GOLEMS
I blame you Ran. I truly do.
Just my own creation stuff. First off is the base materials and then the elements which get mixed in to give the Golems their traits. I may bring in a precious stones/gem section to give the Golems even more customizability and powers.
Golemology:
Main base ingredients
Clay
Kaolin - A very robust material that lends the Golem made from it with a higher degree of strength, yet it is not the most maleable and must be cast carefully or will come out looking malformed. This is a better suited base material for indestinct Golem shapes used for mostly guarding and security purposes rather than more skilled and dexterous tasks. The humanoid class of Golems are not generally made out of this type of clay due to the extreme difficulty of adding detail.
Fire Clay - A reddish hued clay that is easier to work with than Kaolin, mostly. It leaves the Golem with a red tint. Despite the name it does not imbue the Golem with any fire elemental powers or resistance.
Earthenware - A clay that contains fairly high concentrations of iron giving it a greater strength. Used primarily for the giant Golems who take on an almost earth elemental appearance, often mistaken for boulders when they are at rest. Useful for moving large amounts of earth for building as well as for defense.
Stoneware - As the name implies this clay is the strongest of its class. Used for Golems where strength is a priority. Usually leaves a dullish grey hue to the Golems made from it though other pigmentation may be added.
Porcelain - The clay most often employed when making humanoid Golems. It is a difficult substance to work with having very low plasticity and therefore requires a high level of dedication and perserverance to make a detailed humanoid Golem from. The Golem's "skin" tone can vary depending on pigmentation, if added. If no pigmentation is added the Golem will have extremely pale and smooth "skin". It is not a very strong substance and is thus not a first choice for Golems needed in protection or military situations.
Metals
Gold - A very expensive base material to start with and a very weak one at that. Generally used only by the extremely wealthy and only for servant purposes. Being that Gold Powder is also used to imbue a Golem with intellect and self-awareness these Golems also possess such qualities. This makes them useful as scholars in simple tasks or assistants and servants. A gold Golem is extremely rare owing to the fact that a great deal of gold is required in order to mold the shape desired.
Silver - Another expensive and weak metal. Since Silver Dust is used to give a Golem an attachment to the magical realm these Golems inherently possess such a power. They are commonly used as wizard assistants or on the battlefield casting offensive or protective spells from a distance. They are also costly to make and thus rare.
Iron - A very strong and common material making the Golems formed from it very formidable in battle. Can be made into many shapes to fit the desired need. When humanoid they are not often given many details as they are generally used for combat and do not need to be asthetically pleasing.
Bronze - Not as strong as Iron but the Golems made from this alloy look more stately and official yet cost less than gold and are not by default self-aware and intelligent. They make for good guards of estates.
Natural Products
Wood - A variety of sources and utlities make this an ideal choice for Golems to be used as grunts. Different trees can imbue these Golems with different strengths but they all have a similar weakness: fire. They burn quickly and are therefore not ideal for use anywhere fire may be a hazard. They are relatively cheap to make and if you are a skilled craftsman they can be as detailed as the creator sees fit.
Plant Life - Harder to sculpt than most materials, these Golem generally are more amorphous in design and their plants retain a lifelike quality. Vines can be employed as snares and they make for good traps in wooded locales or places heavy in foliage.
Cadavers - A more grotesque material used primarily by those with the intent to strike fear by using body parts in order to form their Golems. Necromancers seem to favor this method and it is ubiquitously thought of as evil.
Animal Remains - Also a very Necromatic trait. These Golems can be a mixing of animal parts and generally are quite grotesque.
The Elements
Antimony - A metalloid substance that resembles a metal in appearance and physical properties yet does not react chemically like a metal. Added to a Golem's constitution antimony generates a more wildlike nature and animalistic qualities. Best served for guard 'dog' like Golems or for when you have need for a mixture of power and a hunter's skill.
Arsenic - A notoriously poisonous metalloid substance. While deadly to humans it has no such effect on Golems. It has three allotropic forms; yellow, black, and grey. The yellow form grants intellect and clarity of mind, giving the Golem a higher level of intelligence. The black form commands mastery from the Golem, making it capable of mastering specific skills dependent on the Will of its creator and the Design it was made in. The grey form of arsenic is a balancing agent and is used often in the more humanoid forms of Golems to stabilize their "psyche".
Copper - A red hued metal notoriously linked to Venus/Aphrodite. The addition of copper to a Golem can imbue it with beauty and artistic creativity. Often used by the alchemists seeking to restore a former lover to life.
Gold - A very expensive transition metal and one of the most valued elements. The addition of this element grants the Golem self-awareness and perfection of mind. It allows a Golem to act in the interests of its Creator without having to be explicitly commanded. Good for when the Creator does not have the time or the desire to dole out every command but would rather the Golem intuitively learn the Will of its Creator and follow it through with a limited amount of free-thinking. It does not grant a Golem free-will as this is impossible to do.
Iron - a very common metal and believed to be the tenth most abundant in the known universe. Adding iron to a Golem gives it physical strength and more male character and energy.
Lead - a bluish-white metal. Lead will give a Golem an understanding of the philosophies and when combined with gold will lead a Golem to a greater understanding of Self and what it is to be a Golem. Not a very widely used combination for the more mechanical Golems as they have no need to ponder on the meaning of life. For scholarly assistants this combination is highly preferred.
Magnesium - a flammable metal when in thin strips and once ignited it is difficult to extinguish. As such this metal gives the Golem a near infinite life flame, making it difficult to destroy. A very sought after material for soldier Golems.
Mercury - A metal that is liquid at room temperature. When added to a Golem Mercury gives it a significant increase in mental speed, able to process multiple sources of information at once along with storing information. Useful for the scholars who wish to have a personal database walking beside them which can easily and quickly retrieve stored information at the Command of its Creator.
Phosphorous - Represents spiritual illumination. Adding phosphorous to a Golem ties it to its maker through Spirit, giving the Creator a greater degree of freedom in control of his/her Golem. Combined with gold it will grant a Golem a very perceptive nature, often anticipating commands before even the Creator realizes that he wishes it done.
Platinum - Imbues the Golem with perserverence and a greater endurance. A choice element for Golems designed for a specific task that they will doggedly persue until either it is completed or they are utterly destroyed.
Salt - A required component for Golem creation. Being seen as the base matter, salt is used as a base component believed to be neccessary in the combination of other ingredients.
Silver - Another of the expensive metals though it is less costly and rare as gold. Silver is used to give a Golem intuition, inner wisdom, and contemplation. Most sought after by the scholars for use in their Golem assistants for the task of research that can be done independently of the Creator.
Sulfur - A yellow crystalline solid that when added to a Golem gives it something that could be akin to a soul. The symbol for sulfur represents the triad of ascention which can be viewed as a holy trinity. Sulfur is a necessary ingredient in Golemology to bring the Golem to "life". Without it the Golem remains a machine with no ability to move other than when commanded to do so. Varying amounts of sulfur will have varying effects. A small amount will give 'life' to a Golem but leave it a drone whereas a high concentration of sulfur will give the Golem the same sense of right and wrong as the Creator has.
Tin - Another necessary element for creating a Golem. Being ruled by Jupiter this element is often associated with the Breath of Life. Without it no Golem can even be animated in the first place, whether as a simple machine or as a more complex 'individual'.
Just my own creation stuff. First off is the base materials and then the elements which get mixed in to give the Golems their traits. I may bring in a precious stones/gem section to give the Golems even more customizability and powers.
Golemology:
Main base ingredients
Clay
Kaolin - A very robust material that lends the Golem made from it with a higher degree of strength, yet it is not the most maleable and must be cast carefully or will come out looking malformed. This is a better suited base material for indestinct Golem shapes used for mostly guarding and security purposes rather than more skilled and dexterous tasks. The humanoid class of Golems are not generally made out of this type of clay due to the extreme difficulty of adding detail.
Fire Clay - A reddish hued clay that is easier to work with than Kaolin, mostly. It leaves the Golem with a red tint. Despite the name it does not imbue the Golem with any fire elemental powers or resistance.
Earthenware - A clay that contains fairly high concentrations of iron giving it a greater strength. Used primarily for the giant Golems who take on an almost earth elemental appearance, often mistaken for boulders when they are at rest. Useful for moving large amounts of earth for building as well as for defense.
Stoneware - As the name implies this clay is the strongest of its class. Used for Golems where strength is a priority. Usually leaves a dullish grey hue to the Golems made from it though other pigmentation may be added.
Porcelain - The clay most often employed when making humanoid Golems. It is a difficult substance to work with having very low plasticity and therefore requires a high level of dedication and perserverance to make a detailed humanoid Golem from. The Golem's "skin" tone can vary depending on pigmentation, if added. If no pigmentation is added the Golem will have extremely pale and smooth "skin". It is not a very strong substance and is thus not a first choice for Golems needed in protection or military situations.
Metals
Gold - A very expensive base material to start with and a very weak one at that. Generally used only by the extremely wealthy and only for servant purposes. Being that Gold Powder is also used to imbue a Golem with intellect and self-awareness these Golems also possess such qualities. This makes them useful as scholars in simple tasks or assistants and servants. A gold Golem is extremely rare owing to the fact that a great deal of gold is required in order to mold the shape desired.
Silver - Another expensive and weak metal. Since Silver Dust is used to give a Golem an attachment to the magical realm these Golems inherently possess such a power. They are commonly used as wizard assistants or on the battlefield casting offensive or protective spells from a distance. They are also costly to make and thus rare.
Iron - A very strong and common material making the Golems formed from it very formidable in battle. Can be made into many shapes to fit the desired need. When humanoid they are not often given many details as they are generally used for combat and do not need to be asthetically pleasing.
Bronze - Not as strong as Iron but the Golems made from this alloy look more stately and official yet cost less than gold and are not by default self-aware and intelligent. They make for good guards of estates.
Natural Products
Wood - A variety of sources and utlities make this an ideal choice for Golems to be used as grunts. Different trees can imbue these Golems with different strengths but they all have a similar weakness: fire. They burn quickly and are therefore not ideal for use anywhere fire may be a hazard. They are relatively cheap to make and if you are a skilled craftsman they can be as detailed as the creator sees fit.
Plant Life - Harder to sculpt than most materials, these Golem generally are more amorphous in design and their plants retain a lifelike quality. Vines can be employed as snares and they make for good traps in wooded locales or places heavy in foliage.
Cadavers - A more grotesque material used primarily by those with the intent to strike fear by using body parts in order to form their Golems. Necromancers seem to favor this method and it is ubiquitously thought of as evil.
Animal Remains - Also a very Necromatic trait. These Golems can be a mixing of animal parts and generally are quite grotesque.
The Elements
Antimony - A metalloid substance that resembles a metal in appearance and physical properties yet does not react chemically like a metal. Added to a Golem's constitution antimony generates a more wildlike nature and animalistic qualities. Best served for guard 'dog' like Golems or for when you have need for a mixture of power and a hunter's skill.
Arsenic - A notoriously poisonous metalloid substance. While deadly to humans it has no such effect on Golems. It has three allotropic forms; yellow, black, and grey. The yellow form grants intellect and clarity of mind, giving the Golem a higher level of intelligence. The black form commands mastery from the Golem, making it capable of mastering specific skills dependent on the Will of its creator and the Design it was made in. The grey form of arsenic is a balancing agent and is used often in the more humanoid forms of Golems to stabilize their "psyche".
Copper - A red hued metal notoriously linked to Venus/Aphrodite. The addition of copper to a Golem can imbue it with beauty and artistic creativity. Often used by the alchemists seeking to restore a former lover to life.
Gold - A very expensive transition metal and one of the most valued elements. The addition of this element grants the Golem self-awareness and perfection of mind. It allows a Golem to act in the interests of its Creator without having to be explicitly commanded. Good for when the Creator does not have the time or the desire to dole out every command but would rather the Golem intuitively learn the Will of its Creator and follow it through with a limited amount of free-thinking. It does not grant a Golem free-will as this is impossible to do.
Iron - a very common metal and believed to be the tenth most abundant in the known universe. Adding iron to a Golem gives it physical strength and more male character and energy.
Lead - a bluish-white metal. Lead will give a Golem an understanding of the philosophies and when combined with gold will lead a Golem to a greater understanding of Self and what it is to be a Golem. Not a very widely used combination for the more mechanical Golems as they have no need to ponder on the meaning of life. For scholarly assistants this combination is highly preferred.
Magnesium - a flammable metal when in thin strips and once ignited it is difficult to extinguish. As such this metal gives the Golem a near infinite life flame, making it difficult to destroy. A very sought after material for soldier Golems.
Mercury - A metal that is liquid at room temperature. When added to a Golem Mercury gives it a significant increase in mental speed, able to process multiple sources of information at once along with storing information. Useful for the scholars who wish to have a personal database walking beside them which can easily and quickly retrieve stored information at the Command of its Creator.
Phosphorous - Represents spiritual illumination. Adding phosphorous to a Golem ties it to its maker through Spirit, giving the Creator a greater degree of freedom in control of his/her Golem. Combined with gold it will grant a Golem a very perceptive nature, often anticipating commands before even the Creator realizes that he wishes it done.
Platinum - Imbues the Golem with perserverence and a greater endurance. A choice element for Golems designed for a specific task that they will doggedly persue until either it is completed or they are utterly destroyed.
Salt - A required component for Golem creation. Being seen as the base matter, salt is used as a base component believed to be neccessary in the combination of other ingredients.
Silver - Another of the expensive metals though it is less costly and rare as gold. Silver is used to give a Golem intuition, inner wisdom, and contemplation. Most sought after by the scholars for use in their Golem assistants for the task of research that can be done independently of the Creator.
Sulfur - A yellow crystalline solid that when added to a Golem gives it something that could be akin to a soul. The symbol for sulfur represents the triad of ascention which can be viewed as a holy trinity. Sulfur is a necessary ingredient in Golemology to bring the Golem to "life". Without it the Golem remains a machine with no ability to move other than when commanded to do so. Varying amounts of sulfur will have varying effects. A small amount will give 'life' to a Golem but leave it a drone whereas a high concentration of sulfur will give the Golem the same sense of right and wrong as the Creator has.
Tin - Another necessary element for creating a Golem. Being ruled by Jupiter this element is often associated with the Breath of Life. Without it no Golem can even be animated in the first place, whether as a simple machine or as a more complex 'individual'.