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Clockwork SphinxCreature 8


RareNLargeClockworkConstructMindless
Source Pathfinder #179: Cradle of Quartz
Perception +19 (darkvision)
Languages none
Skills
Str +6, Dex +4, Con +4, Int -5, Wis +3, Cha -5

AC 26; Fort +18; Reflex +16; Will +13;
HP 130
Speed 25 feet (fly 25 feet)
Immunities death effects, disease, doomed, drained, fatigued, healing, mental, necromancy, nonlethal attacks, paralyzed, poison, sickened, unconscious
Weaknesses Electricity 10, Orichalcum 10
Resistances Physical 10

Claw One Action +20 (+15, +10) to hit 2d12+9 Slashing

Darkvision

A monster with darkvision can see perfectly well in areas of darkness and dim light, though such vision is in black and white only. Some forms of magical darkness, such as a 4th-level Darkness spell, block normal darkvision. A monster with Greater Darkvision, however, can see through even these forms of magical darkness.

Wind-Up

24 hours, DC 24 thievery, standby


For a clockwork to act, it must be wound with a unique key by another creature. This takes 1 minute. Once wound, it remains operational for the listed amount of time, usually 24 hours, after which time it becomes unaware of its surroundings and can't act until it's wound again. Some clockworks' abilities require them to spend some of their remaining operational time. They can't spend more than they have and shut down immediately once they have 0 time remaining. If it's unclear when a clockwork was last wound, most clockwork keepers wind all their clockworks at a set time, typically 8 a.m.

A clockwork that lists standby in its wind-up entry can enter standby mode as a 3-action activity. Its operational time doesn't decrease in standby, but it can sense its surroundings (with a -2 penalty to Perception). It can't act, with one exception: when it perceives a creature, it can exit standby as a reaction (rolling initiative if appropriate).

A creature can attempt to Disable a Device to wind a clockwork down (with a DC listed in the wind-up entry). For each success, the clockwork loses 1 hour of operational time. This can be done even if the clockwork is in standby mode.

Self-Destruct (arcane, aura, evocation)

When a clockwork sphinx is reduced to 0 Hit Points, it collapses and emits a steady ticking sound. At the beginning of what would've been its next turn, the sphinx explodes into a 20-foot emanation of shrapnel, dealing 6d10 piercing damage (DC 26 basic reflex). An adjacent creature can cancel the self-destruct sequence by succeeding at a DC 26 thievery check to Disable Device at any point before the sphinx explodes, but on a critical failure, it explodes immediately.

Pounce One Action

Frequency once per round


Effect The sphinx Strides and makes a Strike at the end of that movement. If the sphinx began this action Hidden, it remains hidden until after the attack.


This imposing construct resembles a bronze lion with the wings of a great bird and the head of a humanoid.


In the Grand Duchy of Alkenstar, the creation of constructs is complicated by the intermittent interference of the nearby Mana Wastes. Golems and animated objects depend on lengthy magical rituals that the magic-warping effects of the Wastes often disrupt, but clockwork constructs use far less magic in their creation. A clockwork device replaces magical intricacy with superb manufacturing skill, using magic only for the final acts of animating and powering the device. Skilled local creators and inventors rarely follow someone else's design, so most clockworks found in Alkenstar are custom creations with abilities designed for a specific purpose or individual's needs.


Traits

Rare

This rarity indicates that a rules element is very difficult to find in the game world. A rare feat, spell, item or the like is available to players only if the GM decides to include it in the game, typically through discovery during play. Creatures with this trait are rare. They typically can't be summoned. The DC of Recall Knowledge checks related to these creatures is increased by 5.

Clockwork

Clockworks are intricate, complex constructs that can be programmed to perform specific functions.

Construct

A construct is an artificial creature empowered by a force other than necromancy. Constructs are often mindless; they are immune to bleed damage, death effects, disease, healing, necromancy, nonlethal attacks, poison, and the doomed, drained, fatigued, paralyzed, sickened, and unconscious conditions; and they may have Hardness based on the materials used to construct their bodies. Constructs are not living creatures, nor are they undead. When reduced to 0 Hit Points, a construct creature is destroyed.

Mindless

A mindless creature has either programmed or rudimentary mental attributes. Most, if not all, of their mental ability modifiers are -5. They are immune to all mental effects.