Golems

Golems are artificial constructs sometimes created by mages. They are usually constructed from metal or stone, and given life by being bound with a Spirit, or a Soul.

#### Overview

Golems are always artificially created, and do not occur naturally in the world. A Golem's intelligence varies from barely sapient, to incredibly eloquent. Being bound to a material form allows the spirit to gain a level of sentience that is rarely seen in incorporeal spirits. Additionally, since it is now bound to the mage who created it, instead of to the Divine Realm, it lacks the purpose of a spirit, and instead follows orders given to it by its creator.

Golems are not very common, since they are expensive to create and maintain, and require a lot of magical knowledge. The art of creating golems and maintaining is called "Golemancy", and it is an incredibly exclusive skillset. Golems will usually be held together by a single, complicated rune, located somewhere on their body. If this rune is damaged, the golem may fall apart.

Golems must be regularly fuelled with magical energy through rituals in order to continue functioning. If they are low on this, they may go dormant. While dormant, a golem can hold onto that magical energy for an incredibly long time, keeping it in reserve in case they need to awaken again. A Golem can remain partially aware of its surroundings while dormant, allowing it to wake up to defend itself.

### Golem Types

#### Divine Golems

Most golems are neutral, but since they are spiritual by nature, some may be connected to the Light or Darkness. It is possible to influence the spirit within a golem, changing it into a light or dark spirit. Such entities may have access magic, and the transformation is usually obvious, as they will often start to glow with light or dark energy.

#### Soulbound Golems

A distinctly frowned-upon method of creating Golems is by binding human Souls to an artificial body. This gives the golem a human-like level of intelligence, but also a human-like level of independence. If the soul was unwillingly bound, they may turn on their creator. This is also considered to be Necromancy, and as such, is forbidden in most societies.

#### Clockworks

Clockwork Golems are an entirely different entity, and are in actual fact, not really golems at all. Unlike actual Golems, Clockworks do not need constant maintenance to continue functioning, are actual intelligent beings rather than bound spirits, and are created and held together using machinery, instead of magic.

### Golems in Coryphiel

#### Ancient Izirian Constructs

The first recorded people to create and use golems were ancient Izirians. In particular, the people of ancient Ocathia. Their techniques and teachings spread across Izir, becoming commonly used in places such as Izero, Qabbalah, and Byzarat. The golems were made from stone, and were commonly used for manual labour, since they could lift so much more than regular people. Later they were adapted to be used as warriors, and defenders of the major cities. Some of these constructs were imbued with so much magical energy that they could still awaken from dormancy today.

#### The Rune Kingdom

Late during the time of the Rune Kingdom, they discovered a way to create Golems. These golems were primitive, and mostly only used for manual labour. The Rune Kingdom began the tradition of creating golems from suits of armour. During the decline of the Rune Kingdom, during the reign of Zaikerik the Betrayer, a group of necromancers discovered how to bind a human soul to an artificial body, creating the first Soulbound Golems.

#### Golems of Old Haven

The Archmages of Haven, re-discovered the Rune Kingdom's golemancy techniques after the fall of that kingdom, and began to improve upon it. After they mastered the technique, it became commonplace for mages to have Golem servants and bodyguards. This cultural tradition developed among the aristocracy, resulting in the tradition of the Golem Knights, in which every noble family owns at least one golem warrior which they maintain, and which is levied by the archmages when the nation goes to war.

#### The Blackflame Knights

Raven Blackflame was a dark mage, alchemist, golemancer, and aristocrat of Haven. She created many golem servants, most notably Edgar, who was a dark corruption of the golem Charles, who was a family heirloom. She also created the Blackflame Knights to protect her castle of Ravensroost.

#### The Black Legion

Many years after the death of Zaikerik the Betrayer, he still influenced the mortal realm from beyond the grave. As part of this, he instructed his cultists to create Soulbound golems, like the ones which had been proto-typed during his lifetime. The powerful golems were called the Black Legion, powerful soldiers loyal only to Zaikerik.

#### The Sea Thralls

Inspired by the Black Legion, a Calamaran golemancer named Omerric began creating his own soulbound constructs, empowering them with both Water magic and Death magic, and encasing them in master-crafted Conquestor armour. These "Sea Thralls" as they came to be known, were extensively used by Sebastien Canarro. After Omerric's death, nobody else could create the thralls, and their ranks started to deplete.