Humanoid in shape, this lithe and angular creature has a body of smooth blue-gray metal. Its joints flare to jagged edges, and the overlapping armor plates that wrap it create the appearance of a slender weapon waiting to strike.
Shardsoul constructs are created through a process that splinters a single elemental spirit, binding it into a number of construct bodies. This fragmentation pushes the elemental spirit to the brink of madness, and a shardsoul construct suffuses that madness into the world around it.
Unlike most other constructs, shardsoul constructs have a rudimentary intelligence. Shardsoul constructs are dedicated to spreading their suffering in the most violent possible way. Though they view their destruction as a means of reuniting their elemental essence once more, shardsoul constructs yearn to live long enough to inflict terrible pain on others.
Shardsoul constructs do not speak, but they understand the element tongue(s) associated with the elemental spirit fragments that animate them.
Contents
Combat
The products of a harrowing creation, shardsoul constructs spread their madness to as many other creatures as possible. They focus their attacks on single targets, piling on Wisdom damage to disorient that creature. Having no regard for their continued existence, they allow themselves to be destroyed if doing so means being able to pass the power of death’s release to another shardsoul construct, which can then fight even more fiercely.
Shardsoul constructs
Statistics
Languages understands elemental tongue
Morale resolute (+4)
Ecology
Environment any
Special Abilities
Disorienting Aura (Su)
At the end of a shardsoul constructs’s turn, creatures within 5 feet of it must succeed on a Will save or be affected by lesser confusion, as the spell. The save DC is Charisma-based. If a creature is within the radius of multiple shardsoul constructs’ disorienting auras, it does not need to make a separate saving throw for each aura. Rather, the highest of the save DCs is used, with a +1 increase to that DC for each additional aura.
Death’s Release (Su)
When a shardsoul construct is destroyed, each fragment of elemental essence within the construct reunites with another fragment. A shardsoul construct reduced to 0 hit points or fewer can select one or more other shardsoul constructs within 120 feet to receive its unbound essence(s). (As many fragments as compose the animating spirit of the construct may be sent to another construct—one for shardsoul strikers, two for slayers, three for juggernauts.) A shardsoul construct with multiple essence fragments can send each fragment to the same recipient construct, or divide them up among multiple recipient constructs, as it chooses. The recipient shardsoul construct(s) immediately gains one or more of the following effects (one per fragment) for 3 rounds, as chosen by the dying construct. (The enhancement bonuses may be applied multiple times, and stack with themselves.)
Haste, as the spell; or…
+2 enhancement bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls; or…
+2 enhancement bonus to AC and on saving throws.
Once a shardsoul construct uses this ability, it becomes inert and cannot be repaired or reanimated. However, its raw materials can be used in the construction of more shardsoul constructs, reducing the cost of the construction process.
Powerful Charge (Ex)
A shardsoul construct can surge forward, a tumbling, whirling ball of spikes and shards, slamming into an opponent with great force. This is a charge attack, and follows the normal rules for a charge, except that the attack made at the end of the charge deals additional damage, as noted in the construct’s statistics block.
Shardsoul striker
A shardsoul striker contains a single fragment of an elemental soul. It is about the size of a human child.
Combat
Shardsoul strikers usually attack in groups, swarming larger opponents en masse. They use their powerful charge ability on tough enemies.
Shardsoul striker
Small construct
Init +7; Senses darkvision; Perception +2
Aura disorienting aura (5 ft.; DC 10)
Defense
AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +4 natural)
hp 25 (3d8+12); death’s release
DR 2/—
Fort +1, Ref +6, Will −3
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 slams +6 (1d4+2)
Melee 2 slams +5 (1d4+4) (Power Attack)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks powerful charge +1d6
Statistics
Str 14, Dex 16, Con — [+4], Int 4, Wis 3, Cha 8
Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 17
Feats Improved Initiative, Power Attack
Skills Perception +2
Ecology
Organization pack (1d4+2) or gang (1d4+4 plus 1d4 shardsoul slayers)
Shardsoul slayer
A shardsoul slayer contains two elemental soul fragments. It is slightly taller than the average adult human.
Combat
Shardsoul slayers can be encountered singly or in groups. They usually attack the toughest-looking enemies first, or else strike out at the nearest opponent. They use their powerful charge ability whenever possible.
Shardsoul slayer
Medium construct
Init +6; Senses darkvision; Perception +5
Aura disorienting aura (5 ft.; DC 12)
Defense
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +6 natural)
hp 51 (6d8+24); death’s release
DR 4/—
Fort +2, Ref +7, Will −2
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 slams +10 (1d6+4)
Melee 2 slams +10 (1d6+8) (Power Attack)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks powerful charge +1d8
Statistics
Str 18, Dex 14, Con — [+4], Int 6, Wis 3, Cha 8
Base Atk +6; CMB +10; CMD 22
Feats Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Power Attack
Skills Perception +5
Ecology
Organization solitary or gang (1d4 plus 1d4+4 shardsoul strikers)
Shardsoul juggernaut
A shardsoul juggernaut contains three elemental soul fragments. It is about the size of an ogre.
Combat
Shardsoul juggernauts charge into masses of opponents, heedless of the danger. They are rarely found in groups, although other shardsoul constructs sometimes trail behind them, hoping to take part in the destruction wrought by the juggernauts. For their part, the juggernauts pay the lesser shardsouls no heed.
Shardsoul juggernaut
Large construct
Init +5; Senses darkvision; Perception +8
Aura disorienting aura (10 ft.; DC 13)
Defense
AC 20, touch 10, flat-footed 19 (−1 size, +1 Dex, +10 natural)
hp 94 (9d8+54); death’s release
DR 6/—
Fort +3, Ref +7, Will −1
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 slams +14 (1d8+6)
Melee 2 slams +11 (1d8+12) (Power Attack)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks powerful charge +2d6
Statistics
Str 22, Dex 12, Con — [+4], Int 6, Wis 3, Cha 8
Base Atk +9; CMB +16; CMD 27
Feats Charge Through, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Improved Overrun, Power Attack
Skills Perception +8
Ecology
Organization solitary or with other shardsoul constructs