User blog:SAmaster/Mamano Fan Creation - Golem Models

Golem’s are a magical technology that dates far back into prehistory. The basis of Golem Technology is a magically infused material, typically something like mud, clay, or stone, that has an autonomous form, typically Humanlike in nature, and is built to perform certain specific tasks. Once inscribed with magic runes that bear the name of their creator, they obey any orders given to them without thought or question. Otherwise they simply stand around as statues until given a new task to perform.

This basis has largely remained unchanged throughout history. Sometimes Golem Artificers would use different materials, try different enchanting methods, or have them perform different tasks, but the fundamental characteristics remained unchanged, even todays day and age.

Golems have been used for a number of tasks throughout history, dating back from even before the great civilization of the Desert Continent arose. Golems have been typically been used for tasks like guarding important or sacred sights, acting as weapons of war, or oftentimes performing simple menial labor.

However as time went on, Golems began falling into disuse. The reasons for this are many. For one, the process of enchanting uses a magic that requires Demonic Energy, making Golems and their makers suspect by the Holy Order. Secondly while the Golems lack of autonomy means they obeyed orders with no questions, this meant that a Golem could be commanded by an evil Monster, a crazed killer, or a vile sorcerer to perform evil deeds that common folk would be unable to defend themselves from. Additionally one with the proper knowledge (which eventually went from a closely guarded secret to common knowledge) could overwrite the command runes of a Golem, stealing the Golem from the creator, and making it their own. Lastly, Golems could only be used for simple and specific tasks, meaning as Human society evolved and became more complex their value went down.

However Golems saw a massive change in the current era. Because of the Demonic Energy latent in Golems, despite being chunks of non-living material still took on the shape of beautiful women that characterize all Monsters of the current era. Not only that, but regardless of if they were made of mud, iron, or even magically enchanted fire, they would also be soft to the touch as typical of womanflesh. And when it comes to the creation of new Golems it seems this can not be circumvented, even if one were to craft a Golem in the least human-like or woman-like manner possible then the material would reshape itself into the form of a beautiful girl as the enchanting magic begins taking effect.

If this were all however, then Golems would be simply another Monster encountered by Adventurers, but there were other side-effects to their transformation that has caused a resurgence in their use.

For one, as with many Monster species, Golems achieved a major intelligence boost. Golems of the previous era were less intelligent than even animals, unable to account for anything not written into their commands. As with most Monsters of todays age however, they have the capacity for speech, reading, and writing. While still somewhat dimwitted by Human standards, this increased intelligence allows them to undertake much more complicated tasks with much greater efficiency, being able to solve small problems that arise on their own. An example being a Golem who stacks and loads crates in a warehouse in the previous era would shut down if the warehouse was say locked. In todays era though, they have the sense to find a key to unlock the door (well most of them at least). Another change was that Golems were instilled with the Moral Code of the Demon Lord. That being that they value love and friendship, and detest the killing of others. This code keeps their use out of the hands of the deranged who would use them to inflict suffering upon others.

And perhaps one of the most valued changes are those concerning the loyalty of the Golem. The old methods of the previous era hold true, that if someone overwrites the name of the Golem’s master with their own, then the Golem will switch allegiances. However if a Golem has fallen for their Master then there is nothing that can be done to change their loyalties, as the Golem will simply overwrite her control runes back to those of her previous Master. As such, many value a Golem for its unquestionable loyalty.

Thanks to that, and the fact that Golems who already have a Master (that isn’t necessarily their husband) don’t attack Humans, means that they are one of the Monster species who are most frequently seen in Human States. Even the Order tolerates their use, in a similar way that they don’t condemn the Dragon Isle for keeping so many Dragon Species (largely for their use as Dragoons in the current war). In fact many don’t even consider them to be proper Monsters. Of course, most people still keep in mind that the allegiance of a Golem is based on their owner. Those who were made by Humans serve Human interests. But those made by Monsters serve Monsters interests. Though it is rare for Monsters to create other Monsters (for fear they will serve as competition), it does happen, and those Golems made by such Monsters act no different than other wild Monsters.

Being an artificial race, there are many different subspecies, or rather make and models, made from different materials and for different reasons. Listed are several examples.

Church Gargoyle
Gargoyles are a specific type of Golem built with the body of a beast in mind, meant to ferociously guard ancient sites like Castles and Churches. While the typical image of a Gargoyle is that of a Monster found in the Castles and Dungeons in the Demon Realm, point of fact; the Order has used Gargoyles to protect their Holy Sights and Churches since long before the current era, meant to protect them from thieves, barbarians, vagabonds, and even other Monsters. While still maintaining a frightening appearance, they would typically stay as still as statues, and only fight off those who had ill-will to their homes, even allowing sinners in so long as they came with good intentions.

Even with their appearance and nature having been changed by the Current Demon Lord, this largely remained unchanged. While the Order had a small panic concerning what to do with these Gargoyles, as they were some of the first major examples of what had Monsters had become that they directly experienced. However even with the incredibly harsh anti-Monster policies of the Order, which have only recently begun to relax some, relatively little was done to them. As despite having a lustful disposition like wild Gargoyles, having lived their entire existence's hearing the sermons and speeches of Order doctrine they whole-heartedly believe in its tenets, and did their best to suppress their instincts. As such, they don’t go around raping men or women and even cover the scandalous parts of their bodies, unlike typical monsters. At the end of the day, the only major change that arose from the issue was that many Church Gargoyles were moved from some of the more prestigious Cathedrals to more obscure locations, and replaced by Human Guardsmen.

Church Gargoyles don’t differ biologically from there wild sisters in any major way. The differences between them is a largely cultural one, as their behavior is so different it warrants mentioning.

These Monster-Girls still uphold their duties in defending their homes from those who would do it harm. They live in the high eaves of Churches and Cathedrals, far from the public eye, so those who attend services rarely see them, except from their perches where they so rarely move most would think them to be statues.

Of course a life far and away from the crowds and communities that regularly visit their homes, leads them to become quite lonely, for they also believe strongly in the tenants of friendship and community the Gods espouse. However their posts in the high eaves of churches, as well as their monstrous appearance and general reputation as Monsters means the common masses avoid them. Even when they do deal with others however, they seem rather standoffish, and it can be quite intimidating to talk to them. The reason for this is; as stated Church Gargoyles are both very lonely, but also strongly devout, so when talking to others they are incredibly self-conscious about their words and actions, and don’t want others to think they are like typical Monsters.

That said though, they are still Monsters, and obtaining a Husband is their top priority even if they don’t realize it. If a man comes to their roost at the top of a Church, even their words and actions don’t make it obvious, they will attempt to convey their interests. At this point though, the Gargoyle will simply try to woo the man with typical courting methods.

For these reasons Church Gargoyles are seen as being brainwashed into frigid prudes by other Monsters, and as a hopeless example of Monsterkind. Despite this reputation, Gargoyles still possess a bevy of charms that all Monsters have, so Gargoyles, along with most other Monsters who use normal courting methods, typically manage to obtain a Husband without inordinate difficulty. In fact, it could simply be said that most Monster Societies are prejudiced against normal courting methods, and put too much emphasis on Rape as a means of obtaining Husbands, but thats the topic of many an article that does not belong here.

It should also be noted that since Church Gargoyles make their homes in Church, most of them end up having sex in Church. Some don’t seen anything wrong with this, others are extremely ashamed of it, but that usually doesn’t stop them from doing it again with their husbands.

Clockwork Golem
Commonly believed to be the evolutionary pinnacle of Golem technology. Since Golems have seen a resurgence in use by Humans, Golem artisans have been looking on ways to improve on their designs, introducing new technologies and techniques into their construction since they faded from popular use.

While the fundamentals of Golems are simple, an inanimate object animated through magic, there can be a great diversity when it comes to the materials used, and the specifics of the enchantment. For example, if specific runes are used, they can influence the personality and disposition of the Golem. One important factor is the inanimate material used that forms the basis of the Golem; mud, clay, or stone are the most typical material used. Other materials include metals, like iron, or copper, and even variations of the elements. For Clockwork Golems, the process began with trying to make the body of a Golem appear less like that of a tempting woman. These efforts naturally failed, as the Demonic Energy necessary for the enchanting process would warp the Golems body into that of a beautiful woman's. So eventually some Golem Artificers went in the opposite direction, trying to make the Golem look as life-like as possible. The thought being that if were attempting to make the Golem look more life-like, they would have more control on the resulting creation.

As advances in life-like Golems proceeded, some reached the point where it is very difficult to tell the difference between a Golem, and a Human. With recent advances in technology, artisans have went so far to make the various limbs and insides of the Golem out of complex machinery that mimic the functions of those found in Humans. In this way their bodies can almost perfectly mimic Humans, and in some ways surpass them. One reasoning for these methods is that the more Human-like the basis of the Golem is, the more Human-like the resulting Golem will be. Some think that their makers are simply exploring different methods of Golem creation. Others think that Golem Artificers just pride themselves in creating intricate bodies as works of arts. Regardless though, almost everyone considers a Clockwork Golem made by a master Artisan are modern-day masterpieces of both art and construction.

However a Clockwork Golem is notable for more than its amazing Human-like appearances and abilities, and its intricate inner workings. While not as resilient or durable as their other sub-species, like say War Golems, many Artisans go the extra mile with the inner workings of their creations. Some add in mechanisms that let the Golem measure time, as well as things like temperature, altitude, or other small things. Most often a Clockwork Golems mind is also manufactured in such a way that allows for a genius-level intellect, letting them quickly and easily remember anything required of them (though their simple personalities means they tend to only utilize this for their Master). But many add in weapons like swords and daggers, hidden within their limbs that are a part of their body, yet can be hidden away when not in use (and likely due to their Demonic Energy when having sex) in order to defend their Masters. However there is a small drawback to this advanced construction; in order to maintain peak energy and efficiency there is a wind-up mechanism in their backs that must be regularly wound, otherwise they become sluggish and tired. While they can maintain it themselves, that part of their body is quite sensitive, so they often rely on others to do it for them.

Because of these many additions, a Clockwork Golem, as well as their human-like appearance and their very docile natures Clockwork Golems are the most highly sought after Golem used in Human Society. They make excellent servants, maids, assistants, attendants, and bodyguard

In terms of Personality they are like most Golems; devoted, docile, and subservient. However, perhaps because of the greater level of work that goes into their creation, Clockwork Golems are even more-so. They have a much larger intelligence than the average Golem, who tend to have a simple disposition, again owing to their advanced construction. Yet they use that intelligence to further their service, every thought they have goes into the devotion they give to their Masters. However because of this Clockwork Golems seem almost completely devoid of emotion. Most Golems poorly express emotions to begin with, possibly because they begin life as a non-living thing, but Clockwork Golems seem to be the worst at it, many of those who encounter them believe they don’t experience emotions at all. This is false however, they have the same emotions as the next human or Monster. Unlike other ‘emotionless’ Monsters though, who either purposefully suppress their emotions, or just don’t know how to express themselves, Clockwork Golems are simply so focused on attending their duties that their emotions never make it to the surface.

War Golem
A Golem designed for battle, typically made of bronze, copper, iron, or steel. These Golems stand tall, and wield great strength. Though their bodies, which are made from tough metals are soft like that of a woman’s, they are covered head-to-toe in armor that has been enchanted specifically for them to make them nigh indestructible on the battlefield.

War Golems are made specifically, as their names would suggest, for battle. They are used on the front-lines by the Order. Many great armies throughout history have used them in their ranks. At the beginning of the current age Golems had fallen into disuse, most War Golems that remained were old relics rarely seen on the battlefield itself. With Golems having been transformed into beautiful women like all Monsters by the Demon Lord, the Order officially banned their use. Of course since a War Golem had gained enough intelligence for self-preservation, they all left the service of their masters, and became wandering Monsters.

In recent years though, the Order has relaxed many of its anti-Monster laws. Many species that are technically Monsters are allowed within the armies or militias of states that follow the Order. Amongst them, War Golems are the most commonly seen in the armies of the Order itself, valued for their strength, durability, and loyalty.

They are typically built to tower over men, their armor designed to inspire either fear or awe in their enemies (Though some of them leave most parts of their bodies are uncovered, to the point it would seem ludicrous to go into battle, fortunately their skin while being soft and pliable is still as hard as metal when struck by a weapon). To compensate even further, even more armor is forged to custom fit the Golem, meaning that they are practically impossible to take down through conventional means. They given enormous weapons to wield, that would be too heavy and large for the average man to use.

One effect that comes from their creation, or so its thought, is that since they are built for War, they view everything like it is a War. When it comes to getting a Man, they view it as either a short skirmish (in the case of most Monsters where they simply Rape whatever man they come across) or a long siege (in the case they try traditional courtship, typically with a fellow soldier). Unlike many other Monsters though, they don’t see much value in strength and weakness, and winning or losing. To them they exist to fight, not necessarily to win. If the man who becomes their Husband puts up a good fight or not, it doesn’t matter to them, and likewise it doesn’t matter to them if their future Husband loses against them, or turns the tables and wins, so long as they’ve acquired a Husband, the result is the same. This aspect continues even to their married lives. They treat learning something like cooking or cleaning with the same regimented duty as the would training with their weapon, and view their Husband as a strategic resource that they must defend at any cost.

War Golems come with one weakness however. They tend to tire very quickly in combat. Its believed they take up a lot of mana fighting, expending much more energy than would a typical soldier. Not only that, they have difficulty regaining this energy, so for this reason War Golems are typically used as shock troops, meant to win battles quickly. That said though, if a War Golem acquires a Husband, this weakness vanishes. They have much, much more energy, and can last for very long periods of sustained combat, and can easily regain their energy using their Husband. Because of this, even though relations with Monsters that even the Order tolerates are frowned upon, most armies quietly encourage War Golems to achieve a Husband so they can be of better use to the army.

Snow Golem
A product of the energy of the Ice-Queen, Snow-Golems arise naturally in contrast to most Golems who are artificially created. When snow falls in the right concentrations with supplemental materials like wood, stone, or items like human tools and clothing nearby then a Snow Golem is born. The Snow Golem is similar to the Glacie in some ways, being a demi-elemental based on ice, and they have the ability to draw out spirit energy from humans without sex like them as well, though to a much lesser extent. But unlike Glacies they tend to have a warm disposition, enjoying the company of others, and having a fondness for play and games.

In actuality Snow Golems have an innocence and naivety uncharacteristic of Monsters, so they don’t actively seek sex. However they do have a desire for warmth and intimacy, but have trouble satisfying this desire since their bodies being made of snow make them cold and freezing to the touch. However if they sip away enough spirit energy then there is a change made in their bodies. If they can find a man to cling to then the cold exuded body will switch to that of a magnificent warmth that a man will be invariably be drawn to in a cold winter of climate. This is because the Snow Golems body has found a husband, and no longer needs the cold spirit energy she took in before, and will now subsist on the Spirit Energy of her Husband. Reports of the Husbands of a Snow Golem state that their bodies are very soft and fluffy befitting a creature made of snow, but with the warmth of a cozy fire, or a warm blanket.

Despite being made from snow, and typically being born in the winter, they have no difficulties after winter has ended, since they are beings made from magic. They do prefer winter as a season, and wintery climates, but some of their favorite activities are sitting by a roasting fire, drinking hot beverages, and lying in a warm bed with their Husband. Though they do suffer somewhat in tropical or arid environments, but don’t seem to suffer any major health problems in such places. When it comes to fashion, despite not needing it, Snow Golems like to wear wintry clothes, like wool sweaters, scarves, boots, and fur jackets.

Originally Snow Golems were only seen in the North Arctic Kingdoms, but lately it seems they have sporadically appeared in snowy places across the world, including the northern islands of Zipangu. Whether this means the power of the Ice Queen has spread to these regions or not is unclear. Another thing to note is that if one were to make a snowman, they are essentially building the perfect conditions for a Snow Golem to be born. Many people, both adults and children have done this unwittingly. In fact scholars who study Snow Golems are theorizing that most Snow-Golems come from abandoned snowmen rather than arising from whole cloth. Curiously the physical age of the resulting Snow Golem often depends on how old the maker of the snowman was, or if the snowman was made by a group, then the age of whoever was single, or the most lonely. For example, if a young man made a snowman that became a Snow-Golem then the resulting Golem would have the development of similar to the young man, whereas if a father and a son made one together the Snow Golem would have the development of the child, since the father would be married. Snow Golems have occasionally created on purpose by a mage applying some basic knowledge of Golem crafting however Snow Golems are of limited utility, so it is rarely done.

Flesh Golem
A bizarre and disturbing creature, typically only found in the lairs of deranged Monsters, (though rarely found in the laboratories of mad scholars far from the Order’s laws), they are Golems that use flesh as the base material, various limbs and body parts that have been hacked off, and sewn back together again. Usually the material are the excavated remains of the freshly dead (since even most of those Monsters crazed enough to create such a being detest killing the living). Their origins as a race are obscure. There are some stories that a Lich performed several experiments on the dead to try to raise herself an ideal husband. Once these experiments failed, she let the resulting Flesh Golems loose, and they inspired others who work with Necromancy. Others say they were created by a Human Scholar long before the current era, and they took on their current forms like other undead creatures.

While most Monsters dislike the idea of creating more Monsters (outside giving birth to any daughters of course) since they are believed to create competition, many necromantic Monsters are considered ‘eccentric’, some belong to the radical faction, and believe that the more Monsters there are the better, some raise Undead to increase the numbers of those in their control, and others simply enjoy raising undead playthings for their Husbands. So Flesh Golems while rare, are often seen in the heart of many Undead Kingdoms.

While they maintain a fearsome strength characteristic of most Golems, along with their general loyalty and dimwittedness, because of the odd circumstances of their creation, they have some peculiar properties. For one, like with other Golems, they manage to make their base that forms their body more woman-like once the enchantment takes place, but it seems that the latent Spirit Energy left in the remains affects the resulting Golem. Those made with mostly the flesh of men seem to be much more disoriented, seemingly dimwitted and weaker the resulting creation will be because of their conflicting Mana. Meanwhile those made with mostly the flesh of women however tend to be very strong, and more intelligent. Most Flesh Golems however are made with around half male, and half female remains, meaning most Flesh Golems lie somewhere in between. Another quality Flesh Golems possess is related to how their bodies are comprised of flesh from many different sources (some Necromancers have been experimenting with the use of Animal, and even Monster remains), every Flesh Golem has conflicting Mana in their bodies, that muddles their mind. As a result their thinking is very different from most Golems, who are usually just simple-minded, Flesh Golems conversely have great difficulty thinking straight, so most view them as particularly unintelligent. Actually a Flesh Golem can easily become intelligent and skilled, even becoming a quick-witted intellectual once they reconcile most of the aspects of their creation. Many of them have several disparate memories from many different lives that are each corrupted and rotted by Demonic Energy that naturally complicates their thinking.

When it comes to appearances Flesh Golems can be quite varied due to the large variety that occurs from their creation. But they do share many common characteristics. One of their most distinguishing traits are the many stitches that line their bodies. These come from the initial enchanting process where in the disparate body parts were sewn together. However after the enchanting process is finished these stitches are no longer necessary to hold their body together and are now simply for show. Another signature trait they hold is typically having some form of machinery affixed to their body, typically around the neck, that helped in their enchanting/resurrecting. They also have skin-colors that are the typical ghoulish pigment of most undead, and tend to have an off-color stripe or two running through their now wild hair.

Atronach
A Golem with the base of elemental magic. They share many traits with elementals like Undines and Slyphs, and in fact it might be best to think of the Atronach as a hybrid between Elementals and Golems. Atronachs can be made from an astonishing ammount of materials, ranging from fire and ice, to lightning, metal, plants, and so on. Of course even if made from volatile elements, they are safe to touch so long as the Atronach doesn't mean you harm.

They are sometimes viewed as a half-way point between Elementals by mages, having fewer of both their strengths and weaknesses. An Atronach has the ability to use elemental magic on her own, but does not have the strength to terraform regions as Elementals due, but neither do they grow weaker in areas devoid of their element. However they do not gift their powers to their owner as Elementals do to their covenanters either.

Atronachs are commonly employed by mages for combat and research, and are often sold to adventurers as travelling companions, or rented out as mercenaries. Unfortunately it does seem that their prowess is using their elemental powers offensively, and their other uses are few or minor. The Elemental Faction also uses them in large employ, and view them in much the same vein as other Demi-Elementals.

Living Statue
While most Golems are created intentionally, and are the result of a specific enchanting process, the Living Statue is an exception. They only appear in dungeons, or otherwise other very old and haunted sights, likely due to the abundant Demonic Energy in those places. As the name implies they originally statues who one day, thanks to enough Demonic Energy, came to life, and now walk about.

In many ways they are similar to the ‘tsukumogami’ or artifact spirits, but in some ways they are closer to Golems. Artifact Spirits are very old objects that have collected enough mana to gain a spirit of their own, haunted swords or suits of armor are like this, and they occur naturally unlike a Golem. However a Living Statue seems to take much less time to form than an artifact spirit would, and has many the same mannerisms as a Golem.

Living Statues typically form from life-sized or lifelike statues in long abandoned locations rich in Demonic Energy, but sometimes form from loose accumulations of rubble, but also from the destroyed and collected remnants of a statue. They typically form from stone, as such the are rarer in areas where that is not the primary construction material (such as in Zipangu or the Mist Continent). Typically they act as wild Monsters, so they are treated as such, but if an adventurer is smart, he can use the same runes used to enchant Golems on the Living Statue to claim it as their own. This kind of behavior isn’t seen in other artifact spirits, hence they are on this list. The exact reasons for this behavior are currently under study.

Living Statues are tricky for adventurers since its very easy for them to lie perfectly still and fool the person entering the dungeon to thinking that they are completely inanimate. Then when the adventurer is least suspecting it they pounce on them. To counter this one should be suspicious of any statue they come across that is particularly womanly or seductive. An easy way to affirm whether a sculpture is living or not would be simply to grope them, if done by a man they will give themselves away immediately. At the same time however this could lead to the Golem attacking the man anyway.

Terracotta Soldier
A type of Golem that is unique to the Mist Continent. They were created in an era long forgotten, and their age is unknown. They were fashioned to protect the long dead city of a long dead leader of a long dead Kingdom of the the Mist Continent. Century after century they kept to their posts unwavering in their vigil until eventually the current Demon Lord took-over. With their newfound intellect they realized they had no memory as to what they were doing or why, and slowly began to question their positions, and began to trickle out across the Mist Continent.Each Terracotta Soldier was made to be a complete and capable warrior. They are unlike most War Golems however, being made, as their name would suggest, from Terracotta rather than a sturdy metal, and were not created as a weapon of war, but were meant to guard a dead city, rather than see service on the battlefield.

From what observances of the Terracotta soldiers have been made, they were created to as realistically portray a Human Soldier (or at least one from an era in the Mist Continents distant past) as could be done back them. They each come equipped with a full set of armor and weapons, and have the knowledge necessary to use them capably. As a side note it seems unlikely that the ancient army with its attention to accuracy would have been made of all women as it is now. Most likely they were made to be all men. However Golems of old did not have a true gender, so most Terracotta soldiers aren’t bothered by this change. Though it seems that being designed to be as human-like as possible has aided their transition into modern monster-hood, and many seem to exhibit more behaviors than are typical of Golems.

Today Terracotta Soldiers wander all across the Mist Continent. Some have had difficulty adjusting to the modern society there, but many Terracotta Soldiers sell their services across the land hoping to one day find a Husband for themselves. On the other hand they are also frequently encountered on the roads as typical monsters, raiding, and knocking down men to take them to their own. In the Mist Continent some believe that it is possible to find a Terracotta Soldier who will take you back to the dead city she came from, that is laden down with more gold than lay in the ruins of the entire Desert Continent. As such, many treasure hunters of the land are accompanied by a Terracotta Soldier, but any tangible evidence that the dead city is still standing and contains any treasure are unconfirmed.

Gingerbread Women
Also known as a ‘Sugar Golem’, the Gingerbread Women is of mysterious origins with a body made out of sweet confections typically made of Gingerbread. A very rare creature, sightings of them have been reported in the Fairy Kingdom, and in Wonderland, but it is unknown if they originate from either. Unlike most Golems, they have distinct personalities, typically being brazen, obnoxious, or overly self-confidant, typically acting as troublemakers. Despite this they are very sweet and affectionate to those they care about. Their bodies are made from sweets and deserts, and their entire body has the taste of sugar to it. But because they are composed of sugar they are much weaker and less sturdy than the typical Golem, and they are particularly weak to water. This combined with their brash personality, they don’t make for attractive servants.

As said their origin is unknown, the motives for making a Golem out of Sugar are unclear. Some scholars have experimented with making Gingerbread Women of their own with limited success. Some speculate they arose from a particular part of the Fairy Kingdom, or from the Queen of Red Hearts mad machinations, and others hypothesize they come from an altogether separate Spirit Realm. However the current rarity of the species makes it difficult to get much concrete information and their difficult personalities makes scholarly interest low.

Chess-Set
An odd group of Golems, who are also natives to Wonderland. As with most Wonderlanders they have their own set of peculiarities. As the name suggests, they come in Sets, or groups, of Golems who are fundamentally polygamous and share a Husband between them.

To start with, Chess-Sets come in groups of five. And each member of a Chess-Set are almost like their own subspecies, varying in skills and power. Chess-Sets also have a unique ability to duplicate themselves, a skill they use both for battle, and for satisfying men. These duplicates share sensations and thoughts between one another, but can function with relative autonomy. If a duplicate falls in battle, then it simply vanishes, but there seems to be no distinction between a duplicate and a main body, it seems that any member of a Chess-Set will vanish unless there is only one body left. Of course they can’t use this ability at all times since it is tiring, but if pushed they can use it over the course of a prolonged battle. Oddly however, it seems that the stronger a member of a Chess-Set is, the less duplicates they can make.

From the weakest to the strongest, their are Pawns who have most duplicates at eight, Rooks, Knights, Bishops who have two each, and then finally the Queens, who don’t have any duplicates.

Chess-Sets spend the single portion of their lives as roaming bands of Mercenaries, looking for a Husband to claim as their King, and to carve out a Petty Kingdom for him to rule over. They desperately want a King to serve, and once they claim a man of their own, they serve as his court.

When it comes to physical appearances, Chess-Sets are a varied lot. They have a variety of body-types, skin, hair and eye colors, and various Monstrous qualities. Most Sets however have the qualities of Knights and Nobles of the Order Heartlands, especially concerning the fashion they wear, but there are also sets who take the appearance of lowborn peasants and there are also Sets who share the appearance of those in the Desert Region, the North Arctic Region, Zipangu, the Mist Continent, and many, many more. One of the more common types are Chess-Sets who bear similarities to other Monsters native to Wonderand (The Queen looking like a Jabberwock, the Bishop appearing like a Mad Hatter, etc.). Even when it comes to the base material their bodies are made from, there are those made from stone like typical Golems, metals, like War Golems, and elemental magic like Atronachs.

Its said that the reason for this startling variety of appearances is because Chess-Sets want to stand out in order to better appeal to a man, and to help differentiate individual Sets from one another. Others may in their attempts to hone their skills for battle and for service to their King, become enamored with a specific culture or group, and they come to identify with them.

Lastly, it should be said that each Set belongs to either a faction of Chess-Sets who wear white armor, or a faction who wears black armor (the armor of either faction may have either silver or gold highlights, which sometimes is incorporated into their bodies as well). When white armored Sets, and black armored Sets meet each-other, they are required to do battle, with the white armored sets being given the first move. But its also important to note that this conflict doesn’t arise from some idealogical or prejudicial beliefs, it is simply an order of arbitrary rules given to the Chess Sets by the Queen of Red Hearts, who has two Sets to herself that she pits against each-other daily for the pleasure of being her Royal Guard. Opposing Chess-Sets simply view each-other as rivals, and nothing more, and their bouts often make for entertainment for various Wonderlanders.

When it comes to their combat skill, Chess-Sets seem uniquely uniform. Regardless if a Set armed with pitchforks and hoes went against a Set armed and armored as knights, or made of the elements and fought like battlemages, everything else being equal the the two sets would have an even ratio of wins and losses. According to them they were made to always have equal strength to one another to keep matches between them from being too predictable. Because of this the most important factor regarding the outcomes of a fight are strategy, rather than strength or talent. Unfortunately it seems that most members of a Chess-set have only a very rudimentary sense of Strategy amongst themselves. Hence they often rely on friends, or their Husband for strategic aid during fights.

The typical goal when fighting one another depends on married and unmarried sets. Unmarried sets prefer to simply try to overpower their opponents, however when facing married sets they prefer to try to overwhelm their opponents King, aka their husband. If they do so the Chess Set will immediately withdraw from battle to protect their King, and then comfort him on his loss.

Pawn
The weakest member of the set, but also seen as the backbone of the group. They act as scouts, and foot-soldiers on the battlefield, and as lowly servants off of it. They tend to do the busy work for the group, using their abilities to create eight duplicates of themselves to take care of work quickly and efficiently. Thanks to them the whole set runs efficiently. The appearances of Pawns typically reflect their lowly position as foot-soldiers and the weakest of the set, preferring simple weapons.

While rather slow and weak, they are also very brave, and as such they are typically the first to charge the enemy. Unfortunately this bravery can hinder the Pawns as well, as they never retreat from battle, and will steadfastly hold their position even if vastly outnumbered. While often dismissed in battle, clever tacticians can make clever use of their numbers and skills to turn the tide in battle. If used effectively their ability to hold their ground can block or shape enemy advances.

Curiously Pawns have a unique ability upon meeting certain conditions to take on the abilities and appearance of almost any opposing piece. Only one duplicate can have this ability at a time, for another duplicate of a Pawn to use this ability it must reach the conditions for doing so as well. Typically they take on the appearance of a Queen whenever possible since in the group dynamics of Chess-Sets the Pawns hold the most respect for Queens, and are even said to both admire them and idolize them, and be somewhat envious of them. Of course this ability only seems to last over the course of a single battle, but Pawns will also try to take advantage of it recreationally. Some Chessmasters purposefully orchestrate teams of Pawns to take on the appearance of their opposing team and upon winning proceed to ravish each duplicate.

Chess-sets view themselves as a royal court, each member occupying a role to serve their King, aka their husband. The pawns tend to take a dim view of their position when compared to the Knights, Bishops and Rooks. In particular they idolize the Queen, and hang on to her every word. However they constantly search for ways to make themselves useful to their King and their fellow Chess-Pieces

Rook
Rooks are quick strong and durable, and are able warriors. When it comes to the Royal Court, the Rooks are the enforcers, typically making them the muscle of the group. When in battle they charge headlong quickly into the face of the enemy. Unfortunately their battle prowess leaves little room for other techniques, meaning they should be managed carefully. When it comes to combat the rely primarily in speed and strength. The appearances of Rooks are the most traditionally Golem of the group, appearing like fortified castles or siege weapons, or an otherwise strong tough appearance that belies their speed, and use large weapons.

Rooks are considered to be about of equal status to Knights and Bishops in battle, but are only truly above Pawns in terms of the court. They, like Knights and Bishops, can create a single duplicate of them-self, and so are utilized as pairs in battle. Surprisingly the Rooks are also efficient homemakers, taking care of everyone’s outfits, cooking their meals, and keeping their weapons in keen repair.

Rooks are also occasionally used to help defend the King, staying towards the back, and rushing to their King should another piece threaten him.

Knight
The Knights are the most agile of the set, moving in irregular patterns, but prancing around the battlefield and their opponents, easily negating an enemies well laid defense. Their agility is especially useful to threaten other combatants without putting themselves at risk. Like Rooks they can make a single duplicate of themselves. The tend to have the most armored apparel and warrior-like appearance, and prefer single-handed weapons.

They view themselves as their Kings and Queens loyal vassal and servant, protecting and serving them. They also serve to ensure discipline in the various pieces.

Bishop
The Bishops fight in a slightly unique manner, they have speed and strength close to the rook, but move about the battlefield in peculiar ways, allowing them to strike at their enemies defenses in ways that the other pieces can't. They prefer the fashion of advisers, clergy, or other important statesmen who rarely see frontline combat, but prefer weapons such as staffs that are often used by mages.

Bishops prefer to serve the court with their minds, keeping records, and memorizing important information. It is their duty to deliver the commands made by the King and Queen, and are the penultimate ranked piece next to the Queen.

Queen
The highest ranking piece of the set, and the most powerful. She is the strongest and fastest, and can attack almost anywhere in battle. However unlike any other piece, she cannot create any duplicates, and must be managed carefully. The Queen dresses to reflect her rank, and often has the appearance of a royal, or at least is shown to be the most well off or powerful out of the set. Out of all pieces too the Queen is the most concerned with fashion (her shoes always match her dress), and is often the one that decides the appearance and dress of the entire set.

It is said that Queens have two sides to them. The warrior and statesmen, who is serious in her duties, and intimidating to her foes, and the loving wife, who acts in much the same way as any other slovenly lovesick monster. Oftentimes unmarried Queens will spend entire days daydreaming about how to ravish their husband when they obtain one. However when not trying to pamper her husband, she takes her duty as queen seriously, and administrates all the other pieces, and when they have taken their own plot of land, see to the needs of the Kingdom so efficiently the King rarely needs to be bothered.

Colossus
An incredibly ancient creation with heights sometimes comparable to mountains, they tower over most creations of man. It's believed that these creatures were made to fight in a great war of Titans and Gods far back into early pre-history, with the Colossi being the only remnants of the civilization that created them, and the enchantments required to make them having been lost to time.

A Collossus is one of the rarest monsters in existence, and years pass between even rumors of their sightings. Despite their large stature, they are believed to live in the largely uninhabited regions of the world, or have otherwise fallen into decreptness and disrepair for so long they've become a part of the landscape. Despite all this, Kingdoms may spend entire vaults of gold into discovering one to either learn more of its creation, or recover one intact to use it for its legendary battle prowess.

Concrete information on Colossi is very little. Many rumors and legends attest to various landmarks where a Colossus lay, and there are some dungeons that are believed to be the remains of a Colossus, even some cities are believed to be built into the ruins of a Colossus. However if recent rumors are to be believed, then even the might Colossus has been subject to the Demon Lord's rule. They say that the body of a Colossus has become only slightly feminine, but that within their massive bodies lie many intricate caverns and corridors where the core of the Colossus has become beautiful young woman in monster tradition, which controls the larger body. Once they have grabbed a man to be their husband, they take the man within their bodies, which is said to have the layout of an old castle, that is made to be his home. They also say the Colossus to aid their husband will also take in various monsters to serve as additional wives to give their husband more people to talk to, and to have them retrieve food, water, and other supplies for their husband. Their are also those who say that the Colossus' core will simply leave the main body with their Husband to enter into civilization, appearing like a typical Golem, before returning back to their large body that they treat as home.

As said, none of this information has been confirmed, but there is an unusual amount of consistency between the rumors and legends that lend them more credence.