Golems are enchanted constructs, of either animated objects or any type of artificially constructed creatures.
Categories[edit | edit source]
Natural Golems[edit | edit source]
They are a rarity in most parts of the world—aside from the desert or snowy areas; nevertheless, one would still only see the weakest, most primitive of Golems, namely Sand Golems, Snow Golems and so on, which are functions of nature, of excess mana and intention.[1] They have naturally formed Golem Hearts, like truesnow in a Snow Golem's head, or potent smelly mud or magical gemstone in an Earth Golem's stomach.[2]
Artificial Golems[edit | edit source]
Golems that have been carved, are known as Carved Golem.
There are four classes of golems: Puppet, Autonomous, Sentient, and Cognizant. Puppet classes will only obey orders. They have no Golem Hearts, just the ability to take instructions. Autonomous classes are the most common class, and are able to improvise on a command, but not take initiative. Sentient classes have the capacity for thought, at least similar to an animal or child. Lastly, Cognizant classes are effectively people, able to think and act of their own will. The Cognizant class extends to undead and summoned beings with the same capacity. When classifying a golem, its purpose is appended to its class. For example: Autonomous-Sentry, Cognizant-Overseer, and so on.[3]
Golems require high-grade materials to be built, such as Mana stones and rocks without impurity.[4] Artificial Golems have three parts to their creation: the shell, instructions, and energy.
The shell is the body and armor of the golem. Golems of nebulous shape, such as Wind Golems, can exist but are highly complex and necessitate advanced Golem Hearts and spells, so conventional golems always have a shell. The instructions are the programmed movements of the golem, typically in the form of command spells, and take the most time to create out of the three parts. Destroying the command spells is the standard way to kill a golem.[3]
The energy is the power supply that allows the golem to function, and is typically called the Golem's Heart. As an advanced golem will burn through even a large mana crystal quickly, Golem Hearts are instead designed to draw in mana from their surroundings, effectively having a power generator rather than solely using some form of magical battery. There are rare unique Golem Hearts that can produce mana on their own, such as Unicorn Horns, Kraken's Eye, or Sage's Grass hearts, but the rare materials or difficult creation means that drawing mana is the standard. Golem Hearts require expensive resources to make, and non-permanent hearts consume a lot of mana.[5] The golem can also be linked to a [Mage] for power, but it is considered inefficient unless the golem is temporary.[3]
This also informs three disciplines in Golem Making: Shaping, Inscribing, and Forming. Shapers create the golem's body and Inscribers program their instructions. Formers are a less practiced tertiary discipline that give golems intentions, purpose, and their being. This involves placing something in the Golem Heart, such as a flower, rose petals, seawater, a poem, ect.[3]
What demarcates them from the creations of [Necromancers] and [Summoners] is that Golems retain mana much better thanks to their structure, unlike the undead and summons which leak mana.[3] Although [Summoners] are able to make use of golems, by summoning them using their Hearts.[6]
Once a Golem has been compromised, it is rid of as it cannot be trusted.[7]
Types of Golems[edit | edit source]
- Archer-Golem
- Armored Golem
- Artillery Golem
- Bone Golem / Bone Horror[8]
- Brick Golem
- Bronze Golem
- Ceramic Golem
- Clay Golem
- Cloth Golem
- Copper Golem
- Crystal Golem
- Cuddle Golem
- Duelist Golem
- Dust Golem
- Finemetal Bronze Golem
- Flame Golem
- Flesh Golem
- Fruit Golem[9]
- Gemstone Golem
- Glacier Golem
- Glass Golem
- Golem-Dragon
- Iron Golem
- Ivory Golem
- Lifesand Golem
- Liquid Metal Golem
- Magestone Golem
- Magma Golem
- Metal Golem
- Mithril Golem
- Mud Golem
- Radiance Golem / Golem of Light
- Rock Golem
- Salt Golem
- Sand Golem
- Shadow Golem
- Shadowflesh Golem
- Snow Golem
- Soulcopper Golem
- Steel Golem
- Stone Golem
- Storm Golem
- Truestone Golem
- War Golem
- Water Golem
- Wind Golem
- Wireform Golem
Related Classes[edit | edit source]
- [Golem Artificer]
- [Golem Artisan]
- [Golem Leader]
- [Golem Maker]
- [Golemmaster Cook]
Notable Golem Individuals[edit | edit source]
- Cognita
- Domehead
- Oracle of Elbe
- Ovesire
Notable Related Groups[edit | edit source]
- Federation of Illivere - Chandrarian nation that loves golems and is effectively ruled by [Golem Artificers]. They make use of Golems in nearly everything and have immense affection for them.
- House Terland - Well known for their use of Golems, which comprise their main military forces and serve their needs.
- Wistram Academy - Under the authority of [Archmage] Zelkyr, Golems have become common, serving as the academy's staff, custodians, and primary defenders. Truestone Golem Cognita is the de facto head of the academy, able to override the authority of the Archmages at her whim.
- The Sedolis faction are golem specialists within Wistram.
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- As Golems are neither alive nor dead, they are immune to death magic spells, such as a [Deathbolt] spell.[10]
- Nowadays, the ancient techniques of creating titans and more advanced Golems has became a faded art.[11]
- There are less than ten known Cognizant-class golems in the world.[3]
- Garuda and Stitchfolk are species with little interest in golems, due to the few numbers of flying golems and their origins as Cloth Golems respectively.