Golden Calf

"So the people took off their golden earrings, and fashioned them into a molten calf."
Exodus 32:3

Forged in Faithlessness. The origin of the golden calf is steeped in human sin. Over 1000 years before Rome came to power, the Israelite people were finally escaping slavery in Egypt, where the influence of the archdemon Mammon was coercing the pharaohs to build greater and greater monuments to wealth. However, led by Moses into the Wilderness of Zin, the people soon started to doubt the providence of God, and began to grow nostalgic for the ways of the Egyptians. Remembering the golden idols that Mammon convinced the Egyptians to build in her honor, the people of Israel collected all of the gold in their possession and forged a creature of pure sin: a symbol of their loss of faith.

"Taking the calf they had made, Moses burned it in the fire and then ground it down to powder."
Exodus 32:20

A Dormant Evil. When Moses return from Mt. Sinai, he destroyed the idol and threw the pieces into a nearby river. This would have been the end of the story, but the shards of this golden idol pulse with the magic of sin, and it was not long before the pieces eventually found their way back to Mammon, the true mistress of Greed. Over the next 200 years, adventurers and treasure-seekers would find pieces of gold fragments in the desert and feel led - as though through a voice in their mind - to travel to Egypt. The fate of these unfortunate souls is unknown, but Mammon eventually accrued enough of the original fragments to work her dark magic. Resentful of the Israelites who had escaped her grasp, Mammon traveled in disguise to the Promised Land, where she sought an audience with King Jeroboam in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

The King made two golden calves and said, "Here are your gods,"
1 Kings 12:28

Guardians of Greed. Mammon was able to persuade the King in the North to forge two new golden calves, made from pieces of the original. The King ordered that the Israelite people worship these new idols as their gods. Even though Israel was conquered by invading Babylonians forces shortly after this, the combined worship of the Israelite people was enough to complete Mammon's ritual. Charged with the magic of human sin, the golden calves sprang to life - becoming mindless constructs that serve the will of Mammon alone. In the ensuing chaos of Babylon's invasion, Mammon escaped with her new servants and returned to her lair in Egypt. Because these constructs are not truly alive, they have no need to eat or drink, and according to legend, they now reside in the deep recesses of Mammon's subterranean lair. Whether or not these stories are true, no one has yet lived to tell of what lies beneath the sands of Egypt.

Large Construct, Lawful Evil

Armor Class 18

Hit Points 125

Speed 40 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	10 (+0)	16 (+3)	4 (-3)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)

Skills Athletics +7, Religion +2

Damage Immunities Poison

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 12

Languages Telepathy 120 ft. (emotions and desires only)

Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Features

Reflective Armor. If the golden calf is targeted by a spell of 1st level or lower that is a line spell, Magic Missile, or requires an attack roll, the effect is reflected back at the caster as though it originated from the golden calf, turning the caster into the target and using the same attack roll.

Otherworldly Perception. The golden calf can sense the presence of any creature within 30 feet of it that is invisible or on the ethereal plane. It can pinpoint such a creature that is moving.

Actions

Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (3d8 + 4) piercing damage.

Compel Worship (Recharge 5-6). The golden calf rears onto its hind legs as dazzling light radiates out in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on itself. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or it drops to its knees and begins muttering words of praise to the golden calf. A target affected in this way is Restrained. The Restrained target may repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn, ending the effect on itself with a success. At the start of each of the golden calf's turns, it regains 1d6 hit points for each creature currently worshiping it.

Bible5e custom monster. Its specific traits supplement the current rules. See Using Bible5e Monsters.