GLOOM GOLEM This misshapen hulking brute has taught flesh with a clay-like texture. Howls of pain issue from a gaping black orifice where its face should be. Tormented visages press out from beneath its membranous skin, as though other creatures trapped inside it were clamoring for escape.
Baleful Construction. Creatures of pure malevolence and woe, gloom golems are constructed with clay taken from the banks of The River Styx. Through an arduous process that involves valuable magic regents, rare resources, and the sacrifice of living creatures, a gloom golem is born. Voracious Feeding. Gloom golems do not actually need sustenance, however, they are constructed with a compulsion to harvest the essence of other creatures. Within a gloom golem, the souls of countless creatures can be seen as faces manifesting beneath their skin, each plying for escape. These damned souls are stored within the void that exists in every gloom golem, and even if releases, they are heavily tainted by their host. When these souls are able to escape either due to the golem being damaged or because the golem allows them to be free, they manifest as shadows and lash out at those around them. Gloom Golem Large construct, unaligned Armour Class - 15 (natural armor) Hit Points - 85 (10d10 + 30) Speed - 30 ft. STR 18 (+4) DEX 16 (+3) CON 17 (+3) INT 3 (-4) WIS 12 (+1) CHA 18 (+4) Damage Resistances cold Damage Immunities necrotic, poison, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with adamantine weapons Condition Immunities charmed, blinded, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 11 Languages understands the languages of its creator but can't speak Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Traits Crushing Despair. The gloom golem is surrounded by a 30 foot aura of despair. Any creature who enters this area for the first time on their turn or starts their turn there must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom Saving Throw or become filled with despair. While filled with despair, the creature has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks. This effect lasts for 1 week or until the golem is destroyed. A creature who succeeds on their saving throw is immune to the effects of the golem’s crushing despair for 24 hours. Immutable Form. The golem is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form. Magic Resistance. The golem has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. Magic Weapons. The golem's weapon attacks are magical. Trapped Essence. When the gloom golem is reduced to 42 HP, it uses its summon shadows ability immediately. When the golem is slain, it uses its summon shadows ability twice before it dies. Actions Multiattack. The golem uses its abyssal gaze if available and makes two claw attacks Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage. Abyssal Gaze (5-6). The golem turns the void atop its head to face a creature within 60 feet that can see. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma Saving Throw or become charmed by the golem for 1 minute. A creature charmed in this way must move as close as physically possible to the golem at the start of their turn. A creature who is still not within 5 feet of the golem after moving must use their action to dash and move closer to the golem. The creature can attempt to make the saving throw again at the end of each of their turns. If a creature is reduced to 0 hit points while under the effect of golem’s abyssal gaze, it dies and its soul is drawn into the golem. That creature can not be resurrected by any means short of a wish until the golem is destroyed. Summon Shadows (1/day). The golem draws on the trapped essence inside of it to summon 1d6 shadows from its void. The shadows appear within 10 feet of the golem, and roll their own initiative. If the golem is slain, the shadows are freed and will disperse.