Clockwork Oracle

Description:

Clockwork oracles are only rumoured to exist. Those who claim to have seen them give conflicting reports of what they are, and none have ever been known to povide evidence to support their claims. Some say these creatures are mechanical deities - the gods of the ancient ones who created them. Others claim they are magical or mechanical vessels that contain the minds of great thinkers and sages from long lost civilizations. Most descriptions record them as presenting as giant, disembodied mechanical heads - the size of a room or larger - who seem as self aware and intelligent as any other sentient being - which certainly differentiates them from any other clockwork entity.

Clockwork oracles will always be protected by clockwork golems and archers, and tended to by dozens or even hundreds of clockwork scarabs. They will typically be served and even entertained by clockwork pages. It is unclear whether these clockwork entities serve the oracle, or are an extension of it. Some suggest that a clockwork oracle may serve as a centralized consciousness to an entire clockwork city. Getting close enough see, speak to or threaten a clockwork oracle that did not desire it would be enormously dangerous and challenging.

Special:

Clockwork oracles are quiet different from other clockwork creatures. They are not immune to magical effects that affect the mind or the emotions, or to magic that drains or buffs Stats, Attributes or Derivatives. They still take half damage from shock or frost, and are immune to fire as well as poison, disease or any other physiological effects. They can see perfectly in total darkness.

The Decay spell and Iron Ant acid are only useful in a narrow domain against a clockwork oracle. The caster or attacker must first enter the inner workings of the oracle (which itself might be a difficult feat). From there, they must succeed a 21C using the Engineering skill to determine where to locate the vulnerable mechanisms of the enormous machine. Once these mechanisms are located - often deep inside the complex, grinding gears of the oracle, the caster can roll a 21 Challenge using their Mechanic skill to identify key components. Each successful identification and casting (resisted using Stability) or application of Iron Ant acid will do 3d6+1 points of damage to its Health, but will have no effect on its Protection (as the attacker is operating from within, and the outer armour is far too thick for these tactics to effect it. Unlike other clockwork creatures, the Dispel spell cannot be used to attack a clockwork oracle.

Note that the insides of a oracle will often be protected against assaults from magical engineers by clockwork spiders and clockwork archers moving within them, acting as a sort of immune system. With a full complement of 2880 clockwork scarabs inside it, a clockwork oracle will regenerate 4 Health every turn.