Old World Golem

The Golems created in the Old World were incredible works of arcane art and functionality. A handful of these wonderful devices made the journey across the Plague Sea in the cargo holds of humanity's armadas during the Crossing. Very few of those have survived to our time. And only a fraction of those still have full functionality. But these are hidden away in secrecy. Rumors of their existence are bandied about in certain circles, but the common folk know nothing of these lost wonders.
Around the year 147 AL, under strict secrecy, two individuals began to research ways to recreate the golem of the old world. A Loremaster, using notes from a long deceases artisan-wizard that survived the crossing, and a Geomancer with a barely functioning old world golem to use as a template. Their reports to their Berelonian sponsors indicated that they were making good progress. Their last known report indicated a breakthrough. But the laboratory they were conducting their experiments was destroyed shortly thereafter in a conflagration, leaving nothing but ash and footprints behind. It was clear to Berelond that this was an act of sabotage perpetrated by another Duchy, but which one was never discovered. The population of Berelond has had a dislike of Pyromancers ever since.
In 317 AL the Geomancers Guild announced the creation of a new class of golem they called an automaton. The automaton is more flexible in function and loadout, but severely limited when compared to the capabilities of the old world golems. These geomancer made constructs can be found throughout the realms of man in limited quantities. The Guild claims that the time and materials needed to complete even one automaton makes them an exceedingly rare creation.

Manufacturing

Intricate rituals, enchantments, and alchemical reactions were required to craft an old world golem.
Surviving records indicate that the process would take a skilled artisan wizard upwards of two weeks to complete the rituals to imbue the construct with "life."  Longer still for special abilities or powers.

Social Impact

Tales from the Old World that survived the Crossing record details that imply golems were common and used for many manual tasks, and some unique specialized tasks. This would have improved the lives of all the citizens of the Old World. Unfortunately those halcyon days are long gone, and we may never see their return.

Statue Terracotta by darrenquigley32

Inventor(s)

The identity of the first wizard to construct a golem is lost to the darkness that devoured the Old World.  No mention of this individual was recorded in the tomes that made it through the Crossing.

Related Species

• Human