FREQUENCY: Very rare
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Dungeon Level VIII])
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVE: 7"
HIT DICE: 50 Hit points
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 ~ 10
DAMAGEIATTACK: 3-30
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Haste
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Immunity to sharp weapons and most magic
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See below
INTELLIGENCE: Non-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (8' tall)
LEVEL/X.P.VALUE: VIII | 3600

A clay golem can be created by a lawful good cleric of 17th or higher level
(unless a magical tome is used, in which case a lower level cleric can
create one).
It requires a resurrection spell, an animate object spell, a commune spell, a prayer spell, and a bless spell.
The cleric must first fashion a man-shaped clay statue,
and once this is sculpted the cleric must go through an uninterrupted ritual using the spells delineated.
Materials to do the spell require an outlay of 20,000 gold pieces.
Vestments for the ritual cost another 30,000 gold pieces, minimum.

Once created the clay golem is under the command of the cleric who created it.
Each melee round the clay golem is in combat there is a 1% cumulative chance that it will be imbued with a chaotic evil spirit.
If this happens, the clay golem immediately passes from the control of the cleric and attacks any living thing,
moving to the closest one to attack, and proceeding on to the next after killing it.
This behavior will continue until the golem is destroyed, for control can never be regained.

Damage inflicted upon living matter by a clay golem is only repairable by means of a healing spell from a cleric of 17th or greater level.
    <as it says: if your living PC gets hit, the damage can only be healed by a cleric of 17th or greater level  : Robert Kuntz / RFI.11>
    <some say this is a typo, some say this was intentional: ???>

Attacks by a clay golem are based on 11 hit dice. (THACO 10) <>

Magic Resistance: Spells do not affect it, except as follows: [move earth] will drive the golem back 12” and inflicts 3-36 hit points of damage,
disintegrate will slow the golem 50% and inflicts 1-12 hit points of damage,
and an earthquake cast directly at a clay golem will stop it from moving that turn and inflict 5-50 hit points of damage.

Haste: Once per day the golem can be hasted for <three> <melee> rounds after engaging in at least <one> round of combat.
During this period it strikes twice per round. (If out of control, the golem will immediately haste itself if it has not previously done so.)

Special Defenses: Clay golems can be struck only by blunt magical weapons such as hammers or maces.
Other weapons do not affect it.

ADQ: The Monster Manual states that damage
on living matter from a clay golem can
only be cured by a healing spell from a 17th
or higher level cleric. Does this mean that
only the clerical Heal spell can be used to
cure this?
ADA: All healing spells from a 17th or
higher level cleric will work here. Scroll
spells from a 17th or higher level cleric
won't be effective in the healing process.
(Polyhedron #14)


-
ADQ: Will a Raise Dead work on a character
killed by a clay golem?
ADA: In this instance, yes. The Raise Dead
process is much like the normal healing
process. A character would get 1 point a
day in healing normally (even from clay
golem damage), so bringing a character
completely back to life would work and not
be contingent on the cleric being 17th
level or higher.
(Polyhedron #14)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Mouser

Gary, I was just rereading the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser story "Bazaar of the Bizzare" and was wondering if the fight with the iron statue was an inspiration for the iron golem. I know the clay golem comes from Jewish mythology (and the flesh golem seems to be somewhat a take on Frankenstein's monster) but the iron statue armed with a sword and with breath weapon (albeit, not poisonous gas) seems quite similar to the foe Fafhrd faced.

Thanks in advance.

Gray Mouser

You have the inspirational sources for the clay and flesh golems correct
The iron golem was drawn from Greek mythology, the bronze one therein, Talos.
The breath weapon addition was from Rob.

Cheers,
Gary

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