Half-Golem (5e Race)
Half-Golem
| “ | There are things which don't stay dead. They come back in the weirdest of way. Some strike a jackpot. A body which no longer ages... | ” |
Physical Description
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| By Rafał Chałupnik |
Half-golems have an incredibly wide range of appearances. Their nature is typically that of a humanoid merged with a construct. The human parts of a half-golem vary the same way a normal human would. Some have their golem parts crudely bolted on with their flesh and stretched over them before being roughly stitched or stapled in place. Others are more elegantly put together with their golem parts attached carefully with the human and golem parts being cleanly meshed or melted together. Often times, the human part seems deteriorated or decaying due to the necessity of a dying or dead mortal to create a half-golem. The golem part, on the other hand, varies with the materials used to create them. Clay, stone, and iron were the numerous of variety.
History
Traditional half-golems were created as forays into the research of artificial life. Arcane practitioners came to the realization that combining necromancy with construct creations resulted in a servant that was just as efficient, if not even easier to control. The creation of half-golems spiked after this, and they were often employed in shadier sides of the deal. However, half-golems allegedly can also spawn without machination. Supposedly, dead or dying humans with a strong will can be merged with golems. Usually, it has to have been a healthy person to survive this ordeal at all and retain a soul. It is sometimes the same mad wizards who made these half-golems that end up using the magic to save their own lives. This magical practice has thankfully died down as other constructs came into vogue.
Society
Half-golems are outcasts, seen as abominations that should not be. They are not like the warforged, which are living constructs. The taint of necromancy on their origin is not easily overlooked, and they usually are treated horribly in the hard labor work they can find. While half-golems are neither too rare nor too common a sight, they are sometimes conflated with the common zombie. Their numbers have never grouped together to form a significant community, as many are drifters in society.
Personality
Due to the hardships they incur as a result solely by existing, half-golems themselves tend to be bitter and skeptical of magic, the force of their creation. Many will spurn it, as well as those who practice or study it. Some abandon all sense of humanity to escape pain, taking on the cold and unfeeling demeanor of a true golem. It is unknown if this actually inures them to all emotional senses. These tend to be rather dangerous half-golems, as they have little sense of morals or self-governance. Half-golems are usually on the move, as they do not fit in anywhere. Perhaps that is what they search for in their adventure.
Half-Golem Names
Half-golems usually try to hold onto their prior identities by using their old names. If they have become detached, they usually make some corruption of it.
Male: Devon, Grargus, Telo, Piney
Female: Rella, Ylash, Helen, Dashi
Half-Golem Traits
Tragic results from necromancy and golem magic
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.
Age. Thanks to the construct nature of your body, you live a little longer than a human, going beyond 100 to about 125 years on average.
Alignment. Half-golems retain that obedient lawful mindset of a golem, but they can be of any alignment, honestly.
Size. They have heights a bit taller than humans usually, with a heftier frame. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Hybrid Form. You are not entirely dead or living. Your creature type is both humanoid and construct. You can be affected by any spells or effects which target at least one of those types, like cure wounds or dominate person. You are immune to poison damage, being poisoned, and diseases. You do not need to eat, drink or breathe, though you may do so if you wish. Rather than sleeping, you enter an inactive state for 6 hours each day. You do not dream in this state; you are fully aware of your surroundings and notice approaching enemies and other events as normal.
Slam. Your limbs are modified to strike harder than average. Your unarmed strikes deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write common and one other language of your choice, usually that of your creator. If you were not created, it could be a language from your past life.
Subrace. Choose either the clay, stone, or iron subrace.
Clay
Clay golems are less sturdy than their cousins, being made partially of hardened and soft clay. They encompass also porcelain and terracotta half-golems. On average, they can move faster thans to their construction.
Burst Movement. You can move quickly with a burst of speed when in a pinch. You can use a bonus action to Dash. Once you use this trait, you must finish a short or long rest before doing so again.
Disguise. Your body is a moldable medium. If you spend at least 10 minutes sculpting the clay of your body, you can make yourself look different as per the disguise self spell. However, it does not affect your clothing, weapons, or other belongings. To discern that you are disguised, a creature can use its action to inspect your appearance and must succeed on an Intelligence (Investigation) check against a DC of 8 + your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus.
Stone
Stone half-golems are one of the more common types, being both sturdy and inexpensive to make. Sometimes, they are known to have the bones of the person more than the flesh.
Stoneskin. You have reinforced skin thanks to the stone in your being. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Constitution modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.
Stalwart Memory. Like a stone, these half-golems have seen a lot and they remember it well, even if they aren't the brightest bunch. You can recall anything you have seen or heard within the last month.
Iron Half-Golem
These half-golems are possibly the hardiest of their bunch, and rather rare. They were commonly used to do dangerous work in mines and the like.
Armored Body. Your very body is a suit of armor, but it makes it hard for you to wear other armaments. You have a base AC of 16 (your Dexterity modifier doesn't affect this number). You gain no benefit from wearing armor, but if you are using a shield, you can apply the shield's bonus as normal.
Immutable Form. You are immune to any spell or effect that would alter your form.
Random Height and Weight
| Base Height | Height Modifier | Base Weight | Weight Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'2" | +2d12 inches | 140 lb. | × 2d6 lb. |
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