Metal Animations: These look very much like cast statues. They can be of any size or shape. The metals used must be 90% pure. (It is rumored that Vyctor Syn created a met’lan from quicksilver by forming the mold out of quartz and using a cone of frost to freeze the liquid metal solid. It is said that the quicksilver synthan was able to recombine itself if ever parts were severed off, given a number of minutes equal to its CN divided by 60. This was probably due to the resiliency of the quicksilver- it was a permanent physical body that the inhabiting elemental was proud of. It is also rumored that bladed weapons merely sliced through the met’lan and left no damage, while bludgeoning weapons like maces “splattered” the quicksilver, slowing it (gamemaster’s discretion) and doing double damage. Stats are given for these formidable synthans, but it would be very difficult to build one of these.)

The creation of a met’lan requires the following Primary or Secondary Skills:

Handicrafts (-25%)
Mineralogy
Smelting
Smithing

The Mage need not build the “shell” himself. It can be fashioned for him, but the Mage must provide all of the raw material. The Mage must use lead or similar ore for the shell. The use of other materials adds to the basic strength of the construct as defined later. Once the shell is built, the Mage must cast the following spells. They must be cast in this sequence and consecutively. No resting period is allowed.

The creation of a met’lan requires the following spells in the following order:

(1) Create Inanimate Object
(2) Enchant Item
(3) Protection from... Elemental
(4) Summon Elemental
(5) Command
(6) Unalterable Aura

If any one of the spells fails, the construct will not animate and the elemental summoned forth to animate the shell may attack the Mage (50% chance). The Mage can deter this and begin again only by immediately dispelling the
magic and starting from scratch as soon as he knows the spell failed.

Met’lans start with the following base statistics:

2 Attacks per Combat Cycle
Damage per Attack: 3d10 + 1 D10 for every Monster Level over first.

DAP: 50
ST: 65
IN: 10
WI: 5
DX: 30
CN: 65
Speed: 10 ft/5 sec.

The following materials add bonuses in the areas listed:

Aluminum: ST +10, DX +15, Speed +25 ft/5 sec
Bronze: ST +10, DX +10
Copper: ST +10, DX +5
Gold: ST +5, IN +15
Iron: ST +15, CN +10
Platinum: ST +5, IN +20, DX +10
Quicksilver (Mercury): ST -25, IN +25, DX +50, CN -20, Speed +50 ft/5 sec
Silver: ST +5, IN +10
Steel: ST +20, CN +15

Other options abound and are solely at the gamemaster’s discretion.