Jade Colossus
"Seeing a disarticulated giant's limb shambling down a corridor hardly large enough to contain it will spark nightmares for years afterward, if you're lucky enough to survive an awakened relic's attack." ~ Sekara, explorer
Inanimate, disarticulated, giant-sized limbs within the Jade Colossus are called relics. Sometimes, for inexplicable reasons, a relic comes awake and begins to wander. Awakened relics seem more machine than alive, though perhaps a machine that mimics life so well that it has transcended normal biology. The few that have been seen so far appear in the guise of massive humanoid hands. However, the hands move almost like giant spiders— they can scuttle, jump, and even cling to a vertical surface like an insect if need be.
Motive: Defense
Environment: Usually only within the Jade Colossus
Health: 60
Damage Inflicted: Major wound (8 points)
Armor: 4
Movement: Short; long when jumping
Modifications: Speed defense as level 7 due to size and speed.
Combat: Combat: An awakened relic can focus a beam of void matter at all targets within immediate range of each other and up to 300 feet (90 m) away from the relic. The beam inflicts 8 points of damage (ignores Armor). Targets struck by the beam must also succeed on a Might defense task or any midnight stones they carry detonate like a level 5 cypher of the same name. All expelled void matter (as well as any released by secondary detonations) is drawn back into the relic.
An awakened relic can also batter foes with its massive fingers, attacking up to three times as one action to inflict 8 points of damage per attack. If facing a single foe, an awakened relic may attempt to grab the foe and enclose it within its grip. Creatures caught by such an attack are held and unable to take actions while the hand squeezes, inflicting 12 points of damage each round until the target can escape.
An awakened relic regains 2 points of health each round in which it inflicts damage with its void matter beam; it regains an additional 5 points for each midnight stone it detonates.
Interaction: If there is a consciousness directing an awakened relic, it doesn't seem to be located spatially (or perhaps temporally) with the relic. Awakened relics are not automatically aggressive, but defend themselves viciously. Otherwise, they seem more interested in 'grazing' for midnight stones.
Interaction: If there is a consciousness directing an awakened relic, it doesn't seem to be located spatially (or perhaps temporally) with the relic. Awakened relics are not automatically aggressive, but defend themselves viciously. Otherwise, they seem more interested in "grazing" for midnight stones.
Use: After locating a relic, the PCs later find that it has awakened and started to wander. They might be able to lure it back to its proper resting place and sate it if they can provide it with a few midnight stones.
Loot: The remains of an awakened relic seem unlike most other devices of the numenera, in that they are much more life-mimicking. That said, they can still be salvaged for 1d6 cyphers and possibly an artifact.
GM Intrusion: A finger knocks the character prone. In addition to taking damage from the attack, the PC is also trampled under the relic for a major wound (8 points).