FREQUENCY: Very rare
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Dungeon Level VIII])
NO. APPEARING: 1 ~ 12
ARMOR CLASS: 9
MOVE: 8“
HIT DICE: 40 HP
% INLAIR: Nil (1 Flesh Golem: crypt/desert, TPL36:6th, REF4.15)
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-16/2-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below <Nil? : DMG=Nil>
SPECIAL DEFENSES Hit only by magic weapons, immunity to most spells
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See below
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (7 1/2" tall)
LEVEL/X.P.VALUE: VII | 2380

A flesh golem can be created by means of a magical tome or by a high-
level magic-user employing a wish spell, a polymorph any object, a geas,
a protection from normal missiles and a strength spell. The latter case
demands a level of magic-use of at least the 14th. The cost in materials is
1,OOO gold pieces per HP of the golem. It requires 1 month to fashion
the creature.

The creator of the flesh golem controls the monster, being able to have it
follow simple commands (go ahead, stop, kill, etc.). The master of the
golem can have it suspend its functioning until a set event tokes place
(such as someone entering its room).

However, for each turn of melee a flesh golem engages in there is a 1%
per melee round cumulative chance it will go berserk, attacking at random
anything in sight. The monster‘s master has a 10% per melee round chance
of regaining control of the golem.

The flesh golem is very powerful and able to smash through doors and
wooden structures of normal construction. For example, a flesh golem
would break through an oaken door with iron reinforcing bands and
hinges, in 5-8 melee rounds. It does 1 point of structural damage to
wooden constructions only every 3 melee rounds.

Normal weapons do not harm flesh golems, but magical weapons have
normal effect. Spells of most sorts have no effect on such monsters, but fire
or cold based spells (such as wall of fire, fire ball, ice storm, etc.) slow the
golem by 50% for 2-12 melee rounds. Electrical attacks restore damage to
the golem in direct relation to the number of dice of damage normally
done, i.e. a 6 die lightning bolt restores 6 hit points of damage which the
golem might hove sustained.

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