• Habitat: Any; Treasure: None

The keledone are golden constructs fashioned by the gods to resemble beautiful humanoids with great shining wings. These automata exist to serve their creators with unflinching loyalty, sometimes well after their creator’s destruction. Some mortals may mistake the keledone for gods or goddesses themselves due to their perfect forms and timeless immutability. Keledone tend to have serene dispositions, remaining unfazed by even the most fearsome threats.

Enchanting Melodies#

A keledone’s greatest weapon is its magnificent voice, which has the power to evoke both soothing comfort and haunting despair in all who hear it. One of its songs dredges up and intensifies a listener’s most sorrowful memories, which may break the psyche of those with lesser wills. Another tune lulls a keledone’s aggressors into a deep tiredness. Depending on the severity of her victim’s transgression, a keledone may continue her somnolent song long enough that her target dies of dehydration. However, the keledone do not only use their songs for offensive purposes; they have been known to grant calmness and peace to the minds of troubled mortal supplicants.

Celestial Guardians#

The keledone are often charged with protecting holy sites, such as temples, necropolises, and other locations that are important to their creators. Some have even been built into the very walls of their charges. Unlike lesser automatons, keledone need no maintenance to continue their tasks, often standing watch for millennia, completely untouched by time. A keledone may be instructed to keep trespassers away using deadly force, while others simply ensure the safety of their charges. Some are tasked with testing adventurers, ensuring that only the strong are able to press on to find the knowledge or treasure that they seek.

Mechanical Will#

The keledone are intelligent constructs imbued with a self-awareness that is rare among automatons. Although it’s not an inherent trait, keledone may develop distinct personalities or identities over the course of centuries. This phenomenon occurs most often in keledone who frequently interact with other beings, whether they are other intelligent constructs, supernatural creatures, or mere mortals. Despite their individuality, however, it is exceedingly rare for a keledone to shirk its duties or abandon its post. Those who do find that the magic that sustains them will begin to fade. A disloyal keledone quickly loses its ability to fly, as its heavy metal wings become unable to support the weight of its solid gold frame.