Golem

Golems are four-limbed bipeds modeled after their dwarven, human, or kíndallan creators. Though their features may be exaggerated—taller, more elongated heads, for example—they could almost pass as a member of their creator’s species, if not for their muddy or rocky skin.

Golems are just as capable of creating golems as any other species, and do so in the same fashion. First, a body is sculpted—sometimes by one parent, sometimes two, and sometimes even more than that. Then the name of their patron deity is decided upon. Finally, in a solemn and austere ceremony befitting these children of stone and earth, the god or goddess’s name is scratched into the bottom of the tongue and an incantation is spoken to awaken the new being.

Because the incantation must be spoken aloud, and because golems tongues are so delicate, the species rarely conceives more than one child per individual.

Golems are born fully formed, though some have been known graft additional material onto their bodies—or even to cut parts away—in an effort to make more pleasing shapes for themselves.

Golems do not eat. To begin with: their tongues are delicate. Secondly: they have no stomachs—no digestive systems at all, in fact. And third, they have no holes in them with which to eliminate waste.

Though theoretically immortal, golems are strongly affected by time and seasonal changes. Because they are made of stone and earth, they are subject to erosion. And because they live only as long as the name under their tongue does not wear away, they must take extra care to protect their mouths and everything inside.

Golems are not especially intelligent—at least not to begin with. The incantation which brings them to life was originally intended to create obedient manual laborers, after all. Because of this, many golems move through their lives with naught but one or two simple instructions in their heads. But in the modern day, golem creators have taken to giving their creations more open-ended and abstract commands—things such as, “Go forth and learn all that you can about the world” or “Leave every place you travel happier than you found it” or the simple (but profoundly difficult) order to “Do whatever makes you happy.” And this has led to the proliferation of far more worldly and wise people of stone.