A tomb maiden is a lithe, sinuous, and fully-articulated iron maiden. The sacrificial victim placed within the tomb maiden is animated through necromantic rites and the negative energies of its undead existence are bonded to the iron shell of the maiden.

Guardians of the Necropolis. Historically, it was once very popular to set them as guards for mausoleums built within the Necropoli of the southern city-states. The practice faded over time and has been outlawed in most civilized lands, but these ancient guardians can still be found within the most ancient of burial grounds.

Warded Tomb Maidens. The iron sheath of some tomb maidens are marked with arcane sigils. To the trained eye — DC 14 Intelligence (Arcana or Religion) — these sigils clearly reveal the undead nature of the tomb maiden, but also ward the undead energies within. These tomb maidens use the standard stat block below, but also have turn resistance, gaining advantage on saving throws against any effect which turns the undead.

TOMB MAIDEN

Large Undead, lawful evil

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Armor Class 18

Hit Points 114 (12d10+48)

Speed 30 ft.

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STR 22 (+6), DEX 14 (+2), CON 18 (+4), INT 8 (-1), WIS 12 (+1), CHA 10 (+0)

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Skills Perception +4, Stealth +5

Resistances Bludgeoning, Necrotic

Damage Immunities Fire, Poison

Condition Immunities Exhaustion, Poisoned

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages Understands the languages it spoke in life but cannot speak

Challenge 6 (2,300)

Proficiency Bonus +3

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Construct Healing. Mending and other spells which can repair a magic item or construct can heal a tomb maiden.

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ACTIONS

Multiattack. The tomb maiden makes two attacks with Bladed Arm or Slam in any combination.

Huge Halberd. Melee Attack Roll: +9, reach 10 ft. Hit: 17 (2d10+6) slashing damage.

Slam. Melee Attack Roll: +9, reach 5 ft. Hit: 12 (1d10+6) bludgeoning damage.

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REACTIONS

Maiden’s Spikes. When an opponent within 5 ft. makes a melee attack targeting the tomb maiden, the tomb maiden can invert its spikes, causing them to spasm out. (When the spikes snap back into place, the spectral scream of anguish from the spirit within can be heard.) Melee Attack Roll: +9, reach 5 ft. Hit: 15 (2d8+6) piercing damage.

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Tomb Maidens appear in The Vladaam Affair.

Pearl golems are one of the legendary jewel golems of Shandrala.

Although many think of pearl golems only in hues of cream and white, their birthing gems can be fashioned from a wide range of pearlescent colors — pink, blue, grey, aubergine, chocolate, and lavender, among others.

And in Greater Numbers. Among those who know the secrets of their creation, pearl golems are particularly popular constructs, in part because they are cheaper to create than most other golems. While they lack the magical enhancements of other jewel golems, they are more likely to appear in groups and will use their quick wits to coordinate their actions.

Iridescence. Pearl golems have some magical influence over the pearly iridescence of their “skin.” They appear to use this ability to silently communicate with each other in a mysterious visual language.

CONSTRUCTING PEARL GOLEMS

The birthing gem of a pearl golem must be a pearl worth at least 750 gp. This pearl must be polished and enchanted, but does not need to be cut. Preparing the pearl, therefore, requires a DC 10 Intelligence (Arcana). The golem costs 20,000 gp to create, which includes the cost of the birthing gem.

PEARL GOLEM
Small construct, Unaligned

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Armor Class 17                                                 Initiative +3 (13)

Hit Points 60 (20d6)

Speed 30 ft.

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STR 20 (+5), DEX 16 (+3), CON 18 (+4), INT 10 (+0), WIS 10 (+0), CHA 10 (+0)

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Skills Athletics +7

Immunities Necrotic, Poison; Blinded, Exhaustion, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned

Senses darkvision 60 ft.; passive Perception 12

Challenge 3 (700 XP; PB +2)

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TRAITS

Magic Resistance. The golem has Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Spell Immunity. Pearl golems are immune to all spells except those which affect the quality of the air, such as cloudkill. Such spells deal either double damage or 2d6 damage to the pearl golem, whichever is higher.

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ACTIONS

Multiattack. The pearl golem makes two Slam attacks.

Slam. Melee Attack Roll: +7, reach 5 ft. Hit: 12 (2d6+5)  Bludgeoning damage.

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Pearl golems appear in The Vladaam Affair.

The legendary jewel golems of Shandrala were originally created through the mystic arts of the Jade Magi. Crafted from wondrous stones in great variety, they generally have the appearance of slender humanoids and are possessed of preternatural speed and grace, due to the spirits of air which animate them.

Those destroying these precious creations in the hopes of looting their gemstone bodies will be left disappointed, however: When the spirit of air which animates them escapes their broken bodies, the crystalline structure collapses, leaving behind a fractured form that quickly crumbles to worthless powder.

CONSTRUCTING JEWEL GOLEMS

The first step in the creation of a jewel golem is the selection and enchantment of the birthing gem, from which the golem’s physical body will eventually be crafted. The initial preparation of the birthing gem requires two weeks of work, during which the creator must spend at least 8 hours each day in a specially prepared laboratory or workroom, in which (among other things) a circle of carefully aligned mirrors is used to focus solar and lunar energy into the birthing gem. This chamber is similar to an alchemist’s lab and costs 500 gp to establish. In addition, this preparation consumes 1/10^th of the total cost of the golem in question.

Complication: Only the most exceptional of gems are capable of focusing the intense mystic energies that form the heart of a jewel golem. Lesser stones, or flawed stones, will shatter during the preparation process, but only after consuming the preparation cost.

Once the birthing gem has been prepared, the true work of creating the golem can begin. An extensive process of magical rituals, requiring two additional months to complete, must be performed. During this time, the gem is used as a crystalline matrix from which the body of the jewel golem is spontaneously created. In addition, the elemental spirit that powers the golem is gathered and bound to the evolving structure of the golem’s body.

During this period, when not working on the rituals, the creator must rest and can perform no other activities except eating, sleeping, or talking. Interruption of this work for any reason will cause the creator to lose control of the arcane energies they are attempting to harness, destroying the birthing gem and forcing them to start over from scratch if they wish to continue. Note, however, that once the birthing gem is prepared, the creator can wait as long as he likes before using the gem to actually construct the jewel golem. A gem prepared by one person can even be used by another person.

The cost listed for each jewel golem includes all materials and spell components that are consumed or become a part of it.

CONTROLLING JEWEL GOLEMS

There are two types of jewel golems: controlled and free.

A jewel golem’s creator can command a controlled golem if it is within 60 feet and can see and hear its creator. If uncommanded, a controlled golem usually follows its last instruction to the best of its ability, though if attacked it will respond appropriately. The creator can give the golem a simple program to govern its actions in their absence, such as “Remain in this area and attack all creatures that enter” (or only a specific type of creature), “Ring a gong and attack”, or the like. However, jewel golems are generally more intelligent than traditional golems, allowing them to carry out more complex tasks.

A jewel golem can become free in one of two ways.

First, if a jewel golem without an active command is separated from their master for a year and a day, it will automatically become free and capable of pursuing its own goals.

Second, a jewel golem following an active command can, once per year, attempt an Intelligence check against a DC equal to 5 + their creator’s level. On a success, they become free.

There are exceptions to these general guidelines:

• Aquamarine and opal golems are never controlled. They begin their existence as free golems.
• Diamond and pearl golems are always considered controlled, unless their master specifically gives them freedom.
• Moonstone golems are constantly contesting their control. They make an Intelligence check at the moment of their creation and every year thereafter until they are successfully free. (It’s rumored that certain “free” moonstone golems are still controlled by some greater imperative.)
• Bloodstone golems will obey the commands of anyone associated with the holy site they’re responsible for guarding. They can only become free golems if the holy site is completely destroyed, at which point they can attempt an Intelligence check for their freedom. On a failure, they continue guarding the place where the holy site once stood. (Dark bloodstone golems, however, follow the normal rules for controlling jewel golems.)

JEWEL GOLEMS
Pearl Golems

This material covered under the Open Game License.

These creatures exist somewhere between parasitism and symbiosis. A writhing mass of thick tentacles, capable of great, undulating speed when independent, but vastly preferring to attach itself to the back of another creature.

Writhing Partners. Once attached to another creature, the tentacular demands compliance through the simple expedience of strangling its host if attempts to remove or threaten the tentacular in any way. The tentacular draws it sustenance from the blood of its host (and is otherwise incapable of feeding), but will also aid its host by defending it and helping it to gather food (usually through butchery and murder on a grand scale). Elves speak in hushed whispers of deer with blood-stained maws and squirming black masses on their backs.

Corpse Riders. If the host of a tentacular dies, some of its tentacles will vanish into the corpse and puppeteer. This state of affairs can last for several days until the rotten meat can no longer by forced into a facsimile of life. Such horrific creatures are often mistaken for undead.

Spawning Tentaculum. A tentacular reproduces by abruptly sprouting a multitude of small tentacles in a process known to scholars as “budding.” After tripling or quadrupling its number of tentacles, the tentacular will abruptly fission, “shedding” individual tentacles until it has split apart entirely. The individual tentacles seek new hosts, at which point the tentacles will sprout additional tentacles as it grows into an adult tentacular.

TENTACULAR
Small aberration, neutral evil

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Armor Class 15

Hit Points 75 (20d6)

Speed 30 ft.

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STR 12 (+1), DEX 15 (+2), CON 11 (+0), INT 3 (-4), WIS 10 (+0), CHA 5 (-3)

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Skills Stealth +5

Senses passive Perception 10

Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Proficiency Bonus +3

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Parasite. If not attached to a host, the tentacular must succeed at a DC 10 Constitution saving throw once per day or suffer one level of exhaustion, which cannot be removed until it attaches to a host. When the tentacular is attached to a host, the host must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw once per day or suffer one level of exhaustion, which cannot be removed as long the tentacular remains attached.

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ACTIONS.

Multiattack. The tentacular makes four tentacle attacks.

Tentacles. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d6+1) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it is grappled (escape DC 15). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the tentacular can’t use its tentacles on another target.

Strangle. The tentacular forces a creature it is grappling to make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or begin choking. Once a creature is choking, it can survive a number of rounds equal to its Constitution modifier (minimum 1 round). At the start of its next turn, it drops to 0 hit points and is dying, and it can’t regain hit points or be stabilized until it can breathe again. The creature can attempt the save again each round on its turn, with a success indicating that it has managed to get some air (and is no longer choking).

Attach. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one grappled target. Hit: 8 (2d6+1) necrotic damage and the tentacular attaches to the target. While attached, the tentacular can’t make Attach attacks. The tentacular can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its movement. As an action, a creature within reach of the tentacular can try to detach it, doing so with a successful DC 17 Strength check. (The attached victim has disadvantage on this check.)

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Frostbanes are skeletal figures encased in ice, but with a flame burning within their chest. Through its icy sheath, this flame burns fiercely — usually in shades of blues, but often purple or green or even crimson.

The Frozen Damned. Frostbane are powerful undead created from corpses which have been frozen for at least a century (usually within icy glaciers, although there are tales of reaping fields upon the Plane of Ice which are maintained and harvested by ancient liches immune to mortal lifetimes and patient enough for their schemes to unfold).

Ice & Fire. Their existence is born from paradox and their mockery of life sustained through an antithetical balance of elemental forces, for the necromancer kindles within their frozen breast a magical flame. This flame slowly consumes their dead flesh, but does not affect the ice which was their death and tomb. Thus heat and frost are maintained in an eternal, impossible tension.

The frostbane thus thirsts eternally for the warmth it is denied — drawing in the heat of life and flame around it, but instantly converting it into the deathly grip of ice.

FROSTBANE

Medium undead, neutral evil

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Armor Class 17

Hit Points 98 (15d8+30)

Speed 30 ft.

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STR 15 (+2), DEX 16 (+3), CON 15 (+2), INT 11 (+0), WIS 12 (+1), CHA 8 (-1)

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Saving Throw Dex +6

Skills Perception +6, Survival +4

Senses passive Perception 16

Damage Immunities fire

Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned

Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)

Proficiency Bonus: +3

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Aura of Ice. Anyone within 40 feet of the frostbane suffers 4d6 cold damage per round (DC 14 Constitution saving throw for half damage) Anyone touching the frostbane suffers an additional 2d6 cold damage (no save). Anyone hitting the frostbane with a melee weapon suffers 1d6 cold damage (no save). Every 3 points of cold damage heals 1 point of damage to the frostbane.

Contingent Regeneration. If the frostbane is within 40 feet of a living creature or source of heat, it regains 5 hit points at the start of its turn. If the frostbane starts its turn at 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate, it enters a dormant state and appears “dead.” If someone approaches within 40 feet of the dormant frostbane, however, they can attempt a DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check to notice an unnatural chill in the air. If the dormant frostbane remains within 40 feet of a living creature or heat source for 5 minutes, it will rouse from its dormancy (and begin healing from its aura of ice).

The frostbane only truly dies if it suffers cold damage while in its dormant state (snuffing out the flame at its heart).

Heart of Flame. Frostbanes are immune to fire damage and heal 1 point of damage for every 3 points of fire damage they otherwise would have suffered.

Frostspawn. Any humanoid slain by a frostbane rises as a zombie (MM, p. 315) in 1d4 rounds. There’s a 10% chance that such a zombie will transform into a frostbane 1d4 hours later. (There may be rites a necromancer could use to increase these odds by helping to kindle its nascent flame.)

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ACTIONS

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6+2) cold damage.

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Frostbanes appear in The Mrathrach Agenda.