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Figurines were a type of miniature dread golem, unique to the realm of Ravenloft, that originated from the domain of Sri Raji. They came in five types and could be mistaken for figurines of power.
Description[]
Figurines varied significantly in appearance, even among their own type, though they always depicted creatures that could be found in the domain of Sri Raji.
- Ceramic figurines: slightly rounded and hollow, with a hole in their base, and painted in vivid colors. They typically depicted reptiles or amphibians, such as snakes, alligators, turtles, and frogs.
- Crystal figurines: typically depicted insects such as spiders, scorpions, beetles, and ants. Were often highly stylized due to the flat faces and regular angles of the crystals used to construct them.
- Ivory figurines: almost always depicted elephants, though ones resembling hippopotami and mastodons were rumored to exist. Much of their detail was imparted through scrimshaw-like carvings, laced with ink, that covered their bodies.
- Obsidian figurines: typically depicted apes, such as monkeys and gorillas, as well as humans. They were highly irregular in shape, with many rough and sharp edges. Some were known to be fashioned with as many as 6 needle-like spines that acted as caltrops, while others were smoothed and polished.
- Porcelain figurines: typically depicted tigers, though some were known to portray rakshasas. They were painted realistically with meticulous detail.
Behavior[]
Once every month following their creation, a figurine would attempt to break free of their creator's will. Their creator dying or escaping from the realm of Ravenloft would both instantly sever a figurine from its servitude. When a figurine had broken free from the restraints of its creators they typically did not make this obvious right away, preferring to strike at their master when they least expected it. Once free-willed, figurines were sometimes known to willingly allowed themselves to be claimed by other individuals and serve them. However, they often eventually turned against their new masters.
Ceramic, crystal, and porcelain figurines all had a basic degree of intelligence that imparted some cunning in them and allowed them to be given detailed commands. Crystal figurines were known to improvise when faced with situations not covered by their orders, while free-willed ceramic figurines would seek out liquids they could ingest for use in combat. By contrast, the intelligence of ivory and obsidian figurines was on par with most golems. Because of this they were more easily controlled, but could only enact simple commands. When an ivory figurine became free-willed it usually wandered away from its creator, instead of violently turning against them.
Abilities[]
Like most golems, figurines were immune to mind and life-affecting spells such as charm, sleep, hold, or finger of death. They also could not be detected with the spell detect magic. They were vulnerable to the effects of the spell dispel magic however, but this would only permanently kill them if the caster was more powerful than their creator. Beyond that, the abilities of figurines varied by their type.
- Ceramic figurines: were immune to damage brought about by fire, cold, or lightning. Spells with a sonic effect, such as shatter and shout, were liable to destroy them. Only +1 enchanted weapons could damage them, with bashing ones being the most devastating. If their interior cavity was filled with some type of liquid, like poison or acid or holy water, then they were able to spray it at their opponent.
- Crystal figurines: were immune to damage brought about by lightning, though were susceptible to fire and cold. All spells associated with light, such as color spray and sunbeam, had no effect on them and would be rebounded against their caster. Though they were vulnerable to the spells shout and crystalbrittle. Additionally, due to the vibration properties of crystals allowing them to resonate certain energies, these figurines were capable of casting some spells. Typically chromatic orb, hypnotic pattern, and rainbow pattern.
- Ivory figurines: were immune to damage brought about by cold and lightning, though were susceptible to fire and acid, and they could only be harmed by +1 enchanted weapons. Similar to the effect of an enlarge spell, these figurines were capable of growing to a height of 11 ft. three times per day for a duration of ten minutes. This effect could be ended prematurely through use of dispel magic or reduce. Lastly, three times per day they were capable of unleashing noise from their trumpets that defeaned creatures within 30 ft and shattered brittle or crystal substances.
- Obsidian figurines: could only be damaged by +1 enchanted weapons. Unlike other figurines, they were vulnerable to all forms of magical induced damage. Damage brought about by fire, cold, or lightning were all liable to make them fracture. Those that were smoothed and polished following their creation could store and cast a single spell.
- Porcelain figurines: were immune to damage brought about by fire, though susceptible to cold or lightning, and could only be harmed by +2 enchanted weapons. Much like real tigers, they possessed infravision, but could also see invisible objects from up to 120 ft. away. Three times per day they could emit a black bolt of energy from their eyes that functioned similarly to the spell enervation. Finally, much like an ivory figurine, they were capable of enlarging themselves to 9 ft.
Combat[]
- Ceramic figurines: used a basic degree of tactics and strategy while fighting due to their greater intellect. Typically attacked by biting or clawing.
- Crystal figurines: used a basic degree of tactics and strategy while fighting due to their greater intellect.
- Ivory figurines: typically attacked with their tusks.
- Obsidian figurines: were considered the weakest type of figurine. They typically used the array of hard and sharp edges on their limbs to slash at opponents or tried to make their way beneath a foe's foot. They were often laced with poison by their master's. Never displayed any improvised tactics.
- Porcelain figurines: were considered the strongest and most ferocious type of figurine. They used a basic degree of tactics and strategy while fighting due to their greater intellect. They typically attacked with their small claws and fangs.
History[]
Figurines were believed to have been first created by a scholar named Jawahar Zhosh, a native of Sri Raji, with the assistance of many local artisans. A week following their conception he was murdered by his creations. Eventually word of his experiments spread among like-minded individuals and many sought to duplicate his creations. These efforts almost always lead to the crafters' deaths, though their findings were meticulously recorded and stored within the Great University of Tvashti.
Ecology[]
All figurines were typically tasked with guarding a valuable items or places, with the crystal type in particular often employed in treasure rooms or jewelry caches. Porcelain figurines were often known to act as bodyguards for their creators. Ceramic, crystal, and obsidian figures were sometimes tasked with assassinating a target.
Despite their insidious nature, people in the domain of Sri Raji generally associated them with good, strength, wisdom, or some desired result. Families often commissioned them as gifts to temples as a way of showing their devotion to the gods.
Creation[]
Being a form of dread golem, all figurines required an obsessive dedication to be created, then granted life by either their dark desires or magic. Doubling as works of art, their crafter also needed to be a form of artisan appropriate to the type of figurine they wanted to create.
Most figurines needed to be enchanted with either the spell animate object or polymorph any object, as well as either limited wish or raise dead.
- Ceramic figurines: needed to be molded from clay gathered from the banks of Lake Veda in the Sri Raji domain. This clay needed to be covered in a slip (clay and water mixture) and a hole made in their base before baking them in a kiln. Without a hole, the figurine was liable to explode in the kiln. A colored glaze is then applied to the figurine before putting it in the kiln for a second time. Once cooled, a final coat of paint was applied to bring out all details. In order to successfully undertake this creation process, it was recommended that a crafter have access to a fully functional pottery shop. The crafting process generally took over one and a half months, costing around 7,500 gp for the initial figurine and 4,000 gp for each additional figurine.
- Crystal figurines: needed to be carved from a single crystal or gemstone by an expert gemcutter. They were typically from emeralds, amethysts, garnets, and occasionally rose quartz. It was possible to craft one from diamond, but it was a more difficult and costly process. The crafting process generally took over two months and cost around 10,000 gp. They uniquely needed to be enchanted with the spells chromatic orb, hypnotic pattern, and rainbow pattern.
- Ivory figurines: were carved from the tusks of elephants or similar creatures and diligently polished. Once the desired shape was achieved, intricate scrimshaw patterns were etched in to provide details and decorative flourishes. The crafting proccess generally took over two months and cost around 8,000 gp. They uniquely needed to be enchanted with the spells shout and either enlarge or animal growth.
- Obsidian figurines: were crafted from chips of obsidian, which were then fused together in either a forge or kiln. They were the easiest and cheapest type of figurine to make, the crafting process taking about three weeks and costing around 3,000 gp.
- Porcelain figurines: needed to be made from fine white or gray clay of the highest quality. They were the rarest type of figurine, due to being difficult to make and their creation often garnering the Dark Lords' attention. The crafting process was similar to that of a ceramic figurine, though it took over two months and cost around 15,000 gp. Once they were cool from the kiln they needed to be coated with a special paint, blended with the blood of their master and a great cat. They uniquely needed to be enchanted with the spells infravision, detect invisibility, enlarge, enervation, glassteel, audible glamer, and permanency.
Appendix[]
External Links[]
- Figurine article at Mistipedia, a wiki for the Ravenloft campaign setting run by The Fraternity of Shadows.
References[]
Sources[]
- Kirk Botulla, Shane Hensley, Nicky Rea, Teeuwynn Woodruff (1994). Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness. Edited by William W. Connors. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 38–43. ISBN 1-56076-914-9.
- Beth Bostic, et al. (January, 2004). Denizens of Dread. Edited by Dale Donovan. (White Wolf Publishing), pp. 75–78. ISBN 1-58846-951-4.