The Radiant golem is a unique construct from the Spelljammer campaign setting.[1][2]
Overview[]
The radiant golem is an ancient construct that some believe has been wandering wildspace for as long as the elves, gnomes, and dwarves have been in existence.[1]
Description[]
The radiant golem resembles an iron golem, though it is somewhat taller, reaching a height of 15-feet and weighing in the region of 6,000 pounds. It has been sculpted in the image of a powerfully built human with eyes that burn with a cool, blue light. The golem's black body scintillates with an azure aura that fills the area around the creature with the smell of summer lightning.
The radiant golem is able to speak with almost any creature it meets via an innate telepathic ability which transcends linguistic barriers and only falters when the golem is attempting to communicate with truly unusual creatures, such as cloakers or clockwork horrors.[1]
Abilities[]
The radiant golem is even deadlier than its iron golem cousins, and were it not for the fact that the creature abhors violence in any form, it would certainly be one of the most deadly creatures known in any crystal sphere.
The golem's strength rivals that of a titan, allowing it to pick up and lift objects over 1,700 pounds,[3] resulting in melee attacks that are nothing short of devastating. The creature can only be injured by magical weapons with a +4 or greater enhancement bonus.
In addition, the golem radiates a magical death aura which can potentially harm all living creatures which spend at least one hour of any 24-hour period within ten yards of the golem. If affected, they suffer permanent harm which can only be restored through the use of a wish (as per the spell). The golem cannot deactivate its death aura, which remains active at all times.
The death aura not only affects animal life, but plant life as well. In situations where the golem has decided to settle for a time, the entire region is likely to become barren and lifeless. The death aura does not affect non-living material, like stone and metal, or once living matter (like a wooden cart) in any way.
Electricity-based magical attacks cannot harm the radiant golem, but will slow it down (as per the spell) for a minute or two. All other magical attacks are ineffectual, while fire- and heat-based attacks will actually repair any damage inflicted upon the golem.
Whenever the radiant golem takes damage from an attack, it tries to flee the area. However, if it is unable to withdraw, it will engage it foes in combat, all the while repeatedly offering its opponents the chance to break off all hostilities.
The radiant golem automatically regenerates any damage inflicted upon it at a significant rate.[1]
History[]
One can best understand the radiant golem if one thinks of it as an orphan. Long ago, an unknown race created the radiant golem in an attempt to improve upon the existing iron golem design. They used a unique ore found on a lifeless asteroid to fashion the golem's body and used certain untested enchantments to breathe life into it.
Unlike an iron golem, the radiant golem has a modicum of intelligence, and while it isn't an intellectual giant, it is fully self-aware and able to reason and imagine. Its creators discovered that the construct refused to harm another creature, and was practically useless as a guardian or warrior. By the time they had learned about the golem's gentle and friendly nature, however, they had fallen victim to another unexpected development - its death aura.
Since the passing of its creators, the radiant golem has drifted from crystal sphere to crystal sphere in an attempt to find friends. It longs to have companions who won't flee from it or succumb to its deadly presence. As such, it often latches onto parties of adventurers and tries to be as helpful as possible, offering advice, lifting heavy weights, and doing everything a servant might do to make their lives easier (but shorter).
The golem does not know about its death aura, and it will not understand or believe in the aura if told of its existence. Aware that it is practically immortal, the golem simply assumes that living things die very quickly. In fact, the golem often bemoans the fact that fate has made mortals so fragile.[1]
At some point during its travels, the radiant golem became trapped in a ship graveyard at the heart of a space vortex, where it waited to be rescued by passing ships. Unfortunately, any crews who survived the violent passage through the vortex either fell victim to the golem's aura or tried to escape without it. As a result, the golem made certain arrangements to ensure that the next ship to enter the vortex would either take it along or remain trapped with it forever... or as long as they lived, at least.[2]
Appendix[]
External Links[]
- Radiant golem article at the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Wiki, a wiki for official Dungeons & Dragons content from 2nd edition AD&D.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 William W. Connors, MC7 Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix, 1990, (TSR Inc.), Golem, Radiant entry
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Nicky Rea and Wes Nicholson, SJR8 Space Lairs, 1993, (TSR Inc.), Dwellers in the Vortex chapter, pages 43-49
- ↑ David "Zeb" Cook, Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised), 1989, 1995, (TSR Inc.), ISBN: 0-7869-0329-5, Table 1: Strength, page 19