Golems

## Origin

The oldest stories of Golems date back to early Judaism. They are creatures formed from inanimate, unliving matter, such as stone and clay.

## History

There are two primary kinds of Golems. The first are the standard utility Golems. These creatures have no true will of their own. They are not sentient, and live to do the bidding of their Master. The second sort are rarer. These individuals do possess the ability to think, and are sentient. They also possess a soul of their own. The process of making this kind of Golem has been lost to time, but it is known that by some means, a soul was inserted into the Golem, thus giving it life.

Utility Golems are still prevalent today, mostly in use by Mages. They are used for simple labor and smaller tasks. Cleaning, transport, etc. They are far too simple for complicated tasks such as research, and they certainly cannot create anything.

## Appearance

Golems stand out quite obviously from other species. Their appearance is different depending on the material that they have been crafted from. They can be made from pretty much any solid material. Bundles of straw, stone, clay, wood, and even paper. The material does tend to indicate the durability of the Golem. Utility Golems tend to range in height depending on their use as well. The smallest can be as small as 6 inches tall, intended for more delicate tasks, things as simple as keeping a table or desk tidy. The tallest ones can reach 60 feet tall, massive walking fortresses of war. These larger individuals tend to be of the rarer sentient kind, and hide themselves, preferring not to draw attention.

## Abilities

For the most part, Utility Golems don't have many combat abilities. Stronger materials are more durable, even more so than Humans, and they have been known to be hollowed out and used as containers to transport things, as they do not require, nor have, internal organs. The main strength of larger Golems lays in their superior strength and durability.

Older, Sentient Golems seem to lack the ability to speak, as do their Utility Golem brethren. This may be due to the art of Golemancy (magic used to create Golems) being in its infancy when they were created. They can, however, still communicate. The way in which they do this is rather interesting and strange. It can be seen as a sort of pseudo-telepathy, in which they project feelings and emotions into the mind of another individual, and the combination of these feelings and emotions creates thoughts, words, and images. It is a surprisingly complex system, that has yet to be fully explored.

## Weaknesses

Utility Golems cannot speak. This is a flaw that has yet to be rectified. Many possible solutions have come about, but none have truly been all that satisfactory. The minds of Utility Golems are just not developed enough to learn how to speak.

Older, Sentient Golems seem to lack the ability as well. This may be due to the art of Golemancy (magic used to create Golems) being in its infancy when they were created. They can, however, still communicate. The way in which they do this is rather interesting and strange. It can be seen as a sort of pseudo-telepathy, in which they project feelings and emotions into the mind of another individual, and the combination of these feelings and emotions creates thoughts, words, and images. It is a surprisingly complex system, that has yet to be fully explored.

## Diet

Golems do not need to eat. Golems are maintained by an internal Mana Battery, which, for Sentient Golems, is fueled by their own soul. Even for Utility Golems, who do not possess a soul, the battery lasts quite a substantial amount of time, meaning that their Master does not need to worry too much about them dying before they can be put to good use.

## Life and Death

### Lifespan/Lifestyle

Utility Golems, depending on the quality of their make, can be designed to live from anywhere from a week, to several years. Those more adept at magic can increase the lifespan as they wish.

Sentient Golems are known to be able to live for centuries, and some are said to be older than the mountains.

### Reproduction

Golems cannot reproduce. They are created. Not much more to say on that.

### Death

Golems can be rather tricky to destroy, and yet quite simple at the same time. Simply destroying, or in some cases, even just damaging, their Mana Battery is enough to kill them. The tricky part, however, is doing such a thing. The Mana Battery is often placed in the most protected part of the construct. Also, it is not always clear as to where the Battery is placed. Destroying the head of a Golem will not necessarily kill it.

There is no known concept of an Afterlife for Golems. Perhaps for the souls that rest within Sentient Golems, but that all depends upon the origin of the soul.

## Ranks

Rank E - Tender - The smallest of Golems, these individuals range from 6 inches, to 3 feet tall, and possess no combat skills. They are, as far as Golems go, rather fragile as well. This rank generally pertains to just Utility Golems, but a couple of E rank Sentients are known to exist.

Rank C - Worker - Larger than Tenders, randing from 4 to 6 feet tall, are the Workers. These Golems are designed for simple labor, and possess considerable strength, as well as being made of strong material. They are not, however, fast.

Rank B - Sentry - The simplest kind of combat variant, these individuals range from 5 to 8 feet tall. They are designed to be a bit more mobile than the lower ranks, have better senses, and are always made out of a tough material. They possess considerable strength as well. They are, however, rather predictable, only having basic combat skills.

Rank A - Juggernaut - A powerful combat variant, these individuals tend to be about 15 feet tall. They are hulking, powerful tanks, capable of great destruction. As with most of their race, however, they tend to lack in mobility. They make up for this, however, in being able to take astounding amounts of punishment.

Rank S - Colossus - Extremely rare, and taking as many as 100 Mages to construct, these individuals are an awesome sight. They can range from 40 to 60 feet tall, and are extremely rare. The earth shakes with every step they take.

Ranks

Rank E - Helper - The smallest class of Golems, these individuals are designed for general household chores. They have no combat abilities, but are surprisingly rather tough. They tend to be around 3 feet tall.

Rank C - Worker - These Golems are designed for general labor. They are stronger and tougher than Humans, but do not have any real weaponry. They can fight, but in terms of overall effectiveness, they are rather lacking. From 4 to 6 feet tall.

Rank B - Sentry - Golems designed for combat, these individuals are tougher than Human soldiers, as well as stronger and tougher. New World ones often have basic weapons. Tend to be from 6 to 9 feet tall.

Rank A - Warbot - Powerful war machines, they are large, tough, and powerful. Often boasting powerful weapons and bodies, these individuals can smash through entire buildings with relative ease. Tend to be from 10 to 14 feet tall.

Rank S - Titan - The largest and most powerful of Golems. They stand from 15 to 20 feet tall, and are powerful weapons of war, boasting endurance, power, and a frightening presence on the battlefield.