Monster Encyclopaedia II: The Dark Bestiary
| Author | J. C. Alvarez |
| Publisher | Mongoose Publishing |
| Publish date | 2005 |
| OGL Section 15 | me2 |
The material below is Open Game Content
Dark Fetish
Small Construct
Hit Dice: 4d10+10 (32 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
AC: 20 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +5 natural, +2 heavy shield), touch 13, flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+0
Attack: Spear +5 melee (1d6+1/x3) or shortbow +6 ranged (1d4/x3)
Full Attack: Spear +5 melee (1d6+1/x3) or shortbow +6 ranged (1d4/x3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft. /5 ft.
Special Attacks: Locate creature, mark of justice
Special Qualities: Construct traits, damage reduction 5/adamantine, immunity to magic
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +3
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 14, Con –, Int 3, Wis 14, Cha 1
Skills: Hide +7, Listen +5, Move Silently +4, Spot +5, Survival +4
Feats: Alertness, Track
Organisation: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —
You see what appears to be a deformed pygmy warrior, waving a spear and a shield, its body covered in strange tattoos and its huge, mismatching head wearing a mask congealed in a monstrous war frown. Then you realise the warrior is not flesh and blood but instead carved of dry, black lumber. The golem moves with a mechanical, monstrous gait.
A dark fetish is a construct of sinister magic, used by evil spellcasters as a guard, courier and/or assassin. It is created by binding the soul of a living humanoid to a wooden construct. This gives the dark fetish a rudimentary intelligence and self-awareness. A dark fetish appears as a Small humanoid idol, carved in dark wood and adorned with black magic symbols. Its head is larger than the rest of its body, which gives the impression the dark fetish is wearing an oversized, primitive war mask. It always carries a wooden spear and shield.
Combat
Dark fetishes are unimaginative fighters, simply charging their opponents in a mindless march and stabbing them until they stop moving. When it detects a particularly powerful or evil opponent, a dark fetish will not hesitate to use its mark of justice ability.
Mark of Justice (Sp): Once per day, a dark fetish may attempt a special touch attack. If the dark fetish successfully damages a living humanoid with this attack, the target is affected as per a mark of justice spell. If a dark fetish that has not used its curse attack for the day is brought to 0 or fewer hit points, the creature making the attack that brings the dark fetish below 1 hp automatically suffers the mark of justice effects.
Immunity to Magic (Ex): A dark fetish is immune to any spell or effect that allows spell resistance. In addition, some spells and effects function differently against a dark fetish, as detailed below:
- Any spell or effect that deals cold or fire damage slows the dark fetish (as the slow spell) for 2d6 rounds, with no saving throw.
- Any spell or effect that deals electrical damage, breaks any slow effect already affecting the golem and heals 1 point per every 3 points of damage it would otherwise deal; thus a lightning bolt dealing 30 points of electrical damage would instead heal 10 hit points to the dark fetish. A warp wood spell or effect slows the golem (as the slow spell) for 1d6 rounds (no saving throw) and automatically deals 2d6 points of damage to it.
- A repel wood spell or effect slows the golem (as the slow spell) for one minute and drives it back 40 feet. The dark fetish receives no saving throw against this effect.
Dark Fetish Construction
A dark fetish is built using the standard rules for golem construction (see ‘golem’ in the SRD). First, a 3 to 4 feet tall humanoid-shaped figure must be crafted from wood and inscribed with special marks and mystical symbols. The materials required to craft this figure cost the equivalent of 350 gp. Creating the body requires a Craft (carpentry) or Craft (woodcarving) check (DC 15). Upon finishing the wooden figure, the soul of a living, intelligent creature must be bound to it via a magic jar spell. Using magic jar for this purpose gives the spell the evil descriptor and has an additional cost of 250 gp for components and materials.
CL 9th; Craft Construct, animate objects, geas/quest, locate creature, magic jar, mark of justice; caster must be at least 9th level; Price 20,000; Cost 10,600 gp + 776 XP.
