Golem

It won't die!

Golems are given their sentience by an animating force called Anima. An Anima is an artificial soul and can be resurrected or imprisoned like any other soul might. The Anima of a golem is created during the awakening process of the golem, where the creator of the construct uses the golem's physical body as a catalyst to capture and stockpile magical energy until it combines into the Anima for the construct in question. The golem's Anima is bound to the soul of their creator, and other than extenuating circumstances, this bond can only be broken through the death of one or the other. This bond is used in the final step of the awakening process as the mechanism for the creator to imprint the purposes and ideals they wish for their creation to have.

The artificial nature of a golem's Anima gives them a unique and juxtapositional psychology. While onlookers commonly describe golems as being slow to learn or adapt, these constructs often excel at the purpose for which they were created. Even though golems marvel at the novelty of the world with the innocence of a child, they are often imbued with certain preconceptions or beliefs during their creation.

Their static state of being is most easily seen when conversing with older golems. They often speak anachronistically -- a telltale sign of their slowness to adapt to the world around them and their inability to change in haste; Older golems frequently carry old or outdated values, and are regularly jaded from prior experiences. While this can be overcome through persistent effort on the golem's part, it is much more common that reason for their increased adaptive affinity is a result of a more powerful mage conducting their awakening.

While golems are almost always created for a singular purpose or activity, not all golems have a goal or objective. Some creators, perhaps in the hope of a more personable and companionable construct may not provide their golems a strict goal. More often than not, however, a golem without a goal is due to the death of their creator breaking the bond between them and their creator's soul, thusly releasing the golem from their programmed purpose. Golems without a goal are noted to be quicker learners and faster adapters, in place of a single-minded focus on a particular goal.

It's... talking?

The contrast between the emotional Anima and the emotionless physical form that contains it gives rise to numerous idiosyncrasies and challenges for the majority of golems. Even though the golem's Anima strives to convey emotions, the synthetic structure of the golem encounters difficulties in channeling them, akin to an individual trying to play a piano that is out of tune.

The emotive capacities of the Anima are typically perceived as an incidental outcome of the awakening process. Creators often overlook and dismiss their golems' emotions, hoping the golems will simply ignore these emotions along with the associated challenges. Consequently, many golems remain "underdeveloped," a trait particularly conspicuous in purposeless golems that have been severed from their creators. Although these golems may have previously suppressed their emotions while dedicated to their creators' service, they all come to realize the vital importance of these once-dismissed emotions in their existence.

As golems learn to harness and control their emotions, they begin to realize how different they are from their biological counterparts. While natural living beings will have their emotions nurtured by a family and community of similar beings, golems are just too rare for something similar to be possible; One golem is rare enough, and the amount necessary to form a family, nevertheless a community, is unheard of. Thusly, golems must learn to navigate the challenges of a life with emotion by themselves, and these often cause them to develop several quirks that give an odd nature to their behavior.

As golems master the art of harnessing and managing their emotions, they gradually grasp the stark contrast that sets them apart from their biological counterparts. Unlike natural living beings, whose emotions are nurtured within the embrace of a familial and communal network of similar entities, golems face the challenge of extreme rarity, rendering the formation of a family, let alone a community, a virtually unattainable concept. As a result, golems find themselves navigating the intricacies of an emotional existence in solitude, which often leads them to develop a variety of quirks that impart an unusual nature to their behavior.

Golem names

In the realm of the golems, names serve as both legacy and identity, woven into the very core of their existence. Each golem may bear a name bequeathed upon them by their creator, a label that encapsulates purpose, sentiment, or aspiration. These names often honor figures of admiration, cherished ideals, or embody the creator's deepest affections.

Yet, the passage of time can paint new strokes upon the canvas of identity. As golems embark on their journeys, forging bonds and collecting experiences, they might embrace a new name, shedding the old like armor worn in a past life. This rebirth of nomenclature signifies growth, transformation, and the profound essence of their adventuring spirit.

Function and form intertwine harmoniously, echoing the very essence of these enchanted beings. Golems, like artisans refining their craft, often assume names that mirror their roles and abilities. Much like the strokes of a masterful painting, these names delineate the intricate tapestry of purpose and destiny woven into their being.

Functional names: Sentry, Guard, Soldier, Smith, Protector, Viceroy, Servant, Shield, Hammer, Jailor, Butler, Builder, Bastion, Juggernaut, Scribe, Aegis.

Golem traits

Golems have a number of unique traits due to their artificial nature.

Ability score increase. Your Constitution ability score increases by 2, and your Strength ability score increases by 1.

Alignment. Golems tend towards neutrality and lawfulness, preferring a structured and logical view of the world around them; However, golems may either be imprinted with a certain alignment during their awakening, or they may simply be influenced by their creator throughout their life.

Age. Golems do not age; They transcend the grasp of time, untouched by age's currents. Their magical vitality defies decay, granting an enduring existence. Unlike mortals, they resist death's cycle. Enduring through years, spanning short or eternal, only overwhelming damage can still them.

Size. Golems come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and forms, but typically range between 3 to 8 feet in height. You may choose either Medium or Small to be your size when you create your character.

Speed. Your walking speed is 20 feet. Your density slows you down significantly.