Feat - Golemancy
Background/Origin
Before the Braveaxe, Firemane and Irongut’s first rediscovered the ancient art of soulbound golemancy, it was first practiced and used by the Scriberfolk, an ancient civilization that existed in Kal’Karik. The Scriberfolk had a much greater understanding of golemancy than those of the present-day Golemancers, knowing golemancy beyond a fundamental level. This knowledge was then lost to the Scriberfolk when the Ironborn took power, as they then caused the blood age and the purging of a great many dwarven secrets, most damaging to past and present Golemancers; how golem cores function.
Hope, however, was not lost entirely, with the aforementioned family of Braveaxe spending generations to rediscover some of the secrets of the Anvil of Urguan, leading to the cooperation of Thorik Braveaxe (then to become Thorik Grandaxe), Gotrek Firemane and Hiebe Irongut through experimentation and failure eventually leading to the creation of Grey Vigil, the first soulbound golem of King of Urguan.
Following the destruction of Aegis, the descendants arrived in Asulon, it would be in this land that one of the Scriberfolks many secrets would be rediscovered as golemancers learned of lightning-bound golemancy from ancient texts, tablets and more importantly, a functioning lightning-bound golem to whom greeted the dwarves on the discovery of Karik.
Over time, Golemancers began to experiment with the idea of applying golems limbs to descendants. While this sort of work did lean more to the macabre, it worked. Those unlucky few that had lost their limbs in battle or otherwise were gifted with one more chance to live a normal life. As with most things, this did come at a cost. Those with golem limbs began to die sooner than expected, or rather before the lifespan of their race suggested. Puzzled, golemancers of the time began to study this, though it may seem morally wrong to use descendants like guinea pigs, it did lead to a better understanding of golem limbs in the future. The golem limbs draw from the soul blueprint of the user, thusly shortening their lifespan.
In the realms that followed, Golemancers would slowly begin to get a firmer grasp of the art form, learning many long lost secrets such as the creation of the first thanhic golem; a golem similar to the lightning-bound would make use of a power source that wasn’t a descendants soul, revolutionizing the way golems were made. The thanhic golem was essential as the past repeated itself, Golemancers following in the steps of the Scriberfolk as many of those who knew how to create lightning-bound would pass, their secrets lost to all but a rare few, becoming a lost creation process with thanhic replacing it.
Further experimentation led to the development of the first multi-core golems to which were superior to the ones that had come before them. Also came the swift & brawn golems; the swift golem matching the size and stature of a dwarf and able to perform tasks more suited to something of a less cumbersome size, whereas with the brawn golem this led to a creature of massive size, slow and lacking in finesse but able to perform feats of strength akin to Ologs.
Later discoveries included the development of anti golem technologies to which would be used by Golemancers to finally have a way to combat their creations should they turn red, or have one of their own go rogue. These technologies were developed from the study and research into the Hammer of Ardol, leading to the creation of poor replicas that would become known as disruption cores that could disable the control of various parts of a Golem. Another revolutionary piece of dwarven ingenuity would be the creation of disrupter spikes, designed to target Golemancers to which could sever their ability to create Golems.
Magic Explanation
Golemancy is the art of turning inanimate stone into a sentient construct capable of performing tasks commanded by the golem’s Impera. The constant pursuit of the perfect golem, one that will not and cannot disobey its master. While not easy, to learn Golemancy one must seek out an advanced and learned Golemancer, with the ability to teach. To learn the full extent of the art, one may need to learn from different teachers, as not every Golemancer knows every possibility available. The only requirement to begin learning Golemancy is that the prospective student has an undamaged soul and is physically capable of crafting golems.
Golemancy is a tedious feat, requiring many hours of practice, pursuing unattainable perfection.
Golemancy is not powered by any diety or specific place, but rather by the craft. The runes are powered by the core, which is powered by the soul or thanhium within the core.
Golemancy can be learned from anyone with a valid TA, though, if a teacher has not learnt something in the advanced section, they may not teach it.
Golemancy users must have a valid MA.
While the creation of the mundane, materialistic parts of a golem may be done using magic, such as transfiguration or runesmithing, the golem itself may not be charged or have any magic other than Golemancy bound to it.
Abilities/Spells
Name: The Body
Name: Golemancy Runes
Name: Golem Anvils
Name: Golem Core
Name: Golem Limbs
Name: The Soulbound Golem
Name: The Thanhic Golem
Name: The Swift Golem
Name: The Brawn Golem
Name: The Multi-Core Golem
Name: The Disrupter Spike
Name: The Disrupter Core
Red Lines
While golemancers may be perfectionists, they are not perfect. Golemancy is not only a feat but a pursuit after the perfect servant, the perfect golem. Golemancers will make mistakes and golems will become red. Golemancers ought to roleplay failing more often than succeeding. This concept should be applied to everything in Golemancy, from the sculpting of the torso to the carving of the runes on the core, to the creation of the disrupter spike.
Golemancy itself has no restrictions regarding other magics the users have or can have.
Teaching
It must be understood that everything in Golemancy is taught or experimented. One cannot simply role-play for a bit and say they figured out, on their own, how to craft a Disrupter Spike. Such things must either be taught or sufficiently experimented to learn.
Golemancy is the sort of feat where one may learn things out of turn, it is truly up to the teacher and as such there are no tiers, but rather a suggested ‘curriculum’ if you will.
Carving and the construction of the mundane parts of the golem. The body and limbs.
The runes of the golem, the way that the golem functions and how to apply the runes correctly onto the golem’s surface. Teaching protocols for future use for golemantic constructs.
Learning how to make the core, carve the runes, and install the thanhic core into a golem followed by the activation of the golem. Proper installations of a command followed by piloting said golem.
How to carve a golem limb for a descendant, lessons on various tools, limb/eye surgery, and measurements.
How to then install the small core and various runes onto the limb
The attachment of a golemantic limb/optic to a person.
Advanced Lessons - This part of golemancy needs to be taught by someone who knows it or experimented to find it.
Proper usage of a golem anvil, how it functions.
Lessons on manipulating the cores. After several IRL years of practice (2 weeks), they may begin implementing the cores into golem bodies.
Understanding the fundamentals of disruptor runes.
Learning to carve disruptor runes and craft disruptor cores
Imbuing items with disruptor cores before finally capable of crafting disruptor spike
Purpose (OOC)
This section is where you describe what purpose your lore is serving, what it is bringing to the table that other lore pieces aren’t, and why it fits into LotC’s canon.
Golemancy serves as an excellent example of the greed and desire that dwarves have for the most efficient way to achieve their goals. The feat in and of itself is incredibly useful in roleplay when applied in labour and sometimes in combat. Additionally, it adds another dimension to dwarven roleplay that allows for a darker and more mysterious way to play a dwarf.
Within Aegis’ society, the soulbound golem became a key way to handle capital punishment for the most horrific of crimes, not only ending the existence of the criminal but forcing them into indentured servitude until the soul is drained or it turns red from damage or age.
Citation Spoiler
This lore piece draws heavily from Dizzy771’s post on golemancy. Here.
Link to the LoTC Wiki on Golemancy. Here.
Link to the LoTC Wiki on Golems. Here.
Link to the LoTC Wiki on Arcaurum. Here.
Link to the LoTC Wiki on Arcaurum/Mage Gold. Here.
Link to the forum post on Arcaurum/Mage Gold. Here.
Link to the LoTC Wiki on Thanhium. Here.
Big thanks to DrHope and Kirrekith for helping with writing and ideas on several topics in the lore.
