Golem: Wicker
Select Subtype:
Description:
Wicker golems are made from strips of flexible cane, bamboo, hay or other dried grasses, woven and bound tightly together into a humanoid form. Because of the ease of construction and ready availability of materials, wicker golems are quite common. Any craftsperson with the Basketry skill, who is an Apprentice or higher in Mysticism - Natural can construct the body of a wicker golem in a few days, though the golem must still be animated by the Golem spell.
The relative ease of creating wicker golems means they are quite common. Any village with a population of more than a couple of hundred people will likely have contracted the regional mages guild to animate one or more such golems to assist in general labour around the village, working tirelessly for many years before the elements wear them away. In most cases the mages who animate these golems will also give them instructions to defend the villagers if they are threatened, further increasing their utility.
Typically, wicker golems are constructed to fit in humanoid sized spaces and to interact with humanoid sized tools, though they can obviously be constructed in arbitrarily larger or smaller sizes, depending on need.
Special:
Wicker golems are extremely susceptible to fire damage, and take triple damage from flame attacks. However, as mindless automata, they 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.
Wicker golems can be disabled using Dispel Magic and winning a Challenge against the spell that brought the golem to life, however, they are not effected by the Decay spell the way clockwork creatures are.
Variants:
Wicker golems, in various sizes, are fairly common in cities, towns and villages, where their tendency to support peasants and townsfolk with general labour make them a generally accepted part of every day life for many. Because of their relative vulnerability - paerticularly to fire - they are not often pressed into military service, and not even often used by bandits or other criminals except as a aids in labour.
Standard Wicker Golem
The standard wicker golem stands about 2m in height. It is a workhorse of the fields, able to reap, sow, shovel, and lift and bear loads tirelessly in virtually any conditions. They wear down quickly when put to hard labour, and may only last a couple of years before needing to be replaced.
Giant Wicker Golem
Giant wicker golems, which reach 4m in height are uncommon. Their utility is not obvious, though when large scale construction projects are underway, they can be valuable, so they will be encountered in worksites where infratructure is being built, or where multiple structures are being raised. Despite their size and relative strength their vulnerability to fire, and even to ordinary weapons, makes the unsuitabe for military use. Their standard equipment of a staff and a net are intended for leverage and load bearing, but can be used to defend themselves or the workers they serve in a pinch.
Wicker Golem Servant
Wicker golem servants are the most common of all wicker golems and in small villages and towns those with the money to afford one will often have one, or at leats share one. If they primarily serve indoors and do not engage in difficult heavy labour in a range of weather considtions, they can last for decades.