Golem: Iron
Select Subtype:
Description:
Iron golems are the most powerful of all golems and are virtually indestructible by normal means. Iron golems are not usually used as household servants, due to their enormous size, weight and power, but are more typically forged to support major siege efforts. A couple of iron golems make a formidable addition to any legion, and can make short work of defensive fortifications; punching holes in castle walls and clearing the way for infantry.
Special:
Iron golems are immune to normal weapons, and are immune to shock, fire and frost damage with one exception; if fire and frost damage are inflicted on alternating turns, thermal shock effects will allow both attacks to do their damage, bypassing all Protection. Additionally, as mindless automata, iron golems are immune to most magical effects including any spells or skills that affect the mind or the emotions, or any magic that drains or buffs Stats, Attributes or Derivatives. They are also immune to poison and disease, and can see perfectly in total darkness.
Iron golems can be disabled using Dispel Magic and winning a Challenge against whatever spell brought the golem to life, however, they are not effected by the Decay Spell the way Clockwork creatures are. They are, however, vulnerable to the acid of Iron Ants, and spraying them with Iron Ant acid will reduce Protection by 1 and inflict 3d6+1 damage.
Variants:
Iron golems are generally used for heavy labour or as guards or military units. Iron golems are expensive and difficult to construct. They are usually made by sculpting their form first in clay, then making ceramic molds and then casting them in iron. The molds are then destroyed to free the form. Because the process does not always work, it is both expensive and time consuming.
Standard Iron Golem
The standard iron golem stands about 2m in height. Tireless and extremely durable, they are useful for performing heavy labour such as in mines, shipyards, smelters, or other industrial locations. They also make excellent guards and military units.
Giant Iron Golem
Giant iron golems typically stand up to 4m in height and weigh up to six tons. Giant iron golems are normally only created to serve as military units, and when armed and sent to battle, a giant iron golem is a signficant threat to anything it encounters.
Iron Golem Servant
Iron golem servants are extremely rare as their relative expense and power does not align well with the requirements for a household servant. That said, they are no unheard of and some extremely wealthy or eccentric individuals have been know to keep them as footmen or personal bodyguards. Notably, when created for this purpose, an iron golem servant may be intricately decorated with filigree in precious metals and/or encrusted with decorative jewels.