Warden Jack Swarm

A carpet of tiny steel spheres rolls towards you.

Warden Jack Swarm (CR 4)

Fine Construct (Swarm)
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +2
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Low-Light Vision, Tremorsense 30 feet; Perception +0

Speed: 40 feet
Space: 10 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 21, touch 20, flat-footed 19 (+2 Dex, +1 natural, +8 size)
Hit Points: 27 (5d10)
Saving Throws: Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +1
Immunity: weapon damage, construct traits, swarm traits
Weaknesses: swarm traits

Offense

Melee: swarm (1d6)
Reach: 0 feet

Special Attacks: Distraction (DC 12), topple, wounding spikes

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
4 (-3)	14 (+2)	-	-	11 (+0)	1 (-5)

Base Attack Bonus: +5
CMB -
CMD -

Feats:

Skills:

Languages:

Special Abilities

Topple (Ex)

Any living creature damaged by a warden jack swarm when its spikes are retracted must make a successful DC 12 Reflex save or fall prone. The save DC is Constitutionbased.

Wounding Spikes (Ex)

Any living creature hit by a warden jack swarm when its spikes are extended also takes 1 point of bleed damage.

Ecology

Environment: Any
Organization: solitary, spill (2-5 swarms), or disaster (6-11)
Treasure: none


Warden jacks are miniscule metal objects in the shape of a ball covered in sharp spikes. These things are able to move on their own by retracting their spikes, and rolling along the ground. They are commonly used as guardians by wizards and nobles who fear the intrusion of thieves. Warden jacks never attack their creator and can be programmed to avoid specific individuals or types of individuals, or to attack only specific types of individuals, or attack only under specific conditions as specified by the creator.

These constructs are capable of guarding an entire floor or area, but are unable to climb up stairs and are stopped by closed doors or other impassable objects that they cannot fit through. They can, however, fall down stairs or navigate even the steepest of slopes. Warden jacks resemble caltrops somewhat, and typically range from 1-3 inches in diameter.

Warden jack swarms have two modes of attack: as moving caltrops, or as rolling marbles. They set themselves up for combat by rolling into the path of their opponents and extending their spikes. Once combat begins, most of them roll around continually, extending their spikes and attempting to wound an opponent. Some remain in spheroid form in order to get under the feet of a foe and bring it to the ground. Extending or retracting spikes is a free action for the warden jack swarm.

Construction individual warden jacks are formed from hardened steel and molded into their spherical shape. The steel used must be of high quality and cost at least 1,000 gp.

WARDEN JACK SWARM CL 8th; Price 8,000 gp Requirements Craft Construct, animate objects, guards and wards, creator must be caster level 8th; Skill Craft (blacksmith) or Craft (sculptures) DC 13; Cost 4,500 gp

Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene.