The Bronze

It's out of order, but I wanted to post this after I finished. It's a rough draft (as all the work presented here is in draft format), and I'd love to hear what you think.

In the actual book I have a statblock for each monster, but that's not really the focal point of these posts.

Bronze

            One of the surviving creations of the Azintheen is the race of golden-skinned automatons known as the Bronze. They dwell in the ruins of the Azintheen Empire, protecting them from treasure hunters and lore-seekers alike.

            They do not appear to be alive, and their behavior is often simplistic. As far as I can tell, most simply guard a specific location, driving away or destroy intruders. But withdraw from the protected area and they cease to pursue. Some, like the Maintenance Arachnids, seem to behave in a more complex fashion, and it is possible that even two members of the same species might exhibit different behaviors.

            As constructs, I do not believe that the Bronze require sustenance or rest. While their metal bodies are hard to damage, bludgeoning attacks can decouple their clockwork mechanisms and disrupt their internal circuitry.

Given the heavy Archivist presence in Sha’aryam, the lack of accessible Archivist research on these constructs seems suspect. Regardless, what follows are my own research notes, gleaned from first-hand experience and consulting with so-called “adventurers.”

Chrysoprase Scarab

Scarabs are usually encountered in groups of two to four. While fragile, scarabs are scrappier than one might expect: the central gem[1] in their carapace somehow acts as a ritualist’s wand. Most have lower-level magics, but I’ve seen one single-handedly wipe out a squad of mercenaries. Cheap mercenaries, but the point stands.

[Threat 1]

Cyborg Duke

I did not have the misfortune of seeing this type of construct myself. From horror stories told by my adventuring compatriots, the so-called Cyborg Dukes stand seven feet tall and look like humans encased in a heavy suit of armor, with one notable exception. A shard lies embedded in their chest, and the Cyborg Dukes are able to use its powers freely, without the restraints normally suffered by mortal users.

            They also appear to be fully self-aware and have no sense of mercy.

[Threat 6]

Golem

Alternate names: Bronze Gorilla, Buzzblade

            At first glance, the golem resembles one of the large Sahargeen gorillas made of bronze. The second reveals the gear-like saw where one of its hands should be, whirring so fast as to make a high-pitched whine. The third, provided you have sufficient mercenaries to give you enough time to take a third look, shows the small circular opening in the golem’s chest carapace, presumably the ‘golem heart’ described in some of the surviving literature on Azintheen technology. I decided to not take a fourth look.

[Threat 5]

Maintenance Arachnid

Alternate name: Scuttler

Patrick MacAlan

The best counterexample to the hypothesis that the Bronze simply follow pre-programmed “instructions” is the Maintenance Arachnid. No larger than the palm of one’s hand, these tiny metal spiders travel in large groups through the metal pipes and ventilation shafts in Sha’aryam.

A cursory examination of smashed Maintenance Arachnids revealed tiny diamond blades at the end of each leg.

            Their behavior is quite unpredictable; they are not tied to a fixed geographic location, nor topological feature. Loud noises and disturbances to the pipes or ventilation system seem to attract their interest, but not always.

[Threat 3]

Melech Hakosemim

            The very existence of the Melech Hakosemim is suspect, but I deemed it necessary to include its description on the off chance that it does.

            The Melech Hakosemim appears to be a more powerful version of the Cyborg Duke. While approximately the same size, the Melech Hakosemim’s armor is far thicker and more ornate, and the breastplate bears both shards.

            If the Melech Hakosemim exists, it can be found in Sha’aryam’s lowest levels, although I cannot understand why someone would seek it.

[This is unecessary]

Sentinel

Thinker Alexandrakis Sofia

            These Bronze are the most human-shaped, appearing as a bronze person standing approximately 2 yards tall and wearing plate made out of Azintheen Bronze.

The specimen I witnessed bore a strange cylinder on its right arm, where its hand ought to be. Reports from trusted sources[2] indicate that the creature can fire small iron balls out of the cylinder, like some kind of personal cannon, and it can fire multiple balls without obviously reloading. It is possible that ritual magic of some kind is used to automagically reload the cannon – more study is required.

Lastly, Sentinels appear to be some of the more intelligent Bronze, anticipating ambushes and the like.

[Threat 4]

Sphere-Mounted Arbalest

Alternate name: Bolter

These constructs appear to come in two parts: a 2’ diameter metal sphere atop of which rests a metal crossbow. While an investigation of decommissioned specimens revealed no adhesive or obvious attachment between the two, while active, the arbalest maintains connected.

            When encountered, Sphere-Mounted Arbalests typically patrol access points, firing metal bolts from their auto-loading crossbows. Curiously, while they avoid stairs, I have seen them somehow roll along the metal walls and ceilings.

[Threat 3]

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[1] Usually chrysoprase, although I believe that I have seen others with other stones.

[2] One of them, named Jack, wore a suit of armor harvested from the body of one of these creatures.