Generic spite golem
Context
Spite golems are a distinctive monster (or “mob”, in the parlance) in the original Everquest. This massively multiplayer video game was a landmark one, released in 1999. For more context avout Everquest, see our sample EQ ranger.
Years ago, I spent a lot of time dual-boxing Plane of Hate to finish my ranger epic weapon quest, clearing to the first known spawn point dropping the macguffin and killing PH after PH. Spite golems were the big problem, being too resistant to be slowed even with a tash. The made the elimination of a spite golem a rather risky and technical endeavour.
Ah, memories. All alone in the moonlight, and all these things.
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Background
- Base Of Operations: Plane of Hate.
- Height: About 7’ Weight: Presumably circa 800 lbs.
- Eyes: Glowing, hateful red or yellow Hair: N.A.
Powers and Abilities
Spite golems are rock-like magical constructs, possessing great strength and durability. Though they walk ponderously and cannot run, their huge fists can punch through stone walls, and they can perceive the spirits of living beings (in DC Heroes terms, Life Sense).
Spite golems radiate a strong, very contagious feeling of spite and hatred ; it might occasionally result in opponents attacking their own allies and/or breaking rank, but most fighting forces who have the ability to project to the Plane of Hate are unlikely to be actually swayed by this effect.
Spite golems are particularly noted for their extraordinary resistance to magic of all kinds. Spells simply crash and shatter upon their stony bodies ; even powerful enchanters who have mastered spells that break such resistances are hard-pressed to actually affect a spite golem with their magic.
This means that spite golems have to be overcome through brute strength, despite most tactics used by the best fighting forces on Norrath relying on magic.
Some postulate that spite golems actually adsorb magical energy, which they might use for subsistence or growth. According to that theory, the radiation of hatred from a spite golem comes from long-term absorption of hate energy from their native environment.
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History
Very little is known about spite golems. There is a rumour that they are actually more or less undead, being the spirit of dead shamans worshipping Innoruuk , the God of Hate, animating a husk of magical stone – but there is little to substantiate that hypothesis.
Almost all spite golems that have been seen were encountered on the Plane of Hate – the seat of Innoruuk’s power. The known portions of this plane are akin to a gloomy, sinister, Gothic city of large size, with a intricate hierarchy governing which district the servants of Innoruuk are allowed to inhabit.
The spite golems amble among these denizens, though it is unclear whether they solely act as guardians or are part of society there.
Description
Spite golems emit a distinctive noise of rock grinding against rock ; though some postulate that this is a language of sorts, it may simply be a side effect of their animation dweomers .
Personality
Hard to say. Spite golems are almost certainly sapient and fight intelligently, but it’s hard to tell whether they have free will and other such lofty assets.
Misc. Universe History
Spite golems make for fine faceless, obviously evil otherdimensional invaders, though unlike the Mindless Ones they possess intelligence. They could easily serve the likes of Mordru, Baron Mordo, Master Darque, Nekra, Child, etc.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Generic spite golem
| Dex: 06 | Str: 08 | Bod: 07 | Motivation: Uphold Hate |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 02 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Guardian |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 05 | Resources {or Wealth}: N.A. |
| Init: 016 | HP: 015 |
Powers:
Aura of fear: 03, Cold immunity: 02, Density increase: 01, Flame immunity: 04, Growth: 01, Iron will: 02, Life sense (ML): 03, Magic field: 07, Mind field: 02, Regeneration: 01, Running: 01, Shade (All senses): 02, Skin armour: 01
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Aura of fear is actually an aura of blind hatred rather than mindless fear.
- Density Increase and Growth are Always On and Already Factored In.
- Magic Field and Mind Field are both Self Only and Always On.
- Running cannot be Pushed.
Skills:
Charisma (Intimidation): 03
Advantages:
Iron Nerves, Life Support (Full).
Connections:
Normally none.
Drawbacks:
SPR (no DEX-based movement speed – use Running instead), Strange Appearance, Catastrophic Rage.
Design Notes
See our FAQ for a discussion about MMO adaptations. The Weltanschauung informing the power levels is that of a very early Everquest level – back when soloing was extremely hard, PC power levels low, the game pretty punishing, reaching level 50 was remarkable, etc.
Which means in turn that most adventurers have very reasonable stats – this also helps explain why taking on major mob requires the assistance of 71 of your closest friends, which in DCH game terms means that an old-school full EQ raiding party is essentially a military unit, somewhere between a platoon and a company, and uses the rules in World at War.
Source of Character: Everquest MMO.
Helper(s): The pen-and-paper Everquest RPG ; Darci. Screenshot from Illia’s Bestiary.
Writeup completed on the 27th of October, 2010.