Rock Golems

No-one is quite sure where rock golems originate from. Perhaps they were carefully crafted by a cunning witch many years ago, or maybe they somehow slipped through a portal from a peculiar place such as The Strange. Unfortunately, there are only a few of them who can be found rambling across the Rannoc Ranges today, and if you were to ask one where they came from you'd likely be given a general direction to their current lodging. The method and magic used to make a golem of any kind is no longer a mystery, with a particular faction within the Academy of Arcane Arts dedicating their studies to the topic. However, there is much about the Rannoc rock golems that remain a secret to most witches.

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Despite their sometimes imposing appearance and natural strength, rock golems are rather placid. One witch, known simply as Lucali, spent a number of years amongst a small community of golems and his writings help shed light on the habits and personalities of these magical constructs. The observations Lucali made have proved that they are far more than mere constructs made to obey simple commands.

Appearance

Rannoc rock golems have an average height of around 7ft, but can range from a towering height of 15ft to a mere 5ft.
Most golems reflect the nature of the area they were born from, and the same is true for the more recent iterations of Rannoc rock golems. The older golems however, are made of earthy materials that look remarkably similar to the rocks of the Rannoc Ranges, yet they contain enough differences within them to suggest they are from elsewhere. Lucali suggests that if someone could successfully identify these materials they would be able to trace their origin, but as of yet none have been able to do so.

One of the major differences that sets these golems apart from other constructs is that they have access to a measure of magical power. This measure happens to be the exact amount needed to create a golem, enabling them to form their own "children" and family units. This power can also be employed to repair other golems, yet cannot be used on themselves, reinforcing a sense of community. Despite this, Rannoc rock golems tend to wander alone, which can have unfortunate consequences if they require fixing and are miles from their golem clan. There is little than can do major harm to a rock golem, but a fall from a height or being caught in an avalanche would surely do some considerable damage.

by Luke Ellis-Craven

Dwellings

Rock golems commonly reside in rocky valleys and cave systems, often hidden in plain sight as they can appear like any normal boulder when they are hunkered down to sleep. Without needing to concern themselves with shelter from the elements, they are content to live out under the open sky throughout all seasons. In particularly fierce winters, they might withdraw into a cave or huddle in tight packs to prevent ice creeping into their joints. It is during these months it is more important for golems to stick together so they might repair one another in the event of ice damage. It is also at this time an unwary golem is more susceptible to getting caught up in avalanche which could be a result of their own large bulk if they are not careful.

by Flo P

Methods of Communication

Tall stacks of carefully balanced rocks can be found dotted around the Ranges, which Lucali identifies as markers left by the rock golems. Lucali suspects there is a message communicated through these structures which only a rock golem can understand, perhaps giving roaming golems directions or warnings. Without vocal chords, rock golems use stones and pebbles to converse with one another through particular structures or patterns scattered on the ground. Lucali has even witnessed the golems use an array of random items including sticks and stones to create their very own kind of music. He wrote how, after growing accustomed to what had first sounded like chaotic noise, he was able to discern different tunes and was surprised at the level of complexity in the rhythms they played. What was more surprising was when he discovered that not only was this music the golems were playing, but also a method of storytelling. Unfortunately, Lucali has had little success (so far) in attempting to learn the abstract language of the golems.