The Gladiators (Magic Art)

The Gladiators is a large painting, 6' square, heavy and cumbersome. As its name implies, the painting depicts four heavily armed and armored gladiators facing each other in a sandy arena. It was painted by Arlena the Pair, to ward her country villa. Arlena herself vanished two decades ago and is believed to be dead. The painting disappeared around the same time, but rumors have since reported it in various locales. Because of the size of the painting, transporting and hiding it have undoubtedly proved to be serious problems.
If a human, demihuman or humanoid (except Arlena herself) walks within 10' of the painting without first saying a special password (this word is thought to be lost with Arlena), the victim and all clothing and equipment are immediately transported into the painting. This effect is similar to that of a mirror of life trapping, except that it does not require the victim to look at the painting. Once within the painting, the victim is immediately attacked by the four, chain mail-clad gladiators.
Gladiators (4): (INT average; AL N; AC 4; MV 12; F6; hp 48 each; THAC0 15; #AT 2; Dmg by weapon type; splint mail, two-handed sword).
The gladiators are totally resistant to all enchantment/charm, fear, and other mind-affecting spells; to other spells, they have a 60% magic resistance. They are totally single-minded in their intent to kill the victim and cannot be reasoned with in any way.
If the victim is slain, the body is immediately transported back outside the painting. If the gladiators are slain, the victim cannot escape from the painting unless someone outside speaks the word of release, “libertas,” which may be learned by casting a legend lore spell). Any damage received from the gladiators is real and can be cured normally. None of the gladiators' weaponry or armor may be brought out of the painting.
Up to eight creatures may be trapped by the painting at any one time. They are kept totally separate from each other, each with four gladiators to fight. When the word of release is spoken, the creature who has been trapped the longest is the first to be released (first in, first out). For each subsequent repetition of the word, another creature is released until all have been freed. If the painting is “full” and a ninth creature passes by, the ninth victim is trapped and the creature who has been within the painting the longest is freed. When a creature is trapped by the painting, his or her image-seemingly part of the painting appears in the arena, but remains visible for only one round. After that time, the painting returns to normal.
If someone outside the painting speaks the word of summoning, “aggredivi” (also lost with Arlena but recoverable with legend lore), the four gladiators vanish from the painting and appear standing before it. (Note that this has no effect on anyone within the painting; they still have their own four gladiators to deal with.) The gladiators immediately attack any one designated by the person who spoke the word, and fight until either they or their opponents are dead. This is all they can do; if there is no one to fight, or if their summoner tries to give them other instructions, they immediately return to the painting. Once the combat is over, one way or the other, the gladiators or their corpses (and all equipment) vanish and the painting returns to normal. The gladiators can be summoned once per day. The word of summoning must be spoken within 50' of the painting.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Art