Iron Elementals - the Undergrounds Eternal Guardians

Elementals are second only to dragons for my favourite type of monster in Dungeons and Dragons. There's something truly magical about a living being made of something otherwise lifeless and inert. Air, earth, fire, and water taking humanoid forms is otherworldly and enchanting. Something truly draws me in. They're not just mesmerising to me, there's something alchemical.

Speaking of alchemy!

The four elements, that make up most elementals in Dungeons and Dragons, were chosen that way because alchemists in our real world believed that some combination of those four elements made up the entire world, and the people in it. As the centuries rolled on, other less mystical elements began to fill what people thought made the universe. All until Dimitry Mendeleev made an early, beta version of the periodic table.

How different would fantasy fiction be, if any alchemical building block could become an elemental?

Iron Elementals

Iron is a very symbolic metal, and one that has been used by civilisations since time began. It's the base of steel and one of the seven key metals in alchemy that mystics sought to transmute.

The iron elemental stands viglant - ‘Bosh Iron Golem’ by Brom

Iron elementals exist in places between elemental extreme fire and deep earth. They have immense, hulking forms, with jagged, rough spikes. They take on an overall reddish grey colour, made of ferrite and other ores, more than the pure metal itself. The endless smelting process inside chaotic areas of our world can often enchant the iron to life.

These iron elementals are rare, and often found underground, in kingdoms who mine endlessly underground. It's worth noting these are different from golems. A golem is built by magical means to fulfil the whims of a creator. Iron elementals are independent, free thinking beings.

Iron Elemental Stats generated with Homebrewery

In these places deep underground, the deep red grey coloured entities stand as eternal guardians over one location. They choose a single place and become a sentinel over it, unmoving. No one is sure why they choose this, but their diligence has been spoken of in myths of underground civilisations for centuries. This makes an iron elemental an immense challenge to overcome, as they will steadfastly defend a randomly chosen place. If it's a narrow road, or the entrance to an underground stronghold, no one will pass.

This fierce guardianship can work in the favour of some who are particularly shrewd. In times of great danger, someone with a good set of Charisma abilities can easily trick the elemental into believing its sacred place is in danger. To go forth and defeat a potential future threat to its location is the only reason an iron elemental would ever leave its home.

Ironclad Defender

The iron elemental stands tall over a place it loves and devotes itself to. It can work in the favour of some parties, but others will feel the heavy crush of iron fists under them as they try to go somewhere very heavily guarded.

Now we want to hear from you. What sites would an iron elemental stand guard at? Are you interested in seeing other metals or alchemical components make it to elemental status? Let us know in our discord server or in the comments below.

Adam Ray contributes much for adventurers here on Apotheosis Studios. As co-founder of fantasticuniverses.com, he writes about card gaming and PC gaming to a corner of the internet he carved out himself. On Youtube, he can be found game mastering for No Ordinary Heroes, or editing the antics on The Hostile Atmosphere. Follow his Twitter @IzzetTinkerer.