Golem Armor

Armor, very rare (attunement required)

Golem armor consists of articulated plates of dull crystalline mineral permanently bonded to the attuned wearer’s flesh with an invasive surgical procedure requiring 48 hours and three consecutive DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) ability checks. If one check fails, the procedure can be started over, but if two consecutive ability checks are failed, the candidate is deemed unfit for service and executed by incineration. Removing the armor requires 24 hours and requires three consecutive DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) ability checks, with each failed check dealing 3d10 slashing damage, and afflicts the wearer with 1d2 levels of exhaustion. Each time golem armor is removed, it becomes harder to reapply in the future, increasing the DC of future Wisdom (Medicine) checks by 2.

When properly applied, golem armor provides the wearer with a base AC of 18, and in addition golem armor is always at least +1 armor (very rare suits for high commanders of the guard might be further enchanted to +2 or +3). The armor is considered medium armor and gives the wearer disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.

In addition to its protective qualities, golem armor is fitted with two evenly balanced foot-long fistblades protruding from each forearm and over the knuckles in a slight arch. These blades have a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with the blades.

They are considered light weapons, dealing 1d8 points of piercing damage per hit. The wearer can use either or both blades to attack, can attack with one while using the other defensively as a +1 shield; if the wielder uses both blades defensively, the shield bonus to AC provided by the blades is increased by 2.

A creature wearing golem armor cannot wear any other armor or wield any other kind of shield or weapon, and its manual dexterity is greatly hampered, resulting in disadvantage and a further -2 penalty on Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks or any other ability check requiring fine manipulation.