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Elemantal "Undead"
It is common practice, in many civilizations that practice the Art of magic, to create automatons and constructs from non-living materials. This is often accomplished by fashioning a suitable vessel for an elemental spirit or essence, then infusing it into its new body and binding it to the will of the caster. The elemental spirit must have an affinity for this body, therefore, most common constructs are infused with a spirit closely aligned to the element of earth, having solid, "earthy" bodies.
The reason that mostly non-living materials are used to make constructs is that living beings, and consequently their remains, have a sort of physical memory that can make such things difficult. This is what gives soul-less undead their unique characteristics and motivations. The body most keenly remembers these things and so, given a mindless animating force, those memories will guide their actions.
Despite the obvious challenges inherent in animating such beings, a body's physical memory can be advantageous. As stated earlier, constructs are usually infused with spirits aligned with elemental earth, as the delicacy of their affinity requires. The memory of a body can, however, be strong enough to influence the sorts of elemental essence with which it has affinity. As any necromancer could tell us, these memories are particularly strong when made in the last moments of a being's life.
The advantage in choosing a once-living material in construction of automatons is that more exotic elemental spirits can be infused into the creation. This allows their master to access their unique properties and abilities. This must, of course, be undertaken with care, given the unpredictability inherent in beings so similar to the undead.
The simplest constructs of this sort, in fact, strongly resemble undead. Bodies of the deceased are, naturally, very capable vessels of an animating force. As such, they provide the most convenient approach to creating an automaton. The easiest method, however, is often the most risky, as such constructs are most similar to undead in both habit and demeanor. Often have they escaped the control of incautious masters and slain them.
With elaborate modification and preparation, the end result is significantly more predictable and controlable. One relatively common example of this is the bone golem, which is constructed in a manner very similar to other types of golems.
Scorched Bones
Scorched Bones Tactics
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