Changes: Golem

Revision as of 17:19, 21 January 2020

“It allowed me to forge a man of steel or stone, as flexible and clever as any soldier. As an army, they were invincible. But I told no one the cost...” ―Caridin

Golems are creatures of hewn stone or sheets of metal animated with a spark of lyrium.

Background

Paragon Caridin first created golems in -225 Ancient (940 TE)^[1], when the First Blight was threatening the very existence of the dwarven race. Paragon Hirol later improved the golem design.^[2]

Caridin built the Anvil of the Void specifically for the process of building golems. Because he could not create new life, he had to use dwarf 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. A magical, not mechanical, process animates the golem, making it more of a living "steel/stone creature".^[3] Most golems are made of rock and they rarely speak.^[4] Enchanted control rods are used to turn the golems into perfectly obedient soldiers, at the cost of their free will. However if a golem lacks a control rod it retains its free will and perhaps its former personality returns as well.^[5] According to Oghren, golems have a very sharp memory and can recall even minor things that happened long ago.^[6]

Because the golems led to incredible victories against the darkspawn, who were steadily destroying the dwarven civilization, many dwarves gladly volunteered. Eventually however King Valtor began forcing criminals, casteless, and political dissidents to become golems. Caridin refused to create any more golems after six years of continuous production. In response to his dissidence, King Valtor ordered for Caridin to be turned into a golem and be as compliant as the rest of them. But Caridin's apprentices did not know how to properly create a control rod, so Caridin kept his own mind and free will and fled with his loyalists and the Anvil into the Deep Roads.^[7]

The Shaperate of Golems is responsible for the maintainance and governance of golems. They wield authority over when and whether golems are committed to battle.^[8]^[9] They're also interested in purchasing golems from any surfacer who owns one.^[10]

Legion of Steel

After the loss of the Anvil and the means of golem construction the dwarves started losing ground once again to the darkspawn. Yet they still retained many golems within the army and most notably the Legion of Steel, an all-golem regiment numbering 126 golems.^[9] It should be noted that among this regiment Shale was its only female volunteer.^[5]

Out of desperation in the second year of the reign of Queen Getha the dwarves sent the entire Legion of Steel into the Deep Roads with orders to recover Paragon Caridin however no golems ever returned. Due to the incalculable loss of the Legion of Steel, Queen Getha was deposed and the Shaperate declared Caridin dead and never again allowed an all-golem unit into the deep roads, allowing their use only in the direst of emergencies.^[9]^[11]

Involvement

Other dwarven smiths have sought to rediscover Caridin's secrets, but to no avail.^[11] Later experiments to create golems using an alternate source, such as fade spirits, were successful in creating uncontrollable flesh golems.

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Origins.

During the Fifth Blight, the Warden is able to track down Caridin, by following Paragon Branka's footsteps who she was the last dwarf who mounted an expedition to find Caridin in 9:28 Dragon. The Warden can either ally with Caridin to destroy the Anvil of the Void, destroying for good the only way to create new golems; or ally with Branka and allow her to create new golems to protect Orzammar. Some of those golems are later sent to help the Warden's armies during the Battle of Denerim.

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age II.

During Hawke's expedition to Vimmark Wasteland, if Hawke sides with Janeka at the Tower Base, Larius will attack with three customized stone Golems.

During the Kirkwall Rebellion, Knight-Commander Meredith, with her lyrium sword created from the Red lyrium of the lyrium idol which was found in an expedition to the Primeval Thaig, is able to transfer a part of lyrium of the sword in the statues of the Gallows, turning them into golems.

Types

Gate guardian
Harvester
Inferno golem
Stone golem
Steel golem
Watcher
Sentinel
Slave statue
Fortified golem
Magic-Resistant golem
Regenerator golem
Beirus's golem

Notable golems

Stoneprisoner002 — Shayle of House Cadash, the only female golem volunteer

Caridin
Inferno golem
Juggernaut: Gigantic golems that guard the gates of Minrathous.^[12]^[13]
Nexus Golem
Runic Golem
Shale
Thaddeus Gigantus Crumbum the Third
Beirus^[14]

Gallery

References

↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 32
↑ Codex entry: Inferno Golem
↑ Dragon Age: Origins: Prima Official Game Guide, p. 148
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 173
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 91
↑ Based on the conversation between Oghren and Shale.
↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 92
↑ Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Core Rulebook, p. 185
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 Codex entry: The Legion of Steel
↑ As offered by Shaper Czibor if Shale is in the party.
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 Caridin and Golems. BioWare wiki.
↑ Codex entry: Legend of the Juggernaut
↑ Codex entry: Constellation: Servani
↑ Encountered in Dragon Age Legends.

[1] Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 32

[2] Codex entry: Inferno Golem

[3] Dragon Age: Origins: Prima Official Game Guide, p. 148

[wot173-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 173

[wot91-5] 5.0 ^5.1 Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 91

[6] Based on the conversation between Oghren and Shale.

[7] Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 92

[8] Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Core Rulebook, p. 185

[legion-9] 9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 Codex entry: The Legion of Steel

[10] As offered by Shaper Czibor if Shale is in the party.

[bioware-11] 11.0 ^11.1 Caridin and Golems. BioWare wiki.

[12] Codex entry: Legend of the Juggernaut

[13] Codex entry: Constellation: Servani

[14] Encountered in Dragon Age Legends.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 }}</onlyinclude>
+'''Golems''' are creatures of hewn stone or sheets of metal animated with a spark of [[lyrium]].
-'''Golems''' are creatures of hewn stone or sheets of metal animated with a spark of [[lyrium]]. A [[magic]]al, not mechanical, process animates the golem, making it more of a living "iron/stone creature".<ref>''[[Dragon Age: Origins: Prima Official Game Guide]]'', p. 148</ref> Most commonly made of rock, they rarely speak.<ref name="wot173">{{Cite wot|173}}</ref> A magical [[Golem control rod|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 Age|Ancient]] (940 TE),<ref>{{Cite wot|32}}</ref> when the [[First Blight]] was threatening both the surface and the [[Dwarf|dwarven]] empire. Paragon [[Hirol]] later improved the golem design.
 == Background ==
+[[Paragon]] [[Caridin]] first created golems in -225 [[Ancient Age|Ancient]] (940 TE)<ref>{{Cite wot|32}}</ref>, when the [[First Blight]] was threatening the very existence of the [[Dwarf|dwarven]] [[race]]. Paragon [[Hirol]] later improved the golem design.<ref>[[Codex entry: Inferno Golem]]</ref>
-Caridin built the magical [[Anvil of the Void (object)|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. According to [[Oghren]], golems have a very sharp memory and can recall even minor things that happened long ago.<ref>Based on the [[Oghren/Dialogue#Oghren and Shale|conversation]] between [[Oghren]] and [[Shale]].</ref>
+Caridin built the [[Anvil of the Void (object)|Anvil of the Void]] specifically for the process of building golems. Because he could not create new life, he had to use dwarf 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. A [[magic]]al, not mechanical, process animates the golem, making it more of a living "steel/stone creature".<ref>''[[Dragon Age: Origins: Prima Official Game Guide]]'', p. 148</ref> Most golems are made of rock and they rarely speak.<ref name="wot173">{{Cite wot|173}}</ref> Enchanted [[Golem control rod|control rods]] are used to turn the golems into perfectly obedient soldiers, at the cost of their free will. However if a golem lacks a control rod it retains its free will and perhaps its former personality returns as well.<ref name="wot91">{{Cite wot2|91}}</ref> According to [[Oghren]], golems have a very sharp memory and can recall even minor things that happened long ago.<ref>Based on the [[Oghren/Dialogue#Oghren and Shale|conversation]] between [[Oghren]] and [[Shale]].</ref>
-Because the golems led to incredible victories against the darkspawn, who were steadily destroying the dwarven civilization, many dwarves gladly volunteered.
+Because the golems led to incredible victories against the [[darkspawn]], who were steadily destroying the dwarven civilization, many dwarves gladly volunteered. Eventually however [[Dwarven royalty|King]] Valtor began forcing criminals, [[casteless]], and political dissidents to become golems. Caridin refused to create any more golems after six years of continuous production. In response to his dissidence, King Valtor ordered for Caridin to be turned into a golem and be as compliant as the rest of them. But Caridin's apprentices did not know how to properly create a control rod, so Caridin kept his own mind and free will and fled with his loyalists and the Anvil into the [[Deep Roads]].<ref>{{Cite wot2|92}}</ref>
-[[File:Golem.png|thumb|180px|A golem<ref name="wot173"/>]]
+The [[Shaperate]] of Golems is responsible for the maintainance and governance of golems. They wield authority over when and whether golems are committed to battle.<ref>''[[Dragon Age (tabletop RPG)]]'', Core Rulebook, p. 185</ref><ref name="legion">[[Codex entry: The Legion of Steel]]</ref> They're also interested in purchasing golems from any surfacer who owns one.<ref>As offered by [[Shaperate|Shaper]] [[Czibor]] if [[Shale]] is in the party.</ref>
-When [[Dwarven royalty|King]] Valtor began forcing criminals, [[casteless]], and political dissidents into golems, Caridin refused to create any more golems after six years of continuous production. By order of the King he was turned into a golem himself, but Caridin's apprentices could not create a control rod, so Caridin kept his own mind.<ref name="BioWare wiki">[http://social.bioware.com/wiki/dragonage/index.php/Caridin_and_Golems Caridin and Golems] - BioWare wiki</ref> Soon afterwards he disappeared as well as the Anvil.
+=== Legion of Steel ===
-The dwarves mounted many expeditions to find the Anvil but all of them failed. The last rescue operation was mounted by Queen Getha. She sent the entire Legion of Steel, an all-golem battalion. With great fanfare, the Legion left Orzammar but they were never heard from again. The [[Shaperate]] declared Caridin dead, extinguishing the last kindle of hope. Due to the incalculable loss of the Legion of Steel, Queen Getha was deposed.<ref name="BioWare wiki"/> Since then, Caridin is the protector of the Anvil of the Void, wishing he never invented it.
+[[File:Golem.png|thumb|180px|A stone golem<ref name="wot173"/>]]
+After the loss of the Anvil and the means of golem construction the dwarves started losing ground once again to the darkspawn. Yet they still retained many golems within the army and most notably the Legion of Steel, an all-golem regiment numbering 126 golems.<ref name="legion"/> It should be noted that among this regiment [[Shale]] was its only female volunteer.<ref name="wot91"/>
+Out of desperation in the second year of the reign of Queen Getha the dwarves sent the entire Legion of Steel into the Deep Roads with orders to recover Paragon Caridin however no golems ever returned. Due to the incalculable loss of the Legion of Steel, Queen Getha was deposed and the Shaperate declared Caridin dead and never again allowed an all-golem unit into the deep roads, allowing their use only in the direst of emergencies.<ref name="legion"/><ref name="bioware">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100819203946/http://social.bioware.com/wiki/dragonage/index.php/Caridin_and_Golems Caridin and Golems]. BioWare wiki.</ref>
-The few golems that remained in Orzammar, each irreplaceable, have been carefully protected by the Shaper of Golems over the centuries. They are only called out in the direst of emergencies.<ref name="BioWare wiki"/>
+== Involvement ==
-Other dwarven smiths have sought to rediscover Caridin's secrets, but to no avail.<ref name="BioWare wiki"/> [[The Golems of Amgarrak|Later experiments]] to create golems using an alternate source, such as [[fade]] [[spirit]]s, were successful in creating [[Harvester|uncontrollable flesh golems]].
+Other dwarven smiths have sought to rediscover Caridin's secrets, but to no avail.<ref name="bioware"/> [[The Golems of Amgarrak|Later experiments]] to create golems using an alternate source, such as [[fade]] [[spirit]]s, were successful in creating [[Harvester|uncontrollable flesh golems]].
+{{SpoilerDAO|
-{{SpoilerDAO|During the [[Fifth Blight]], [[the Warden]] is able to track down Caridin, by following [[Branka]]'s footsteps (Branka being the last dwarf who mounted an expedition to find Caridin, two years before). The Warden can either ally with Caridin to destroy the Anvil of the Void, destroying for good the only way to create new golems; or ally with Branka and allow her to create new golems to protect Orzammar. Some of those golems are later sent to help the Warden's armies during the [[Battle of Denerim (conflict)|Battle of Denerim]].
+During the [[Fifth Blight]], [[the Warden]] is able to track down Caridin, by following Paragon [[Branka]]'s footsteps who she was the last dwarf who mounted an expedition to find Caridin in 9:28 [[Dragon Age (time period)|Dragon]]. The Warden can either ally with Caridin to destroy the Anvil of the Void, destroying for good the only way to create new golems; or ally with Branka and allow her to create new golems to protect Orzammar. Some of those golems are later sent to help the Warden's armies during the [[Battle of Denerim (conflict)|Battle of Denerim]].}}
-}}
+{{SpoilerDA2|
-{{SpoilerDA2|During [[Hawke]]'s [[Legacy (quest)|expedition]] to [[Vimmark Wasteland]], if Hawke sides with [[Janeka]] at the [[Corypheus's Prison - Tower Base|Tower Base]], [[Larius]] will attack with three customized stone Golems.
+During [[Hawke]]'s [[Legacy (quest)|expedition]] to [[Vimmark Wasteland]], if Hawke sides with [[Janeka]] at the [[Corypheus's Prison - Tower Base|Tower Base]], [[Larius]] will attack with three customized stone Golems.
-During the [[Kirkwall Rebellion]], Knight-Commander [[Meredith Stannard|Meredith]], with her lyrium sword created from the red [[lyrium idol]] of the [[Primeval Thaig]], was able to transfer a part of lyrium of the sword in the statues of the [[Gallows]], turning them into golems.
+During the [[Kirkwall Rebellion]], [[Knight-Commander]] [[Meredith Stannard|Meredith]], with her lyrium sword created from the [[Red lyrium]] of the [[lyrium idol]] which was found in an [[The Deep Roads Expedition|expedition]] to the [[Primeval Thaig]], is able to transfer a part of lyrium of the sword in the statues of the [[Gallows]], turning them into golems.}}
-}}
 == Types ==
-* [[Gate guardian]]s
+* [[Gate guardian]]
-* [[Harvester]]s
+* [[Harvester]]
-* [[Inferno golem]]s
+* [[Inferno golem]]
-* [[Stone golem]]s
+* [[Stone golem]]
-* [[Steel golem]]s
+* [[Steel golem]]
-* [[Watcher]]s
+* [[Watcher]]
-* [[Sentinel (golem)|Sentinels]]
+* [[Sentinel (golem)|Sentinel]]
-* [[Slave statue]]s
+* [[Slave statue]]
-* Fortified Golem
+* Fortified golem
-* Magic-Resistant Golem
+* Magic-Resistant golem
-* Regenerator Golem
+* Regenerator golem
-* Beirus's golems
+* Beirus's golem
 == Notable golems ==
-[[File:Stoneprisoner002.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Shale]] of [[House]] Cadash, one of the first golem volunteers]]
+[[File:Stoneprisoner002.jpg|thumb|270px|[[Shale|Shayle]] of [[House Cadash]], the only female golem volunteer]]
 * '''[[Caridin]]'''
 * '''[[Inferno golem]]'''
@@ Line 62: / Line 63: @@
 * '''[[Shale]]'''
 * '''[[Black Emporium|Thaddeus Gigantus Crumbum the Third]]'''
-* '''Beirus'''<ref name="Dragon Age Legends">[[Dragon Age Legends]]</ref>
+* '''Beirus'''<ref>Encountered in ''[[Dragon Age Legends]]''.</ref>
 == See also ==
-{{:Codex entry: Golem|style=iconmini}}{{clrl}}
+{{:Codex entry: Golem|style=iconmini}}<br>
-{{:Codex entry: Inferno Golem|style=iconmini}}{{clrl}}
+{{:Codex entry: Inferno Golem|style=iconmini}}<br>
-{{:Codex entry: Caridin's Journal|style=iconmini}}{{clrl}}
+{{:Codex entry: Caridin's Journal|style=iconmini}}<br>
-{{:Codex entry: The Legion of Steel|style=iconmini}}{{clrl}}
+{{:Codex entry: The Legion of Steel|style=iconmini}}<br>
-{{:Codex entry: The Gate Guardians|style=iconmini}}{{clrl}}
+{{:Codex entry: The Gate Guardians|style=iconmini}}<br>
 == Gallery ==
-<gallery widths=199 captionalign="center">
+<gallery widths="199px" captionalign="center" orientation="landscape">
 golem.jpg|Golem
-Golems Dawn of the Seeker.jpg|Golems in the ''Dawn of the Seeker''
+Golems Dawn of the Seeker.jpg|Golems in the ''[[Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker]]''
-Paragon Beirus.jpg|Paragon Beirus<ref>Encountered in ''[[Dragon Age Legends]]''.</ref>
+Paragon Beirus.jpg|Beirus in ''Dragon Age: Legends''
 </gallery>
 == References ==
-<references/>
+{{Scroll box|<references/>}}
 {{Dwarves}}
 [[Category:Creatures]]
 [[Category:Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne creatures]]
+[[Category:Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker creatures]]
 [[Category:Dragon Age: Origins creatures]]
 [[Category:Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening creatures]]
@@ Line 90: / Line 92: @@
 [[Category:Legacy creatures]]
 [[Category:Dragon Age: Asunder creatures]]
-[[Category:Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker creatures]]
 [[Category:Golems| ]]
 [[Category:Slaves]]