Iron Golem (Basic Lore)

Iron Golem (Heavy; CR 15)
Neutral - Large - Construct
This creature possesses the Heavy role, and therefore counts as 2 monsters for purposes of encounter size, XP award, and treasure. Iron Golems are constructs, in many ways the quintessential example of constructs, being large, terrifying, and implacably deadly. Iron Golems, like many golems, are not truly aware or sentient, but they always have a comprehensive set of instructions that allows them to perform their function with admirable efficiency. Despite their enormous weight and considerable size, Iron Golems, while undeniably clunky, are far from slow or clumsy devices. Indeed, their prowess in battle is frightening to behold, as their speed seems unvarying, but is always fast enough that foes are struggling to keep up with the metallic monstrosity. Iron Golems are very durable, hard to hurt and hard to stop, absorbing magical attacks with aplomb and attacking in return with steady menace. Far worse are the miasmas of deadly gas that always seem to accompany Iron Golems, as they exude poisons all around themselves during battle that are anathema to all living things. Iron Golems can be found of tremendous power, and ancient golems left behind by ancient civilizations are terrifying indeed, as they can have inexplicable powers and abilities, as well as being tremendously powerful and inherently unpredictable, as they follow rules left from darkened ages past. Iron Golems are everything that Stone Golems are and more, being beloved heavy weapons on the battlefield of Generals lucky enough to have them, as well as reliable and deadly engines of death in the dungeon. Iron Golems tend toward simple and reliable sets of rules, which usually devolve to 'kill things that should not be here'. Iron Golems make excellent guardians, as their simple instructions are magically interpreted by the patterns of their creation in surprisingly capable fashion. They are not exactly loyal or faithful, but in general, an Iron Golem finds a way to be useful to its owner within the bounds of its rules.