These bizarre creations, now known only in ancient art dating back to the Age of Giants, are thinking machines that could control their slaves. For some esoteric reason, they are always depicted leading a band of lesser humanoids on collars.
The Cogitators, as they were known, were forged of dark magic and forbidden technology. First, the head of a dying Giant overlord was removed and preserved and enlarged by necromantic means. Then, mutilating blades and grasping arms were added, as well as a sheath of armour and a furnace of unknown origin, powering the entire creature and enabling it to float. These Cogitators were capable of incredible intelligence and logistical management, organizing enormous constructions. Statistics: Cogitators are huge 18- Hit Die Monstrosities. If driven to combat, they assault foes with a forest of weapons and grasping arms, inflicting 6d8 damage with brutal and horrific mess. Any foe who witnesses one of their living allies slain by a Cogitator's blades must make a Charisma save or become terrified for 1d6 rounds. They usually keep a gaggle of slaves on leashes, who can go no further than fifty feet from them, to prevent destructive magic being unleashed on them. From their eyes, a Cogitator can unleash a pair of rays. Those struck by the rays are affected by a Flesh to Stone effect, and then usually rendered into smaller parts and turned into building materials for the Giants' vast constructions. How you can use a Cogitator in your game: - Slave art from the Age of Giants, as shown above, might depict a Cogitator. Finding details of such a creature is nearly impossible, and should seem like perhaps some kind of bizarre allegorical art. - As relics of the Age of Giants, Cogitators should be extinct. Perhaps one has been preserved in some kind of stasis, or imprisoned within a cyclopean ruin which is unearthed by some disaster. A Cogitator could become a kind of mastermind, controlling lesser villains as a throwback to is own time, or might work for a greater villain towards some even darker outcome. - Realization of what happens to those who are transformed to stone by a Cogitator's eye rays should alarm anyone inside a Giant structure, and potentially explain the odd necromantic energy filling the building. Also posted on Game Masters Stash on 29 February 2020. Comments are closed.
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