Welcome Adventurers' to the FIGHTING FANTASY : Beyond the Pit. This area of the Official Fighting Fantasy website has been created as an ongoing project to present the entire resource of all Fighting Fantasy related monsters and encounters in the series past and present. Through this alphabetical index, you can explore all the entries held in Beyond the Pit.

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GOLEM; IRON

Metal Golems are one of the most powerful and dangerous forms of Golem and are truly terrifying opponents to encounter in any environment. Generally constructed by the combined might of a skilled artisan and spell-caster they appear in many different forms and like all Golems possess the durability and strength of the substance they are constructed from enabling the monsters to withstand wear, pressure, damage and much, much more.

Understandably, due to the material of their construction they often take the longest to construct and over the years a number of prominent spell-casters have developed fine specimens. Alithorr Verbatim from Hallon has become a renowned and sought after Contructist (otherwise known as a specialised Golem spell-caster) is often found in Yore lecturing to pupils in the School of Magic on this specialised craft. Various metallic Golems have been recorded throughout the last several hundred years, although generally those documented in many schools of magic are mainly constructed of Brass, Gold, Iron or Silver. Arakor Nicodemus wrote a well regarded paper in 291 A.C. (now stored at the Great Library in Salamonis) that documented an immensely powerful Brass Golem which was constructed a decade ago by the evil Sargon the Black beneath the ruins of Port Blacksand.

Metal Golems can often be mistaken for statuesque suits of armour, and have been the bane of many adventuring party. Unlike their brethren such as Mud, Stone Golems for example, their construction often require months of intricate metalwork by a skilled artisan, as well many difficult to obtain ingredients such as a fine clockwork hearts, and the tremendously expensive and rare Oil of Life, a lubricant that older Metal Golem require to move.

Once a spellcaster has completed the task of constructing the shell for the minor Demonic sentience, the most dangerous part of the constructs creation truly begins with complex enchantment of summoning and channelling spells required to transfer and bind the Demonic sentience into the form. One usually finds that the armoured exterior of a Metallic Golem is unusual, as unlike traditional plate-mail armour a Metal Golem has no physical gaps in which it can be penetrated apart from the slits of its eyes in their visor which glow an unnatural red from the magical energies of the Oil of Life that hold the demon bound within.

Because Metallic Golems are such sturdy constructions, they are always extremely difficult opponents to injure or cause physical damage. All damage done to the Metal Golem is reduced by 2, meaning that most non-magical and small melee weapons cannot hurt the construct at all.

It is fortunate that there are easier ways to kill a Metallic Golem, and this involve destroying its most vital of functions - its heart or Oil of Life, or using one of a selection of rare fungi known as Ironbane, Metalrot, Chattermatter blood or magic. The heart of a Metallic Golem is always buried beneath a special plate upon the Golem’s chest, although a more skilled spellcaster may choose to case this in the Golems head or stomach cavity. Generally Metal Golems are encountered around two or three metres tall, and striking them successfully to damage the 'heart' without a missile weapon is extremely difficult if not impossible. The heart of a Metal Golem may only be attacked by those skilled with the use of a missile weapon, magic or opponents that the Golem is attempting to strike. To hit the plate successfully requires a Test for Luck. A successful attack, whether it does damage or not, will dislodge the plate, allowing the Heart to become visible. A second successful attack with a Test for Luck, will destroy the heart and the Golem will cease to exist and collapse.

Alternatively, a Metallic Golem may be defeated by an opponent attempting to drain the Oil of Life. This substance is generally held in place; and fixed within the body or head of the Golem with a metal-studded plug. To successful drain the elixir, an opponent must Test for Luck. If successful, the plug is damaged and the Oil will begin to drain out of the demonic armour. The Golem will then lose 4 STAMINA points each Attack Round.

Lastly most Metallic Golems can also be defeated by using either the rare orange coloured mushrooms known as Ironsbane whose spores corrode metal on contact, or by the release of the jelly-like Iron-Eater. If Iron bane is used against a Metallic Golem, roll 1d6. On a roll of 1-2, the spores damage large areas of the metallic form, causing 1d6 damage. On a roll of 3-4, the spores damage large areas of the metallic form, causing 1d6 damage as well as destroying any weapon the golem may have been using. If a golem’s was using a weapon it must now fight with a SKILL score reduced by 3 points. On a roll of 5-6, the corrosive spores rapidly destroy the golem, reducing it to a pile of rust.

Because of their durability and strength, this type of Golem is favoured by Dwarven spellcasters across Allansia, and deep in the subterranean realms of the Dwarves in the Giant Mounds, Stonebridge, Greyrock etc, they are used to assist the continuing construction of their subterranean constructions.

If encountered on an Earthday or during the months of WINTER – Locking, Freeze or Dark you may increase the SKILL by 1 point and STAMINA score by 2 points. Adventurers born in the months of Locking, Freeze or Dark, however, are predominantly influenced by the elements of earth and in this situation the elemental receives no increase.

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