Atlantean Trilogy Archive
An alchemist shapes a clay golem beside copper furnaces and a homunculus in a jar, with whales drifting past a sunken city beyond.

Winged Iron Horse

Alchemy, Machina

A flying iron horse that is grounded once badly damaged.

From the book

A flying version of the iron horse, costing 25,000 G.P. in materials. It can withstand 40 points of damage, but once it has taken 30 it can no longer fly. In every other way it matches an ordinary iron horse.

Machina are intricate, machine-like constructs of iron built to resemble various creatures, with mechanisms that imitate the abilities of the creature they copy. Building one takes a large workroom, a full set of metal working tools, 4 months (16 weeks) and a fluid ounce of aqua vitae to bring it to life; it cannot be done without an alchemist or a scholar skilled in both engineering and inventing. The chance of success is 55%, or 80% with a hired engineer, sculptor or scholar, who also halves the time. Machina are immune to non-magical weapons, poison, heat and cold (though lightning does full damage), move like the creature they resemble, and either follow up to three programmed commands or obey their master's spoken orders.

At a glance

Cost
25,000 G.P. in materials
Hit points
40 (30 damage stops flight)
Other
Otherwise as iron horse
Animation
1 fl. oz. aqua vitae
Requires
A large workroom with a full set of metal working tools; must be built by an alchemist, or by a scholar skilled in engineering and inventing
Time to complete
4 months (16 weeks); halved with engineer, sculptor or scholar
Chance of success
55% (+25% with engineer, sculptor or scholar)
Immunities
Non-magical weapons, all poisons, heat and cold (lightning does full damage)
Speed
As the creature it resembles
Commands
Up to 3 programmed commands, or follows master's verbal orders
Skill level
Machina and Golems are an alchemist skill from level 11