-=+ Golem Lore +=- -=Scroll to the third post for new stuff=- -=+ What is a Golem? +=- Golems are sentient constructs, comprised of a stone body animated by a magical core. Golems can be created using Enchanting or Runesmithing. They also require one skilled in the use of the material from which they are made to make all of the parts. Usually two are required to make a golem, as it is incredibly difficult to make the part and apply the magic to it simultaneously. -=+ Behaviour +=- Golems obey the every command of the being they view as their “Impera”. Impera appears to mean “master” at first glance, but there appears to be far more to its meaning. Impera is a word ingrained into the golem. It is incapable of referring to anyone as Impera save its Impera, and cannot view itself as its own Impera (if it did, it would become locked in an eternal loop of waiting for orders from itself.) A golem’s first Impera tends to be the first person it sees upon its creation. While people tend to view the golem’s Impera as some sort of specific magical attachment, the concept is entirely in the golem’s mind. If a golem’s Impera dies, goes missing, or consistently fails to command the golem, the golem will seek out a new Impera. The only other way to change a golem’s Impera is for the current Impera to command the golem does such. A new golem knows very little apart from how to operate its body and the concept of Impera. Occasionally they also seem to possess a very basic vocabulary, but often they know no words beyond “Impera.” Golems usually need to be taught almost everything, but, like a child, they are capable of learning very quickly when they are new. In the first few days of their existence, a golem is capable of understanding an Impera’s meaning even if it cannot understand their speech. This could be how they are capable of picking up the Impera’s language so quickly. A golem mind is a simple one. A golem takes what is said literally, metaphors and implications is beyond its comprehension. If ordered to carry out a task, it is not unheard of for them to continue to do so until told to stop. They are not creative. If ordered, for example, to build a house, a golem will either attempt to badly copy something it views as a house or simply pile materials on top of each other. It is incapable of designing. Golem speech is slow, monotonous, and devoid of harmony. They are incapable of intonation. ((The convention for golem speech is to never use exclamation or question marks, capitalize every word and separate syllables with hyphens. An Ex-am-ple Is This. Sometimes full stops are used for every word. An. Ex-am-ple. Is. This.)) Research into golems has defined two primary personality stereotypes, known as Blue and Red, from which golems seem to deviate surprisingly little. A Blue Golem is one that seemscontent to serve, and carries out commands to the best of its ability. A Red Golem is one that seems compelled to serve. While they are very similar in mannerisms, a red golem is likely to willfully misinterpret commands to their Impera’s detriment. Red golems are also far more likely to go beserk. -=+ The Body +=- The body is composed of several parts, held together with magic rather than mechanical interfaces. Motion is achieved by pairs of runes or enchantments within the material which operate in a similar manner to muscles, and allow the golem to move its limbs. The most complicated part of a golem limb is the hand, as it involves so many parts. Unlike the larger joints, golem hands do tend to have some physical interlocking, and exterior runes are worked into the fingers to give the golem a rudimentary sense of touch. While the golem seems to manage without these touch runes on the rest of its body, it seems to need them on its fingers or it crushes anything it attempts to hold. While in theory any material could be used to create a golem, there are limitations. Any metal seems to cause problems for the runes or enchantments, and the golem will either not animate at all or the core will shatter. Obsidian is too heavy for the golem enchantments or runes to move. Golem size is limited by the strength of the core. While a golem is very strong, golem cores cannot effectively animate a golem larger than a common uruk orc (7 to 7.5ft). 9 foot tall golems are possible but suffer from defects such as arms dropping off without warning. The golem head contains many complex runes required for the golem to sense and speak. The eyes of a golem are one of the few runes that need to be exposed, and they glow brightly when the golem uses them. The core of a golem is a complex runic artifact made of inscribed arcaurum. A golem core is almost invariably a cube. Five of the six faces are inscribed with the intricate runes and symbols that that power the golem, the sixth is always completely blank. It is believed that the golem's memories are written upon the sixth face, in words invisible to mortals. -=+ Creation +=- Creating the body involves creating all of the requisite parts and the core. Each part of the golem is forged individually by the smith, and the magic user works the necessary enchantment or runes into the parts as they are made, meaning the runes are safely within the stone. This usually means that two people are required to make a golem, as a single smith or mage cannot make the parts and enchant them at the same time. -=+ Destruction +=- Golems are incredibly hardy, being made of rock, and sledgehammers and warhammers are usually needed to damage them (pickaxes are far too unwieldy for fighting a moving target). However, the core is very fragile, like glass. Damage to the core can turn a golem red and leads to it going berserk and insane. If the core is destroyed while in the golem, the body turns to dust. The golem is destroyed. While this is usually a permakill (the golem player technically should PK if this happens through RP but cannot be forced to), golem characters are all very similar, and thus the character can be “resurrected” by building a new golem. The setback is the loss of all memories. -=+ OOC Notes +=- Golems can only be created by those who have acquired the knowledge of golemancy IC, and have an accepted Magic Application for doing so. While those wishing to play golems can approach golemancers OOC, the identities of golemancers are something you should learn through IC means.