Clockwork Golem
Clockwork Golems are artificial entities created by humans, from intricate clockwork machinery, encased in a humanoid shell of metal and ceramics. They possess a humanlike level of intelligence, but are not organic beings.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The process of creating a clockwork golem is expensive and complicated. The knowledge and expertise to create them is rare, but the result is well worth it. Clockworks are bespoke creations, each one being unique in appearance and capability. Clockworks are sometimes created by independent scientists, but more commonly created by institutions or companies, to fulfil a specific purpose, such as to act as servants or soldiers.
Clockworks are a fairly recent creation, meaning that all clockworks are somewhat young, despite usually being created with an adult level of intelligence.
Clockworks vary in appearance due to their artificial nature, however they usually share some common traits. Clockworks are almost entirely humanoid in shape, and are crafted from brass and steel. They are usually made with an exterior chassis, to protect the complex gears and cogs which keep them working. This shell is usually plain, but is sometimes decorated. Older clockworks, or those who have led a dangerous life, may have parts of them mis-matching, as they have had to replace parts of their chassis, or even limbs.
Most clockworks have very plain faces, with only a pair of glowing circular lenses for eyes. However, some clockworks may have stylised facial features, or a head shaped like a helmet, or something entirely inhuman.
Due to their mechanical form, Clockworks have a few advantages and disadvantages compared to living creatures. To start with, they do not need to eat, drink, or breathe to survive. However, they do need a "rest" period where they are wound back up. Their metallic form is usually slightly more resistant to damage than a living creature's body, however they do not naturally heal from wounds, and fixing them is often expensive.
Additional Information
Average Intelligence
A Clockwork’s robotic speech and movement often belies the complicated and intelligent mind within. Though it may not always be evident, Clockworks are capable of a wide range of emotions, just like any human, and have the potential to be just as empathetic and sentimental. They also have the advantage of advanced calculation capabilities, they are able to compute complex arithmetic and excel at anything that requires logic.
Nevertheless, this is complicated by the fact that they usually possess fully mature and developed minds from the moment they are created, and thus must often spend a long time learning about the world around them. Clockworks being a fairly recent creation, the oldest clockworks are still younger than most humans, and have a lot of developing left to go through.
Civilization and Culture
History
The Clockwork Golem was invented in the year 20.77, by the Erdannian scientist Wilfred Henderson. Originally the idea of a sapient machine was frightening to his peers, and he was eventually accidentally killed when an angry mob protested outside his house. However, soon other scientists and industrialists realised the benefits of a machine which could think, partially as a workforce that did not need to fed, and Clockworks began to be built across the Erdannian Empire, using the schematics which had been recovered from Henderson's lab.
A rogue Clockwork once travelled to the Three Dynasties, and shared the knowledge of how to build Clockworks, leading to the city of Vanh-Gu-Shei beginning to build clockworks.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
How clockworks are perceived depends entirely on the context. Most people see them as a marvelous pinnacle of technology, but very few people see them as being equal to humans. Some humans may even treat clockworks as if they are slaves.
The tensions between these beings are mutual. Many clockworks have grown resentful of their creators, and struck out on their own in a bid for independence.
Geographic Distribution
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