Morrowind:Dwemer Centurions

Dwemer Centurions, sometimes referred to as Constructs or Animunculi, are mechanical and magical artifacts often encountered in Dwemer ruins. Many of them are still active, even after the many years since the Dwemer's disappearance at the Battle of Red Mountain, and are usually hostile to intruders. It is unknown what drives them, but it is speculated that they are steam-powered, as they feature pipes and vents, from which steam blasts erupt intermittently. They may even house a "boiler" or a similar contraption. Another point of interest is that Centurions taken from Vvardenfell "shut down" after a certain distance between them and Red Mountain is maintained. When brought back into this radius, they activate again. It may be that some sort of signal emanating from the Dwemer's underground colonies keeps the Animunculi active. Nearly all Dwemer Centurions drop scrap metal.

There are three main types of Dwemer Centurion found in Morrowind.

Centurion Sphere

Centurion Sphere

Dead Sphere Centurion

Centurion Sphere transformation

The Centurion Sphere is relatively common in Dwemer ruins. They may have served as guards or war-machines, as their two "arms" feature a sword and shield. Unlike the other two common types of Animunculi, the Centurion Sphere features a complex "eye" component. This is likely for the purpose of targeting, as it must maintain a high level of control over its more complicated and delicate weaponry. It may also be similar to a gyroscope, in that it aids the construct in keeping balance over the sphere beneath it. When idle, the body can be retracted inside the sphere, with the shield forming the cap. This process is shown in the following animation.

Creature		Drops		Attacks	Soul
Centurion Sphere centurion_sphere	Centurion Sphere centurion_sphere_nchur (Nchurdamz)	Scrap Metal	75	5−15 pts melee Shock Shield - Lightning Shield 3 pts for 20 secs on Self	none
Centurion Sphere centurion_sphere_hts2 (Tel Uvirith, after the third phase of your Stronghold)	Centurion Sphere centurion_sphere_summon (Created by the Dwemer Animunculi spell)
Shock Centurion centurion_shock_baladas (Gnisis, Arvs-Drelen)			150	5−15 pts melee Shock Shield - Lightning Shield 3 pts for 20 secs on Self Shockbite - Shock Damage 35-45 pts for 2 secs on Touch Shockball - Shock Damage 2-40 pts in 10ft on Target
Sphere Centurion centurion_fire_dead (Nchuleftingth, Lower Levels; Gnisis, Bethamez)		nothing	0	none (already dead)

Centurion Spider

Centurion Spider

The most common mechanical construct found in Dwemer ruins, Centurion Spiders are aggressive, but are the least dangerous of the Animunculi. They consist of a flexible gas-bag which rests upon a metal base, surrounded by six hinged legs. This material, apparently metallic in nature, may be the "Flesh-Metal" mentioned in the Lessons of Vivec. Poison magicks can be fired at enemies from this bag. It is unlikely that these served as war-machines or guards. They could possibly be maintenance constructs, or perhaps household servants. The underside of the Spider is reinforced to prevent damage from the heated lava floor spaces, which could easily warp untempered metals.

Notes

Unlike all other existing Dwemer constructs, the Centurion Spiders in the Ald'ruhn Thieves Guild contain souls.

Creature	Drops			Attacks	Soul
Centurion Spider centurion_spider	Scrap Metal	38	100	1−9 pts melee Poisonbloom - Poison 1-20 pts in 10ft for 5 secs on Target	none
Centurion Spider centurion_spider_nchur (Nchurdamz)				3−9 pts melee Poisonbloom - Poison 1-20 pts in 10ft for 5 secs on Target
Spider Centurion centurion_spider_tga1, centurion_spider_tga2 (Ald'ruhn, The Rat In The Pot, after Retrieve the Scrap Metal)				1−10 pts melee	50 (Lesser)

Steam Centurion

Steam Centurion

The largest and rarest of the Dwemer constructs, the Steam Centurion is designed in the form of an armored warrior. They were most likely produced to be war-machines, as they feature an extendable mace on one arm, which they use predominantly in combat, and on the other a three-fingered hand. They are the most powerful, and probably the most advanced, construct found in the game. The book Ruins of Kemel-Ze implies that the constructs have a weakness to frost and magic attacks, due to the water/steam that drives them. In actual gameplay, however, they are very resistant to magical attacks, frost included.

Creature		Drops						Attacks	Soul
Steam Centurion centurion_steam	Steam Centurion centurion_steam_exhibit (Tel Vos, Central Tower)	Scrap Metal	150	75	75	75	75	10−30 pts melee	none
Steam Centurion centurion_steam_nchur (Nchurdamz)	Steam Centurion centurion_steam_hts (Tel Uvirith, after the third phase of your Stronghold)
Steam Guardian centurion_Mudan_unique (Mudan Grotto, Central Vault)		Scrap Metal Dwemer Guardian Key	280
Steam Centurion centurion_steam_dead		Scrap Metal	0					none (already dead)

Constructs in Tribunal

Two additional types of Centurions are encountered in the Tribunal expansion:

• Advanced Steam Centurion
• Centurion Archer

See Also

• Secrets of Dwemer Animunculi - Diagrams of a Sphere Centurion in various stages.