Chapter 27 - Golem

----Characteristics----

[Presence]: 11

Golems are giant creatures made mostly of solid inorganic elements, such as rock, metal, gold, diamond, ice, and so on. They are mostly found in caves, dungeons, and ruins. Their appearance is that of a buffed humanoid, around 5 to 6 meters tall, and two brilliant eyes of varying colors, though they don't have a nose, mouth, ears, or anything else like that. They can be found naturally in the environment or via summoning. It is also possible to create one artificially with the right magic and materials.

When it comes to natural golems, they are usually inactive and inert, only taking action when an adventure inadvertently approaches them. When doing so, the golem, which at the time would only be a single piece (its nucleus), rearranges the rest of its body parts scattered in the surroundings and attains its humanoid form, ready to attack. They do not do this out of malice or fear, but rather because they are protecting something. So when an adventurer finds a golem, it is assumed that a very valuable item is hidden in that place somewhere. Golems are mindless collectors, they pick and store valuable minerals, such as gold and diamond, within themselves or around them. This is also applicable to weapons and artifacts made of such materials.

Despite being simplistic creatures, they are very powerful physically. The punch of a golem is strong enough to turn entire boulders into tiny fragments, as well as easily break and bend steel. Likewise, their physical defenses are just as great, capable of repelling swords, spears, and arrows, even if enhanced by magic. Due to this, adventures often only try to dodge the golem's attacks while looking for its weak point. If a golem's body is destroyed without affecting its nucleus, it will eventually reform itself from the materials in the surroundings.

In the case of artificial golems, many are created for the purpose of chore doings, protection of people, and/or military power.

----Abilities----

<>: Golems contains immense physical strength, capable of destroying even 4-meter boulders with a single attack. Their bodies are impervious to most conventional weapons and spells.

<>: While they can perform basic actions, they do not have a mind in the literal sense, and as such are immune to any kind of mental attack.

<>: The nucleus of a golem provides enough energy for it to fight for an eternity, an aspect much feared for most adventures.

<>: The source of the Golem and also its weak point, responsible for its actions and what maintains its humanoid form. While the golem itself is very durable, its nucleus is as fragile as a cup of water. The exact place of the nucleus within a golem may vary, and it is as small as a grain of sand, requiring the best kind of Detection Magic to find it. If the body of a golem is destroyed but with its nucleus intact, the latter eventually reforms the golem's body based on the surrounding material.

<>: It is possible for golems to manipulate an element they are associated with. A golem made of rocks may manipulate the surrounding rocks, a golem of ice may shoot beams of ice, a golem of magma may control and be as hot as lava, and so on. In addition, they are naturally immune to any kind of spell related to said element.

----Modus Operandi----

A natural golem's activity only consists of searching for valuable minerals to collect for itself, for unknown reasons. When it does, it stores the material somewhere and the golem enters an inactive state, splitting and camouflaging itself in the environment. If someone gets as close as 10 meters to them, they will awake and attack with the purpose of protecting their treasure.