Sandbox Encounters: Iron Golem (the Army of Crafted Soldiers)...

Good Afternoon, All:

For my next post in the A-Z Challenge, I will be posting a Sandbox Encounter focused on animated arcane soldiers created by mages to wreak havoc among mortal enemies during the War of Blood and Tears. I is for Iron Golem (the Army of Crafted Soldiers).

Iron Golem (the Army of Crafted Soldiers)

Brief Description: In the War of Blood and Tears, the gods were not the only ones to wage a great war. Many of their mortal followers also lost themselves in holy wars against the followers of opposing philosophies. It was a time of turmoil, and mortals perpetrated many great atrocities on one another in the name of divine service. When populations dwindled, some mages took it upon themselves to create animated soldiers using ancient techniques of golemcraft. The Army of Crafted Soldiers from the City-State of Balmordak was the largest military unit of warrior-golems that came out of this era. Although most have been destroyed by the passage of time and encounters with powerful forces, some small bands of these ironclad warrior-golems still wander through the Madlands in pursuit of orders that are no longer relevant.

Encounter Groups: These are common encounter groups for this type of encounter.

• Novice (levels 1-3): 2 Lesser Warrior-Golems, 1 Warrior-Golem. 2d6x5 silver shillings, basic mundane equipment on the corpses of previous victims.


• Seasoned (levels 4-6): 5 Lesser Warrior-Golems, 2 Warrior-Golems, 1 Greater warrior-golem. 3d6x10 silver shillings, basic mundane equipment on the corpses of previous victims.


• Veteran (levels 7-10): 10 Lesser Warrior-Golems, 5 Warrior-Golems, 2 Greater Warrior-Golems. 4d6x20 silver shillings, basic mundane equipment on the corpses of previous victims.

Stat Blocks: The following stats are provided as examples for inspiration. Please adjust as needed to fit your preferred gaming system and style.

• Lesser Warrior-Golem: AC 9 [10]; HD 2 (10 hp); Atk: by weapon (1d6); ST: 16; SP: damage resistance (half damage from non-magical weapons), immunity to fire-based spells; MV: 12; CL 4; XP 120.


• Warrior-Golem: AC 8 [11]; HD 4 (20 hp); Atk: by weapon (1d6); ST: 13; SP: damage resistance (half damage from non-magical weapons), immunity to fire-based spells; MV: 12; CL 6; XP 400.


• Greater Warrior-Golem: AC 7 [12]; HD 6 (30 hp); Atk: two weapons (1d6 each); ST: 11; SP: damage resistance (half damage from weapons less than +2), immunity to fire-based spells; MV: 12; CL 8; XP 800.

Encounter Ideas: Here are six different scenarios related to this encounter type.

1. The warrior-golems are storming a ruined structure, and mistake the party for reinforcements sent to protect the rubble they are assaulting.


2. The warrior-golems are patrolling the region over well-worn paths when the party encounters them.


3. The warrior-golems stand vigilant guard over some skeletal remains at an ancient campsite, and allow nothing or no one to approach the site.


4. The warrior-golems are marching in formation, as if in a parade or a procession, when the party encounters them.


5. The warrior-golems are escorting prisoners back to their base camp when the party encounters them.


6. The warrior-golems stand at attention before their leader as if they were metallic statues, until a living creature approaches within combat range or until they are attacked.

Enjoy,
Flynn