Writing Worlds with Words

Creatures of Ithia: Golems

Golems are constructs animated by arcane or divine magic. Generally made of inorganic material golems are useful but unintelligent servants of those gifted in magic and crafting. Some Golems are powered by clockwork or gnomish inventions. 

The Alchemical Golem are simple golems made of glass and clay animated to provide aid to alchemists. Animated jars, vials, and other receptacles they can bring out the ingredients they need with a word if their hands are full. Alchemist Golems are generally small but can be made around larger alchemical tools to allow easier movement of gear. 

Wax Golems are small to medium golems made of wax, generally used exclusively in colder regions they’re sometimes used as animate candles or servants for simple household tasks. Often decorated with bronze additions. 

Knitters Golem are made of cloth, bits of iron, needles, and various bits and bobs. Knitter Golems are more durable than wax golems while still being easy to repair and maintain. These golems provide various household tasks and are capable of being larger than wax golems without collapsing under their own weight. 

Swamp Golems are strange golems made by tribal ingenuity which requires a lot of work but being made of moss, seaweed, mud, and driftwood the resources for creating them are relatively cheap but require a large amount of physical and arcane labor to manifest animation.  

Tomb Guards are golems made of stone, often statues or part of the actual coffin lids these golems are meant to defend tombs and chase off grave robbers and defilers. They also prevent undead infestations in tombs. 

Marble Golems are usually beautiful, animated statues meant for the defense of palaces. Hidden security for the royal and noble houses. Marble Golems are the last golem made of solid material which makes them significantly durable even compared to metal golems. 

Bronze Golems are large, hulking, masses of hollow bronze appearing to be oversized suits of armor the inside and outside of which is inscribed in runes and blood. Often found in abandoned palaces of once wealth and in the possession of ancient families. They mix art with functionality. 

Gnomework Golems are human-sized golems that require no magic merely the ingenuity of the Gnomes. Cogs, fly wheels, and hydraulics are visible beneath its armored exterior as well as the metal reflection of bones. They are the most agile of the metal golems and move with speed where most golems lumber. 

Magis Golems are golems of human size made with clockwork, mixed with magic, and made of bronze, copper, and steel. A visible furnace burns in their chest and visors which they can sheathe their form in for short periods of time. 

Iron Golems are large, lumber, and brutish monstrosities of war. Walking siege weapons made of hollow iron filled with magic or holy fire, an iron tablet is placed in their head with holy words and commandments. Each piece of the Golem is inscribed in runes and a stone of compacted Furian fire sits on their chest powering the fire that drives them forward. Their bodies radiate heat and every hit crushes and scalds in equal measure. While destruction of the hearth stone will kill an Iron Golem it also causes a spectacular explosion that can level small villages. 

Steel Golems are smaller, lighter, and more coordinated than iron golems. These modern weapons of war are stronger, faster, and more durable than their iron predecessors. They have no need of a hearth stone to power them but to animate them requires a heart shaped from gold and covered in runes and holy words. Steel Golems require more skill to craft as the magic will not animate poorly crafted shells. Unlike most golems the heart can be salvaged in placed in another shell such as a masterwork suit of armor. Only the destruction of the heart can truly kill these terrifying golems. 

Mythvalt Golems are small, agile, and flexible golems used by mages as enforcers. They aren’t as durable or powerful as Iron or Steel golems but are still powerful protectors. Resistant to magic, able to gain some degree of intellect, and able to contort and manipulate their bodies far more than any other metal or stone golem. 

Septrinian Terror Golems are massive weapons of war designed after the Terror Beast native to Axandria and Talis’Vrok these hulking fire breathing masses of bronze spread terror and ruin in equal measure though few exist. Some say they can face off against dragons on almost equal ground. 

Septrinian Guardian Goelms are human sized winged golems made of Slyphstone and Gold. Highly decorated and their Slyphstone parts invulnerable to damage they make terrifying adversaries. Exclusively found around old Septrinian palaces and noble estates. They can fly short distances. 

Septrinian Hunter Golems are golden head with long slyphstone tentacles ending in golden spikes. These creatures levitate through the darkness of Septrinian sunken cities pursuing trespassers and attacking with their long-bladed tentacles. They grapple, slash, stab, and shread their foes with their tentacles being indestructible only attacks to their head can hope to destroy these deadly golems. 

Slyphstone Golems are made entirely of floating, carved, pieces of slyphstone. Beautiful, handcrafted masterworks these golems are virtually indestructible and defend the Palace of Sekivar in Talis’Vrok allowing no mortal creature to enter the once royal palace. Their floating parts are held together by a golden energy which halos the golem as a whole. 

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