Timber Golem (3.5e Creature)
The diviner promised there'd be no living souls in the warehouse, and a cursory glance seems to agree. The only sound is the incessant creaking of the great crates, filled with expensive trade goods that are soon to be yours. Then without warning, a crossbow bolt the size of a small spear lodges itself into a crate just inches from your all-too-vulnerable head. The creak of timber intensifies.
| N Large construct | |
| Init/Senses | +2/darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen +0, Spot +0 |
| AC | 17, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +6 natural) |
| hp | 52 (6 HD) |
| Fort/Ref/Will | +2/+4/+2 |
| Speed | 30 ft. (6 squares) |
| Melee | slam +7 (2d6+4) |
| Ranged | heavy crossbow +5 (2d8) |
| Base Atk/Grp | +4/+12 |
| Special Actions | automatic fire |
| Abilities | Str 19, Dex 14, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1 |
| SQ | construct traits, damage reduction 5/slashing, immunity to magic |
| Feats | — |
| Skills | — |
| Advancement | — |
| Automatic Fire (Ex) | The heavy crossbow installed into every timber golem's right hand operates independently of the golem itself: the construct merely needs to lift its hand to fire at foes, and the crossbow loads itself automatically. A timber golem can make an attack with its heavy crossbow as a free action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity every turn. The attack otherwise functions exactly as a normal ranged attack. |
| Immunity to Magic (Ex) | A timber golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature, as noted below. A magical attack that deals fire damage slows a timber golem (as the slow spell) for 2d6 rounds, with no saving throw. An ironwood spell provides a +8 enchantment bonus to a timber golem's AC (AC 25, touch 11, flat-footed 23) for 1d6 rounds. A repel wood spell functions as an antipathy spell against a timber golem. A warp wood spell negates a timber golem's damage reduction and immunity to magic for 1 full round. |
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| Some clothe their timber golems to make them less intimidating. It always fails. |
Timber golems are a particularly practical type of golem. Instead of the terrifying and arcane golems that wizards fashion in their hidden workshops, timber golems are built to function as laborers first and guards second. They're created by druidic circles and other practitioners, although they rarely employ such creatures themselves; instead, they finance their other pursuits with the profits. Since their creation requires an unwilling spirit of elemental earth to be bound, they're rarely built by good-hearted druids. Timber golems function like other golems in most respects.
Combat
A timber golem protects the area it works in, but doesn't care about the other workers or the well-being of the person or people employing it. It attacks foes by pelting them with bolts from its crossbow hand, an intimidating weapon incorporated into the right hand of each timber golem. Since it can fire the crossbow as a free action without incurring attacks of opportunity, it continues to do so even as it wades into close combat, where it uses its other hand to pummel foes into submission. Like all golems, a timber golem is relentless in combat and only backs down if commanded to.
Construction
A timber golem’s body is hewn from 5,000 pounds of quality timber, often oak, yew, or other types of durable wood, and the body is commonly ornamented with expensive types of wood and richly-colored metals like brass and bronze. These materials cost at least 1,000 gp and include the price of the heavy crossbow, which can be separately enchanted. Assembling the body requires a DC 18 Craft (woodworking) check.
CL 7th; Craft Construct, cat's grace, liveoak, wood shape, caster must be at least 7th level; Price 15,000 gp; Cost 8,500 gp + 600 XP.
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