Van Richten's Monster Hunter's.pdf - Askadesign.com

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that will reverse such a terrible
transformation, provided both
bodies are placed within it. Or per-
haps they discover a legendary
portal, and both bodies must be
sent through it. This type of story-
line can be used to send the party
on an urgent quest in which they
must fight against both time and
any obstacles the DM places in their
way to save their companion.
Some bizarre magical item may also
be used to place a PC in the body of
a golem or to replace the PC in his
original body.
Transplantation: For obvious rea-
sons, both bodies must be on hand
to attempt a reverse transplantation
of the brain. The procedure is com-
plicated by two factors: the physical
operation needed and the (probable)
physical death of the PC’s body.
The operation must be performed
quickly, and a heal spell must be cast
on the PC’s own body at the moment
the brain is replaced. The PC must
make a successful system shock roll to
survive this surgery.
If the PC’s original body is dead, a
resurrection spell must also be em-
ployed immediately following the heal
spell. However, if the PC’s body has
been kept alive somehow, this second
step is unnecessary. If the operation is
successfully completed before the PC’s
personality has deteriorated (see page
284), the PC will be restored.
Lasting Gffeds
Even if a PC golem is successfully
restored to his original human or
demihuman state, he still bears the
scars of this horrendous experience.
Recovery from such trauma is slow,
and it may never be complete.
The text below describes the
lingering effects of such a reversal. The
damage incurred depends on how long
the PC was trapped in the golem body.
Effects are cumulative, so a PC who
reached the “balanced” stage mentally
THE CREATED ’d
receives all the 111 effects of the earlier
stages as well as the effects noted for
the balanced stage.
Intact: The PC automatically suffers
the effects of a failed horror check.
Dominant: The PC’s Charisma score
is reduced by 2 points due to mood
swings and difficulty relating to others.
Such the moodiness and resulting loss
of Charisma last from one to four
(ld4) months.
Balanced: The PC loses one
experience level due to extensive
memory loss.
Faint: The PC suffers from a split
personality. In times of great stress
(DM discretion), the PC’s “dark side”
may emerge and take control. The PC
must make a Wisdom check with a -2
penalty to avoid slipping into his
secondary personality.
If the PC does change personalities,
he comes under the control of the DM
for a period of one to four (ld4) turns.
When the PC recovers from one of
these episodes, he will remember
nothing of that time period. This effect
can only be cured by heal, wish, or a
similar spell.
A Final Ca4tion
As the DM, you should think carefully
before creating any PC golems in your
campaigns. Players do not like having
their characters manhandled, especially
when such treatment results in the death
of their favorite character! However, you
may wish to utilize the unique element
of personal horror that a PC golem adds
to an ADID campaign. Seeing your
friend struggle to control an alien and
evil body (or having a character in such
a position), and managing to save the
individual is truly a heroic task. If the
PCs should fail in their task, knowing the
hideous creature who is now their
enemy was once a valued companion
should horrify party members.
Whenever a PC realizes he is confronting
a golem that was once a friend, the PC
must make both fear and horror checks.