Welcome to the King of the Monsters 2 finals (see the list of finalists): the vital necklace is random finalist 1 of 10. These submissions are left almost entirely as they were received with the exceptions that all submissions are posted with an image and are standardized to KoboldQuarterly.com style. Let the fight commence!
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A delicate necklace, mithril surrounding a large sapphire, agitates on the table then unfolds itself. Spindly legs lift it up as the delicate chain retracts into its body. Reflections slide across the polished gem as it turns, taking in the whole room. Suddenly it leaps and disappears into the shadows.
Most think of the grotesque horror of flesh golems or the bone crushing power of stone golems when they think of magical constructs. However, some constructs are more subtle—dangerous in different ways…
Vital Necklace (CR 2)
XP 400
N Diminutive construct
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 20 ft.; Perception +0
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 17, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +4 size)
hp 15 (2d10+4)
Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +0
Resistance 10 by gem type; Immune construct traits
OFFENSE
Speed 15 ft., climb 15 ft.
Melee tail +9 (1d3−5 plus gem damage)
Space 1 ft; Reach 10 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 1, Dex 16, Con — , Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 1
Base Atk +2; CMB −7; CMD 6
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Climb +12, Stealth +16
Racial Modifiers Climb +8, Stealth +8
SQ animated chain, jewelry, telepathic link
ECOLOGY
Environment any
Organization solitary
Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Animated Chain (Ex) The necklace can use its chain to climb like a spider uses silk. The chain is animated and can move like a rope of climbing up to 10 ft., supporting the weight of the necklace plus its carrying capacity of 10 lb.
Gem Powers (Ex) The type of gem in the necklace determines the type of energy for its resistance and extra damage. (See the table below for details.)
Jewelry (Ex) When immobile with its legs folded in, the vital necklace looks like an ordinary piece of jewelry. An observer must make a DC 20 Perception or Appraise check to notice that the necklace is a creature. When worn, it occupies the neck slot for magic items.
Telepathic link (Su) The vial necklace does not have a mouth and cannot speak. It can communicate telepathically to its current master, sharing everything it sees and hears. This ability works out to a range of 1,500 ft.
Ecology
The vital necklace is an animated magical construct, delicately crafted to fit the style and whims of its creator. It is possible to imbue one with a modicum of intelligence and to bond with it as a familiar using the Improved Familiar feat (7th level required).
A large precious gem and its mount form the body of the creature. The type of gem determines the necklace’s resistance and attack powers. Once constructed, this gem becomes inherent to the magic that animates the creature—providing a number of benefits to the necklace and its master—and it cannot be changed.
Once crafted, a vital necklace stays with its creator until death. When that happens, the necklace becomes inert until a new master appears. Some creators will give the necklace instructions on taking a new master; otherwise, it will generally only awaken for a master of similar alignment and demeanor as its creator. Occasionally, however, long eons of waiting will drive a vital necklace to be less selective.
Tactics
Even with the resistance and extra damage provided by their gems, a vital necklace is weak in combat. When fighting, it climbs and uses the reach of its chain tail to stay away from its enemies, preferring to strike from the shadows above or behind. If bonded as a familiar, the vital necklace can ride on its master’s shoulder and deliver devastating touch attacks with its tail. If a vital necklace attacks somebody wearing it, it scores an automatic critical hit.
However, the vital necklace is best thought of as a subtle creature. Its abilities make it an excellent scout or spy. A vital necklace is sometimes used to guard treasure, lying dormant until an unwary thief tries to put it on.
Construction
A vital necklace is constructed from a masterwork necklace, using the finest metals surrounding a large precious gem. The necklace costs 3,000 gp.
CL 10th; Price 23,000 gp
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft construct, animate rope, spider climb, resist energy, telepathic bond, gem specific spell (see table), creator must be CL 10th; Skill Craft (jewelry) DC 20 + masterwork component; Cost 13,000 gp.
Gem—Resistance, Attack Damage (Spell to Create)
Diamond—electricity 10, +1d6 electricity (shocking grasp)
Emerald—acid 10, +1d6 acid (acid splash)
Ruby—fire 10, +1d6 fire (burning hands)
Sapphire—cold 10, +1d6 cold (ray of frost)
I did a small construct as well and low CR constructs are hard to do well, so kudo’s.
The only fault I can see with the design is this: “If a vital necklace attacks somebody wearing it, it scores an automatic critical hit.”
That should be listed as a separate special ability, not hidden in the tactics section.
Holy %@$#, I felt good about this critter, but I’m kind of stunned that it made it. Thank you to the judges for all of your hard work in getting KotM2 to this stage. I can’t wait to see the rest of the finalists!
My 10-year old daughter, Ambar, deserves some credit as well. It was her awesome character idea that inspired me to create the Vital Necklace. I welcome any feedback, either here, or PM me as shammond42 in the forums. If you’ve got ideas for a better name, I’m all ears.
Steve
WOW, awesome creature there Mr Hammond. Your daughter Ambar, should be complimented as well.
Another name you might want to think of using could be the Living Necklace.
Kim
TRANSFORMERS! CONSTRUCTS IN DISGUISE!
I like this. It can be a classic strangle-trap necklace, depending on who owns(/owned) it and why it’s there, but it doesn’t have to be. I can easily imagine this (and variants on it; gauntlets, rings, etc) being the most common construct in a setting. I do agree on the name though (“Vital necklace” sounds like something that increases my con score).
Above all else I think this makes a totally classy familiar.
I really like this, the possibilities are endless. The utility of this necklace as a familiar is only limited to the imagination. Depending on how common this is in a setting, people may never even consider that it is a familiar. Putting it up there with a bonded item in utility.
Its 10 foot reach also means that a wizard can pick up 10 foot reach touch attacks for delivering his touch only spells. I’m not sure I’d go quite as high as 10th level for creation however when you compare it to a Humonuclous or a flesh golem, I can sort of see why you might go that high.
Giving something like this all the skill ranks that a wizard would have would be neat, I can picture a necklace flying around the room, with its tentacles wrapped around a wand letting mayhem fly!!
One thing that isn’t clear to me, could the “special” damage be delivered with a touch attack? I’d not think lightening for example crackling off its chain would need to do much more then graze a person to discharge? Sort of like a weak shocking grasp?
All in all one of the coolest submissions I’ve seen! Good job Mr Hammond!
PS – Now to convince my DM to let me make one!!
We will never look at a pile of treasure the same way ever again that’s for sure!
Nice work!
I have to say I like the economy of this creature entry. The various gemstones give us four variant monsters for the space of one, and offer the possibility of being added to my an enterprising GM.