Magical Hybrids and Constructs, painted for this archiveHomonculous
Creature, Magical Hybrids and Constructs
Artificial beings brought to life by alchemy, homonculi grow for two months in a sealed copper vat from a clay model and up to eight animal ingredients, and can take nearly any shape their maker designs. On waking they obey their creator but turn violent if the master is absent; they radiate magic, resist control, poisons and potions, and cannot be restored once slain.
Also called Homonculi, Homunculus
From the book
A homonculous is a creature made and given artificial life through alchemy. It can take nearly any shape, from monstrous to beautiful, as its maker designs it, and most can think and act for themselves while generally obeying their master's orders.
Making one is an elaborate process. The alchemist first sculpts a clay model of the intended creature, then places it in a copper vat with a blend of up to eight different animal ingredients. The vat is covered and sealed for two months, during which the homonculous grows and, if all goes well, takes on the planned form; The Arcanum explains the procedure in full. A successful homonculous emerges as its maker imagined it and needs 2-8 minutes to wake completely, possibly somewhat confused afterward. If things went right it knows its master immediately, but if the master is not there when it wakes, it usually turns violent and irrational, and only its creator can then bring it under control.
Every homonculous gives off a strong magical aura. Because its life is artificial, magical control does not work on it and no poison or potion affects it. Healing spells work at only half strength on it, and once slain, nothing can bring it back. In play its size, attributes, level, armor and hit points are the averages of the creatures used to make it, and its attacks depend on those same ingredients.
At a glance
- Creation
- Clay replica placed in a copper vat with a mixture of up to eight animal ingredients; sealed for two months' gestation (see The Arcanum)
- Form
- Any, from hideous to sublime, as designed
- Mind
- Mostly capable of independent thought, subject to master's commands
- Awakening
- Takes 2-8 minutes, may be disoriented; recognizes master at once; if master is absent becomes violent and irrational, and only its creator can control it
- Aura
- Radiates strong magical dweomer
- Immunities
- Magical control; poisons and potions of any sort
- Healing
- Healing spells half as effective
- Death
- Cannot be restored to life by any means
- Height/Length
- Variable
- Weight
- Variable
- Attributes
- Variable: the average of its component creatures' attributes
- Level
- Variable, by type
- Alignment
- Neutral, or as desired by its creator
- Damage
- Variable, according to physical make-up
- Special Attributes
- Control spells, poisons and potions of every kind have no effect; healing spells work at only 1/2 strength on Homonculi
- Armor
- Variable
- Hit Points
- Variable
- Comments
- Its size, weight, attributes, level, armor and hit points are each the average of the creatures used as its components (THE ARCANUM gives details); its damage likewise depends on those components
Book spelling "Homonculous"/"Homonculi".