Rune Statues & Stone Masters

[Aermas]

Rune Statues are Indestructible stone (or metal) Stone Masters can mold stone & move it etc.

Could a Stone Master sculpt a Rune Statue into a different shape?
Could a Stone Master telekinetically lift a Rune Statue?
Could a Stone Master with command of an appropriately large enough Rune Statue mold a hollow for themselves inside a Rune Statue?

[Grazzik]

There's not much on rune statues in the books. So these are my thoughts on the matter...

Could a Stone Master sculpt a Rune Statue into a different shape?

Assuming the statue is stone, yes. However, as the statue is indestructible, it is limited to reshaping the statue, not removing pieces. Note that the statue has their own personality and if they don't like what the Stone Master does, the statue may become quite (telepathically) vocal about their disapproval/annoyance/distress, and/or interpret commands in a way that may cause problems.

Could a Stone Master telekinetically lift a Rune Statue?

Assuming the statue is stone, yes within the limitations of the Stone Master power (weight, speed, distance/range, etc.).

Could a Stone Master with command of an appropriately large enough Rune Statue mold a hollow for themselves inside a Rune Statue?

Yes, assuming any dimensional vortex containing the soul (and body if present) of the being animating the statue isn't disturbed. Also, if fully enclosed, keep in mind air supply.

[ShadowLogan]

1. Alter the shape. I'm iffy on this, but I would still go with NO for simplicity. We are dealing with living stone here after all (trapped essence to power it), and there are a few stone races to consider the ramifications if a Stone Master can manipulate Rune Stone what about those living rocks? At the very least if you allow it, a Saving Throw vs Magic might be in order as the living stone attempts to resist the magical ability of the Stone Master.

2. Assuming it is stone, yes you could lift it.

3. As I don't think they could alter the shape, I don't think they can create a void. There might be other things to consider to (example IIRC Golems and/or the FoM's Automotauns have magical energies raging inside their body per text, Rune items might be similar so creating a void/shape-shift might release said energies).

[Aermas]

Nice. So a Stone Master could theoretically mold a hole inside a large quadruped shaped statue, have it curl into a ball shape, & then telekinetically roll it around everywhere, occasionally using it to fight. There's spells/tech for breathing.

[Grazzik]

I like ShadowLogan's suggestion of a save vs magic - even if the statue is willing, the magicks that created it may be problematic.

Why make a quadruped? Why not an octopod starfish-like statue where the limbs fold into a ball shape and you don't actually sit "in" the statue, just the space enclosed by the statue. That way you avoid the dimensional vortex or any errant magical forces, while when the statue is activated it has eight limbs to fight/work with (extra attacks maybe?). To enter/exit, just fold up a limb out of the way.

[Library Ogre]

I'd lean towards "Yes, they can manipulate Rune Statues", and in all the ways you describe. However, I'd add a few conditions.

1) The rune statue, if unwilling, gets a save v. magic.
2) Multiply the cost of the power by 10. It's still pretty low, as such things go, but it makes it feel like extra effort.
3) Cannot alienate parts of the statue from itself... can't take off bits.

[Aermas]

That works. I was going with a lion because the book says their fairly common & the gargoyle ones are terribly shaped for the purpose. A custom made one that works as you say would be awesome.

One thing though is I was thinking of how rough it would be in an empty cavity & how you'd need to insert a two layer lubricated spherical cockpit with adequate ball bearings or gyroscope, maybe some kind of magic, etc to cancel out the rolling.

So if you're going the custom route you'd create it with a pre-made slot for the cockpit, with a stone "flap" to retract. Then the body could be any body design that can be made to roll. Just having an Indestructible ball you can levitate & telekinetically "throw" while in it sounds fun

[Grazzik]

One thing though is I was thinking of how rough it would be in an empty cavity & how you'd need to insert a two layer lubricated spherical cockpit with adequate ball bearings or gyroscope, maybe some kind of magic, etc to cancel out the rolling.

Consider the ATV Tumbler (Black Market pg 150) with the 360 degree wheels, but miniaturize it to be like an office chair with wheels using a similar magnetic wheel setup. Then the inside of the sphere could be smoothed to an even surface to reduce friction, so no matter which way the sphere rolls, the chair stays in the center of the sphere.

The biggest challenge I see would be how the SM sees outside the sphere. Would be best to have some magical or psychic means to do so. Using tech, perhaps a network of drones (similar to the eye-spheres of the Splugorth Slaver's barge) feeding video to a display in the chair or to VR googles.

[Aermas]

I was thinking you could just embed tech or magic sensors to let you see outside, or perhaps figure a way to see through stone