Golem

Long ago, the priests of ancient religions mastered a technique to bring them closer to their god: the animation of clay into a living being. These clay beings, called golems, are animated by placing a piece of paper with the name of the priest's god within the golem's mouth (or, in some cases, by carving a holy word on the golem's forehead). Though they are intelligent as a result of their divine blessing, golems generally don't act unless commanded to, and they rarely have the capacity for speech, a gift the gods bestowed on their creations alone. Instead, they use their intelligence to facilitate their maker's communion with their god in divine rites unknown outside of a religion's most faithful.

In some oppressed communities, golems serve as protectors against outside violence, fighting as a last resort but aiming to defuse situations first. Other times, the golem operates as a guardian to a temple or helper to a holy person. In rare cases, golems have been known to go on rampages when they aren't allowed a day of rest every week. These rampages can be extremely destructive to the communities the golems otherwise protect, so makers must endeavor to take good care of their creations.

Golem legends are diverse and widespread across the Inner Sea region and beyond. Some tell of even stranger powers bestowed on the golem, such as the ability to summon the spirits of the dead. Golems with such abilities are undoubtedly created by the most holy of priests, attuned to their god beyond what most mortals could hope to accomplish.