Huptzeen
by Jamie BatyAC9
Tiny Construct
Hit Dice: 3d10 (16 hp)
Initiative: +9 (+5 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative)
Speed: fly 10 ft. (average) (can't run)
Armour Class: 19 (+2 size, +5 Dex, +2 natural), touch 17, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/-9
Attack: None
Full Attack: None
Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Retributive strike, spells
Special Qualities: Construct traits, Damage reduction 10/magic, darkvision 60ft., low-light vision, shatter vulnerability
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +6, Will +0
Abilities: Str 5, Dex 20, Con -, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 18
Skills: Hide +13*, Listen +7, Spot +7
Feats: Alertness, Improved Initiative
Environment: Any land
Organisation: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: Fragments worth 1d4x50 gp per HD
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 4-9 HD (Tiny up to Medium)
Level Adjustment: -
Huptzeens are lesser magical constructs animated by a combination of arcane rituals and the cooperation of an inhabitant of the Outer Planes.
Unlike most constructs (such as living statues or golems), a huptzeen has no limbs and bears no physical resemblance to any living creature. Instead, they are crafted in the form of ornaments, pieces of jewellery, or other richly fashioned objects notable for their breathtaking beauty, fine lines, and exceptional craftsmanship.
Huptzeens are created to protect temples, treasures, and other places or items of importance. A wizard usually has chosen a particular guardian's form specifically to make it seem innocuous in its setting (a large piece of jewellery in a treasury, an ornate incense burner in a shrine, or a decorative lectern in a wizard's workshop).
Occasionally, people have been known to use a huptzeen as a bodyguard by wearing the construct (in the form of a large belt buckle, ornate amulet, etc.) or carrying it around (as a rune covered staff, for example). A huptzeen can move independently only via its slow, magical flight. This pace normally poses no problem, since the creature usually can fulfil its role as a guardian without moving much.
Huptzeens, more intelligent than the majority of constructs, require only general instructions from their creators. They understand the common tongue and can even communicate if they possess a spell such as whispering wind.
Combat
In battle, huptzeens have only one method of attack: casting spells. The set of spells available to any huptzeen is fixed at its creation and can never be altered. The huptzeen's creator can only select the spells the creature will wield only from among the spells he or she knows. Although the construct normally cannot speak or gesture, it still manages to cast spells that require verbal or somatic components.
Huptzeens are smarter than most constructs; they can hear sounds, respond intelligently to changing circumstances, and plan attacks sensibly. Their use of spells demonstrates their intelligence. Since a huptzeen often looks like a piece of jewellery or a curio, the target of its attack may at first have trouble spotting the assailant. Realising this, the construct often begins its attack using subtle spells with no obvious origin.
Retributive Strike (Su): When a huptzeen is defeated it releases a blast that inflicts 1d6 + 2 per used spell damage to all creatures within 10ft of it. A successful Fortitude save vs DC 13 (Cha based) can reduce the damage in half.
Damage Reduction (Su): A huptzeen has damage reduction of 10/magic.
Spells: A huptzeen may cast spells as a sorceror of a level equal to its HD. Its known spells are established at the time of its creation. The above example may cast 6/6 spells per day and knows 5/3 spells.
Shatter Vulnerability (Ex): Shatter inflicts 1d6 points of damage per caster level (maximum of 6d6 damage), with a Reflex save allowed for half damage.
Construct Traits: A construct possesses the following traits: Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects); Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease , death effects, and necromancy effects; Not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or energy drain; Immunity to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless); Not at risk of death from massive damage. Immediately destroyed when reduced to 0 hit points or less; Since it was never alive, a construct cannot be raised or resurrected; Constructs do not eat, sleep, or breathe. Please see the 3.5E Monster Manual for more information.
Skills: *A huptzeen has a +10 racial bonus to all Hide checks as long as it doesn't move or cast spells with an obvious point of origin.
Construction
The body of a huptzeen is sculpted from precious metals and materials, smelted and anointed with rare tinctures and admixtures costing at least 5,000 gp. Assembling the construct requires a DC 20 Craft (metalworking) check or DC 15 Profession (Jeweller) or Craft (sculpture) check.
CL 10th; Craft Construct, animate objects, geas/quest, limited wish, polymorph any object, plus all spells the huptzeen can cast, caster must be at least 10th level; Price 40,000 gp; Cost 20,000 gp + 900 XP.