Herald of Law

The titanic golden statue of a great knight looms here, four times taller than even the most intimidating warrior. Bearing a gigantic hammer almost too large for it to hold, the sculpture depicts thick, rigid armor, but no details beneath, hiding the identity of the wearer. Upon its breast gleams a golden relief of runes, a key, and a shining city.

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization Solitary
Treasure standard (Gargantuan +1 axiomatic warhammer)

Lawgiver is a golem-like creature of gold and consecrated steel. Massive and powerful, the divine emissary appears as a 25-foot-tall giant in elaborate golden armor and bearing a titanic warhammer. Standing still, the Herald appears as a fantastic statue crafted in honor of the god of law. When active, its steps shake the earth and the blow of its legendary hammer can shatter castle walls. Stoic, infinitely patient, and entirely dedicated to the God of Law, the Herald is like an intelligent golden volcano: mountainous and indomitable, yet capable of exacting incredible destruction. This sentinel of civilization appears where the forces of chaos threaten to undo the works of lawful communities and hinder progress’s inexorable march.

Terse in nature, Lawgiver restricts communication to an unusual limit. Although the giant can speak several languages, it has only ever been heard speaking in numbers and measurements or—more frequently—in direct quotes from holy writings. Encyclopedic in its knowledge of holy texts, this restriction rarely prevents Lawgiver from making its intentions known.

Ecology

A unique titan of living metal, the Herald has no apparent need for food, drink, rest, or other mortal comforts. On most of its rare appearances, the creature’s stoicism and stillness lead even devout worshipers to mistake the giant for a reward from their god or simply one temple’s ostentatious display of piety. More than once, needy clerics or thieving heretics have attempted to chip away parts of the golden herald or melt it down entirely, with the Herald’s reaction varying depending on the individual assaulting. While thieves are typically crushed beneath the giant’s heel, in some cases the Herald seems to have no purpose other than to allow a struggling or robbed temple to sheer off a few hundred coins’ worth of gold so it might continue its work. The titan always seems to heal lost pieces when seen next, but it never grants those who summon it permission to take gold from its body.

Habitat & Society

The Herald goes where powerful worshipers of God of Law call him and where the god of cities and law orders. While a literal giant on the battlefield, often the mere suggestion of the Herald’s prowess or his lord’s displeasure is enough to avert a disruptive conflict completely. History relates a widely debated episode involving a mysterious golden statue that numerous modern theologians identify as the herald of God of Law.

According to writings, in the fearful night prior to what seemed to be an inevitable slave revolt, a massive and magnificent statue appeared upon one of the hills overlooking the city. Holding a gigantic hammer and posed as if ready to smite the city, the mysterious statue bore the symbol of the God of Law upon its breast, looming like some divine threat. The figure baffled slave and master alike, ultimately leading many of the superstitious rebels to reconsider their murderous uprising. The mysterious statue disappeared four nights later, but within a week’s time savage hordes from the west sought to raze the city. The city barely resisted, winning a costly victory that would have been unimaginable in the wake of a crippling internal revolt.

On several occasions, followers of the god of law have reported seeing the Herald wandering remote places, from ancient caves to deep underwater trenches, seemingly searching for something. Neither God of Law nor the golden titan ever speak of these travels, leading to widespread conjecture and debate among the faith.