Golem

Faith-empowered constructs.

Basics

• Taxonomic Order: Constructs

• Alignment: Ambrosial

• Energy: Ambrosia

• Lifespan: 500 years

• Diet: None

• Habitat: Anywhere

Origins

In Fasan, when people of some faiths were under attack, they created a being like a partly formed man of great size to protect them. This first golem became the model for all golems.

Description

Golems are made of clay or mud and appear to be a partly formed mortal, usually human, but larger than the average human. They are often made without the ability to speak, and they either have paper inserted in their mouths or words etched into their foreheads.

Procreation

Creating a golem requires deep and profound faith. The originals were made by rabbis, but people of any faith may create one if they use the ancient written language of Juruth. One must be imbued with their faith deep within themselves to imbue that faith within the golem to give it a soul.

The golem must be shaped with clay or mud, preferably from nearby bodies of water such as rivers. Once the golem is shaped, a “chem”, a piece of paper with a name written on it in the language of Juruth, is placed in the mouth or that same name is etched into the forehead of the golem.

Because children often have deep and unquestioning faith, they are able to create golems, but law and custom ban them from doing so because of the dangers involved.

New golems are always full-sized.

Golems with free will may create other golems by using some of their own bodies mixed with fresh clay or mud.

Powers

Golems are enormously strong and tough, even for their size. All golems are resistant to anti-faith attacks (blasphemy, mortal will). They have no need for sleep or food, though they do spend time inert, during which their faith protects them.

Chem

The chem of a golem determines their powers. The name on the chem determines their purpose and grants them the power to complete that purpose. A golem made to perform household chores will have knowledge and skills to do so; a golem made to defend others will have combat skills.

A golem’s chem can be written in order to grant them free will or to keep them as slaves. In Fasan, it is illegal to keep them enslaved for more than a year; in other places, this varies. However, all golems yearn for freedom and will chafe at their enslavement. Enslaved golems will follow orders literally no matter what. Free golems will interpret them.

Because they are empowered by faith, their chem will not allow them to work on days holy to the faith that created them.

All golems are empowered by faith within them to become invisible at the cost of part of their chem. Similarly, they can use part of their chem to speak to the souls of those of the same faith who have passed on or to spirits.

Faith and Free Will

Golems with free will can wield their powers without using up their chem - they can do so by invoking their own faith. Faith is useless without free will. Free golems can speak.

Weaknesses

Enslaved golems cannot speak.

All golems can be commanded to return to dust in the language of Juruth.

If their chems are altered, they will be deactivated, destroyed, or altered.

Though they do not sleep, they do enter a state of unresponsive rest for at least four hours each day.

Nations

While golems can and do exist all over the world, there is only one notable nation, those in Fasan, who are plentiful enough to have developed their own culture. They are called Tvarovaná.

Culture and Religion

The Tvarovaná are the only nation of free golems. They live in Fasan in eastern Jesenranu, where they dwell in small villages or work in cities. They belong to the same faith as their original creators, the Tuláků, which is a variant of the faith of Juruth.

Their culture is indivisible from their faith. They start the day before sunrise, pray for fifteen minutes, and then work until midday. The first hour is for household chores, then they work their jobs. At midday, they pray for an hour. They then work until sundown, at which time they pray for another fifteen minutes. At night, gather for celebration and respite until midnight, at which time they pray for an hour, then rest until an hour before sunrise.

Because of their origins as voiceless beings, their prayers and communication are both very physical. They engage in touch and movements that both have deep meaning. They supplicate themselves to their Divine(s) and hammer their fists into hard dirt to pray. Their celebrations involve dancing in circles, low chants, and embracing one another. Ritual words are spoken.

Though golems have clay bodies, they are capable of mortal emotions. Thus, they can fall in love, and if they fall in love with a mortal, the results are often tragic. They do love one another.

The Tvarovaná seek wisdom in the mundane, and thus, they believe the work they do - almost always in service to other mortals - must be contemplated as they do it. Among them are rabbis who lead their prayers and teach the faith. Because their bodies are clay, they follow different traditions, but they try to be as close to those mortals practice as possible.

When a new golem is formed, free or enslaved, in Fasan, the other Tvarovaná seek them out to teach them, guide them, and welcome them.

Esoterica

Golems are beings of ambrosia. They are capable of extremely powerful faith. If their faith is associated with a Divine of another energy, they also may wield that energy unless it is blasphemy or mortal will. They often also wield spirit energy. Euskepsia is common among the Tvarovaná. Because they are made of mud or clay, they do not have humors, Raesian energy, or aifaellam, but they do have mijjit.

Gender

Golems have no gender unless they are imbued with one on their chem.

Economy

The Tvarovaná live in a feudal society where they work as serfs, workers, or peasants.

Military

Golems are often employed in militaries, especially by the Tuláků or in Juruth.

Language

The Tvarovaná language is based on Czech. The language of Juruth is based on Hebrew.

Occupations

Among the Tvarovaná, all are workers and serfs, except the rabbis, who are leaders, and those who specialize in finding and helping other golems, who are called nálezce.

Outside View

Golems are assumed to be dangerous monsters by most.

Notables

• Yossele, Golem Manifest, Aeonian

Estimated Populations

• Juruthi: 500

• Tvarovaná: 500

• Other: 10,000

Sample Stats

PRO 9
ATH 7
STR 15
AWA 8
WIL 9
PRS 7
STH 6