Golem

Dwarves built golems, creatures of hewn stone or sheets of metal animated with a spark of lyrium. A magical, not mechanical, process animates the golem, making it more of a living “iron/stone creature.” A magical control rod can be used to gain complete command of a golem. A golem which lacks a control rod retains free will.

Golems were invented by the Paragon Caridin in -225 Ancient (year 940 of the Tevinter Imperium), when the First Blight was threatening both the surface and the dwarven thaigs. Paragon Hirol later improved the golem design.

Creation Process
Caridin built the magical Anvil of the Void specifically for the process of building golems. Because he could not create new life, he had to use dwarven volunteers and turn them into golems. The process involves dressing the volunteer in armor the size of the golem, then pouring molten lyrium through the eye holes, mouth hole, and joints of the armor. Before it cools, the armor is hammered and shaped to perfection. Enchanted control rods were used to turn the golems into perfectly obedient soldiers, at the cost of their free will.

Because the golems led to incredible victories against the darkspawn, who were steadily destroying the dwarven civilization, many dwarves gladly volunteered.

When King Valtor began forcing criminals, Casteless, and political dissidents into golemhood, Caridin refused to create any more golems. By order of the King he was turned into a golem himself, but with this the knowledge of the creation process was lost.

Later experiments to create golems using an alternate source of "soul", such as fade spirits, were unsuccessful.

Types of Golem

 * Stone Golem - Appears in Dragon Age: Origins
 * Steel Golem - Appears in Dragon Age: Origins
 * Runic Golem - Appears in Dragon Age: Origins and The Golems of Amgarrak
 * Inferno Golem - Appears in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
 * Sentinels - Appears in Dragon Age: Origins and The Golems of Amgarrak
 * Watchers - Appears in Dragon Age: Origins and The Golems of Amgarrak

Notable Golems

 * Caridin
 * Shale

Bugs

 * On the 360 and PC versions a Golem's left punch, except for Shale, never connects. Curiously, it only uses the left hand to "Slam".