I feel like I've read somewhere that alchemist should thematically be able to create constructs, even though they can't by the rules. But I just assumed Vorkstag made it or was given control of it. A golem's creator can instruct the golem to follow the instructions of another. Either way its command is to guard the courtyard.
If you want it to be from somewhere specific, could easily say it was from Caromarc. He has one guarding his house after all.
There's a decent chance I'm going to want an answer where that isn't the Count. Or, if Vorkstag bought the hound from the count, I'd like a plausible red herring to throw the party off the trail. They are trying really hard to figure out where the beast was made and believe someone is making other flesh golems, so they are asking around to see where flesh golems are made. Also, Vorkstag knows the party is coming for him and is using his aliases to secretly strike back at them.
So I might take a suggestion from another thread and send the party on a wild goose chase. Anyone got ideas for where that could be that would either waste the party's time or throw them into danger?
In my game, Count Caromarc was one of the people buying bits of exotic creatures from V&G's underground operation. They had a ledger that showed that a nameless client had traded the golem hound for a girallion corpse, chuul tentacles, cloaker hides, choker appendages, and ettercap spinnerets. Once they spotted the second hound guarding the Count's place, they had a nice bit of foreshadowing of the crazy flesh golems inside.
However, if you need the master to be someone else, you could say it was Professor Katarina Witt, who sold one to the Count and one to V&G...before she got skinned.
Doctor Witt is already being utilized, actually, along with Bjorgo. PS, that was YOUR suggestion I was referencing. :)
I think I'll use your suggestion that the Count traded them the golem hound in exchange for body parts, though. That's gold. However, I'd like a scapegoat that can't be tied back to V&G in anyway for Vorkstag to aim the party at.
Do you want the red herring to lead to a combat encounter, or just make their trial more difficult?
If you want combat, the red herring could be a completely made up account of a mad alchemist living in the Morast swamp. There would be delivery directions that lead into the territory of four to six worgs (for an easy encounter) or a will-o-the-wisp (for a tough one). All the players will find is an abandoned shack.
If you want more trial intrigue, the red herring could implicate Dr. Montagnie Crowl--this might seem more believable if the players delivered the Flesh Golem manual to him. Chances are, your players will try to look for clues at the Antiquities Department, and if they do Vorkstag could call for the watch in one of his guises. Getting caught breaking into the same place the Beast did won't look good, and they really don't have time to spend on the run or in jail.
Do you want the red herring to lead to a combat encounter, or just make their trial more difficult?
If you want combat, the red herring could be a completely made up account of a mad alchemist living in the Morast swamp. There would be delivery directions that lead into the territory of four to six worgs (for an easy encounter) or a will-o-the-wisp (for a tough one). All the players will find is an abandoned shack.
If you want more trial intrigue, the red herring could implicate Dr. Montagnie Crowl--this might seem more believable if the players delivered the Flesh Golem manual to him. Chances are, your players will try to look for clues at the Antiquities Department, and if they do Vorkstag could call for the watch in one of his guises. Getting caught breaking into the same place the Beast did won't look good, and they really don't have time to spend on the run or in jail.
Hmm... I think I'd prefer to just make the trial more difficult, though Vorkstag would probably prefer it if these annoying heroes were killed all together.
Crowl is an interesting idea. The party has actually spent a lot of time talking to him and rolling sense motives against him already, as I added a red herring that he may have been the beast's creator. They actually were asking Crowl a lot of questions about flesh golems already. He mentioned he had a manual that was stolen.
HOWEVER, I roll sense motive checks behind the screen so players don't get meta awareness. I am starting to really like the idea of Vorkstag using Witt to get to Kendra and then the trusted "Kendra" telling the party that Crowl has a deep, dark secret. Maybe mention she saw him carrying body parts and a lightning rod? Or maybe a sarcophagus and lightning rod? This means even if they don't break in the party will try and waste more time on him. If they do break in, I've already dropped mention that there are some sick magical security measures (to help explain why a golem was specifically needed to break in) and I've got this nice museum pathfinder board I can use... This could make for a really fun heist. Also, if they wind up breaking into Witt's office, they might find the skinless corpse of Kendra... So many fun possibilities.