A cadaver golem was a macabre form of golem similar to and easily mistaken for a flesh golem, being likewise assembled from the body parts of various humanoids, and were often created as a result of a flesh golem's creation going awry.[2][3]
Description[]
These golems were massive in stature, usually standing around 8 feet (2.4 meters) and weighing around 500 pounds (230 kilograms). They dressed themselves in whatever clothing they could find or steal that managed to fit their large frames.[4]
Personality[]
These golems were far more intelligent than flesh golems,[2][3] possessing an actual sentience[2] and soul that was maintained from one of the humanoid components that made up their body. Unlike most other forms of golems, this gave them a sense of free-will and cunning.[3] Once created a cadaver golem's identity was mystically bound to its body and couldn't be replaced by removing its brain or switching it out for another.[4]
Usually being of an evil bent,[2][3] if not chaotic evil or neutral evil, these golems were homicidal and difficult to control. They would not hesitate to attack and destroy anything or any person that either threatened their existence or their goals.[2] It was not uncommon for them to leave or outright kill their masters and go off into the wider world.[3]
Abilities[]
These golems could see in areas of both low-light[2] and total darkness.[1][2] Like other golems they possessed magic immunity.[2] The trait that most distinguished cadavers from flesh golems was their ability to "assimilate flesh",[1][2] replacing any part of their body, including their limbs and organs,[2] with a similar part from the body of a nearby injured or deceased humanoid. This not only healed a cadaver golem of injuries,[1][2] but could grant them extraordinary or supernatural abilities.[4]
Combat[]
Cadaver golems were likely to attack any creature that got in their way. They typically fought with either their fists[1][2] or a large bastard sword.[2] Tactically, they tried to focus attacks towards injured foes so as to more easily put them in a position to assimilate their flesh.[1]
Society[]
Cadaver golems were near constantly in search of humanoids to kill that boasted talents they wished to possess. While sometimes solitary creatures, they could also be found in groups of up to two or four.[2]
Some were known to serve the demilich Acererak[5] and the occasional brain in a jar.[6]
Creation[]
Purposely creating one of these golems required at least six mundane humanoid corpses, all of which had to not be in a significant state of decomposition.[4] One body for each limb, one for the head and torso, and one for the brain. Though in some cases more than six bodies might be necessary. The necessary unguents and bindings for their creation costed around 750 gold pieces.[7]
Languages[]
These golems usually were capable of speaking Common,[1][4] but could also know a variety of other languages depending upon the area in which they were created or the humanoids that made up its body. They were also more than capable of learning how to speak other languages overtime.[4]
History[]
In the late 15th century DR, a group of adventurers infiltrating the Well of Dragons encountered a cadaver golem among undead that had been stationed inside by the Cult of the Dragon to act as guards.[8]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Bruce R. Cordell, Eytan Bernstein, Brian R. James (January 2009). Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 156. ISBN 0786950692.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 James Wyatt, Ari Marmell, C.A. Suleiman (October 2005). Heroes of Horror. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 149–150. ISBN 0-7869-3699-1.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Bruce R. Cordell, Eytan Bernstein, Brian R. James (January 2009). Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 156–157. ISBN 0786950692.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 James Wyatt, Ari Marmell, C.A. Suleiman (October 2005). Heroes of Horror. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 0-7869-3699-1.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Eytan Bernstein, Brian R. James (January 2009). Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 201. ISBN 0786950692.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Eytan Bernstein, Brian R. James (January 2009). Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 141. ISBN 0786950692.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Ari Marmell, C.A. Suleiman (October 2005). Heroes of Horror. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 0-7869-3699-1.
- ↑ John Rogers (October 2009). Where Dragons Die (CORE1-15). Living Forgotten Realms (RPGA), pp. 13–14.
Connections[]
Clay (Ceramic • Clay warrior) • Coal • Crystal • Doll • Flesh (Blood • Brain • Cadaver • Demonflesh • Dragonflesh • Fiendish flesh • Nyraala • Serpent flesh)
Gemstone (Diamond • Emerald • Ruby • Tourmaline) • Gloom • Hammer • Ice • Iron (Furnace • Ironwym) • Lightning • Magic
Minogon • Necrophidius • Porcelain • Rag & String • Sand • Scarecrow • Shadesteel • Siege golem • Snow • Stained glass
Stone (Colossus • Drakestone • Gargoyle • Guardian • Juggernaut • Spiderstone • Tombstone) • Thayan • Vault guardian
Related Creature
Half-golem