Herdsmen's Doll
This bizarre construct appears to be crafted from stuffed human skin, with large button like platters in place of eye holes and crude stitching forming a pinched mouth. Knots of humanoid hair top its head and it is dressed in a patchwork of ill fitting clothes.
Up in Ansilay meadows a group of herdsmen and shepherds spent what little spare time they had making a life-size doll out of rags to use as a wife. They would speak to her, eat and have sex with her. On occasions they would even beat her. As Harvest Season arrived and the time came to bring the cows down from the meadow, the doll sat up one evening during dinner and began to speak. The herdsmen and farmers were so scared that they could hardly say a word. "All of you but one may leave the meadow to bring the animals down into the valley," she said. "But one must stay with me." Then she pointed to the herdsman she had chosen, and stay he did. As the remaining herdsmen and shepherds were driving the livestock down into the , they turned and looked back up towards the meadow. There they saw the herdsman's skin stretched out across the roof of their mountain hut, with the doll sitting nearby, laughing.
Medium construct, Neutral
Armor Class 11 (natural armor)
Hit Points 25 (5d8+5)
Speed 30 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
10 (+0) | 10 (+0) | - | - | 10 (+0) | 10 (+0) |
Base Atk +; CMB +; CMD
Saving Throws Fort +4; Ref +4; Will +4
Defensive Abilities resist magic; DR 10/adamantine; Immune construct traits, magic
Languages none
Special Attacks extra damage against foe, find target, linked attack, Herdsmen's Doll link
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Extra Damage against Foe (Su) When it successfully establishes a Herdsmen's Doll link, a Herdsmen's Doll deals an extra 1d8 points of damage against its programmed target each time one of its attacks hits.
Find Target (Sp) When a Herdsmen's Doll link is established with a target, a Herdsmen's Doll does so unerringly, as though guided by discern location.
Linked Attack (Su) When a Herdsmen's Doll successfully establishes a Herdsmen's Doll link, any damage taken by the Herdsmen's Doll from any source other than the linked host deals half its damage to the doll and half its damage to the linked target so long as they are within 60 feet of each other. Only the linked target can successfully attack a Herdsmen's Doll and not take “linked damage”. Attacks that don’t damage a Herdsmen's Doll (because of its immunities or its damage reduction) likewise deal no damage to the linked target. Attacks that damage the linked target do not damage the Herdsmen's Doll (the link it establishes is one way). Healing (or repair in the case of the Herdsmen's Doll) is not passed through the link.
A Herdsmen's Doll cannot attack itself in order to damage its programmed target.
Herdsmen's Doll link (Su) A Herdsmen's Doll can establish an invisible link between itself and any single creature that has harmed it by making a successful melee attack against the target. If successful, the opponent can attempt a DC 19 Fortitude save to resist the link. A Herdsmen's Doll link is broken if the Herdsmen's Doll is destroyed, the target dies, or the Herdsmen's Doll links with a new target.
Immunity to Magic (Ex) A Herdsmen's Doll is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells function differently against the creature, as noted below.
A confusion spell slows it (as the slow spell) for 2d6 rounds, with no saving throw.
A mending spell heals 2d6 hit points.
Resist Magic (Ex) A Herdsmen's Doll gains a +4 bonus on all saving throws against any spell or spell-like ability or effect cast by its linked target (provided the effect gets past its immunity to magic).
ECOLOGY
Environment any
Organization solitary
Treasure none
The Herdsmen's Doll is a horrific golem crafted in the likeness of a spellcaster’s preferred servant. Herdsmen's Dolls are designed to performs simple tasks on behalf of its creator and can be made from just about any materials. If any creature does damage to the Herdsmen's Doll, it can establish a Herdsmen's Doll link to that individual and extract revenge (Note that the Herdsmen's Doll can only have one linked target at one time). A Herdsmen's Doll can even establish a Herdsmen's Doll link with its creator if its creator abuses it 13 times, at which point it is no longer obliged to follow its creator's commands.
A Herdsmen's Doll can be any size, depending on how it is crafted, but for the sake of usefulness, they are generally made about the height of a human. A Herdsmen's Doll cannot speak.
When facing its target, the Herdsmen's Doll immediately attempts to establish a Herdsmen's Doll link by pummeling the target with its fists or stabbing it. It relentlessly attacks its foe with a ferocity unseen in most mindless automatons. Against other foes, the doll employs its fists and weaons while attempting to keep its linked target within range.
Herdsmen's Doll Construction
A Herdsmen's Doll is made from a patchwork of cloth, leather, rags, and other miscellaneous materials totaling 1,000 gp, all haphazardly stitched together.
CL 13th; Price 42,200
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Craft Construct; Spells discern location, geas/quest, limited wish, polymorph any object, telepathy; Special creator must be caster level 13th; Skill Craft (sowing) DC 18; Cost 21,600 gp