NEW MONSTER: CANDLE GOLEM

Candle Golem

FREQUENCY: Very rare

NO. APPEARING: 1

ARMOR CLASS: 8

MOVE: 12”

HIT DICE: 1 hit point

% IN LAIR: Nil

TREASURE TYPE: Nil

NO. OF ATTACKS: 0

DAMAGE/ ATTACK: Nil

SPECIAL ATTACKS: Explosion for 3d6

SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below

MAGIC RESISTANCE: See below

SAVE: As non-intelligent monster

INTELLIGENCE: Non-

ALIGNMENT: Neutral

SIZE: S (circa nine inches tall)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

LEVEL/ X.P. VALUE: I/ 8

Candle golems are diminutive wax golems whose method of creation is known to only a few select Triskelion family members. What is known is that high quality wax and the skull of a tiny mammal, such as a mouse, is required. Because of their size and transitory nature, the cost and difficulty is much less than that required to produce other wax golems.

Unlike other wax golems, candle golems are normally found dormant. Each candle golem is equipped with a one inch slow-burning wick sticking out of its head. When the wick is lit, the candle golem animates. It goes from being a stiff statue like candle to an animate humanoid form. It will selflessly follow the commands of the person who lit its wick. Candle golems have no ego or sense of self-preservation.

Candle golems 'are active for only for one turn, the period of time it takes for their wick to run out. At the end of this time period, they will explode, doing damage as a 3 hit die fireball in a 2” radius sphere.

A candle golem can vary in size from six inches to a foot, and can have a humanoid shape. The ones found in Castle Triskelion usually resemble armored knights. Their wick can be trimmed to reduce the time they have before exploding, but if it is trimmed down to lower than 3 rounds, there is a 50% chance of setting it off when the wick is lit.

Candle golems are immune to cold-based magic, as well as any spell which affects the mind, such as sleep, hold, and charm. A candle golem may be struck by normal weapons. If its body is touched by a fire attack, such as a torch, magical fire, flaming sword, etc., it will explode immediately, as described above.