Figurines of Wondrous Power

Each of the several kinds of figurines of wondrous power appears to be a miniature statuette of a creature an inch or so high (with one exception). When the figurine is tossed down and the correct command word spoken, it becomes a living creature of normal size (except when noted otherwise below). The creature obeys and serves its owner. Unless stated otherwise, the creature understands Common but does not speak.

If a figurine of wondrous power is broken or destroyed in its statuette form, it is forever ruined. All magic is lost, its power departed. If slain in animal form, the figurine simply reverts to a statuette that can be used again at a later time.

The statistics block below contains details for more than one type of figurine of wondrous power. Use the horizontal scrollbar below it to display the desired one or select from the links below that. The name of a particular figurine hyperlinks to its description below.

Bronze Griffon • Ebony Fly • Gold Beetle • Golden Lions • Ivory Camel • Ivory Goats • Marble Elephant • Obsidian Steed • Onyx Dog • Pearlsteel Turtle Serpentine Owl • Silver Raven

Descriptions

Bronze Griffon: When animated, a bronze griffon acts in all ways like a normal griffon under the command of its possessor. The item can be used twice per week for up to 6 hours per use. When 6 hours have passed or when the command word is spoken, the bronze griffon once again becomes a tiny statuette.

Ebony Fly: When animated, an ebony fly is the size of a pony and has all the statistics of a hippogriff (Hit Dice, AC, carrying capacity, speed, and so on) but can make no attacks. The item can be used three times per week for up to 12 hours per use. When 12 hours have passed or when the command word is spoken, the ebony fly again becomes a tiny statuette.

Gold Beetle: When activated, a gold beetle grows, gaining the statistics of a giant stag beetle with some exceptions. Its Intelligence is 6, it is able to understand Common and Terran, and it is able to move across any waste terrain at normal speed. The beetle is treated as a magical beast when in its living form. The item can be used for up to 24 hours per week, but the duration need not be continuous.

Golden Lions: These figurines come in pairs. They become normal adult male lions. If slain in combat, the lions cannot be brought back from statuette form for one full week. Otherwise, they can be used once per day for up to 1 hour. They enlarge and shrink upon speaking the command word.

Ivory Camel: When commanded, this statuette changes into a creature with the same properties as a dromedary camel, except that it has an Intelligence of 8, can communicate in Common, and is exceptionally heat-tolerant. It has a +4 bonus on saves to resist heat and dehydration, and it is unaffected by sun glare. The item can be used for up to 12 hours per week, but the duration need not be continuous.

Ivory Goats: These figurines come in threes. Each goat of this trio looks slightly different from the others, and each has a different function:

• The Goat of Traveling: This statuette provides a speedy and enduring mount equal to that of a heavy horse in every way except appearance. The goat can travel for a maximum of one day each week⁠—​continuously or in any combination of periods totaling 24 hours. At this point, or when the command word is uttered, it returns to its statuette form for not less than one day before it can again be used.
• The Goat of Travail: This statuette becomes an enormous creature, larger than a bull, with the statistics of a nightmare except for the addition of a pair of wicked horns of exceptional size (damage 1d8+4 for each horn). If it is charging to attack, it may only use its horns (but add 6 points of damage to each successful attack in that round). It can be called to life just once per month for up to 12 hours at a time.
• The Goat of Terror: When called upon with the proper command word, this statuette becomes a destrier-like mount, with the statistics of a light warhorse. However, its rider can employ the goat’s horns as weapons (one horn as a +3 heavy lance, the other as a +5 longsword). When ridden in an attack against an opponent, the goat of terror radiates fear as the spell in a 30-foot radius (Will DC 16 partial). It can be used once every two weeks for up to 3 hours per use.

Marble Elephant: This is the largest of the figurines, the statuette being about the size of a human hand. Upon utterance of the command word, a marble elephant grows to the size and specifications of a true elephant. The animal created from the statuette is fully obedient to the figurine’s owner, serving as a beast of burden, a mount, or a combatant. The statuette can be used four times per month for up to 24 hours at a time.

Obsidian Steed: This figurine appears to be a small, shapeless lump of black stone. Only careful inspection reveals that it vaguely resembles some form of quadruped. On command, the near-formless piece of obsidian becomes a fantastic mount. Treat it as a heavy warhorse with the following additional powers usable once per round at will: overland flight, plane shift, and ethereal jaunt. The steed allows itself to be ridden, but if the rider is of good alignment, the steed is 10% likely per use to carry him to the lower planes and then return to its statuette form. The statuette can be used once per week for one continuous period of up to 24 hours. Note that when an obsidian steed becomes ethereal or plane shifts, its rider and his gear follow suit. Thus, the user can travel to other planes via this means.

Onyx Dog: When commanded, this statuette changes into a creature with the same properties as a riding dog, except that it is endowed with an Intelligence of 8, can communicate in Common, and has exceptional olfactory and visual abilities. (It has the scent ability and adds +4 to its Spot and Search checks.) It has 60-foot darkvision, and it can see invisibility. An onyx dog can be used once per week for up to 6 hours. It obeys only its owner.

Serpentine Owl: This figurine becomes either a normal-sized horned owl or a giant owl, according to the command word used. The transformation can take place once per day, with a maximum duration of 8 continuous hours. However, after three transformations into giant owl form, the statuette loses all its magical properties. The owl communicates with its owner by telepathic means, informing her of all it sees and hears. (Remember the limitations of its Intelligence.)

Pearlsteel Turtle: This miniature statuette of a sea turtle is about the size of a human hand. Tossing down the figurine and uttering the command word causes it to transform into a giant sea turtle. The creature obeys and serves its owner; it understands Common but does not speak.

The giant sea turtle described here is a Huge version of a common sea turtle and is not aggressive. It serves only as a transport and does not obey orders to attack, although it will defend itself if threatened.

This creature can be harnessed to pull a boat or raft at up to one half its swim speed. It is possible to ride on the turtle’s shell, but doing so requires a harness or rope or improvising handholds. Hanging onto the slick shell while the animal moves is extremely difficult, requiring a DC 20 Ride check each minute of travel.

The pearlsteel turtle can be used up to three times per week for up to 6 hours at a time.

Silver Raven: This silver figurine turns into a raven on command (but it retains its metallic consistency, which gives it hardness 10). Another command sends it off into the air, bearing a message just like a creature affected by an animal messenger spell. If not commanded to carry a message, the raven obeys the commands of its owner, although it has no special powers or telepathic abilities. It can maintain its nonfigurine status for only 24 hours per week, but the duration need not be continuous.

Source: The pearlsteel turtle comes from Stormwrack, page 131. The gold beetle and ivory camel come from Sandstorm, page 133. All other figurines come from Dungeon Master’s Guide (version 3.5), page 256.