The Golem
Jaime Evron wiped sweat from his eyes despite the coldness of the room. This was
always the most difficult stage. The room was lit with an oil lamp, the shade of with
was painted with an ink solution to dim its already feeble light further. Irritation
flickered across Jaime’s face as the lamp guttered for a moment. The room of the
Master Artificer had all the charm of a drain. It was necessary though. Without the
cold, the corpse would spoil; any bright light may startle it when it awoke. A wet
crunch. One of the alchemists lashed the sternum back together with cat gut. The
flesh was drawn closed and stitched. Upon its jaw a tattoo was being worked, the
mark of its new owner.
"You do always manage to find the pretty ones."
Jaime hadn’t heard the Thread Weaver arrive and tried to restrain a shudder.
"Is it done?"
"Yes"
"Then leave, all of you."
Gratefully Jaime withdrew and once the other alchemists had stepped out of the
room closed the heavy wooden door. Leaning against it, he listened as the
footsteps receded until he was certain he was alone.
Then he retched.
Whenever there is a task too distasteful or filthy, a golem will do it. Whenever a great weight must be lifted a golem will do it.
The golem were born out of the rivalry between the Alchemists and the Thread Weavers. The Alchemists were envious of the skills of the Weavers and their knowledge of things unseen. Upon their advent, the Alchemists had gone from being revered as having near godlike powers to being just another group of scientists. They attempted to glean as much of the Weavers' jealously guarded knowledge as was possible. After many failed experiments conducted with limited knowledge the alchemists decided to sponsor their own candidate into the school of Thread Weaving, known of as the Academy. Cyranus Folia, a minor noble and alchemical apprentice, was selected.
Despite his enthusiasm the young Alchemist was ill prepared to learn the subtle arts of the Threads. He was more used to formulaic teachings with measured ingredients and expected reliable results. He left after six months having only managed to master the basics. Cyranus returned to the guild with the meagre information that he had learned. The guild heads took this and tried to apply it to their own experiments. All they knew for certain was that the Threads were essential to the existence of all life, and that these Threads could be manipulated when exposed to lalenthrium. They also knew that lalenthrium seemed to anchor groups of Threads, what the Academy referred to as "Tapestries". To be able to control something essential to life appealed greatly to the Alchemists.
They hoped that the manipulation of the Threads would enable them to give life to inanimate objects, create life from nothing. The first golem created were made of clay and wood and were all disastrous failures. The golem would move about and were responsive to their environment but would accept no commands. They had no concept of pain or death and did not know how to react to living people. They either treated them as another piece of furniture or became violent if the human attempted to restrict their actions.
Up until this point the Academy had observed their efforts with mild amusement but now that the Alchemists began to meet with some success, albeit limited, they began to take a more active interest. The head of the Academy at that time was Levacedus Aeolus. Realising the potential of the golem he observed one evening that "the cause of their failure isn't in their methods but rather their subjects. They could animate something, but they couldn't give it a soul. Would they consider a different approach?" Both irritated and intrigued, the guild allowed Levacedus limited access to their notes. After a further year of study it was discovered that by a combination of chemistry and Thread Weaving, a recently deceased corpse could be re-animated and made to obey instruction.
Knowledge of the process was highly restricted. Golem began to be adapted for use in specific tasks, or to be loyal to one person. A warrior golem may have armour grafted to its chest, a smith's golem, a hammer to its arm. Experiments are continuing to find out how much of the original flesh may be removed before the golem ceases to function.
The golem craftsmen, called Artificers, were very careful in their introduction of golem to the city. So far only the bodies of criminals have been used and very occasionally the bodies of the very poor that the family have been forced to sell out of desperation. Despite their usefulness, Lalenth is still undecided. The Apothecaries Guild's voice is the loudest of those objecting to golem. What concerns the people is the possibility that the golem may still carry the consciousness of the deceased. The Alchemists and Thread Weavers insist that the soul of the person is gone and is not aware of what is being done to its corpse. This has not stopped the people calling the fine mesh of lalenthrium used in the resurrection a "Soul Net".
Our current belief is that a being comprises two distinct parts - the body and the soul. The body controls all movement and physical functions. The soul controls all higher functions and emotions. Both are perishable and mortal although the soul is considered to be more fragile. This judgement is based on the body disintegrating at a slower pace after death. It is this that makes the process of golem creation possible and ethical.
The greatest outcry occurs over the sport of "Golem Baiting". Battles are held between competing golem, where the aim of each is to render each other immobile. The fights are bloody and gruesome to watch but still attract crowds in their hundreds. The golem used are often specially adapted by their owners, with grafted on armour or weapons. Chain links are attached at limb joints to prevent arms and legs being severed. Needless to say, this sport is extremely expensive and often only the nobles can afford to actually enter golem. However, anyone can place wagers, large or small on the outcome. Many members of the Merchant's Guild have become rich by opening up a sideline as bookies.
The Apothecaries Guild have long been attempting to have this sport outlawed and have brought their case before the Star Chamber many times. At the last hearing it was decided that the sport should be permitted to continue. The late General Achran Vishreon, on advisement from the Alchemists Guild and the Academy of Thread Weavers, declared that as the golem had no consciousness and to best evidence had no conception of pain or fear, there was no harm done. "Indeed" he said, "I have seen more fear in the eyes of a hunted stag, yet the Apothecaries don't cry out in defence of them! Then again a golem is far less appetising!"
Very occasionally a golem will for no apparent reason cease to obey the instructions of its master and go, for want of a better term, insane. One such creature like this rampaged through the Wastelands killing numerous Huntsmen and miners. What was most frightening in its behaviour was the way in which it killed. It did not simply rage, murdering randomly. This golem killed methodically, calmly and inexorably - even ensuring that it cut of all means of escape for it's victims before beginning to kill. The story was to a certain extent suppressed but speculations and the ever present rumour mill have given the population of Lalenth a new cautiousness around the golem.