Maggot golems were a type of golem constructed from hundreds of thousands of maggots.[1][2]
Description[]
Maggot golems had a humanoid shape, though their facial features, as well as the length and thickness of their limbs, were all in a constant state of fluctuation. This was due to them being composed of living organisms.[2]
The maggots that made up their body were frequently transforming into flies, circling around their head, which then proceeded to return and lay new eggs. This maggot life-cycle occurred at a rate far beyond what was normal.[2]
Behavior[]
Maggot golems were emotionless constructs and thus could not be provoked.[2] Because the elemental spirit within them was not bound tightly it could break free of its master's control,[3] sending the golem into what was considered a berserk state.[2] This was most likely to occur during combat, but the chance of it happening was still very low.[1]
Abilities[]
Due to the accelerated life-cycle of the maggots that made up their body, these golems regenerated damage quickly and were difficult to harm with almost all forms of melee weaponry.[2]
Due to the composition of their bodies, maggot golems were capable of being healed from the spells summon insects,[3] summon swarm, and insect plague. But likewise, they would be severely hurt by use of the spells repel vermin[1] and repel insects.[3] Cold-based spells slowed them down and fire affected them normally, but beyond that they were immune to most spells.[1][3]
Combat[]
Maggot golems fought mindlessly, based on either the commands of their creator and master or on pure instinct. The material that their bodies were composed of made it impossible for them to wield weapons, thus maggot golems fought by hugging their victims,[2] slowly smothering them to death.[1][3]
History[]
Maggot golems were invented by the necromancer Yako Vormoff in the city of Karg. They were derived from the same process used to create flesh golems.[4]
Rumors & Legends[]
Rumors circulated that Yako Vormoff may have been working on further refining the design of the maggot golem, replacing its eponymous maggots with rot grubs.[3]
Ecology[]
Maggot golems were created by wizards, often in batches of one to four,[3] by binding an earth elemental to a corpse that was severely infested with the detrivore insects. Once the body was fully devoured by the insects, the elemental would instigate their amassing into a humanoid form. However, in order to survive for long periods of time these golems would need to consume rotting flesh. As a result, they often wandered around their designated guard post in search of prey.[1][3]
Maggot golems were noted to be quite inadequate servants, for they could only take simple instructions and each facet needed to be relayed as separate command. Typically they were used to simply guard a location or valuable item.[3]
Habitats[]
Most maggot golems were found in the domain of Darkon, in particular the Vale of Tears, the same domain in which they were first created.[3]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Requiem: The Grim Harvest
External Links[]
- Maggot golem article at Mistipedia, a wiki for the Ravenloft campaign setting run by The Fraternity of Shadows.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Sean K. Reynolds (January 2006). “Creature Catalog IV: Campaign Classics”. In Erik Mona ed. Dragon #339 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), pp. 56–57.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 Lisa Smedman (October 1, 1996). “Necropolis”. Requiem: The Grim Harvest (TSR, Inc.), p. 27. ISBN 0-7869-0431-3.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Lisa Smedman (October 1, 1996). “Necropolis”. Requiem: The Grim Harvest (TSR, Inc.), p. 28. ISBN 0-7869-0431-3.
- ↑ Lisa Smedman (October 1, 1996). “Necropolis”. Requiem: The Grim Harvest (TSR, Inc.), p. 20. ISBN 0-7869-0431-3.