This week we get into the first episode of the Fan Requested Golem Suite! The fan who requested this suite, Tekale, did so by winning a raffle from a charity stream James did in junction with Casa de Colores Fundraiser.
That being said, what a choice! Golems are one of James’ favourite creatures and we’re so so excited to get into them this week, starting with Part 1 – D&D Lore from all editions with a focus on 5e. Casa de Colores Live Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1624326454?filter=all&sort=time
Casa De Colores Website: https://rachelsanrelus.wixsite.com/casa-de-colores-fund.
James: Red Knight
Freeman: Rotbite
Books: Monster Manual, Fitzban’s Treasury of Dragons
Disclaimer
Creature’s we’ll be focusing on in this suite:
Monster Manual p.167-170
· Clay Golem
· Flesh Golem
· Iron Golem
· Stone Golem
Fitzban’s Treasury of Dragons p.183
· Dragonbone
***Might touch on a few others in the statblock episode
About
· Magically created constructs
· Mindless, emotionless creatures
· Only know how to fulfill the commands of their creators
Creation
· Typically created by wizard of cleric
· Can use simple commands to control the creature as long as they’re within 60’
· Involves a spirit from the Plane of Earth bound against its will
· When made of more expensive material (adamantine or mithral) it’s made of a cheaper version (iron) then polymorphed via a WISH spell
Notable Users
Azuth, Gond, Oghma, Thoth – all kinds
Clangeddin Silverbeard, dwarven Exarch of battle and honour – Stone
Flandal Steelskin, gnome deity of mining and smithing - Iron
Nephthys, Mulhorand demigod of death – Gem
Velsharoon, patron of liches and demigod of necromancy – Flesh
Etherik, elf wizard bent on destroying all drow – Flesh (only Drow)
Red Knight, exarch of battle – Stone (as chess pieces)
Appearance
· Ghoulish horror assembled from the body parts of various creatures
o Usually human
o Stitched and bolted together into a new bigger form
o Usually linger smell of decay
· 2.4m/8’ tall & 230kg/500#, about the weight of a pygmy hippo
· Move and walked stiffly
· Unable to speak, but can produce a hoarse roar
Creation
· Body parts have to be collected from at least 6 different corpses, though sometimes more were needed
o Torso, head & brain, each arm and leg
· Could not be too badly decayed
· The use of special unguents and bindings costing approximately 500gp were needed to keep they pieces together
· Requires a knowledge of medicine, surgery, or leatherworking
· Spells: animate dead, bull’s strength, geas/quest, limited wish
· Total cost of construction ~10,500gp
· Value 20,000gp
Manual of Flesh Golems
· Very rare
· Spell caster with at least 2 5th level spell slots
· 60 days, with no more than 8 hours rest pre day
· 50k gp for supplies
· Once finished book is consumed by eldritch flames
· Sprinkle book ashes on the golem to animate it
Appearance
· Sculpted from Clay
· Bulk and of humanoid shape but with awkward proportions
· Taller than most humans but due to its construction it’s appearance can vary widely
· Weighs at minimum 275kg or 600# - about a leopard seal
· A fragile vessel compared to the other golems
· Usually wore no clothes except for a piece of metal or stiff leather at the hips for modesty purposes, I guess?
Creation
· No creation information listed
Manual of Clay Golems
· Very rare
· Spell caster with at least 2 5th level spell slots
· 30 days, with no more than 8 hours rest per day
· 65k gp
· Once finished book is consumed by eldritch flames
· Sprinkle book ashes on the golem to animate it
Appearance
· Sculpted from a single piece of carefully chiseled stone
· Most elegant of which can be found as both guardians and art pieces
· Usually humanoid and bipedal but can be any shape
· Stylized to suit their creator
· Almost never have clothes or weapons
· Average about 2.7m/9’ and weight about 910kg – average camel weight
Creation
· Cost speculated to be about 60,000gp
· Processing of sculpting taking nearly 2 months
· Skilled laborers were also required to chisel out the golem
· Spells: geas, polymorph any object, slow and wish
· Spell casters should be 16th level before attempting
o A book whose pages contain 23 spells but it’s last two pages include a manual for creating stone and iron golems
Manual of Stone Golem
· Very rare
· Spell caster with at least 2 5th level spell slots
· 90 days, with no more than 8 hours rest per day
· 80k gp
· Once finished book is consumed by eldritch flames
· Sprinkle book ashes on the golem to animate it
Appearance
· Typically built to resemble a suit of armor, their can be stylized to suit their creator
· Features are usually smooth though
· 3.7m/12’ tall and 2300kg or 5,000 lbs. – 2 Honda civics
· Used to guard locations or valuable items
Creation
· 2300kg of iron worth about 80k gp
· An ornate sword and alchemical tinctures are required
· Process takes about 3 months and needs to be done by a skilled ironsmith
· Spell Casters should be 18th level before attempting
· Spells: cloudkill, geas, polymorph any object and wish
o Tome of the Unicorn
Manual of Iron Golems
· Very rare
· Spell caster with at least 2 5th level spell slots
· 120 days, with no more than 8 hours rest per day
· 100k gp
· Once finished book is consumed by eldritch flames
· Sprinkle book ashes on the golem to animate it
Appearance
· Made from bones or whole skeletons of dragons and inorganic matter to bind them
· Somehow still have a breath weapon
Creation
· Made using the inherent magic that exists within all dragons
· Each bone is etched with a rune or glyph allowing the magic to flow freely
· Spells: animate dead, cause fear and Geas
· Total sum costing about 115k gp
Famous Golems
Wilbur – pig shaped iron golem belonging to Macon the “Monkey Mage” of Ravens Bluff (City in Vesperin)
Awtawmatawn – stone golem possessed by a horned devil called Rotbite (Shattered Statue)
Minder – iron golem crewmember of Realms Master a Halruaan skyship
Reading List
Lands of Intrigue – Steven E. Schend
A boxed set of A&D 2e that includes information on the Tome of the Unicorn
Faiths and Avatars – Julia Martin w/ Eric L. Boyd
A campaign setting book for the Forgotten Realms including the Red Knight