Golems
This article is about a type of magical elemental construct. For the gigantic humanoids from Ultima III (sometimes called golems), see Giants.
| Golems | |
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 Golem, from Memoirs of Sir Cabirus | |
| Variants: | ice golems earth golems stone golems iron golems |
| First appearance: | Ultima III |
| Last appearance: | Ultima IX |
Golems are magical constructs created out of basic elements. They appear in Ultima VII, Ultima VIII and Ultima IX as well as in Ultima Underworld and Ultima Underworld II.
Description[edit]
Golems are mighty humanoids crafted out of basic materials such as earth, stone, ice or metal. Summoned to life by magicians and artificers, such creatures typically prove more than a match for even the most seasoned of warriors, and are exceedingly difficult to destroy. Some golems are capable of speech and may be employed to perform rudimentary tasks for their creators, serving as guards, soldiers and workmen. On Anodunos, one such worker golem could be found guarding the remnants of the city-state's water system, even centuries after the kingdom had fallen,[1] and on Pagan, necromancers would summon such constructs to fight alongside them.
On the remote Isle of Fire, one could even find golems capable of empathy and love. Crafted by the sage Astelleron, these twin beings had been imbued with living hearts fashioned from the Stone of Castambre, and were able to learn, form friendships and grasp such concepts as Compassion and self-Sacrifice.[2]
Lore[edit]
| “ | Whether these monsters are natural to this chasm, or whether they were created here by long-ago wizards experimenting with dark forces, our wisest men cannot say. What we do know is that the Golems attack us on sight, and that no single mortal warrior has yet been a match for their fearsome strength and resistance to damage. Each type of Golem appears to have been formed from a different element, and they also differ somewhat in mass. The Earth Golem, a brown-hued figure composed of solidified soil, is the smallest. Still, it is a formidable creature best tackled by well-armed opponents. Knight Galloway claims that he once escaped from such a Golem by entering a maze of passageways — he thinks these beasts track their foes by eyesight, and are probably hard of hearing. The Stone Golem is larger than the Earth Golem, and can be recognized by its gray color. As it can slay a man in as few as two blows, and since it would seem to take many sword strikes to slay it, our Knights only tackle this opponent in teams. Worst of all these unnatural creatures is the Metal Golem, noted for its mottled rust-and-steel appearance. Few weapons can dent this massive being, while a single blow from a Metal Golem can leave a warrior crippled for life. Knight Galloway concluded that Metal Golems were practically blind, but his recent death at their hands has put this theory into disrepute. – from Memoirs of Sir Cabirus (Ultima Underworld)
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| “ | However, I digress. By far the most intriguing creatures I have come across are the stone golems. I had heard nothing more than mere rumors prior to my arrival here, but seeing the mobile masses of rock have convinced me of their existence. Astelleron was quite a master, indeed, for his workmanship is beautiful. I know nothing of their sentience, for they have never spoken to me. To be honest, I am not even sure they are aware of my intrusion, for I have yet to venture near one of the Shrines. I hope soon to journey back to what I have assumed is Astelleron’s hovel and learn more about their creation, but that will come after my other research. Regardless of how the golems were constructed, I am confident more than an ordinary sword would be necessary to stop them. – from A Guide to the Isle of Fire (Ultima VII)
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| “ | This spell calls up a creature made of Earth, generally in the shape of a man, to perform the bidding of the caster. It follows a few terse commands, usually understanding statements to retrieve or open things. – from The Chronicle of Pagan (Ultima VIII)
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| “ | The Hall is guarded by doors which no living creature may open. In order to gain entrance, you must raise a golem of the very element which is our lord, Lithos. Now listen carefully, for like the other Necromancers, I will only tell you this spell once. Blood, Bone, Wood, Dirt and Blackmoor. Say these words of power; In Ort Ylem Xen. Focus this magic upon a broad space of mud and the golem will be created. Seek out Stone Cove. You shall reach it by way of the catacombs. Once you have found Stone Cove, there you shall need to create your golem. Only the golem shall be able to open the door which shall stand before you. – from Ancient Necromancers (Ultima VIII)
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Notable Examples[edit]
- Golem: an artificially created golem in the Stygian Abyss who served as a trial for those seeking the Shield of Valor in Ultima Underworld.
- Sentinel 868: an ice golem who guarded the dam controls to the city of Anodunos in Ultima Underworld II.
- Bollux and Adjhar: two brother golems created by Asterellon on the Isle of Fire; their struggle to save one another comprises the Test of Love in Forge of Virtue.
Trivia[edit]
- Golems have their origins in real world Jewish folklore. The most tale featuring a golem is that of Judah Loew ben Bezalel's Golem of Prague – a clay creature which was brought to life to defend the persecuted Jews of the city's ghetto before it became unmanageably violent and had to be destroyed.[3]
- A golem creature picture for The Chronicle of Pagan was drawn, but then not used for whatever reason. The picture can be seen above.
Gallery[edit]
An Ultima IX stone golem
Fighting a golem
The ritual to revive Adjhar in Ultima VII
See Also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Sentinel 868. Ethereal Dragon’s Ultima Underworld II transcript. Ultima Underworld II.
- ↑ Astelleron. Logbook of Astelleron (Ultima VII – in-game).
- ↑ “Golem”. Wikipedia. Retrieved 2012-07-01.