Golem, Gallows

Family: Golems

Large construct, neutral evil

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
22 (+6)	8 (-1)	21 (+5)	2 (-4)	10 (+0)	1 (-5)

Armor Class 9
Hit Points 210 (20d10 + 100)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Constitution +9
Damage Immunities poison, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t adamantine
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages understands all languages but does not speak
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)

Special Traits

• Immutable Form. The golem is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.
• Magic Resistance. The golem has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
• Magic Weapons. The golem’s attacks are magical.
• Persistent. The gallows golem is always aware of the location of its prey, as long as they are on the same plane, and it is unaffected by magical attempts to block scrying.

Actions

• Multiattack. The gallows golem makes two slam attacks and then one attack with its noose.
• Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
• Noose. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: the target is grappled (escape DC 16), unable to speak and suffocating. On subsequent rounds the golem can use its action to deal 12 (1d12 + 6) bludgeoning damage to a creature caught in the noose. It regains the same amount of hit points.

Tactics

Unless it is attempting to kill the specific victim to whom it’s been drawn, the gallows golem fights only to defend itself, or to destroy anyone who attempts to keep it from its chosen victim. It uses its noose attack only against its intended victim.

Description

This golem (also called a Wooden Hangman by those few who know of its existence) exists to kill. But it is fueled by the overwhelming hatred that mobs feel when seeking a scapegoat.

It cares nothing for justice, only to fulfill the mob’s need to see someone die in punishment for some outrage, real or imagined. The gallows golem is humanoid only in the roughest sense.

Constructed of wooden planks, rusted nails, and old rope, it appears almost like some great marionette. It stands roughly 12 feet high and weighs well over 500 pounds. Its arms are far longer than its legs, nearly reaching the ground even when it stands upright, and it often moves on all fours when traveling great distances. Its most hideous feature, though, is what passes as its head. A thick wooden beam the length of a man’s arm juts forth from atop the golem. At the end of that bar hangs an old, frayed noose, which swings like a pendulum when it turns its “neck” side to side. It almost appears as though the golem is looking about through the eyes of the last person to die in that noose, though the rope is empty.

Endless Hunter. Although most of its movements are abrupt and somewhat rough, the gallows golem walks with a smooth gait, and is capable of running tirelessly when seeking its next victim. It smells of old, musty wood, tainted faintly with the coppery tang of spilled blood.

Spontaneous Golems

Most golems are created with powerful magics and intense rituals. But spontaneous golems arise by other means – great passion and intense feelings invest a spontaneous golem with an animus, a driving force, instead of the arcane weavings that provide the same for traditional golems.