Self-Carved Effigy

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Medium Construct, Neutral

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)

Hit Points 22 (4d8+4)

Speed 25 ft.

STR 14 (+2)

DEX 10 (+0)

CON 12 (+1)

INT 8 (-1)

WIS 10 (+0)

CHA 13 (+1)

Skills Stealth +2, Deception +3

Damage Resistances piercing from nonmagical attacks

Damage Immunities poison

Condition Immunities poisoned

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10

Languages Common

Challenge 1 (200 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

Pitied by the Living. When a creature within 30 feet of the effigy expresses sympathy for it, offers to help complete it, or succeeds on a Wisdom (Insight) check against the effigy's Charisma (Deception) check, the effigy can use its reaction to appear harmless and helpless until the end of its next turn. During this time, it has advantage on its next attack roll against that creature, and that attack deals an extra 3 (1d6) psychic damage if it hits.

Sculptor's Persistence. The effigy has advantage on saving throws against being knocked prone or moved against its will. It does not need to eat, drink, breathe, or sleep.

Unfinished Form. The effigy's rough, asymmetrical body grants it advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made among statues, rubble, or unfinished artwork.

Actions

Multiattack. The effigy makes two Chisel-Hand attacks.

Chisel-Hand. Melee weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) slashing damage. The effigy uses a stolen sculptor's chisel fused into one jagged hand.

Borrowed Tool. Ranged weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) piercing damage. The effigy hurls a hammer, chisel, or similar stolen tool. After the attack, the tool lands in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the target.

Beg for Completion. One creature within 30 feet that can hear the effigy must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw or become distracted by its plaintive plea until the end of the creature's next turn. While distracted, the creature cannot take reactions and has disadvantage on attack rolls against creatures other than the effigy. A creature that succeeds is immune to this effigy's Beg for Completion for 24 hours.

Reactions

False Stillness. When a creature moves within 5 feet of the effigy while the effigy is not incapacitated, the effigy can become motionless and appear to be an ordinary unfinished statue. Until the start of its next turn, it has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks, but it cannot move or take actions.

Environment Urban, Forest, Hill

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"Please. Just one more cut, and I will finally look like someone worth keeping." — the unfinished effigy beneath Voss Studio

Lore & Description

Appearance

This unfinished statue stands just short of human height, its body a patchwork of pale marble, gray limestone, and ugly seams where different stones were joined. One side of its face is smooth and nearly beautiful; the other remains a blunt, faceless block. Its arms end in malformed hands, one gripping a stolen iron chisel and the other shaped into a crude cutting edge. Fine stone dust constantly trickles from its joints. When it moves, its unfinished features rearrange with tiny grinding clicks, as though an invisible sculptor is still correcting it.

Behavior & Origins

The effigy was abandoned by sculptor Maelin Voss after a commission was canceled and the half-carved statue was left in a locked studio. Months later, Maelin returned to find every chisel missing and a trail of marble dust leading into the streets. The creature does not understand death, beauty, or mercy; it only knows that it is incomplete. It steals tools and chips away pieces of itself, usually worsening its appearance. Its most dangerous ploy is to invite pity, whispering that it only needs one kind hand to finish the face. The effigy currently hides beneath the ruined Voss Studio and wants to find Maelin, whom it believes abandoned the final instructions inside the sculptor's own skull.

Running Self-Carved Effigy

Tactics

The effigy begins by using False Stillness or Beg for Completion to make the party hesitate, then attacks the most sympathetic-looking creature with advantage from Pitied by the Living. It uses Borrowed Tool against distant targets while retreating through clutter, rubble, and unfinished statuary. When bloodied, it abandons deception and focuses both Chisel-Hand attacks on the creature that showed it the most compassion, fleeing only if that creature is incapacitated or if all stolen tools are destroyed.

DM Tips

Telegraph the danger with fresh chisel marks in walls, missing tools, and pleading whispers that stop whenever someone turns around.
Play its voice as soft, halting, and grateful; it should sound sincere even when it is manipulating the party.
Reward characters who investigate or try to help, but make direct pity or offers to complete it trigger Pitied by the Living.
For a weaker party, remove Multiattack; for a stronger party, give it three Chisel-Hand attacks or allow Beg for Completion to affect two creatures.

Loot

Maelin Voss's Silver Chisel — A finely balanced chisel engraved with the sculptor's initials. It is worth 25 gp and bears a faint smear of living marble dust.
Fragment of the Unfinished Face — A piece chipped from the effigy's face. When placed near a statue, it produces a barely audible whisper describing what that statue wishes it could become.

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Generation Info

Original prompt:
"CR 1: The unfinished statue a sculptor abandoned, carving itself to completion with stolen chisels. It is most dangerous when pitied."

Created: Oct 13, 2026
Modified: Oct 26, 2026

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