Golemsmithing

Golems are incredibly valuable to dwarvenkind. However, due to their cost of upkeep and size, many settlements and smaller city states aren’t able to dedicate enough dwarfhours, supplies or gold to keep them in at an acceptable level of honour and repair.

The Inner Workings of the Golem

  Standing at more than three times the height of a regular dwarf, these constructs strike awe into those lucky enough to dwell alongside them. Numerous segments of geometric blocks make up a loosely humanoid form. The ‘head’ of the golem is often carved with two deep boreholes to imply a set of eyes.   Runes cover every inch of surface of each individual segment. Once the construct is animated, the runes come to life with an ebbing, colourful glow. It is believed that they facilitate a bond between the masterful stonework and the spirits of ancient craftsdwarfs beckoned from beyond. Once a bond is established, it cannot be unbonded and cannot be reanimated if lost. Each golem seems to have a unique combination of personalities that flow through it and show themselves through action. It is theorised by guild and scholar alike that the strongest willed of the dead are the only ones able to linger in the afterlife with a strong enough presence to be able to return in this way. Upon the creation of a new golems, appropriate time must be taken to allow the construct to learn to move and manipulate its constituent components.

The Importance of the Golem

  The form of the sections of the construct usually assist with the function attained when animated. Stockier constructs tend to be drawn to strength based tasks such as construction, tunnel clearance or other defensive measures. Slender constructs are usually drawn to repair works or artisanal crafts. Other forms such as quadruped, arachnida and spherical haven’t yet yielded results but aren’t yet ruled out. If enough attempts are made, it’s possible that these forms and many more might prove to have unique uses.

The Dishonourable Horror of the Wargolem

  Records tell of events long past at the first utilisation of golems in combat. It is not fully known what happens to the spirits in the event that a golem is destroyed. All that is known is that at the breaking point of disrepair or if critical damage is sustained, the golems let out a horrific death knell of screams and a sputtering of blinding lights. Attempts to repair or repurpose the golem after this point show no life can be imparted to the creation.   A direct result of this realisation is that efforts to maintain the construct are essential and eternal. Many existing golems have been active for centuries.

Life Extension

  Great effort is undertaken to prolong the condition of the stonework and runes. Regular checks are carried out and imperfection, no matter how slight is recorded. Thick, ornate armour is often created to house the golems form. Individual segments are covered in a cloth material and braced with stag leather belts. Mounting clips are weaved onto the belt and secure the armoured sections in place. As each golem’s size varied depending on intended use, each armour piece must be custom made for each segment of each golem.   The runes covering the golems bodies are frequently re-inked by specialised runesmiths to rejuvenate the ancestral ash and keep their connection to the spirits strong.

The Golemsmith

  The creators and caretakers of these constructs are held in high esteem amongst their kin. They are seen as conduits between the world of the living and the great dwarves that have been tragically lost to time. They are masters of stonework and runesmithing in their own right and usually have been high ranking members of one or both of the Stonesmithing or Runecrafting guilds. Golemsmithing is one of the very few crafts that tends to be passed down a family line kin to kin. It is also believed that the connection to the spiritual realm is one that flows through a bloodline, which enables a higher success rate in communion, more powerful imbuements and an almost instinctual sense of danger on behalf of their creations.   Sizable portions of the various Golemsmithing guilds are tasked with research which varies depending on the quantity of resources available to them and the requirements of their host cities.      

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