Keeping simulacrum alive while performing surgery

[Aaedimus]

The BBEG made a simulacrum of himself and wanted us to kill it to get a magical key hidden within its body.

We know that removing the key will kill him. Removing it is not an option... so, I'm trying to brainstorm a way to not kill the simulacrum while letting the body die. Yes it's a construct... BUT, we can't give the bbeg what he wants, and it's another tool against him...

Any ideas?

[Segev]

Why do you need the body to die if you don't want to give the key to the BBEG?

[CapnWildefyr]

Why do you need the body to die if you don't want to give the key to the BBEG?

Good question.
Another one is: Aaedimus, what levels are we talking about here?

Are you sure it's a simulacrum, and not the original? or maybe the BBEG's twin or something?

[ProsecutorGodot]

So to clear any confusion, the BBEG wants the key, knows it will kill the simulacrum and you don't want to do either of those things.

I'm pretty confused why you even need to do anything. You get nothing out of this except helping the BBEG?

[kingcheesepants]

What is the goal here? Getting the key out without destroying the construct? What's causing the removal of the key to destroy it to begin with? If it's a curse than remove curse or possibly dispell magic could fix it. If the problem is cutting open a simulacrum without destroying it than you could give the simulacrum some temp hp and then make your best medicine checks (honestly the temp hp might not even be necessary). A more interesting alternative is to cast reduce on your smallest member and enlarge on the construct. The size difference would allow a "fantastic journey" style surgery. Or dispelling the destruction effect from the key directly rather than doing it on the simulacrum.

[KorvinStarmast]

The BBEG made a simulacrum of himself and wanted us to kill it to get a magical key hidden within its body.

We know that removing the key will kill him. Removing it is not an option... so, I'm trying to brainstorm a way to not kill the simulacrum while letting the body die. Yes it's a construct... BUT, we can't give the bbeg what he wants, and it's another tool against him...

Any ideas? Kill the BBEG. Problem solved. :smallbiggrin:

[nickl_2000]

If it's a simple (non-magical) key, then you don't need to remove it. You should be able to replicate it.

Step one is to see the key.
-Warlocks can see through the body with the Ghostly Gaze invocation
-Do surgery to see it
-Borrow a Ring of X-Ray Vision


Once you see it you have options.
-Make a wax mold of the key
-2 PCs with prestidigitation can continually make temporary copies until a blacksmith can replicate it
-You can create a copy with shape water that lasts for an hour
-Illusion Spell to make a copy based on seeing it
-Conjuration Wizard can make a copy of it
-Forge Cleric can channel divinity to make another
-Fabricate can make a copy of it
-Creation can make a copy of it


If the original is magical you can make the copy appear to also be magical with Arcanist's Mystical Aura.




Sure it's complicated, but if you wanted simple you wouldn't be asking here.

[Telwar]

...wait, did the BBEG put the key in his own simulacrum? Then why does he want it? Buyer's remorse?

[CapnWildefyr]

...wait, did the BBEG put the key in his own simulacrum? Then why does he want it? Buyer's remorse?
Maybe he was really keyed-off at the time. :: insert cheesygrin here::

[nickl_2000]

Maybe he was really keyed-off at the time. :: insert cheesygrin here::

Well the BBEG thought that making a lackey simulacrum was really the key to his success and a key stakeholder in his plan. However, in time the simulacrum because a turn-key.