Heretek Murder Engine

Saves: Toughness +8

Tortured Machine Spirit. The murder engine does not make Morale checks, but its abused spirit glitches: once per scene the GM may have it act wrongly — and once per scene the party may force a glitch with a Tech check DC 15, costing it its next action.

Mismatched Frame. The murder engine is immune to Suppression and reduces all incoming damage by 3. Its patchwork armor has exploitable seams: a called shot, or a Tech scan DC 14 to locate one, lets an attack ignore this reduction.

Creator's Leash. While its heretek creator can see it, the murder engine gains +1 to attack rolls. If the heretek dies or the leash-node is destroyed, roll 1d6: 1-2 it goes inert, 3-4 it goes berserk against the nearest creature, 5-6 it goes feral and flees into the machine works.

Flenser Limbs. The murder engine makes two melee attacks with different scavenged weapons: Melee Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2d10 + 5 rending damage. If both attacks hit the same target, it is Bleeding.

Overcharged Lunge. The murder engine moves up to twice its speed in a straight line toward a target. On arrival, each adjacent creature makes an Agility Save DC 14 or is knocked Prone and Exposed until the start of its next turn.

Weapon Discharge Malfunction. Its scavenged ranged weapon fires with terrible power at a random legal target within 60 feet, including its own allies. Ranged Attack: +7 to hit. Hit: 2d10 + 3 energy damage.

Spasming Riposte. When a creature hits the murder engine with a melee attack, its tortured limbs lash back: Melee Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft. Hit: 1d10 + 5 rending damage.

Morale: Does not make Morale checks (tortured machine spirit), but it is unstable: destroying its creator, its leash-node, or key systems can send it berserk, dormant, or feral.

Tactics: Move like nothing sane and hit like industry. Broadcast its instability and reward players who target seams, leash, or overloaded systems instead of trading blows. The heretek behind it should escape the first encounter.

Loot / Evidence / Hooks: Its chassis is a catalog of stolen forge property; any single component can be traced to the heretek's suppliers.

A Heretek Murder Engine is a machine assembled from parts that should not agree — mismatched limbs, scavenged weapons, and a machine spirit tortured into obedience by a tech-heretic. It is fast, wrong, and violently proud of it.

Use this enemy as the signature horror of a heretek cell: a monster fight in machine terrain with its creator watching.

Threat Profile: High durability, heavy erratic melee damage, unpredictable weapon behavior, no morale, unstable systems that clever players can detonate.

Tortured Machine Spirit. No morale, but the abused spirit glitches: once per scene the GM may have it act wrongly — and once, the party may trigger this with a Tech check.

Mismatched Frame. Immune to Suppression; its patchwork armor has exploitable seams a called shot or Tech scan can find.

Creator's Leash. Fights harder within sight of its heretek; may go berserk or inert if the heretek dies.

Flenser Limbs. Two melee attacks with different scavenged weapons, each with its own bad behavior.

Overcharged Lunge. Crosses horrifying distance in one action; on arrival, adjacent creatures save or are knocked Exposed.

Weapon Discharge Malfunction. Its ranged weapon fires with terrible power at a random legal target, including allies.

Morale: None, but unstable: destruction of its creator, its leash-node, or key systems can send it berserk, dormant, or feral.

Tactics: Make it fast and wrong — it should move like nothing sane and hit like industry. Broadcast its instability and reward players who target seams, leash, or overloaded systems instead of trading blows. The heretek behind it should escape the first encounter.

Full Stat Block Priority: High