed.
which is dead or inanimate assume an
existence that is not undeath a s we With those caveats in mind, we may
know it, but life? Although I am far proceed to my theories on the
from certain a s to the exact nature of animating forces necessary to the
the process, I do feel qualified to put creation of a golem.
forth several theories on this subject.
I would advise the reader while ?he SOUFC@of Life
perusing this chapter to maintain a
certain amount of healthy skepticism, It is my firm belief that the force that
a s well as an intellectual distance. In animates a golem is not created per se.
the first place, although these theories Rather, it is a pre-existing spirit, drawn
of mine have grown out of many hours to the empty vessel that is the golem
of research and firsthand observation body, and then trapped within it. Such
(mainly of flesh golems), they are but animating forces may be of two
theories. And they are highly varieties: a dark spirit or a stolen life
speculative theories at that. force. Both are horrid in their own way.
Secondly, I am certain it is unwise to
delve too deeply into this realm of Dwk Spim
knowledge. Although information is
certainly necessary to combat the It has been postulated, by both myself
Created, I fear that even a person of and other theorists, that there are
good conscience and moral fiber might numerous evil “spirits” about in our
be somehow changed by gaining some world-not ghosts, mind you, but
knowledge of the creation of life, no beings who have never truly been
matter how limited in scope. From alive, who have never maintained a
corporeal existence. A few scholars
1 both a philosophical and emotional assert that such dark forces must hail
from another realm entirely. I myself
A believe they are in some way a part of
our land, just a s we are, existing at the
P edge of our nightmares in a manner we

E

, I?,

I . :>ECTION, TIE 11IR.D: is stolen from those already living. All c
who fashion this type of creature must
'8cannot fullv commehend It can be steal from the dead, of course, seizing
their limbs and organs. But a few
assumed, however, that these darkling creators-and fortunately they are
spirits know neither life nor death as unusual-commit an even greater
we understand it. And, unlike mortals, atrocity: They rob the living of their
they do not have a cycle of life. very identity.

We can at best speculate on what I can say this terrible thing with
such an existence might be like. certainty, thanks to a long-time
However, it does not seem correspondence I have maintained with
unreasonable to hypothesize that these the Vistani wise woman, Cyrilla. Those
evil, ethereal beings might experience of you who have read my other works
the emotions of mortals as tangible may wonder that I have even one
qualities. We can further imagine that friend among the Vistani. It is true that
these creatures could be attracted by I cannot help but find the Vistani, as a
compellingly evil thoughts and deeds, culture, loathsome. If not for the
especially when they are accompanied Vistani thieves who kidnapped my boy,
by intense desires. Erasmus, he would never have come
into the hands of the foul vampire,
When a powerful wizard performs a Baron Metus.
difficultmagical working, or a priest
pushes back undead minions, he calls Yet, over the years, I have come to
upon skill and faith, yes. But these the conclusion that one cannot
acts also require great force of will and condemn an individual for the failings
conviction. Further, an individual of an entire culture. While I abhor
whose heart and mind burn with an all- those who brought such personal grief
consuming obsession might exhibit an to myself and my loved ones, I have
equal intensity of will, if not a greater managed to attain a level of respect
one. Such emotion might well attract a and friendship with a few, individual
darkling spirit. Vistani. That stated, let us continue.

Imagine now that this warped Although it is extremely unusual for
individual were to focus his will toward
the creation of life, and that he had a Vistana to exchange letters with an
properly constructed a body which
could receive the darkling spirit. Under outsider such as myself, Cyrilla and I
these circumstances, the creator might
be able to trap the entity in that vessel. have been friends and colleagues for
The spirit-thus mired within a many years-ever since we joined
corporeal form for the first time in its forces against an especially vicious
existence-might lack the capability to werewolf bent on destroying an entire
extricate itself. As the wizard who village in northern Darkon. Cyrilla is a
creates a powerful item of magic can true sage, and I trust her observations
attest, the bonds shaped by a strong implicitly.
will can be powerful indeed.
Only last year Cyrilla wrote to m e
1 shudder to think that creatures of a young Vistani woman, Cyrilla's
incapable of true death-that are own niece, whose impassioned
utterly devoid of morality, pity, and dancing was the pride of the entire
sheer humanity-are even now clan. The young woman, known as
inhabiting our land and walking among Vassa, had many suitors, but neither
us. she nor her family found any of them
worthy.
The S t O h LifeForce
One particular young man seemed
To my great sorrow, 1 a m certain the
life force animating some flesh golems unable to accept Vassa's rejection. For
days at a time he sat outside her
family's wagon, praising the girl's

A

’ beauty and dancing. She did not TIE CREATED 3

’ respond. After months, the young lad banales. the creature danced clumsily
despaired and left the clan, cursing
Vassa and her father. The boy left a aboit the fire.
note, vowing that somehow he would Cyrilla’s own words best describe
make Vassa his own.
Weeks passed and there was no sign what next occurred:
of the lad. The Vistani assumed the
boy was gone for good. The creature looked like some
child’s toy made of river clay and mud,
The creature dropped from the and smelled much the same. With
rafters, some thirty feet above, ungainly movement, it spun round
landingjust behind poor lrina. and round the fire. I remember how the
Laughing horribly, the monster creature’s ugliness intensified the
grabbed our companion b y the gauzy beauty of its twirling skirts.
neck, lifting her o f fthe ground with Strange what we think of in times of
a strength unbehevabie in such true horror!
spindly arms. Stili laughing, the
thing broke Irina’s neck before any By this time the musicians had
of us, even the elf Darien, could ceased to play, and all save myself had
moue. Scampering away into the backed fearfuiiy away from the
darkness, it left us with our dead monstrosity. But I stayed. Why? I
friend and the echoes of its hideous, believe I recognized something in the
unstoppable laughter: golem even then. The blood o f the
Vistani is strong, and I know m y kin,
I have never felt such Van Richten.
unrepentant, alien euil as u h e n w e
faced that laughing golem. I hope to Awkward and out-sized, it lumbered
never face such euil again. up to me, until it stood within arm’s
length. its stench was so four m y
-From the journal of breath caught in m y throat and m y
Hataras the Quiet eyes began to water

--4 “Haveyou no kiss for me? No kiss
for Katya?” it whispered tauntingly.
If only this had been true. One
month after the boy’s disappearance, Oh, Van Richten, I had only called
Vassa too disappeared. Exhaustive one person by that pet name. It was
searching and the application of Vassa,she of the nimble feet and
Cyrilla’s formidable skills soon found flowing hair This lumbering form
the girl, but in body only. Although she contained the spirit of the laughing,
yet breathed, nothing the Vistani shining girl, but that spirit was now
attempted could bring Vassa back to twisted into a hideous mockery of her
consciousness. Eventually, the girl former sweetness.
stopped breathing. Vassa was mourned
and her body burned on a pyre, as was I managed to speak to her only
the custom of her clan. briefly before she struck out at me, but
I doubt my words had any effect.I
The following year the clan was almost died that night, doctor. The
back in the section of Corvus where strength embodied in that body was
Vassa was kidnapped. One evening, unbelieuable. My magic protected me.
the clan was celebrating a particularly but only just. I wish I could say I
successful trade when a whirling destroyed the golem that night, but I
dervish appeared in their midst. cannot. It was all i could do that night
to drive the thing from our camp.
1 Dressed in colorful skirts, adorned with Perhaps my powers were simply not
sufficient, but I think m y heart was
also not in the terrible task. For
although the monstrosity was intent
upon my death, Isensed that some
small shred of Vassa remained trapped

, ': ~ E C T P OT~r~it, T m a : *4

f within that lumberinq bodu, aware of imposed by the spirit itself. It cannot e

the horrible parody 07lifeand beauty be very long before all remembrance

she had become. of the spirit's former life disappears

I am conuinced the boy who left our and the individual's life force becomes
camp found some way to place Vassa's irretrievably warped, or even dissolved
utterly. I would assume that the
spirit in that hideous body. That one
window of opportunity for such a
Vistana could do this to another is a
reversal would be anywhere between
great shame to our people. Van
several days and a month in length,
Richten, i fyou euer run into poor
depending upon a number of variables.
Vassa, you must destroy her. The

human mind cannot even begin to Brain Transplan@
comprehend the bleak horror of her

new existence. When considering flesh golems, there
is one more way in which a spirit
I have discovered several other might be placed within the creature's
occurrences in which a golem knows

information only a particular loved one body. Though I know very little of this
would know. We can only imagine the method and it is truly horrid to

horror of finding oneself trapped in a contemplate, I would be remiss if I did
golem's body, a s one's humanity is not present it: The creator may

slowly stripped away. actually transfer the physical brain of a
My only child, Erasmus, was placed liuing being into the prepared vessel. It

in a similar situation when Baron is truly maddening to think that the

Metus transformed him into a vampire. golem's mind may retain some
Erasmus came to me and asked me to knowledge of its former self-and
destroy him, a s he could feel his mind know the great atrocity that had been
and his spirit twisting into some
committed.
monstrosity. This I did for my brave,
When the creator of the golem
wonderful child. I can only believe that transfers a living brain into the body of
becoming a golem is just a s horrible, if the Created, the spirit of the brain's
not more so, than what Erasmus
donor is also transferred. Of course,
experienced.
I have heard of but one instance without a brain to direct its function,
the body of the donor soon perishes.
where an individual was said to have Such a transplant cannot work if the
been placed in a golem body, only to donor perishes before the transplant is

have the process reversed. The story complete, however. A dead brain can

was highly fragmented, and the source serve only a s an empty vessel for the
is suspect, but that does not mean the dark or stolen soul, as described
possibility should be discounted
earlier. The operation on the living
entirely. Where there is even a remote tissue is extremely delicate and must
chance to save an innocent, people of be performed quickly; else the brain
conscience must strive to the utmost
to reclaim that lost soul. will surely perish and the spirit with it.
If the operation is successful, the
However, even if it is possible to
spirit of the individual is transferred. A
reverse the procedure, I am certain significant jolt of energy is required to

there is an extremely limited period of bind the spirit to its new form. I shall
time in which this could be
address this topic below. Note,
accomplished. The reversal would
however, that the energy required to

need to be made before the original bind a transplanted spirit may not be

body died, although if the body could a s great a s that used to bind a dark or

be resurrected it still might be possible stolen soul to the abysmal prison that

to perform the reversal. An even is the golem body.

greater time limitation is the one

.

3

.,a closely together. If physical energy is to
Fusing Body and Spirit be used, the jolt required for animation
must then strike both physical forms
Once the body of the construct has either simultaneously or in quick suc-
been prepared, and the spirit has been cession. If the energy jolt does not affect
selected or attracted toward it, the the bodies simultaneously, the living
most difficult and mysterious portion body must be the first to be struck.
of the creation process is yet to occur.
Somehow, through a massive surge of I have noted many instances of
energy, the golem spirit is bound to the successful animation, including that
vessel. A metaphysically transfiguring involving my dear friend, Antonin
fusion of body and spirit occurs, and Madren, where the available evidence
the golem comes to life. The precise fails to reveal any readily apparent
manner by which this process works is source of physical energy. Given the
only guessed at by researchers more absence of physical or magical energy,
gifted than myself. I believe that the body and spirit are
fused and transformed by the sudden
My own poor excursions into the release of psychic energy.
realm of theory have convinced me
that the required energy can be either The creation of a golem is an act of
physical or what I term psychic in evil-this is my firm belief. Further, the
origin. A third force-magical energy- creators are driven by obsessions
may also suffice, though it could be which almost inevitably plunge them
coupled with another form. I shall into madness. These obsessions serve
address magical animations briefly to justify to the creator evil deeds
below and focus on the other two ranging from the petty to the most
energy sources first. Whatever the heinous imaginable. The creators of
source, however, there is no question these golems are in agony, and all too
that animation is achieved on at least often they have placed innocent
some occasions, victims in agony a s well.

The exact amount of energy re- I theorize that the mad obsession, the
quired is unknown, if not immeasura-
ble. However, in the physical case, we pain and suffering, and above all, the
can estimate it to be at least the overwhelming evil associated with the
amount of energy transmitted in a bolt creation of a golem coalesce as a crack-
of lightning. There have been several ling, swirling nimbus of psychic energy
documented cases in which lightning around the creator and his created. This
has either animated a golem construct energy builds until the ultimate moment,
or reanimated a golem that was when it suddenly reaches a transcendent
thought to be destroyed. peak at which it breaches the barriers
between our material world and the
Other equally powerful sources of darker world of spirits.
energy would presumably serve the
same purpose. However, whatever The surge of psychic energy draws
physical energy is applied must come the requisite spirit through the tattered
in the form of a sudden shock or jolt. barrier between the tangible and the
A steady but less potent energy flow intangible, into the vortex which is the
does not provide the catalytic energy Created. Whether the spirit is a dark
needed to bond the spirit to the body. and evil being which exults in its new-
found form, or an innocent soul silently
The exact process through which the screaming against its fate, it has now
spirit, the life essence as it were, of a combined with the physical shell pre-
living being is removed from its natural pared by the creator to form a golem.
body and placed within the golem is un-
known. However, it is certain that the I realize that at first blush this theory
two bodies must first be positioned may seem radical, even somewhat
wild, to some. Yet careful study and re-

c .,

search will reveal that this theory in all through magic is actually longer, of
ways comports with observed reality course, but the permutations are not
and provides a logical explanation for important to the discussion at hand.)
the otherwise inexplicable. The mages and priests who create
these golems do so through a rigorous
Every creator carefully chooses the process of research and the casting of
materials used to construct his “child.” multiple spells. There are even
Many choose the animating spirit, or rumored to be a few manuals holding
personality, just a s selectively. Some
creators, such a s the young Vistani The “traditional” automaton cre-
man of Cyrilla’s acquaintance, become ated by a wizard or priest is the only
obsessed with a specific individual and golem a player character (PC) can
attempt to place that person’s spirit create while in Ravenloft. In other
within the golem. words, only those PCs who are high-
level wizards or priests can succeed.
The massive energy current causes A player character may not even at-
the spirit to separate and transfer from tempt to create the golems through
its original body to that of the waiting obsession (the method discussed
golem. The transference understand- throughout this book).
ably causes some degradation of the
personality, including memory loss, Such an act hardly qualifies a s a
confusion, and a return to a childlike noble pursuit. The attempt to create
state of being. I have heard tell of life in this manner is suspect in any
some very few people who maintained world. However, those who toy at
some memories of the experience and such grand schemes in Ravenloft
were able, with the help of their com- place themselves in special peril, for
rades to reverse the process. the powers of the Demiplane itself
are apt to supply the spirit that will
1 must say that the hope of such a inhabit the vessel. Any character
reversal is exceedingly slim. Besides who does attempt to create a golem
requiring the original body to survive is subject to powers checks: one for
another massive energy charge, the every month of research or work. A
window of opportunity for such a powers check is also in order when-
reversal is very small for two reasons. ever the PC commits an evil act
In the first place, the original body will associated with the construction-
die in a matter of weeks without a robbing a grave, for example. The
personality residing within it. To keep base chance for attracting the atten-
the body functional for even that long tion of the dark powers for making a
requires near constant care. golem is 10%in this case. (As usual,
DMs should feel free to adjust this
Secondly, and most importantly, percentage to suit their campaigns.)
even if the new golem maintains much
of its former personality, that personal- Thus, the PC who embarks on
ity is already degrading. Certainly this course of action is following the
within the course of a month the old path to self-destruction (DMs should
personality will be utterly gone, re- make this clear to players). In no
placed by a hateful, lonely, sociopathic way should creating a golem be
creature with no hope of redemption. beneficial to a player character. It is
an evil act, and usually proves fatal
Megiwl Energies in time. Even if the PC succeeds, his
creation will do everything in its
It has long been known that wizards, power to free itself and turn on its
and to a lesser degree priests, can creator (the PC).
create certain types of golems,
including flesh, bone, clay, glass, iron,
stone. (The list of types animated

[ eeven more difficult to prove, point to

the secrets of golem creation

somewhere in this misty realm. the actual requirements of the vessel.

I believe the creators of such golenIS The first obstacle to choosing a

enjoy more control over their progeny single vessel arises from the creator's

than the twisted personalities who ani expectations regarding his creation's

mate a golem through their madness appearance or prowess. Simply put,

and obsession alone. This is not to saY very few mortal bodies have all the
that these mages and priests do not strength, stamina, size, and dexterity

risk their creation turning upon them, that the creator might wish for his

however. The risk is always present, golem. To the casual observer, this

and it grows over the course of time. might seem a paltry concern. Yet to

Despite the research and methodical those individuals whose driving needs

planning, despite the great intelligenc e push them into creating a golem at all,

of the creators, the eventuality is muc:h simple expedience is far outweighed

the same. Even a golem created by the creator's specific requirements,

through magic grows to despise its whatever they may be.

creator. In time, the creator will lose Secondly, many creators of golems

control of the monster and face possi have a strong need to prove their bril-

ble death at the golem's hands. liance or artistry (often to themselves).

I take this to mean that the powerfu To this end, they experiment crazily. For

magical workings involved in creating example, they may place the eyes of an

the golem and bringing it to life eventi elf and the heart of a lion in the body of

ally involve the same dark forces that a dwarf. This sort of bizarre experimen-

give shape to other golems in Ravenlc tation may well increase the creator's
The process may at first appear differ- feelings of omnipotence. To a mind so
ent due to the creator's greater degree twisted, every individual who lays eyes

of control, but this may simply serve t on the golem will be forced to acknowl-

lull an incautious creator to his doom. edge the creator's power and genius.

Thus, we have reviewed the first two

The S p ~ lo~fkLife reasons why multiple bodies are
required in the construction of a flesh

Astute readers may be wondering wh golem: No single body can reflect all

the creators of flesh golems do not the qualities desired, and the ego of

simply choose one body to house the the creator demands a hand in shaping

darkling or stolen spirit that will brinc1 it his own unique progeny. Both are

to life. After all, this is surely the equally valid, and both most certainly

simplest course of action. Instead of play a role in many cases. However, 1

spending hours in dark graveyards a1nd believe there is a third and final reason

hospices, risking discovery many for the need to use these unmatched
times over, the would-be creator couId parts-a reason which overrides both
of those previously stated.
simply select an appropriate vessel
that is whole. The vessel would also be As I have learned through the jour-

seamless in appearance, physically nal of a lich I once pursued, even dead

impossible to discern from normal bodies still hold onto some tiny piece of

mortals of its species. the energies of life. This spark of life, a s

Nonetheless, a s I noted in the I term it, is what first enabled the lich to
previous chapter, at least six bodies create dreadful zombie golems. I be-

must be used in the construction of i3 lieve this spark of life also provides

flesh golem. I believe several reason:S much of the energy required to bind the

determine why no single corpse can spirit of the flesh golem to the body.

suffice. Some involve the mindset of If my theory is correct, the amount
the creator himself. Others, whlch ar'e of energy left in the tissue of one body

&

. .. .. . .

~

. - ..e

.: TIE CREATED

."b,.*7 alone is simdv insufficient for this never accept m.y barrenness. His
need for children was strong. But i
task. Furtheimore, I suspect that the never knew how strong, never
spark of life within a single body is too thought of his need when the babies
closely connected to the spirit of the
person who once inhabited the began to disappear from the neigh-
vessel-and thus, the body automati- boring morgue... until this morning
cally rejects an invading presence.
when I discovered hisjournal.
Any portion of a corpse still retains He-a doctor, sworn to nurture
that spark of life,although it is dimin-
ished. Thus, the spark of life within just and fight for the life of every pa-
one body may be insufficient, but when tient-he took those poor infants
the life energy remaining in several and stole their chance for eternal
bodies is combined, it may create a peace. This uery evening I followed
force great enough to allow animation. him to his laboratory, and there saw
Furthermore, a body cobbled from
multiple forms may not contain enough a strange infant lying upon a table,
of any single personality's essence to
prevent a new spirit from entering it. wrapped in layers ofdark blue
wool. The smell of antiseptic was
As 1 have stated, these are but everywhere, the air so close I must
theories; I have no proof to support my have swooned. The next thing I re-
claims. However, one thing is assured:
I have never seen, nor heard of, a flesh member was a horrid crashing
golem that was fashioned from fewer
than six separate bodies (though some sound and the scent of burning
were assembled from more than
twenty!). Thus, we can be reasonably wool. Light dazzled my eyes, and it
assured that no single corpse may ever was a few moments before l could
count itself among the Created. again see properly.

And&.- When m y vision cleared, / s a w
him holding the infant aloft, exactly
March the Eleventh as l had seen him hold the babies of
To whomever may find this note: our acquaintances. But this-this
thing was a deformed parody of
l do not know how long I shall thosejoyous infants, its a r m arid
have before they come looking for legs disjointed, its face deformed.
me. But when l leave this world, I And the silence! Such grave silence
wish to hold the knowledge that l
performed at least this one coura- from a newborn. Then / s a w the
geous act, however small, before m y
death. Would l had the strength to hideous eyes, the flesh, this child
have opened my eyes sooner! sewn together as a quilt is pieced,
from the scavenged remains of-
Now I must somehow set to
paper the words which l can hardly Ah! He has found me. . . .
bear to think. Jhe child that my
l write these final words even as
barren body could never bear has
been brought into this world: even he struggles to break doum the door
now i t crawls through the halls of He whom l took to be my husband
this fell place, somehow alioe. But
but five years ago-he has defer-
where a true child is a blessing, the
thing below is a blighted curse! No mined to murder me to hide his
secret. You who read this know that
child of mine.
Though he readily accepted my l am gone, but my husband and his
creation may yet live! I only pray
family's fortune, my husband could thisjournal falls into the hands of
good people who will use the
knowledge to stop my husband and
his child, and others like them if
there is more such euil in this world!

-Evania Fairwind

~7fa man wi// beqjn wjth certainh, he rha// end jn doubts; bui if he wi// be conient to
c

h,4’e in wjth doubt5 he 3ha// end in certaintiec.
-Francis Bacon, The Advancement of Learning

,There are preciou.5 few ccrtaintier in /his /h;but too ofien we chcnq io them a( two

drownicn4men cluich ai each other. each afraid to letcqo and Jwim for shore.,Ehus do

theq both i0.w what /hey mod de5ired,and ihu5 can we low c5I4ht of ihe /acrqer truth5

around UI.

-Dr. Rudolph Van Richten,
excerpt from a letter to Cassien Attenberg

CHAPTETRHREE: this field. As a result, we are faced with
a difficult situation. What do we believe
CONS~UCTXO~S and what do we discount? Too often
we leap to embrace any information
OF FLESH that only appears valid. Yet if we ignore
facts not in evidence because they
his chapter concerns itself seem unlikely, then we may overlook
with the fundamental some critical truth.
physical and mental
abilities of the flesh As I compiled research for this
tome, I strictly ordered myself to
1 golem-the most prevalent
proceed cautiously and with an open
I I - , ~ i Cereated, and the one mind. I also vowed to be candid so that
with which I am most familiar. I might not mislead any reader into
Following this, I shall address the flesh mistaking supposition for fact.
golem’s more outwardly impressive
traits. As we shall soon discuss, Thus, as I delineate the various
however, even a golem’s most characteristics of the flesh golem, I bid
fundamental abilities are terrifying in you to keep this caveat firmly in mind:
their enormity. Golems are indiuiduals.While the term
“mundane” may apply to a few
When considering the traits of the
flesh golem, we are faced with an unintelligent creations brought to life
immense task and little firm through conventional magic, in my
knowledge. Little, if any, properly
conducted research has been done in experience such foes are the exception
to the rule. True, each golem may

This chapter focuses on unusual golems made of flesh. Although there is no
such thing a s an “average” flesh golem, the statistics below reflect a golem’s
base ability scores. All statistical modifiers in this chapter build upon these base
scores.

Bqse s++fics (Flesh c;olms)

Strength 19 Intelligence 5-16 Dexterity 18
Wisdom
Movement 3-6 Constitution 20 Charisma 6
12 THACO 11
9 Armor Class 6

No. of Attacks 2 Hit Dice Damage 2d812d8

- T m CREATEDe'

''3share basic traits with others of its to hesitate. I do not believe I
exaggerate in saying that most golems
kind. But it also may display unique are a s powerful a s some giants! This is
mental or physical characteristics. all the more impressive considering the
Such unique qualities are especially average flesh golem stands only seven
apparent in flesh golems who were to eight feet tall, and some individuals
brought to lifethrough the sheer will of are much smaller. (Even the rumored-
their creators. Thus, one should view to-exist doll golems are said to be able
each golem as we do any villain who to lift a full-sized human male and toss
strikes from the shadows: a unique him about a s if he were the doll. I
nemesis about whom we know little. In would not be surprised to learn of a
facing this lack of knowledge, we can, diminutive flesh golem who did the
however, cling to one certainty: All same!)
golems are tremendously powerful.
The basis for this immense strength
Basic Physical Tra@ does not seem to rely directly on the
components used to construct the
In this section, I shall outline the golem, although stronger limbs can
physical traits of the flesh golem-
specifically, its strength, dexterity, and Big or small, all golems are
constitutional fortitude-and describe strong. However, the size of a golem
how these traits may vary between does affect its physical prowess.
individuals. The average flesh golem is of Large
size. But what of t h e golem built
Do not allow any alarm you might with a hill giant's torso? Or with a
feel at the brute physical power of the dwarf's bandy legs? Such modifica-
Created to overwhelm you. It is a tions may result in unusual sizes,
temptation even I have succumbed to which affect Strength scores a s
on occasion, falling into my old habits shown on the table below.
of over-intellectualizingto distance
myself from the contemplation of such Size and S t ~ n g t F
power. Ah! You see? I a m still using my
old defense even now. Do not be Size Category Strength Modifier
ashamed if you wish to do the same.
After all, there is no shame in fear Huge (12 ft. or more) +2
itself-it is an instinct that helps keep
us alive. But when we are frightened, Large (7-12 ft.) +I
we must not deny it, lest our repressed
fear cloud our thinking and keep us Medium (4-7 ft.) 0
from properly assessing a golem's
abilities. Such misguided thinking has Small (2-4 ft.) -1
brought about the death of too many
good people. Tiny (under 2 ft.) -2

Before we begin our analysis, 1 Golems with a Strength greater than
would remind the reader of the 19 can inflict more damage, a s
following: While all the information noted on the following table:
given reflects the typical case study,
not all golems will conform precisely to Strength Damage
this analysis. Some may be even more 20 2d8 + 1
powerful, others less fearsome. 21
22 2d8 + 2
ww%th 23 2d8 + 3
24
The profound strength of the Created 25 3d8
can cause even the bravest of warriors
3d8 + 1

3d8 + 2

i . btCTIOru’, Tiii Trr~iio: r,

certainlv add to the aolem’s alreadv must never lull the hunter into
I believing his prey to be slow. I do not
believe I have ever faced a golem who
formidable strength. Instead, it appears was not as fast or faster than the most
that the flesh (or other material) is dexterous of my companions, although
tempered and strengthened during the I have read accounts of slow and
tremendous energy surge that fumbling golems.
accompanies the creation process.
Each cell burns with a new life, which poetic, in the same manner as a
apparently lends an unnatural capacity hurricane or volcanic eruption
to the body a s a whole. This tensile achieves epic proportions. It seems I
strength may in part aid the body in stood breathless for hours, gazing at
trapping or retaining an appropriate an the crags a n d fissures of the being’s
animating spirit or essence. variegated features. It was as if the
gods had decided this land ofours
Dexterifp would not do, and thus sent this
creature to tear it down so they
Despite their often-lumbering could start anew.
appearance, flesh golems are
surprisingly nimble and flexible. This Those were my first impressions
account by my longtime scout, Markil, of the golem I had trawled day a n d
provides an apt description and night to confront. It was a
warning: monstrous thing, yes, but it had

“I’m takin’ my shift at guard, sittin’ achieued a leuel ofmonstrosity so
in the tree near the fire like I do, when I primal that it became as awe-

see this big thing shuffin’ towards me. inspiring as any force of nature.
/can’t quite make it out, but I figure -Astonby of the Oaks,
such a mashed-up lump of a creature
can’t be too much of a danger at the as recorded by Taynesbert in
Th
moment, being itk still fifty feet away.
So’s I turn my head to hiss down at DK ---%... ---
Van Richten a n d get his attention. Next
thing I know, there’s this pushing Once again, this remarkable
feelin’, a n d I’m wakin’ up with one dexterity does not seem dependent
mean headache. Guess it’sjust a good upon any particular parts or materials,
thing thatgolem hit me ‘stead of tearin’ although they may have some effect. If
so, I do not yet have enough
me in two. You j u s t neuer figure a information to determine the
relationship between specific body
thing like that can moue so fast.” parts and quickness.
Markil is correct: The deceptively
Consfifqfion
clumsy appearance of most golems
Even more than it is strong or
As noted in Chapter 1 of the dexterous, the flesh golem is resilient.
PlagerS Handbook, Dexterity In fact, the fortitude of a golem is
scores can affect a character’s almost certainly the greatest of its
Armor Class (see the section titled physical traits, and I a m yet in awe of
“DefensiveAdjustment”).The same it. These creatures rarely tire in battle,
modifiers can be applied to flesh and they can resist many physical and
golems whose Dexterity varies from magical attacks. Further, when they
the base score of 18. For example, are harmed, their capacity to
a golem with a Dexterity of 21 has
an Armor Class of 5 when
defending against an attack that
can be dodged.

THECIEATED B

flesh golems is 20. Such creatures I hand, I know of no reliable scientist
can regenerate 1 hit point every 6 who has spent any length of time
turns (i.e., every hour). A golem conversing with a golem, much less
with a greater Constitution score making a serious study of its psyche or
intellect. While the creator of a golem
regenerates at a faster rate, as often attempts and even relishes such
listed in Table 3 of the Player's a study, he is incapable of impartial
Handbook (see "Regeneration"). observation. Therefore, it is currently
impossible to determine the precise
I mental limitations of the golem.

regenerate tissue is nothing less than Where golems do excel mentally is
phenomenal. The Created may well in low cunning and the ability to
enjoy the greatest physical resiliency manipulate and maneuver in order to
of a n y known creature. This much is gain what they desire. In fact, golems
true: Of all the foul and fantastical may well be a s intelligent, in their
monsters I have fought, there is none- fashion, as most humans. Further, it
not even my especial foe, the may well be that golems simply do not
vampire-that can match the golem in
its sheer resiliency and physical The type of brain used deter-
fortitude. mines a flesh golem's Intelligence
score. As a general rule, the score
44enfd Abilities is at least one rank below that of
the brain's original "owner" (see
The mental capabilities of most golems Intelligence ratings in the
can be impressive, though they MONSTROMUASNUAtLome). For ex-
certainly are not as formidable as the ample, a golem with the brain of a
creature's physical traits. I shall wereraven (genius) would be rated
address two aspects of the flesh "exceptionally intelligent" ( I 5-16).
golem's mind here: its innate while a golem with the brain of a
intelligence and its telepathic talents. normal human would have a low
The psychology of the golem-how it Intelligence (5-7). This assumes,
views itself and others-is a topic however, that the brain is relatively
reserved for another chapter. fresh and in excellent condition.

W l l igen- Note that even in Ravenloft,
creatures built from a substance
Travelers from distant lands often other than flesh are most often
claim that a flesh golem has no more nonintelligent, following the stan-
cunning than an animal. This is a dard presented in the MONSTROUS
grave mistake! Perhaps such people MANUAbLook: they have no brain
are fooled by the golem's often upon which intelligence can be
bestial, uncivilized appearance. Indeed. measured. This is particularly true
that appearance has led many an of golems created through con-
incautious hunter to underestimate his ventional magic. However, any
foe and pay for the mistake with his golem born of obsession and
life. given life by the mysterious
powers of Ravenloft could exhibit
Flesh golems do appear to lack both areat intelliaence and a dis-
certain advanced mental capabilities, tinct personality: such exceptional
however, There is no evidence that any creatures are described in
member of the Created (flesh or Chapter Four.
otherwise) can appreciate art or grasp
complicated philosophical or
mathematical principles. On the other

__. .... -..

4care about certain issues, and thus ,’L

only devote their faculties to achieving If you ever discover a golem bent on
their personal goals, whatever those a course of action involving the harm
might be. of others, you must immediately turn
all your efforts to stopping the
I must offerone additional caution creature. Else you must find someone
on the mental faculties of golems. who is willing to do so themselves.
Virtually all of the Created have Otherwise, who knows how many
indomitable wills. These monsters are individuals could lose their lives to the
capable of single-mindedly following will and power of such a creature?
a course of action for a s long as it
takes to succeed. Most assuredly, this Telep#hic Talelrf
IS why so few creators survive once a
golem decides it wishes its “parent” My brief conversation with Antonin
dead-the golem is relentless. My Madren, the former student whose
own departed friend and student plight first introduced me to golems,
indicated the golem he created was
Antonin Madren was pursued by his able to speak into his mind. Further,
creation across several lands before Antonin indicated that the golem
that beast succeeded in striking him seemed to always know where he was,
and perhaps even what Antonin was
down.

4s the DM, you may wish to create For example, if the creator is a
your own unique golem. This is physician, he might be obsessed with
iighly encouraged; “personalized” creating the perfect physical
3olems are more interesting and far specimen. Such a golem probably
more frightening. since the players would be made of flesh, and might be
won’t know the precise abilities of more physically powerful than others
iheir foe without proper investigation. of its kind. Or perhaps the creator is
a writer obsessed with making a
The information in this chapter bizarre creature from his novel come
and the next provides a means for to life. Such a golem might be a
creating new, unique golems. It is stransge collection of animal and
assumed that each monster will be humanoid body parts.
“fleshed out” a s fully a s any NPC,
with enough depth to serve as the What type ofgolern is it?
focus of an adventure. Although this Although most golems are made of
book is mainly concerned with flesh, it is possible to create golems
golems of flesh, Chapter Four offers
suggestions for other types. In any from wood, stone, glass, and many
case, a DM must make the following other materials (see Chapter Four).
decisions when creating a new
If fresh, what body parts to
golem: select? Traditionally, a minimum of
Who created the golem? It is very six bodies must be used in the cre-
ation of a flesh golem: one distinct
important to determine what kind of source for each limb, another for the
person created (or is creating) the torso and head, and one for the brain
golem. Each creator is driven by itself. It is certainly possible to use
unique obsessions and needs.
Deciding on a creator’s background components from more than six
often determines many of the golem’s bodies, however. Further, parts from
eventual abilities and skills. exceptional humans or other
creatures can give a golem unusual
powers and abilities (see page 223
for further details).

I physician, wise woman, priest, or otht
healer whether they have recently
-. counseled anyone with such delusione
or psychotic symptoms. At least once
d!9 thinking. Granted, Antonin was by no an investigation of mine was solved b!
asking just such questions. On other
means in his right mind when he occasions, when the creator had
imparted this information to me. His already been murdered by his "child,"
feelings of persecution, hearing of was at least given information helpful
voices, confused desperation-all are in tracking the golem in question.
symptoms of paranoia, a psychological
disorder. The creation of a golem involves a
sustained period of passionate, all-
Several times in the course of my consuming commitment from the
research on the Created I have run creator. Apparently, one element
across physicians' documents necessary to the success of the
mentioning paranoia, delusional project is the need for a bond to
psychosis, and like diagnoses about an develop between creator and Created
individual who (it was later discovered) However, all evidence indicates that
had created a golem. Of course, the this bond is one-way only. The golem
vast majority of individuals so
diagnosed truly have the disorder in
question, and are not the creators of
golems. Nonetheless, Ido feel it is
always worthwhile to ask the village's

What are its extraordinary susceptible creature. Note that the list
below IS optional; Dungeon Masters
abilities? This chapter suggests should feel free to devise a
unusual powers or skills that can set vulnerability tailored to a particular
your golem apart from others of its golem's history and physical type.
kind (see page 231 for details). Such
powers help keep the players off @pfWn41weapon
Ynllnlerabilifies
guard, and make the creature a more
Golem Weapon Vulnerability
challenging opponent. Take care not Bone Blessed mace
to make your golem too challenging, Clay Blessed pick
however. In general, an individual Flesh Blessed pitchforks or spear
creature should receive no more than Glass Blessed hamr
one or two of these extraordinary Metal Blessed sworc
abilities. Stone Blessed pick
Straw Blessed sickle
What are its peculiar Wood Blessed axe
uulnerabilities? MONSTROUSMANUAL
entries for golems describe the com- Final Touches? The q ..
mon vulnerabilities of each variety.
However, just as you may grant an craftsmanship and the physical state
individual golem an extraordinary
ability, you should consider hindering of body parts used can also have an
it with an unusual weakness. The
affect on the golem's abilities-and it
"zeitgeber" described in this chapter
is just one example (see page 227). need not be for the better! For
Vulnerability to a particular form of
weapon is another. example, flesh golems do not age as

Most golems can be struck only by a rule, but an improperly constructed
enchanted weapons. However, each
golem type might also be vulnerable body might well decay, presenting an
to a particular blessed weapon. Such
weapons cause full damage to the ever more frightening visage to the

"3 PCS.

,.._ :"&' . .

3 n e of the easiest ways to create a Torsos +3 Strength
mique flesh golem is through the use Hill giant +2 Strength
2f unusual or exceptional body parts. Ogre +I Strength
Body parts taken from monsters, Bugbear + I Constitution
demihuman races, and even animals Dwarf +1 Constitution,
can affect the golem's basic ability Horse
+1 Strength
scores and other Fundamental statis-
tics. (Unusual parts may also give a Arms +2 Strength,
golem other extraordinary abilities, Hill giant -2 Dexterity
which are discussed on page 235.) Owlbear +IStrength,
+2 Damage (from
The table to the right is organized Goblyn
Elf claws)
by body part. Each subtable presents Gnoll +I Strength,
a range of creatures whose corpses +I Dexterity
might supply components to the +1 Dexterity
adventurous assembler. However, the + I Strength

charts are by no means exhaustive. Legs MV 24; extra
Further, they're provided as Horse attacks 2 rear
guidelines only; a s DM, you should hooves, damage
Elf
feel free to expand and adapt the Ogre ld411d4
information as you see fit. For Huge spider +1 Dexterity
example, if a maniacal NPC in your MV 9, +I Strength
Wolfwere MV 18, +1
campaign creates a flesh golem using Dexterity
the arms of a hobgoblin. you could MV 18, + I
assume this option boosts the Constitution
creature's Strength by 1 point.
considering a hobgoblin is similar in Miscellaneous
Strength to a bugbear.
Elf eyes 60' infravision,
There is one restriction in regard to
combining various creatures' body + 1 Charisma
parts: AI/ parts used to creak a
particulargoiem must come fi-om Giant fly eyes 360-degree vision;
creatures within one size category of
each other For example, the arms of surprised on roll of
a hill giant (size: Huge) could not be
1 only
placed on the body of a human (size:
Medium). However, the same arms Heart of a lion + I Hit Dice
could be placed on the body of a
gnoll (size: Large). The MCNSTROUS Heart of a paladin + 2 Hit Dice,
MAVUAtLome lists all size categories
for monsters and creatures. t2 Charisma

Blood of a bard +1Charisma

Lie Span such gradual changes. However, for all
practical purposes, we must assume
By all accounts, golems do not that flesh golems can live forever. (Not
experience physical development, nor surprisingly, this immortality applies
do they age. It is possible that a equally to golems made of materials
golem's life span is so long that we, others than flesh.)
who live for but a moment by
comparison, simply cannot recognize I base this assumption upon the
experiences of others, as well as upon
3

i

Golems do not age as a rule. can generally speak and make other
Thus, they live until they're vocalizations, so it would appear their
destroyed. Rare exceptions might lungs are functional. My own belief is
include a flesh golem that was a s follows: While many golems are
improperly constructed, or a able to breathe, few (if any) require air
creature condemned to aging by to sustain themselves. In short, they
the mysterious powers of Ravenloft. could suspend their breathing
indefinitely without any ill effect.
my own firsthand observations. There
are legends of individual golems I have heard of a peculiar flesh
appearing and reappearing in a
specific area over the course of golem who has supposedly taken to
centuries. (Most notable are those
accounts of a powerful fiend who haunting the seas west of Martira Bay,
haunts the isles off the coast of where his creator was a fisherman.
Lamordia.) Of course, it is quite Apparently, this golem can remain un-
possible that more than one flesh derwater for extended periods of time
golem might be at work in such tales. without sustaining any harm whatso-
However, given the rarity of these ever. Of course, this ability may be a
creatures, and given further similaritieS peculiarity of the particular golem, but
noted by the witnesses, it seems like11I I do not believe this to be the case.
to me that similar accounts spanning
centuries do indeed describe the samf? Despite this phenomenon, if you
creature. This certainly supports the
notion of a very long life span. should have an opportunity to bury a
golem under an avalanche, for
It seems that flesh golems do un- example, or to drown the monster, by
dergo an initial period of mental develI- all means attempt it. At the worst,
opment and are thereafter mature. such a tactic might afford you and
Fortunately, there is no indication thai your fellows some time to regroup-a
golems gain power or prowess with rare luxury when battling the Created!
age. On the other hand, neither do Perhaps the attempt will even be suc-
they seem to lose any power. cessful in disabling your enemy. Still,

you must be ever vigilant. Never make
the assumption your foe is truly
defeated until all that remains of the
fiend is ashes and nightmares.

Respiration It is uncertain whether golems have
any nutritional requirements
It is still questionable whether golems whatsoever. If the creature needs no air
to sustain its unnatural life, then is it
have any need to breathe. Many not reasonable to assume it also can
forego food? However, some few
observers have claimed that the observers have noted that golems have
the capacity to eat if they so desire. OF
creatures do: after all, most golems course, that still begs the question as
to whether such golems eat out of
breathing. Thus, they cannot be necessity or for sheer pleasure. After
harmed by being choked, buried, all, many of us eat simply because we
immersed in water: or by any other enjoy the act itself. Perhaps golems
suffocating attack. Additionally, feel the same.

Igolems are not subject to spells To my knowledge, only one golem
that affect the respiratory system has been held in captivity for any length
of time. The danger of such a proposal
(such as stinking cloud, cloudkill, 1

and so forth).

f3l

: .4

-' fi;i:rxol&, Ji I i t TIIII~U:

(certain behavior in living creatures. For occasions, I have noted flesh golems

instance, many small mammals suddenly ceasing their activities for a

respond to the decreasing period of perhaps twenty or thirty

temperatures of winter by going into seconds at sundown. It is an odd

hibernation. Hibernation is thus occurrence, and it certainly does not

triggered by a zeitgeber. In this apply to all creatures. However, those

instance, the onset of a season-with that do exhibit this behavior are

the accompanying drop in temperature probably affected by this zeitgeber.

and shortening days-is the zeitgeber. . -+- "3

The most common zeitgeber to e.-

which flesh golems respond is light. February the Third-This second

This response appears to reflect some day on the mountain was perhaps

fragile link to the past existence of the the coldest I have euer experienced!

body parts-an unusual sort of Euen wrapped in fiue layers ofsilks,

"memory," a s it were. In most cases, wool, a n d furs, my body became

the zeitgeber causes the creature to numb a n d I succumbed to a bit of

enter a state of inactivity or frostbite. And the s u n on the snow

comparative weakness. On several a n d ice: blinding! / feared / would

The zeitgeber can become a key monster hears the strains of organ
element in an adventure involving a music, it begins howling
golem. Golems are extremely uncontrollably in a parody of song.
dangerous foes, and providing an As for possible game effects, while
Achilles' heel in the form of a "singing" the golem could suffer a -2
zeitgeber. or triggered behavior, can penalty to hit, or even be unable to
give clever players an interesting initiate an attack (although it should
weakness to exploit. remain able to defend itself).

A zeitgeber can also set a golem of The effects of a zeitgeber can be
your own creation apart from the as unique a s the zeitgeber itself. For
ordinary. The list of potential example, the creature might attempt
"triggers" is endless. The sound of a to kill anyone who brings the par-
certain musical instrument, the sight ticular trigger into effect, or perhaps
of an open grave, the scent of lilacs- the golem would remember its former
these are but a few possibilities. life for l d 4 rounds. Other possibilities
However, a particular zeitgeber for zeitgeber effects include the fol-
should not be chosen randomly. lowing: causing the golem pain;
Rather, the zeitgeber should reflect making the golem flee for Id6
some peculiarity of the monster's rounds; causing the golem to come
creator or the monster itself. This sort running: making the golem unable to
of zeitgeber is particularly attack the person causing the zeitge-
atmospheric and emphasizes the ber; and causing the golem to take a
twisted relationship between creator particular action, such a s dancing.
and creation that is at the heart of
The DM creating a new golem is
many golem adventures. encouraged to devise unique
For example, imagine that the zeitgebers for the creature, as well as
the zeitgeber's unusual effects.A
goiem's creator is a musician golern with unknown abilities and
obsessed with the notion of com- weaknesses will be much more
posing and producing the perfect exciting and horrifying than a
ooera. H e creates a golem so that he monster whose abilities are utterly
might have the pi:rfect tenor for the familiar to players.
starring role. Hob'ever, whenever the

iQ

c, wareas, traumatically sewn and fused to-

Rb stumble off the cliffface and tumble gether into a workable unit, appear
to my death before facing the thing reddish and angry. This effect may
that has terrorized the oillage of fade with the passage of time, how-
Uselk for twenty years. ever. Thus, a careful observer can
The creature is rumored to be guess at the relative “age” of a golem
eight feet or more in height, rudely by observing the amount of inflamma-
put together as if it were the cast-off tion around the site of any stitching.
plaything of some god-child. Its
hands are said to be twisted and Despite the great strength and
taloned, with thej a w s and wicked density of the golem’s flesh, there is
teeth of the snow bear. apparently no loss of flexibility. In fact,
Perhaps tomorrow I a n d my local Kenyard Brisbane, a former student of
hirelings will be able to bring down mine and devoted foe of evil in all its
this terrible beast man, and I shall myriad forms, once told me he
become famous! observed a golem who dislocated his
-From the journal of own shoulder entirely-merely to reach
Terrence Crannock a small rabbit hiding within a small
hollow! According to Kenyard, the
Of course, it is possible that certain golem appeared to have no qualms
golems may respond to other, more un-
usual zeitgebers. For example, I have whatsoever about such self-mutilation,
heard one tale of a golem who was merely pushing the disjointed arm
halted in its tracks by a particular back into place after he had reached
melody, though I cannot be sure his quarry.
whether the effect was physical, psy-
chological, or both. Such triggers, if dis- Of course, Kenyard’s observations
covered, can become useful weapons in reveal a s much about the golem’s
the hands of a resourceful golem sense of pain a s his flexibility. Given
hunter. Although I would not count on this and similar reports, I have come to
your opponent pausing in such a believe that golems either do not feel
manner, it is an interesting and possibly pain or that pain does not affect them
exploitable oddity of golem behavior. in the way it does you or me. The vast
majority of humans and demihumans
find it extremely difficult to function
with a dislocated limb. This pain

The flesh forming the body of a golem
is apparently greatly transformed

during the creation process, becoming
stronger, denser, and far less porous. It
seems probable this is in fact
necessary in order for the flesh to
maintain its integrity. This process may
be likened in some ways to the
transformation certain trees go through
in the forests of Keening. Some oaks in
that desolate area petrify, their trunks
developing a peculiar density similar to
that of granite.

The transformed and strengthened

flesh appears generally waxen in tex-

ture, save around the stitches. Such

227 -

' ,. )L cT I C ~~\'JI, ETI~IRD: s4

~ c?hour-as if the golem were performing

All golems are utterly immune to I some bio'logical survey of its own.

I poison and cannot be harmed by 1 Resienc:e to Todns
any toxin. Further, they are
I Theinnairds of the flesh golem appear
completely immune to disease, iust a s ruigged a s the exterior tissue-

I including magical maladies.

I

resistance (or lack of the capability to a s any hiinter who has utilized
feel pain) is, of course, no boon to poisonou s gas (or poisons of any sort)
golem hunters. Though we may harm against tlieir kind can attest. Like all
a golem, we can never be certain that member: i of the Created, flesh golems
such damage has impaired its are immime to toxins. This immunity
capabilities until the moment the serves a: i a further example that the
hideous creature actually falls. flesh of tli e Created no longer functions
in anythiii g near its original fashion. Of
I'd like to end this section with an course, tliis comes as no real surprise,
intriguing digression. Kenyard, my since the flesh is "deceased before
former student, noted another curious being vi0mlently fused together during
matter regarding the golem with the the reani mation process.
dislocated shoulder. Despite an appar-

ent need for an occasional meal, the werrpon Immunities
golem did not eat the rabbit once it at-
tained it. Instead, the creature carefully The incrc:dible density of the golem's
ripped the poor creature apart and flesh crei3tes yet another difficulty for
then stared at its remains for nearly an its foes. In most cases, weaponry must

A flesh golem created in Ravenloft been heated until it is "red hot" and
can be struck by weapons of +1 or glowing c:an also be effective against
better enchantment (see page 288 for flesh gok:ms. The weapon must be
complete combat statistics). They are placed in a fire of considerable size
vulnerable to magical spells, except and interIsity-such a s a large bonfire,
mind- or life-affecting spells such a s raging fumace, or some other inferno.
sleep, hold, chal-m. or finger ofdeath. The heat,ed weapon must be at least
Further. they can be struck by crea- as large <3s a short sword; otherwise it
softens and becomes ineffective.
tures with at least 4 + 1 Hit Dice (PCs Further, t.he weapon must make a
saving throw vs. magical fire each
do not qualify regardless of level). time it IS heated, and a saving throw
Like all golems created in vs. crushing blow every time the hot
metal dellivers a blow. If the weapon
Ravenloft, flesh golems receive a +4 fails a saving throw, it becomes too
bonus to saving throws against warped and/or blunted to be useful.
physical damage. including spell Note that: a weapon heated in this
effects. They are partially immune to manner I'emains hot for 2 rounds only.
cold and electricity. Cold or electrical
Flesh golems may be susceptible
attacks cause half damage, but do no to blessed spears or pitchforks (see
harm if the golem makes a successful page 22(I ) . A s the DM, you should
saving throw. feel free to give an individual golem a
unique w'eapon vulnerability. Try to
Fire and acid both cause full tailor the vulnerability to the golem's
damage to flesh golems. Acid can be story, however.

held only in glass or ceramic contain-
ers. A normal-sized flask of acid in-

flicts l d 8 + 2 points of damage.

A normal metal weapon that has

be magical to puncture or lacerate this begun to believe that the Created have
some unique form of regenerative
-tissue. A nonmaaical blade or cudgel capabilities, which are highly
specialized. These powers of
pushes into the yet-resilient flesh, but regeneration come into use when the
refuses to penetrate or draw blood. For golem is mortally injured. I can think
instance, I once observed a tighter of no other reasonable explanation for
thrusting his sword directly into a the uncanny ability of the Created to
golem‘s neck, but when the sword fully recover from horrendous wounds
withdrew, the creature’s skin was which had felled the creature only
unmarred!
minutes before.
Moreover, to “draw blood” from a I have witnessed this phenomenon
golem is at best a euphemistic notion.
Flesh golems do not truly bleed. When several times firsthand, but the first is
the tissue such a creature is pierced, it yet the most vivid. I cannot begin to
oozes a watery, odoriferous liquid describe the depths of horror I felt on
similar in appearance to plasma, that fateful night. My battle-worn
though the smell is closer to that of companions and I were celebrating the
rancid meat or a gangrenous wound. demise of our foe-when the very
creature rose up in apparently perfect
It is interesting to note that health! Alas, two more of our number
nonrnagical weapons do not always perished before the golem fell again to
fail to harm the Created. Apparently, our weapons and spells. Only my
enraged mobs of peasants armed with compatriot Nikita and I remained. This
mere pitchforks and firebrands have time neither she nor I rested until we
brought down a golem on several had burned every piece of the golem’s
occasions. Nonetheless, if you ever
plan on facing one of these body to ash.
monstrosities, 1 strongly recommend To this day Nikita refuses to hunt
procuring a s many magical weapons
a s possible. It may well mean the another golem, and in truth I cannot
difference between suffering only a few blame her. The wiry thief still claims
losses and losing your entire party. the golem attempted to grab her hand
and drag her with it onto its funeral
BwicRsgmMw pyre. Although I did not witness the

Power; like a desolating pestilence, event, being on the other side of the
Pollutes whate’er i f touches; and rather large fire, I do not doubt that

obedience, the aolem’s great evil and tremendous
Bane of all genius, virtue, freedom, will enabled such a final attempt.

truth, Makes slaves of men, and, of
the human frame,
A mechanical automaton.
-Percy Bysshe Shelley, Queen Mab, 111

One of the most horrific and yet
fascinating aspects of the flesh golem’s
tissue is its capacity to repair itself at
an extremely rapid pace. In a matter of
hours, a golem can heal completely
from a wound that would impair a
stalwart warrior for days.

Even more incredible is the
sensitivity and adaptability of the flesh

P &golem’s system. In recent years, I have

Be forewarned, good friends! The Any disassembled golem-be it C2d.
creature you believe must surely be
dead may instead simply be waiting foi flesh, metal, or otherwise-can be
you to let down your guard before it
resumes its attack, fully refreshed and put back together and reanimated
functioning perfectly!
a s long a s at ieast 50%of its

original parts remain available and

intact (and in excellent condition).

Assuming the body is repaired. the

February the Fourth- only requirement for reanimation is

write from the confines of a tiny a simple bolt of energy; the life

shelter, which my five remaining force of the golem is already within

hirelings were able to carue out of its body. The energy-typically a

the ice a n d snow. Outside, the bolt of lightning-merely provides
tthheo nn necr aecssc anrry~ ic,-hha=rmgoe t+-o t+hhen gnonllenmm’s’~
storm that swept down on ourpoor
“batteries.”
group this afternoon rages still.

[grieve for the braue men of

Uselk who lost their lives today. golern’s body parts. Then, he
recharges the golem through a burst of
And all for nothing! Even as the first energy, which is normally a lightning
bolt. Once reanimated, the golem is as
gusts of wind a n d snow reached our powerful as it was before, showing no
signs of the damage you and your
group, the creature was upon us. I comrades fought so hard to inflict!

now know why the thing was so A-, -

difficult to track. The monster was February the Fifth-/ have done it!
Sadly, however, I am the only re-
lying in wait for us, but not behind maining member of this expedition,
and I owe my success to poor
some rocks or trees. No, it was Tomas. It was, after all, his idea to
place our weapons in the campfire.
waiting beneath a layer ofsnow and
As he stated in his simple,
ice precisely at the narrowest point plainspoken manner: “Itworks
with the wolues. Wheneuer there’s
in the mountain pass. a whole pack of them and only a
few of us herders, we heat our
Our first man went down before
weapons right up till they start to
we realized the creature’s trap. From
glow. You only do it with old
that point onuiard my memory is weapons, on account of the blades
sometimes break, but all you have
but a blur, a patchwork made up of
to do is poke a wolf once a n d the
dying men a n d that looming,
whole lot of them takes off right
rending, killing monstrosity. Worse quick.”

yet, our weapons did not euen seem I shall be sure to tell Tomask
family of his sharp thinking when I
to scratch the thing’s hide. , , . present my condolences to them.
The lad’s plan actually worked!
-From the journal of When the horrid creature finally
came upon us once more, we
~--, Terrence Crannock pulled our weapons from the fire
---e7 and, our hands wrapped in wool,
---?T--

Reassembly

Even if you are fortunate enough to
sufficiently damage a golem to the
point where it can no longer
regenerate, it would not be wise to
leave any part of the creature intact. If
the golem’s creator is still among the
living (or, the gods forbid, some other
person attempts this!), he may well be
able to repair his creation.

This process of repair involves two
stages: First, the creator reattaches the

- -*-)

, we faced offagainst the mighty
-just outside. On the morrow Ishall
THECREATED

(5from such peculiar parts apply solely

creature. As soon asI struck the to creatures of flesh.

first blow I knew we could defeat As you read the following

the thing, for the weapons burned descriptions, keep in mind that the list

into the monster’s flesh as if it were is only representative. It is by no
-Terrence Crannock
butter! The battle was bitter, but I means meant to be an exhaustive

preuailed! compilation of such abilities.

Even now the thing’s body lies

attach it to the sled and bring home Gizella, the young girl I

m y trophy in triumph so that all mentioned in m y preuious entry,

might witness. lay curled on her straw pallet, the

-Final journal entry of light from the flames bathing her

flesh with the ruddiness of life.

Relieued, I stepped forward,

preparing to wake her;As I reached

Emorclinq Abilities out, I noticed that Gizella’s face was
turned toward the fire. But her

Golems are extraordinarily diverse body was turned toward the
creatures, each a unique reflection of doorway opposite!

its creator’s obsessions and desires. As For the second time in as many

su&, almost all golems have certain days, I was too late. Being careful

unusual abilities and powers which not to disturb the body, I noted the

other creatures of the same type lack. massiue contusions and bruises all

Most golems have no more than two of along the girl’s neck and shoulders.

these unusual or unique abilities, Brushing back her long, pale hair I

however. This is fortunate, a s any found what I was seeking: the

power given to the Created beyond bruised imprints of the culprit’s
that which they already possess is truly
fingers, starkly maleuolent against

frightening. Such abilities can be very the pale flesh. Setting to work, I

dangerous, but most particularly if carefully measured the marks. It
they come as a total surprise to the soon became obuious to me that

golem hunter. the fingers belonged to no ordinary
I have therefore attempted to mortal. For what human or

compile a representative sampling of demihuman has the fingers of a

the extraordinary abilities that either I human man on one hand and the
or a reliable witness has seen fleshy claws of an owlbear on the

manifested in one of the Created. other?
Most examples are not linked to a My horror at the untimely and

golem’s physical body per se, but particularly brutal murder of this

instead derive from the creator’s unfortunate young girl, not yet
particular reasons for creating the seuenteen winters old, has only
golem. I point this out by way of a strengthened my resolue. Tomorrow,
warning: Such abilities might apply I will send for Palouian and his
equally to golems constructed from a group. After the euidence discouered

material other than flesh (although tonight, I am conuinced the golem
my research along this vein is created by Delona is murdering the
admittedly less reliable). I shall also youth of this uillage.

present abilities derived horn peculiar -From the journal of

body parts-the snout from a hound, Dr. Van Richten

for example, or the arms of two giant

apes. Obviously, the abilities arising

A golem with the animate dead Cause D epair
ability can animate and control a
number of corpses equaling up to An encouriter with any golem would
twice its Hit Dice. However, the bring abouit some degree of despair, of
golem can only give general, em- course. Hciwever, in the lower reaches
pathic commands such as feelings of G'Henn,3, I encountered a flesh
of rage. The golem cannot control golem whc) could wield despair a s
exactly who its creatures will feel surely a s eI warrior might wield a
rage toward. (One exception: They sword. This golem's victims were
never attack the golem.) Such ani- overcome with great melancholy and
mated corpses function as zombies. hopelessnc~ S S n, o matter how bold they
might othc!rwise have been. To trigger
Anh+ Dead the desire(i effect in a victim, the
golem deliberately tore away chunks of
I once faced a flesh golem who had the its own f l e5h while moving toward its
ability to animate any corpse it target. What made this terrible sight
touched. The creature seemed to revel even more! hideous was the creature's
in animating the freshly killed bodies of constantsmile, as of some circus
its foes, and I remember with great clown, lee]ring evilly beneath its dead
sadness having to strike down the eyes.
animated body of one of my
companions in the very same battle in Victims who succumbed to this
which he was killed. despair wculd find themselves barely
able to del'end themselves, let alone
The animated corpses were not cast spells or flee. I myself was
golems, of course, but some sort of fortunate 6mough to stave off this
lesser undead creatures. Still, it would attack Ion!3 enough to make my
certainly be possible to be escape. Still, a wave of absolute
overwhelmed when faced by a large lethargy aind apathy came over me,
number of such animate dead. and it neairly drowned my will.

Golems with this power can Cause HoiP F
cause despair up to three times per
day. To do so. the goiem must Hataras the Quiet once told me of a
consciously exert its will while golem wh(Ise hideous laughter nearly
simultaneously moaning, ripping at drove him to madness. The dwarf
its own flesh, laughing, or shook witt1 fear a s he related the tale,
performing some other action and he spi3ke in no more than a
designed to horrify observers. whisper. A nd this was nearly a year
after the iricident! Indeed, he said he
Anyone looking upon the golem could not bring himself to leave his
must make a successful saving home for :several weeks following the
throw vs. death magic or be horrible erIcounter, and that the
overwhelmed by apathy and hideous laughter still echoed in his
despair. Affected individuals can nightmares whenever his weary mind
only defend themselves, and may drifted intc sleep.
not take any offensive actions or
attempt to flee at a rate faster than le hearing the gibbering
a slow walk. This effect lasts as golem's laugh must make a
long as the golem remains in the successfuI saving throw vs. death
victim's sight. magic with a -2 penalty. Those who
fail suffer the effects of a failed fear
check.

I to confer B C

a& i

Such

I

“ 4 II

For DMs cons1:ructing a unique c> .
jolem, peculiar tlody parts offer
iearly boundless possibilities. The ‘5we cannot begin to comprehend, some
7owers arising fri3m such parts can
:ruly surprise an(1. frighten players. creators choose to assemble their
3elow are severaI examples of the golems from a variety of human,
3bilities which fle,sh golems might demihuman, animal, and even
gain from exotic parts. monstrous body parts-until the result
makes an already startling creature
Gargoyle Wing1s:These wings truly bizarre.
3 1 1 0 ~the golem Ito fly at a rate of 15
:D or E). Additionally. t h e golem day’s catch, and I remember
3ppears even mc)re terrible, causing spotting a particularly fine halibut
3 -1 penalty to any fear checks in the net when the thing swooped
n a d e in its prestince. down on us. At first I thought
maybe it was one of those gargoyle
Monkey’s Tail: This prehensile things, but it didn’t look like any
:ail enables the lolem to swing from gargoyle I’d euer seen. What it
:ree limb to tree limb at a rate of
12. looked like was a nightmare come
to life.
Giant Scorpion’s Tail: This tail
gives the golem an additional It’s funny, but I can hardly seem
sttack. If the attaIck hits. it causes to remember its face. What I
l d 4 points of dain a g e and the
victim must succ.essfully save vs. remember best is the smell of the
poison or lose arI additional 2d4 hit brine and the rush ofthe wind, and
points. The venom of the golem’s poor Neddie-boy’s wide-open eyes
tail can be used only three times a right before it took him. I mean, the
day. thingjust snatched him up right

Mage’s Brain: A golem with a out of the boat. Then i t flew higher
mage’s brain car1 cast one 1st-level and higher. It had leathery wings,
spell per day. This is a variation on and its body was like something
(or rationale for) the spell-like one of my kids would have stuck
abilities of some golems.
together. You know, like a doll
Basilisk’s Eyes: These eyes do
not grant the go1e m the ability to made from the wrong-sized parts. I
petrify its oppontents. However, they don’t euen know why it took
do manage t.0 force anyone looking Neddie. I mean-it wasn’t for food.
at the golem’s face to successfully And it didn’t euen seem to want
save vs. paralyzistion or be unable him. ltjust flew up high and then
to attack for one round due to a dropped him onto a rock-like it
sudden, short-lived paralysis. had been some kind ofexperiment
or something! Then it flew off
Blood of a Cheetah: This blood
allows the golerrI to triple its Neddie sure didn’t deserue that. . .
movement rate for ld4 rounds. This
ability is usable,snce per day. Heck, nobody does.
-Account of an

It is essential for the golem hunter m
to be able to accurately predict the
abilities of the foe from an analysis of
its appearance. To aid in this effort,
the abilities derived from a
representative sampling of the
innumerable possible body parts are

iscussed below. Bear in mind that grant the golem not only visual acuity
se examples barely scratch the but the ability to see into the infrared
ace of possible golem anatomy, spectrum a s well. The use of ears
recall that it is always better to from species with exceptionally keen
hearing grant that same sharpness to
verestimate than to underestimate
the golem.
Limbs. Both the number and the A golem that once dwelled near
pe of limbs that the creator attaches
a golem affect its powers and Dervich was reputed to have tracked
apabilities. This is particularly true of its prey by scent, with the aid of the
mbs that offered the “original owner” bloodhound’s snout grafted to its
pecial abilities or provided modes of humanoid countenance. The hunter
should always assume that the
1. For example, I have heard golem’s senses are far keener than his
own.
s of a peculiar creature
ting the jungles of Sri Raji. If the Other Body Parts. In addition to
orts are accurate, the creature these relatively mundane organs and
limbs, many fantastical appendages
travels by brachiating-that
winging from tree limb to tree could be attached to the golem.

ough use of its long Astonby of the Oaks once wrote of his

relimbs, at an exceedingly rapid encounter with a flesh golem equipped
These unusual limbs, presumably with the eyes of a giant fly and the
n from some primate, grant the stinger of a giant scorpion. These
appendages gave the golem a nearly
em the power to utilize this swift 360-degree range of vision, a s well a s
silent means of travel, and to an additional poisoned attack. I’ve
ck its victims from above with little also heard of a golem with the tongue
of a giant frog. Apparently, the golem
ny warning. Apparently, the used the tongue to snag small prey,
ature even boasts a prehensile tail which it then proceeded to ravage. It
th which it hangs from above!
The potential combinations are also used the tongue to gain a
ost boundless. I know of at least stranglehold on larger victims.
tales of a golem with the wings of
ant e a g l e t h e s e golems could fly. While the list could continue
golem flies,we can assume this indefinitely,these examples provide
ility has a dramatic effect on the the reader with a good idea of the
nster’s choice of lair. Unfortunately, range of physical combinations
Is0 hinders our ability to both possible among the Created. I find it
ocate and destroy such a creature. ironic that a mad scientist might labor
A golem with the body of a horse year after year, performing countless
dissections in his quest for knowledge
d move extremely rapidly and concerning life, then ultimately stitch
the advantage of powerful rear-
together a creature about whose
cks a s well. Readers who use abilities he knows almost nothing.
their imaginations can surely come up
with a number of other possible Indeed, many creators die at the
abilities a s well. What is important is moment they first glimpse the true
that the hunter always attempt to potential of the golem-at the moment
remain open and flexible in his their creation turns against them and
thinking about golem abilities. strikes them down.

Sensory Organs. A creator often

chooses to use eyes, ears, or other

sensory organs from nonhuman
sources for reasons other than
aesthetics. Those delicately shaped elf

~. . ,. .

i ': Six-rKw, T m THIRD: (

$,&

,The uniauqhi p a n t beheid the eiement5 around him,and was acquainted wiih iheir

c

yracficai purpose<L. Them o i /earned yhiiosopher knew M e more. f i e had yarfiah!

unveiied /he facc of glaiure, but her immorhd Iineamentc were di// a wonder and a

myzterr~.
-Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein

CHAPTEFROUR: skeletons that have been defeated in
combat. Further, at least ten different

MATBUALSUWSUAL skeletons must be combined to create
the monster. I cannot say what
n this chapter I shall
necessitates such measures: Ionly

discuss those rare know that without them, the would-be
1 ~ ~ '' creatures made of creator is unable to fashion a thing a s
substances other than powerful as a golem.

: flesh. I have reliable Bone has a number of drawbacks
~

in:?:iT a on that each of the materials when compared to flesh (which, of

herein has been used in the course, might be viewed a s advantages

construction of at least one golem. In by a golem hunter). First, this material

some cases, I can provide firsthand is not a s adaptable or resilient. Thus,
information. In others, I can only bone golems do not appear to have

provide secondhand information and the same level of regenerative ability

my own hypotheses. as do flesh golems. Second, I believe

Although I cannot be entirely certain that bone may actually become

of these secondhand sources, I firmly somewhat brittle over time, which

believe it is better to err by offering the suggests a susceptibility to shattering

reader some potentially false or attacks.

misleading information. It would be A devoted golem hunter and

tragically irresponsible of me to hold adventurer of my acquaintance,

back some information just because I Hataras the Quiet, has noted that blunt

believe it may hold relatively little weapons seem to have a far greater

merit or even be entirely specious. I effecton golems constructed of bone

will not make for you a decision on

which your very life,and the lives of

your companions, may rest.

That said, let us begin our

examination.

Bow

One might imagine that a bone golem
is simple to assemble; bone is quite
easy to obtain, after all, and it does not
degrade a s swiftly a s flesh. However,
while a flesh golem can be constructed
from the dead, a bone golem must be
fashioned from the undead (or bones
formerly so). By all accounts, bone
qolems are only viable when
constructed from once-animate

e s ~ a i atch the descripti aordinary abilities listed in

)endices. For example, the ght be subject to an unusua

de of metal as described b apon. As always, you
e to create unique got
MOWTHOUS MANUA~b.ook, thoug
strong similarities remain. Furth gestions in this chapter as

only a priest of good alignment mples of the wide range of
create the common clay golem.
Note that any material-spe
itrast. the monster presented engths and weaknesses li
who fashioned tures comrno
x t woman, and
ich can be su
=ores as she sees fit.
Immune to to
Immune to m

F

3reater fashioned by lawful good priests.
jolems. They are clumsy and unintelligent,
310% and they may become rampaging
within its berserkers should they break free of
t make a their masters' control. But a golem
to molded from clay by an obsessed
creator can differ markedly, for it is
lems given life and intelligence by the
n edged mysterious powers of Ravenloft.
$er, a
golem Only blunt weapons of +2 or better
ounds the
ed from enchantment can strike a Ravenloft
'hus, clay golem. Due to the pliant nature
lamage, of its body, the creature normally
double.j takes half damage from all weapons.
e vs. spell On an attack roll of 20, the golem
can envelop an opponent, inflicting
e to cold Id6 points of damage per round.
Only a successful bend bars roll will
iormal free the victim. (If it should suit the
golem creator, an unusual clay golem might
Iuld also elongate its limbs, enabling it to
:damage attack opponents up to 20 feet
distant.)
1Y
1 laugh so Ravenloft clay golems take full
5ar and damage from both heat- and cold-
:heck based spells. These magic spells
2 rounds; make the flesh somewhat brittle. For
lost bone three rounds following such an
,bsession attack, the clay golem takes full
However, damage from all weapons of +2 or
he greater enchantment.
:othe use
: rounds. Like any clay golem, a Ravenloft
,session creation can be driven back 120 feet
r day. by a moue earth spell, suffering 3-12
?m more (3d 12) points of damage.
hey can Disintegrate slows the creature for
ie rounds. 1-6 rounds and causes 1-12 ( l d l 2 )
points of damage. An earthquake
0; MV 12; spell focused on the creature can halt
'mg 3d8; it for a turn and inflict 5-50 (5d10)
le; MR Nil; points of damage.

' 18,000. After a round of combat, a clay
golem can cast haste on itself for 3
12; Wis 2 rounds. It can do this once per day.

1 in THE Golem. Clay: AL N; AC 7; MV 7;
.e HD 11; THACO 9; #AT 1; Dmg 3d10;
SA hug; SD +2 or better weapon to

hit; MR Nil; SZ L;ML Fearless (20);

XP 11,000, Str 20; Dex 16; Con 20;
Int 10; Wis 2; Cha 5.

obsession.

izards. Like such golems, the blunt weapons of -2 or grea
golern born of obsession can
inleash a prismatic spray (see the enchantment can strike glas
pel1 in the Player’s Handbook) on
golems suffer double damage from
iurning ray through its body at such attacks. Additionally, a shattc
arnefs up to 100 feet distant, caus.
percentage chance equ
._.,..oints of damage. A successfu
points of damage inflkt
throw vs. paralysis halves th slaying the golem.
iamage. The burning ray attack ca
& used only once per day. and the Qolern.Glass: AL N:
HD9THACO11:#ATl,

Unusual metallic golems can only this ability for other metal golems,
be struck by weapons of 12 too.)
enchantment or better. (Only + 3 or
Metal golems are incapable of
greater weapons can strike iron hyper-regeneration.Additionally,
golems. See the MONSTROUSMANUAL
tome for detaiis.) All magical efectrical attacks sIow such creatures
weapons inflict oniy 2 points of for 3 rounds. If the creature is struck
damage to the metallic monster
created through obsession, not by an electrical attack while touching
including strength and magical water, triple damage is incurred.
bonuses. Fire does not normally
damage metal goiems. (In fact, for Ciolem, Metal: AL N; AC 3 ; MV 6;
the common iron golem, magical fire HD 18; THACO 3; #AT 1; Dmg 4d10;
actually heals 1 hit point per Hit Die SA Nil; S D +2 or better to hit;
of damage; DMs may wish to adapt MR Nil; SZ L; ML 20; XP 15,000.
Str 24; Dex 17; Con 20; int 9; Wis 2;
Cha 7.

wall of the new edifice was a paean to have been unable to find its exact
location, I believe it may have once
our serene Lady, She of the True Word. stood in what is now the Mount Nirka
It was built entirely ofglass by a single region of Darkon. It is probable that
the golem is yet in existence to this
craftsman who worked ceaselessly to very day. a s there was a report of just
such a creature being sighted no more
finish his masterpiece, forgoing even than twenty years ago.
sleep. As the last notes of music faded
Although information is minimal, I
to quiet that fateful morn, the dawn's
light touched the wall ofglass. The would think it likely any goiem of glass
colors were dazzling, and I wept at the would favor slashing attacks. It might
beauty I had been blessed to see. Now also be able to use certain properties
I wish that same beauty had blinded of glass to its advantage, such a s heat
me, as then I would not have seen the conduction and the like.
deaths ofso many good folk!
Metal
Seconds after the chapel was
I have heard tales of goiems made of
suffused by the colored light, the
image ofour Lady, some twenty feet in iron, though I have never faced one.
height, broke away from the wall and
began her attack. Some of us cast Presumably, almost any metal could be

ourselves to fhe ground, certain we used. Yet the difficulty in procuring
had trespassed against our goddess in
some manner: enough of a particular metal and then

But I saw the tiny form of the working it into a suitable form is

craftsman standing in the doorway- prohibitive for most individuals. Thus,
his face red, yellow, and green in the
reflected light. Such an expression!His metallic golems are among the rarest
face was suffused with such twisted
hatred that I could not bear to look on of all.

it, any more than on the violent deaths It is fortunate, indeed, that the

ofso many of my fellows. I am above is true, for it would seem
ashamed to admit I fled in the face of
plausible that a golem constructed of
such horror, b u t . . .
metal would be so tough a s to be nigh
The tale of the golem ends there. I
believe this to be a fairly accurate unto indestructible. However, the

r / 3 account. The chapel itself was surely former supposition may also imply that
destroyed in the attack. Although I
these goiems are not as easily

reanimated as the goiems fashioned

from other materials. G

3ECTK)C)I A rock to mud spell slows the
stone golem for 2d6 rounds. (The
Only weapons of +2 or better reverse, mud to frock, heals all
enchantment can strike a stone damage!) A stone to flesh spell
golem born of ob:iession in Ravenloft. makes the golem vulnerable to all
Further. slashing imd piercing normal attacks during the next
weapons cause 01ily 1 hit point of round-excluding spell effects that
damage, not inciuiding strength and do not involve the loss of hit points
magical bonuses. Unusual golems
constructed from slate or other brittle Golem, Stone: AL N; AC 5; MV 6;
stone take double damage from HD 14; THACO 7; #AT 1: Dmg 3d8;
magical bludgeoning attacks. S A slows opponent: SD see above:
MR Nil; SZ L; ML Fearless (20);
Like any comrrion stone golem, up XP 9,000. Str 22; Dex 17; Con 20;
to three times per day the golem born Int 9: Wis 2; Cha 8.
of obsession can Is e slou on its
opponents. Stone golems built from
igneous rock inflicIt an additional 1d8
points of damage per attack due to
the stone's jaggecI edges.

If you are ever mso unfortunate as to stFW
face a metallic foe, I would advise
relying on cleverness and trickery, a s Though magically animated
opposed to brutish physical assaults, scarecrows have been known to
to defeat your unniItural foe. stagger through the countryside, bent
on murder, straw is rarely employed in
stone the construction of an intelligent
golem. When such a material is used,
This material suffei.s much the same it is always due to its peculiar
strengths and weakmesses of metal significance to the creator.
mentioned above. IHowever, if the
constructor is both patient and skilled, I have heard of one such occurrence
stone is often a far less costly material of a straw golern, however. The halfling
with which to work farmers residing near Delagia in

According to the: noted dwarven
scholar Abordicus Slategrinder, several
appearances of stone golems have
been recorded in his homeland of
Dubkelheit in Lam(xdia. Abordicus
describes these go1lems a s extremely
slow, methodical, aInd almost
invulnerable. lndeed, when faced with
stone golem bent c)n their destruction,
one dwarven clan 13ecame so
desperate they triggered an avalanche
to bury the creature. In the process,
over half their towr1 was destroyed.

Golem hunters rnust sometimes
take such extreme measures to rid the
world of the CreateId.

The woo( golem introduced here is Most wood golems can only be
not the Ravenloft doll golem. The struck by weapons of +2 or better
latter creatLire is a toy that may or enchantment. If the golem is
may not be made of wood. (Most doll constructed of petrified wood,
golems, in f‘act, are stuffed animals or however, a +3 weapon or better is
dolls of mixed materials.) required. Magical fire attacks cause
double damage. Additionally, these
Wood go1ems do not bite or cause golems suffer twice the usual amount
their victim: i to laugh uncontrollably, of damage from magically
as doll goleins can. However, the crea- summoned insects (summon swarm,
tures do bot1st an unusual splintering for example). Golems made from
attack. By smashing a limb against a ironwood are slowed for 3 rounds by
solid object, a wood golem can cause electrical attacks.
Id4 large SF,linters to fly from its body
(range 10 fc:et). If a splinter hits its Golern, Wood: AL N; AC 6; MV 12;
target, it bui.rows into the flesh, caus- HD 12; THACO 8; #AT 2; Dmg
ing ld4 poirits of damage per round 2d8/2d8; SA splinters: S D +2 or
until removf:d. Further, unlike doll better weapon to hit; MR Nil; SZ M;
golems, wo(2d golems are not siouied ML 20; XP 6,000. Str 19; Dex 18;
by the war6) wood spell. In fact, the Con 20, lnt 9; Wis 2; Cha 7.
creatures ciin themselves warp wood,
three times per day.

which foe yo,u’ve encountered, I wickedly pointed shards of wood into
suggest you examine the head. In all the victim’s flesh. The shards
likelihood, the straw golem born of supposedly work inward, towards the
obsession wilII be constructed solely of victim’s heart, inflicting additional
straw, thougtI the material may be damage upon the sufferer.
stuffed into clothing. In contrast, the
evil scarecrow’s head will almost Compilers’Note: Since DK Van
assuredly be a pumpkin or gourd. Richten wrote the aboue text, he
Truth surely iis stranger than fiction, is continued to collect stories regarding
it not? golems made ofother, unusual
materials. Since his disappearance, we
Wood haue collated these sparse notes into
the follouing list. We haue not, yet,
The time-horiored skill of woodcarving been able to determine the degree of
continues to be a common practice in truth behind these “new”creatures,
villages and i:owns throughout the land. thus at present, we haue no concrete
Most carvers use this skill to create details on the gargoyle, doll, zombie, or
items rangiy3 from the most practical mechanical golem.
of bowls to ttie most fanciful of
sculptures. Unfortunately, I have heard LWF
that some carvers have turned this
same skill to’ward the creation of wood be found in the collected
golems. MONSTROUS COMPENDIUM^
Appendices I & II (TSR #02162).
Although Fvood golems tend to be
smaller in sttiture than most, they are 3e.
still vicious opponents and should not
be discounte,d in combat. Some wood
golems are said to have a painful
splintering attack in which they drive

-’ ~btC.Jll3lJ$, iE I T [UD: 82’

Whatever their construction, ‘the most certain means of damaging
golems are immune to spells
affecting the mind (charm,sleep, the Created. However, spells should
hold, etc.). They are also immune always be selected with care: the best
to spells affecting the respiratory magical arsenal includes a broad range
system and other life functions that of physically damaging effects.
are alien to golems. Exceptions are
noted in appropriate MONSTROUS The reasons for the caution above
MANUAeLntries. Remember that all by now may seem obvious, but I would
members of the Created gain a +4 rather repeat myself than gloss over
saving throw bonus against any important information too readily. Ail
spell causing physical damage. golems are different.Although the
details I shall impart here are given in
keeping you and your companions good faith, dear reader, and seem to
alive. Thanks for much of this material be generally true, this by no means
are due to several mages and priests- indicates that the golem you face will
brave folk who generously shared their not have capabilities, defenses, and
expertise in hope of aiding others even vulnerabilities differentfrom
embroiled in the war against evil. those I explicate herein. Simply put,
when faced with a specific threat,
spell Fffecfs generalities do not make the strongest
of shields.
Due to the impenetrable nature of their
minds and bodies, golems are immune Illusion/Phantasm: Magic spells
to many spells. In particular, they relying directly on tricking the mind
resist all efforts to bend their will; they normally do not work on the Created.
cannot be charmed or lulled to sleep. So spells such a s hypnotic pattern,
As they do not need to breathe, they spook, and the like are utterly
cannot be harmed by magic affecting worthless against these foes. However,
the respiratory system. And since they illusions that affect an area and are
do not age, they are immune to most not cast directly upon the mind of the
life-altering spells, including those golem (phantasmal force or
which ordinarily cause disease. Finally, phantasmal killer, for example) do
they sustain far less damage in combat fool the Created.
than we mortals do, and are
completely immune to cold-based and Another exception to this rule
electrical spell attacks. seems to be spells causing inuisibility.
Although it is not exactly clear why
Nonetheless, magic is one of the such magic spells are effective against
foremost weapons in the golem the Created when other illusions are
hunter’s arsenal. Certain familiar spells not, I theorize that these spells in
have particularly devastating results some way physically act upon the
when used against the Created. subject turned invisible, not the mind
of the viewer. Or it may be-as the
In the following section, I shall great mage Hermaine Gingold
discuss selected spells that function in suggests-that the inuisibility spell
perhaps unexpected ways (or not at acts a s a filter, physically enveloping
all) when applied to the Created. the invisible subject and directing the
viewer’s attention around and away
WiZRFd Spells from it. Whatever the truth, golems
cannot see invisible opponents any
It seems that “heavy duty” spells, better than we do ourselves-which is
especially flame-based castings, offer to say, not at all.

Charm Spells: As with the illusion
spells above, charm spells such as
sleep, hold monster, charm monster,

and the like rely on affecting the mind
of the subject, and thus are useless
against the golem. The minds of the
Created seem impervious to all forms
of mental manipulation.

Animate Dead: This spell does not
affect the Created.

Contagion: Golems are not subject

spell has no effect

creations in the sense that enchanted Polymorph Other: To m y knowl-
weapons, caryatid columns, or such
are magical. The nature of such items edge, no wizard has ever successfully
and "created" creatures is readily used this spell against a member of the
Created. Even flesh golems are
monitored when a wizard uses a detect immune: it appears they lack the nec-
essary qualities of the normal, living
magic spell. Most golems are not
detectable by such a spell. I have only
heard of one or two cases in which a
golem was successfully spotted in this
manner, and even then 1 a m unsure as
to whether the "golems" in these
instances were tiue members of the

on such devices to ferret

Dispel Magic: Although this spell Protection from Evil, IO-Foot
works admirably with some few
golerns, in general it has no effect. The Radius: This spell functions under the
only golems who are 'stunned" by this same restrictions as its counterpar
spell are the relatively stupid (see above).
automatons created by mages and
priests. However, such creatures are
not the proper subject of this work.

ESP: This spell does not seem to
work on golems. Additionally, I have

seen mages faint with horror when
making the attempt to contact such an

alien and evil mind as that of thcp 2 .

Created.