Lore:Golem

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This article is about the creature. For the constellation, see The Atronach.

A Direnni Stone Golem
(ESO)

Golems are artificial creatures created from non-living matter and animated by magic to act as as familiars or companions to powerful sorcerers.[1] They are also sometimes known as Atronachs, an inconsistent term that applies to both Elemental Daedra and non-daedric constructs.[nb 1] Golems generally are first crafted with the arcane arts using various materials, typically fashioned in a humanoid image, and animated to perform certain tasks such as serving as guardians.[2]

Known Types of Golem[edit]

Ash[edit]

Ash Guardians are golems resembling Storm Atronachs, created by the Telvanni of Solstheim during their study of the Ash Spawn. They can be summoned from the ash, but will attack indiscriminately unless controlled with a Heart Stone.

Coral[edit]

Reefborn creatures,[3] also referred to as Coraldrift (or Coral Drift) creatures are artificial coral beasts that imitate the appearance of Tamrielic land animals. They can be found on the isles of the Abecean Sea. Among the known reefborn creatures are those that resemble bears,[3] senche,[4] haj mota, horses,[5] guars, wolves, and possibly even dwarven spiders.[6]

Reef Guardians are another type of golem made from coral that possess a blue glow. They can be found within the Dreadsail Reef and along the coasts of Y'ffelon.

Dwarven[edit]

The Dwemer contructed many advanced golems known as animunculi. Of particular note, the Numidium was a giant construct created by Kagrenac.[7] It was often referred to as a brass or iron golem.[8][9][10]

Sotha Sil created similar golems to animunculi known as factotums,[11]:322 as well as fabricants, which differ from animunculi and factotums in that they are part organic, part inorganic, constructed from an amalgam of grown flesh and metallic grafts and are more bestial in appearance.

Fire[edit]

Fire Atronachs are magical, fire-enchanted golems.[12][1] They are highly susceptible to cold based spells, and resistant to fire spells, which actually heal the constructs instead of damaging them. They give off great heat which can damage an adventurer if they get too close. Magma Golems are a somewhat similar type of construct made of molten rock.[13]

They are not to be confused with Flame Atronachs, a type of Elemental Daedra that are also sometimes known as Fire Atronachs.[14][15]

Hive[edit]

Fetcherflies are creatures that construct natural hive golems whose purpose is to relocate their hives to new surroundings.[16] Fetcherfly hive golems are also attracted to the destruction of regular hives, and will seek out those responsible for such a deed.[17][18]

Ice[edit]

Ice Golems are a typically weak variety of Golem, created out of ice.[19] These magically enchanted creatures do not only cause injury with their vicious physcial attacks, but also from the extreme cold aura they generate. They are immune to cold based spells, which do nothing but heal the constructs.[20] They naturally have a weakness to fire. Some Ice Golems are known as Ice Atronachs or Water Atronachs.[12][1] They are not to be confused with the Elemental Daedra, Frost Atronachs, which are also sometimes known as Ice Atronachs.[14]

Three powerful ice golems, known as Glacial Guardians,[21] were used by anicent mer to keep the Sea Sload sorceress Z'Baza imprisoned in Coral Aerie.[22][23]

Iron[edit]

Iron Golems are a powerful variety of golem, created out of iron. Some Iron Golems are known as Iron Atronachs[12][1] or Earth Atronachs.[24] They not to be confused with the Elemental Daedra of the same name.[14][25]

Necromantic[edit]

Some golems blur the lines between construct, daedra, and undead, such as in the case of the Flesh Atronach. Which can be created by imbuing a daedric or human soul into a flesh construct.[26][27][28] Or with the Homonculus, a golem created from the body parts of several daedra.[29]

Several types of golem, such as Bone Colossi, are made of out of the bones of various individuals or creatures. Necromancers have been able to create skeletal constructs out of bird and reptile bones that resemble miniature Bone Dragons.[30][31] Shambles appear to be made from the bones of various different types of creatures, haphazardly lashed together with wire or bits of cloth.[32][33]

Stone[edit]

An example of common golems are the magical stone creatures animated by the Direnni in their image to guard their sacred sites. These constructs are unable to be reasoned with.[34] The Ayleids used similar animated statues, known as Ayleid Guardians or Stone Watchers.[35]

An example of a greater stone golem is the gargoyle,[34][UOL 1] a non-humanoid golem used as a guardian by many different civilizations, such as the Bretons, Yokudans, Imperials, Ayleids, and Khajiit.[36] Despite being constructs, gargoyles are considered by some to be misshapen humanoids and are capable of copulation.[37][38]

Wooden[edit]

Lurchers are wooden golems of multiple origins, and have been described as constructs made from bark, moss, and evil magic.[39] In Valenwood, the Bosmer use the local materials such as flora as a base, and ingredients such as bug parts which are added to the mix to give their lurchers special qualities.[40]

Other[edit]

It is theorized by some that Imps are a type of golem, similar to the Homonculus;[1] they are similarly known to be used by wizards as magical guardians.[41]

Notes[edit]

See Also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Daggerfall User's Guide - description of Imps
  2. ^ Ice Golem, Stone Golem, and Iron Golem descriptions in Arena
  3. ^ a b Reefborn Bear's description in ESO
  4. ^ Cat o' War Senche Lion's description in ESO
  5. ^ Surfglow Courser's description in ESO
  6. ^ Coral Crawler Dwarven Spider's decription in ESO
  7. ^ Progress of TruthDissident Priests
  8. ^ Response to Bero's SpeechMalviser, Battlemage
  9. ^ Events of The Mantella Revealed
  10. ^ Elderscrolls.com Archive/Codex
  11. ^ The Morrowind Prophecies — Peter Olafson
  12. ^ a b c Dialogue in Hunt for an Atronach quest
  13. ^ Magma Golems in ESO
  14. ^ a b c Dialogue in Background Information quest
  15. ^ Fire Atronachs in ESO
  16. ^ Vvardenfell Flora and FaunaTilenra Sildreth, Telvanni Naturalist
  17. ^ The Flames of the FetcherflyZabia-ko
  18. ^ Writhing Sveeth Hunt quest in ESO
  19. ^ Ice Golems in Arena
  20. ^ Ice Atronachs in Daggerfall
  21. ^ Glacial Guardian set name in ESO
  22. ^ Sword Guardian, Staff Guardian, and Shield Guardian in ESO
  23. ^ Ancient Inscription
  24. ^ Trapped Earth Atronach souls in Daggerfall
  25. ^ Iron Atronachs in ESO
  26. ^ Reynelle Derone's role during Mind of Madness in ESO
  27. ^ Kyne's Challenge: A Hunter's Companion: High Rock, Flesh Atronach
  28. ^ Vastarie's JournalVastarie
  29. ^ Homonculi in Arena
  30. ^ Small Bone Dragon Construct pet description in ESO
  31. ^ Unholy Glow Bone Dragon pet description in ESO
  32. ^ Shambles in Shivering Isles
  33. ^ Halion's dialogue in Oblivion: Shivering Isles
  34. ^ a b Norianwe's dialogue in ESO
  35. ^ Stone Watchers in ESO
  36. ^ Gargoyles' usage by various races in ESO
  37. ^ The Mystery of Gargoyles—Solved!Porbert Lyttumly
  38. ^ Statuary Complications
  39. ^ The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel/High Rock
  40. ^ Events of Handmade Guardian in ESO
  41. ^ Vault Guardians in Oblivion
  42. ^ Golem Shark in ESO

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.