Homonculous
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: See Below
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: See Below
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOUR CLASS: 6
MOVEMENT: 36
HIT DICE: 2
THAC0: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1d4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Quickness
SPECIAL DEFENCES: See Below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See Below
SIZE: S (3-4)
MORALE: Elite (13-14)
XP VALUE: 270
Homonculi are small mystical beings created by magi for spying and other special tasks.
The average homonculous looks exactly like the caster did at the age of 5 years old. Thus it will be 3-4 feet tall, and is often passes for the caster's son.
Combat: The homonculous is incredibly quick and agile and uses this ability to its advantage in combat. It can dart to and fro so quickly that any attempt to capture it is almost impossible.
The homonculous attacks first in every round and is proficient with whatever weapon the caster is proficient in, usually a dagger or staff.
The creature's saving throws are the same as it's creator. While most attacks against either homonculous or the caster do not affect the other, there is one exception. Any attack which destroys the homonculous causes it's creator to suffer 2-20 (2d10) points of damage. Conversely, if the creator is slain, the homonculous also dies and its body swiftly decays into a dead husk.
Habitat/Society: Homonculi are artificial creatures created by wizards as living tools. The process by which one is created is long, complicated and expensive. Any wizard who desires a homonculous servant must first locate and hire an alchemist. The wizard must provide a pint of his own blood, some of his own hair, and innumerable materials costing 500-2000 gold pieces. The Alchemist requires 1-4 weeks to transform the materials and blood into the necessary magical base. The wizard is then sent for and required to cast mirror image, haste, and wizard eye upon the fluids. As the last of the spells is worked, the fluids coagulate into the body of the homonculous.
The homonculous is telepathically linked to its creator. It knows everything that its master knows and transmits every thing it sees and hears to him. This contact can be kept up to a distance of 5 miles, and the homonculous will never willingly travel beyond the limits of contact with his master, though he can be moved from the region by force. As soon as it loses contact with his master he will panic and do anything he can to regain contact.
Homonculi are a reflection of their creator. They have the creator's alignment, basic intelligence, and even physical mannerisms. They are mute but can write if the caster is literate. They may assist their creator in a variety of tasks including magical endeavours, although they cannot themselves cast spells.
Homonculi lairs are in the homes of their creators. Indulgent wizards may provide a bed or living chamber. Otherwise the homonculous simply sleeps wherever it can.
Ecology: Homonculi are nothing more than tools. Commonly, a homonculous is called upon to act as a spy, scout, messenger, or emissary. Because of the potential harm which the death of a homonculous inflicts on its master, they are seldom employed as body guards or living weapons.
Although they are magical creations, homonculi possess the same biological functions as non-magical creatures. They must rest and require food and drink to survive. When eating they share the same tastes as the master, and consume about as much as the average child whose age he appears to be.