Nathaneal was stupefied, he had seen only too distinctly that in Olimpia's pallid waxed face there were no eyes, merely black holes in their stead; she was an inanimate puppet.

-Ernst T. W. Hoffman, The Sand-Man

Pride is perhaps the most deadly of sins, and it is of pride that the artificial monstrosities known as constructs are born. When mortal make takes it upon himself to create life, he tampers with forces that would best be left undisturbed. Unfortunately, some refuse to recognize the wisdom in remaining within the natural order, and the result is a twisted mockery of life.

In most lands, the animation of a construct requires the use of great magics and expensive materials. Ravenloft doesn't hold to such restrictions. Anyone with the mad desire to bring life to the inanimate can potentially do so, and the results are always tragic.

The Creation

A construct created not through magic but through the desires of its creator is known as a golem of obsessions, or a dread golem. Dread golems are created when an individual is obsessed with giving life to the inanimate. The possible reasons for such an obsession are numerous. The creator may see the creation of life as a noble scientific experiment, an artistic project, or the opportunity to restore life to a lost loved one. The reasons are ultimately immaterial; what matters is the obsession itself. That obsession is the seed that ultimately gives the dread golem "life". The assembly of the golem's body, whether it be the sculpting of a statute or the sewing together of corpses, serves to imprint the construct with the creator's desires. The mechanism of animation, whether it be a fervent prayer or a channeled bolt of lightning, serves to focus the creator's anticipation to a crescendo. It is the emotion of this moment, when the creator is watching to discover whether his life's ambition has resulted in feverishly desire success or desperately feared failure, that truly serves to animate the construct. From the dark desires of its creator, the dread golem is born.

The Dread Golem

All dread golems are hardier, stronger, quicker, and more intelligent than their corresponding magically-created type. All share a telepathic bond with their creator which is constant. The golem is constantly aware of all of its creator's thoughts, hopes, dreams, fears, and desires. It can see through its creator's eyes and always knows its creator's location. It can also "speak" telepathically to its creator. There is no range to this ability and it can't be blocked by any means, magical or otherwise.

The golem's deep bond with its creator inevitably leads to hatred and contempt. The golem acutely senses any anger or disappointment the creator feels towards it, and knows its creator's darkest and most humiliating secrets. No creator can maintain the loyalty of the golem in the face of this intrusive intimacy.

This is a one-way power only. The creator has no such bond with their creation.

Dread golems also develop saliant powers, usually a result of the materials used in their construction or a twisted mockery of the creator's goals and fears.

Zeitgebers

Almost all dread golems suffer from one or more zeitgebers, which are involuntary responses triggered by certain sights, sounds, or experiences. Like the golem's salient powers, the zeitgebers often mock the creator's goals by rendering the golem unable to act as desired in a given situation.

The potential triggers and effects are limitless. The sight of fire might cause a particular golem to cower in fear or stare transfixed at the flames. A song or style of music might cause another golem to dance clumsily or sing croakingly. Another golem might start howling uncontrollably when the full moon rises. The effect of zeitgebers in game terms are up to the DM but often serve as a tool for clever hunters to use against the beasts.