AAF-Class Golem

## Information

AAF-Class Golems were the first type of Golem that Lord Darkring created. They have gone through many iterations, the most recent of which being (DS1) AAF-45, or (DS3) AAF-70.

## Construction

AAF-Class Golems usually don't have any true machinery inside of them, but are rather a large collection of metal plates fused together and animated by magic, similar to animated suits of armor. While earlier variants of golem required a pilot inside, since the AAF-30 they have become fully autonomous.

The maximum speed of the golems varies but is usually around 3-4 mph (5-6 kph), and they often weigh somewhere between 1,500-2,000 lbs (700-900 kg). They're almost completely hollow, save for a few pulleys and beams that keep the structure together.

The plating of an AAF-Class Golem's armor ranges in thickness between 1/3 inch and 9/10 inch. They're assembled magically in factory-like warehouses throughout Lordran, although most of the assembly is actually outside of Lordran. The metal used to create them is shipped in from mining cities and colonies all across the known continent.

The Greatswords on the AAF-Class Golem's back (abandoned by the AAF-35 and upward) are actually the heaviest parts of the Golem, being made from solid steel 11 feet tall, 3 feet wide, and 9 inches thick. Each weighs in at a total of nearly 11,000 lbs (5,000 kg), having an estimated strength requirement of 95 for humans using both hands. The greatswords, while extremely powerful, were slow enough and resource-consuming enough that they were eventually abandoned- particularly when the golems themselves were having difficulty using them effectively. They were only used in emergencies.

Finally, the main attack form of the golems was integrated into their forearms. An AAF golem could bend its arm at a 90-degree angle, the lower section of the forearm plating would then fold back and a circular rack of sorcery catalysts would lower out. The circular rack could spin and launch soul arrows at a high rate (3 per second). While the catalysts were easily destructible, getting within range of an AAF-Golem's fist was usually considered undesirable.

## Versions

(AAF-5 through AAF-20 are actually of the M-Series. Look to that page for details)

AAF-25: A bulky, hunched-over humanoid with arms (unlike the M-Class Golems). Each arm had a rotary rack of catalysts that folded out of the bottom of their forearms that could fire Soul Arrows in rapid succession.

AAF-30: The golems became fully autonomous, removing the pilot. These still fired only Soul Arrows and were much lighter than the M-25. They were near-identical to the M-20 except for the lack of a pilot and slightly more durable armor, plus another catalyst on the rack.

AAF-35: These removed the Greatswords on the back and could fire up to 2 soul arrows per second. The Simple gem became a sophisticated generator made entirely out of Simple Gem, causing them to generate FP at a far greater rate. These ones also had simplistic speaking AI to answer basic questions.

AAF-40: The speaking AI was removed and the barrel held 7 catalysts now, now firing Great Soul Arrows. Their armor was replaced by a more durable material that was more resistant to the elements. These ones could climb over difficult terrain and were the first to be powered by both Magic and physical components.

AAF-43: Codenamed “Rex”, the AAF-43 took on a very different model similar in concept to the M-10 or M-5. It lacked the arms of a usual Golem, but was massive and durable. It had a large cannon on one shoulder and a laser beam emitter on the other. It could also launch anti-demon missiles and had a few smaller, soul-spear-launching turrets as well. The idea initially was turned down by Darkring, but when his agents took an odd interest in it, he hastily built the first and only AAF-43.

AAF-45: Returning to the regular formula of AAF golems, this one was nearly identical to the AAF-40, but with thicker armor and a faster firing rate.

## Specialized Variants

AAF-M2: The M2 was a project developed to further Lord Darkring's plans of taking over Lordran more quickly. Unfortunately, the Abyss Lords attacked shortly afterward and trashed most of the M2's despite their superior nature to the standard AAF golems, so the project was mostly abandoned. However, we see a pair of AAF-M2 Golems in the DS3 timeline, implying they were taken back up at a later date.

AAF Flamer Unit: A variant of the AAF-M2 Golem that was equipped with pyromancy flames on both hands, which would fire out jets of flame like a far more powerful Fire Surge. Their armor was tinted red and had high fire resistance.

"Weed Killer" Unit: While it varied what exactly was in this unit, this was a highly specialized group of golems created to battle the Abyss Lord Ceilador. The AAF-WeedKillers had firebomb racks built into their shoulder plates, which they could launch at their opponent in a spread pattern.