Constructs

A construct is either a magically animated object or and artificially constructed creature. They are rare and very expensive, as the enchantments to animate them are generally very complex. They are used for dangerous, difficult tasks, or as guardians.

Living Statues

Living statues are a type of construct manufactured for a specific purpose, usually spying or assasination. They are not built for combat though, and are only armed if it was ornamentally required. These statues are often finely sculpted and composed of aesthetically appealing minerals, and also chosen for the longevity of which the material could last. Living statues are usually delivered as 'gifts' to a wide variety of individuals, usually people in a position of power. Most living statues are supposed to simply observe their surroundings and the activities around them, posing eternally as a real statue. Some would just be noticed with a slightly different position than the day before, suggesting limited movement when no one appears to be watching.

At times these 'statues' may suddenly come to life and perform a certain action, like sneaking in the appartments of a high priest and killing him in his sleep, for example. Because living statues are little known, and they are usually shaped from an important figure to the society : ancient heroes, founder of a movement, prophet of a religion etc... in some cases, the act of the 'statue' being brought to life and its aggression would be interpreted as an intervention by the will of the figure their appearance is based on, and possibly ultimately averting the action they had chosen. However, living statues actually taking action is a very rare occurrence- and some may have failed to activate when required, since the spell is a very complex one.

Much of what supports their existence are the notes of a very credible historian and archaeologist, who reported that after a long operation of excavating the ruins of an ancient civilization, they found a grand statue far beneath the ground, fully intact. It depicted one of the civilization's gods, Tuvkinyad the Apathetic. Only when they had excavated the form and were about to split it into pieces for transport did it reportedly come to life, moving a few meters away and lying exactly as it had before, leaving the entire team bewildered. They found they could not approach the mobile artifact, however- and opted to retire the operation. When next an excited party of mages arrived to study what they suspected was an actual Titan, it was gone, leaving only witnesses and an empty pit as proof.

• Credits to Fish for the living statues idea.