Golems

The term "golem" is a catch-all for a class of creatures which are created by meshing technology and magic. Golems are one of the oldest examples of artificery, and examples of them date back thousands of years. Taking immense technical skill with the material used to make them as well as powerful spells used to animate them, golems are rare creations which are created by only the most powerful of wizards- or by those practicing the young art of artificery or of alchemy. Often prized by entire nations as powerful guardians and soldiers, golems are dangerous to employ as they have a tendency to break down without maintenance on their wards, thus creating a rouge golem which no longer behaves or obeys commands. Despite the danger of a poorly maintained golem, they are prized for their total loyalty, completing any command without question and needing no fuel or food to function, thus making them perfect for guard duties. The exact formulas for making a golem (for there is more than one way) are generally closely guarded secret, requiring trial and error. Although some formulas have been exposed to the public, these tend to be less powerful and secure methods, while the finest techniques remain with various artifice masters.

Most golems are created in somewhat humanoid form, often hulking and powerful due to their use as soldiers. However, technically there is no need for a golem to look humanoid at all or be used for combat, and there are a plethora of alternate designs for specified tasks. The following materials are the most common used by those who would create a golem, although technically a golem can be made from any solid material.

Metal

Metal golems are ubiquitous, with the idea of an iron golem one of the first things that springs to mind when a person thinks of them. Metal is a particularly useful material to make a golem from due to its general strength as well as the ability of the crafter to mold it in the shape the so desire. Golems made out of a Magniferium alloy, or more commonly with a Magniferic core, can also resist magic effectively, making them even more valuable. However, metal golems are quite expensive, as they at minimum the cost of a suit of armor to create the shell, not counting inner workings and mechanisms that make the golem tick, so they can be difficult to fund.

Earth

Earth golems may be made out of clay, dirt, or even manure for a particularly foul-smelling specimen. Although generally kept soft to absorb blows, they can also be rather tough if they harden under the sun or fired in a kiln. Earth golems are difficult to destroy because as long as their core remains intact, a sophisticated earth golem can continue replenishing its form with dust and debris. However, they lack the fear factor, speed, and raw killing power of a metallic golem, as well as being (unsurprisingly) dirty, giving them a place in the world but not to the extent of the metal golem. Still, earth golems are used traditionally by many artifice clans around the world, and have the added benefit of blending in with scenery better than almost any golem.

Stone

Stone golems are the second most famous type of golem after metal ones, and are often even more hulking and powerful than them. Cheap and rough, they can be made to tower over other types of golems at a relatively low cost since their craggy features need little in the way of carving or skill to make passable. Of course, a fine stone golem is a thing of beauty, and certain marble varieties have been known to cost a fortune and make a statement.

Wood

Wood golems are quite an easy golem to create, but are usually quite weak. With their cores shielded by only planks, they can be quite frail, though of course stronger than a human. Because they are often modeled after puppets, but sized up, they are generally unnerving to most people. With access to carpenter's tools (or better yet, a carpenter), wood golems are actually the easiest variety to make due to the availability of wood nearly everywhere, although costs can be high if the boards are not scrap, which is usually what is used to cut these costs.

Bone

Bone golems are a useful type of golem due to it being hard to distinguish them from skeletons until relatively nearby, and because bones are readily available to those who would consider making one. They are taboo in many places as their creation is seen as desecrating the dead, although nonhuman ones are significantly more acceptable and some have even had their dead pets turned into golems so they can remain by the owners' side (though of course pricy).

Ice

Ice golems are a useful creation in northern areas where they do not need heavy wards to prevent overheating, and more ice is readily available to patch any damage they take. Loud and frail, they are able to blend into the snow and strike quickly, making up for their fragility by ambush tactics. Their use requires a tactical mind, but since ice is literally free in the north, they can easily be manufactured and put to use.

Glass

Similar to ice golems but at a much greater cost, glass golems have the advantage of being nearly invisible when not moving, besides their core. Posing as a spare window or laying in front of a real one, they are very useful for assassination work against the wealthy, though it does not good to pose as a window in a hut that doesn't have any. In some nations, golem assassinations have been common in the past, with a stone breaking the window of something and its commissioned replacement being turned into a golem that then kills the target. Glass golems are also valuable for defense, since having your windows come alive and kill and intruder is very convenient, especially if they try to sneak in through said windows.

Hay

Hay golems are made of hay, and are consequentially very useful on farms and for farmworks. They can also be quite dangerous when instructed because they can absorb and suffocate attackers who struggle to escape from their bodies. Their ability to hide as a pile of Hay is also useful in many situations.

Vegetative

Golems made from either one very large gourd or the combination of many, vegetative refers not to their mental state but rather to the organic nature of their construction. Low quality, cheap, and disgusting, their advantage is that they are easily disposable after core removal and that they are very cheap, as they can be formed from foodstuffs.

Paper

Paper golems are almost totally worthless. I don't know what they should do, ngl.

Flesh

Frankenstien. Duh.

Fungal

Like a Vegetative golem but mushrooms. Can still be alive, which is useful.

Gem

why