Origami Golem (3.5e Monster)



''A well crafted but abstract image of a swan stands before you life sized, made of a single sheet of folded paper. With a flurry of flapping sounds it disassembles itself as it reshapes into the form of a bear, with surprisingly sharp paper claws.''

A transforming golem made out of paper, it utilizes rapid and complex folding methods to take on any number of shapes resembling natural animals. Its versatility is matched only by its portability, as it can compress itself into a heavy paper square for easy transport. Easy to hide and able to adapt to the situation, it is a favorite of saboteurs and assassins seeking to bring in a bit of extra help. Though paper, the golem is surprisingly tough in durable as it is both alchemically treated and often folded thousands of times. Katanas would be proud.

The origami golem doesn't speak nor has any scent. It walks with a light step, and its size and bulk varies. In its default form, the simulacrum of a humanoid, it stands 5'6" and weighs 30 lbs.

Combat
As a golem, their mental abilities are limited and their attacks tend to be straight forward. They typically go for the most useful form they have at a time for their purposes (attack, defense, mobility, etc) and do not do much thinking beyond that. When under direct control, their master can suggest a multitude of forms for them to adopt beyond the usual ones they are accustomed too for greater adaptability. They seem to have a backlog of information on all animal shapes, though they aren't privy to sharing what information they know.

Animal Shape :  This functions like the wild shape ability of a druid equal to their HD. Origami golems with advanced HD can wild shape more and more times per day and in different sizes as appropriate, but they never gain the plant or elemental wild shapes.

Extraordinary Health : An origami golem always receives maximum hp per hit die.

Fold Up : An origami golem can fold up into a compact and easy to carry box two sizes smaller than itself as a standard action. In this form it is immobile, but aware of its surroundings.

Magic Immunity :  An origami golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature, as noted below.

All [Fire] spells works normally on an origami golem.

A [Water] spell deals no damage, but slows the golem (as the slow spell) for 1 round.

A secret page spell has the same effect as invisibility. It is permanent, but drops the moment the golem attacks as normal for invisibility.

An explosive runes spell causes both the golem and all creatures within 10 ft to immediately take 6d6 force damage, no save, as if it had been immediately read. The golem is otherwise intact.

Papercut :  The origami golem can deal slashing damage with its natural weapons and unarmed strikes.

Paper Traits: Being made of paper, the origami golem has some unique properties. It counts as a creature two sizes smaller for interacting with wind effects. It always takes minimum damage from falls, and half damage from bludgeoning damage. If fully submerged in water, the alchemical treatment protects it but it gets soggy. It's land speed is cut in half once it exits water, and remains cut in half until it dries (typically in 1 hour, or half the time in hot weather). It also possesses fire vulnerability as it is easy to ignite.

Construction
An origami golem’s body must be sculpted from a single large sheet of paper 60 by 60 ft, treated with complex alchemical sealants and glaze worth 2000 gp. Creating the body requires a DC 20 Craft (origami) check.

CL 5th; Craft Construct, alter self, animate objects, rope trick, caster must be at least 5th level and have 8 ranks in Craft Origami; Price 10,000 gp; Cost 6,000 gp + 400 XP.

For each extra HD, it costs an additional 4000 gp and 160 xp, and you require another rank in Craft Origami. As a result, you can only make a construct with a number of HD equal to your ranks in Craft Origami -3. As you advance, your Animal Shape improves but you never adapt Plant or Elemental forms.