General Rules: Monsters - Puzzle Golem

Complete Puzzle Golem (adapted from Dragon Magazine #302)
Large Construct

Hit Dice: 16d10+30 (118 hit points)
Initiative: -1
Speed: 20 feet (cannot run)
Armor Class: 24 (-1 size, -1 Dexterity, +16 natural); touch 8, flat-footed 24
BAB/Grapple: +12/+24

Attack: Slam +19 melee (2d8+8, bludgeoning, 20 x2)

Full Attack: 2 slams +19 melee (2d8+8, bludgeoning, 20 x2)

Space/Reach: 10 feet by 10 feet/10 feet
Special Attacks: -

Special Qualities: Construct, darkvision 60 feet, magic immunity, DR 25/+2, split, rebuild

Saves: Fortitude +5, Reflex +4, Will +5
Abilities: Str 27, Int -, Wis 11, Dex 9, Con -, Cha 1

Medium Puzzle Piece
Medium Construct

Hit Dice: 8d10+20 (64 hit points)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 20 feet (cannot run)
Armor Class: 24 (+14 natural); touch 10, flat-footed 24
BAB/Grapple: +6/+10

Attack: Slam +10 melee (2d6+4, bludgeoning, 20 x2)

Full Attack: 2 slams +10 melee (2d6+4, bludgeoning, 20 x2)

Space/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet
Special Attacks: -

Special Qualities: Construct, darkvision 60 feet, magic immunity, DR 25/+2, split, rebuild

Saves: Fortitude +2, Reflex +2, Will +2
Abilities: Str 19, Int -, Wis 11, Dex 11, Con -, Cha 1

Small Puzzle Piece
Small Construct

Hit Dice: 4d10+10 (32 hit points)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 20 feet (cannot run)
Armor Class: 26 (+1 size, +1 Dexterity, +14 natural); touch 12, flat-footed 25
BAB/Grapple: +3/+1

Attack: Slam +6 melee (1d8+2, bludgeoning, 20 x2)

Full Attack: 2 slams +6 melee (1d8+2, bludgeoning, 20 x2)

Space/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet
Special Attacks: -

Special Qualities: Construct, darkvision 60 feet, magic immunity, DR 25/+2, split, rebuild

Saves: Fortitude +1, Reflex +2, Will +1
Abilities: Str 15, Int -, Wis 11, Dex 13, Con -, Cha 1

Tiny Puzzle Piece
Tiny Construct

Hit Dice: 2d10 (11 hit points)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 20 feet (cannot run)
Armor Class: 28 (+2 size, +2 Dexterity, +14 natural); touch 14, flat-footed 26
BAB/Grapple: +1/-7

Attack: Slam +3 melee (1d6, bludgeoning, 20 x2)

Full Attack: 2 slams +3 melee (1d6, bludgeoning, 20 x2)

Space/Reach: 2½ feet by 2½ feet/0 feet
Special Attacks: -

Special Qualities: Construct, darkvision 60 feet, magic immunity, DR 25/+2, split, rebuild

Saves: Fortitude +0, Reflex +2, Will +0
Abilities: Str 11, Int -, Wis 11, Dex 15, Con -, Cha 1

Skills: -
Feats: -
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 12
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 17 - 20 Hit Dice (Huge)

A puzzle golem is a specialized and more expensive version of the standard stone golem. A single puzzle golem is actually comprised of eight tiny golems, called "pieces" by the creator. These individual pieces look like a cross between an anthropomorphic figure and a three-dimensional puzzle piece. These pieces fit tightly with the other pieces, leaving only a tiny seam between each one. with all of the pieces together, the puzzle golem is a towering and imposing figure and is as powerful as a normal stone golem.

Puzzle golems serve the same purpose as any other golem, usually acting as sentries of bodyguards for powerful wizards or sorcerers.

Combat
Like other golems, puzzle golems are direct and single-minded in combat. The golem's creator gives commands as to when the puzzle golem should split and rejoin. Typically, in the first round, the puzzle golem remains in its largest form. After that, it breaks down into smaller individuals. With the tactic, the puzzle golem can handle multiple opponents or swarm and pulverize a single foe. Small and Tiny pieces try to grapple a single foe and aid the attacks of a larger piece while the larger piece hammers away on the opponent.

If a single piece sustains half or more of it hit points in damage, it immediately tries to rejoin with another piece of equal size in order to regenerate. if individual pieces, but not the entire golem, are destroyed in combat, award experience points based on the size of the piece: A Medium piece is worth half the experience points, a Small piece is worth one-quarter experience points, and a Tiny piece is worth one-eighth the experience points.

Split (Ex): As a standard action, the puzzle golem can split into smaller golems called pieces". The complete Large puzzle golem can split into two Medium-size pieces. A single Medium piece can splut into two Small pieces. A single Small piece can split into two Tiny pieces. Tiny pices cannot split into smaller pieces.

When split, each piece acts independently and uses the statistics for the appropriate size. A single piece will not voluntarily move more than 50 feet from another piece. if it finds itself beyond 50 feet from another piece, it moves towards another piece as its action. a piece cannot split if there is insufficient space for it to do so. Piece to not have top split all at once - a Medium piece can split into two Small pieces while the other Medium piece can remain at Medium size. The golem can remain in any form indefinitely, but it usually tries to assemble into its Large form after a battle is complete.

Rejoin (Ex): if a piece is within 5 feet of another piece of equal size, the two can merge together to create a single piece that is one size category larger. As a standard action, of the the pieces rejoins with the other, which must not move but may be in combat. Joining together creates a single larger piece with full hit points and none of the spells or effects, such as transmute rock to mud, that either piece had on it prior to rejoining.

To rejoin, a piece must combine with another piece of equal size. If a puzzle golem has a single Tiny piece destroyed, it can no longer rejoin to Large size because it lacks a required piece. If a piece is destroyed, every smaller piece that it is composed of is also destroyed.

Magic Immunity (Ex): A puzzle golem, including each of its smaller forms, is immune to all spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural effects, except as follows. A transmute rock to mud spell slows it (as the slow spell) for 2d6 rounds, with no saving throw. The transmute mud to rock spell heals all of its lost hit points,. A stone to flesh spell does not actually change the golem's structure, but it negates its damage reduction for 1 round. Each of these effects is negated, except for any hit points gained from a transmute mud to rock spell, if a piece of equal size rejoins with the affected piece.

Rebuild (Ex): A puzzle golem can rebuild pieces that have been destroyed so long as the following criteria are met: It has access to a pile of stone equal in size to its starting form, there is at least one piece remaining, and it is within sight of the "ruined" pieces. A single Tiny piece can be rebuilt in one day, and will then stand inert until it can be rejoined with a companion piece of equal size. The puzzle golem only rebuilds enough pieces to restore itself back to working condition - it cannot create "backup" pieces or an entirely new Large puzzle golem. Like with splitting and rejoining, a puzzle golem does this only under the direct command of its creator or when given explicit commands to do so when left alone.

Construct: Puzzle golems are immune to mind-influencing effect, poison, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, and necromancy effects. Puzzle golems cannot heal damage on their own, but often can be repaired through the use of the Craft Construct feat or arcane magic. Puzzle golems are not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or energy drain. They are immune to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless). Puzzle golems are not at risk of death from massive damage but are immediately destroyed when reduced to 0 hit points or less. Since it was never alive, a puzzle golem cannot be raised or resurrected.

Construction
A puzzle golem's body is actually eight separate pieces, each of which is carved from a single block of hard stone, such as granite, weighing at least 4,000 pounds. The golem costs 95,000 shillings to create, which includes 1,000 shillings for the stone. Assembling the body requires a successful DC 25 Craft: Scultping or Craft: Masonry check. Despite being multiple pieces, the assembler need only make a single Craft check. The creator must be at least 16^th level and able to cast arcane spells.

Caster Level: 16^th; Prerequisites: Craft Construct, mending, geas/quest, limited wish, polymorph any object; Market Price: 190,000 shillings; Cost to Create: 95,000 shillings and 3,800 experience points.

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