I wrote previously about using puzzles and about playground rooms. This is another playground for fantasy heroes to explore: a stuffed bear they can order around but which doesn’t really do much.

The Ruined Castle

Long ago, a nobleman hunted down a dangerous bear and lanced it to its demise. He had the bear stuffed and mounted in a suitably threatening pose, chained to the floor. Then he had his wizard cast enchantments upon it to make it sense the presence of people and react.

The Bear Construct

Now, the bear isn’t animated as a zombie or golem. Instead, it is merely a conversation piece and party novelty. When first approached, it makes a playful swipe with its claw and leans forward with a growl. This is no attack, but merely a joke meant to startle guests. The heroes can easily chop it to pieces, if they like.

It can also react in other ways and even follow basic commands as if trained (walk, lie down, twirl, dance, stand up, etc.). If a ranger or druid approaches with an attempt to befriend it, the automaton will lean back, part its fur with its paws, and open its chest cavity to reveal a shrine to the nature god.

It’s a big creature, and a person could easily climb on it as if riding it or even climb up and be raised up high to reach something, such as a ledge.

The construct cannot go far due to the chain and will return to its original spot after one minute. If its chain is removed or cut, its animation is destroyed.

Variations

You might have the bear’s name, Harduk, be hidden somewhere, and speaking it could give the character extra authority over the construct.

You might also say that commands for the construct must be made in the creator’s own language or perhaps the ancient or imperial tongue of scholars.

You might have the creature be merely a diversion, or it could be a clue or piece of a puzzle elsewhere. For example, perhaps a puzzle requires the heroes to select four figurines, and the correct four are those that represent four automatons in the castle.