Golem

Golems predate any known literature about their creation. The wizard who discovered the process, if indeed there was only one, is unknown. Some of those who rediscovered their secrets have written their secrets in various arcane manuals, enchanted to aid the reader in construction. It is thought that the first golem created was a flesh golem, possibly an accident of some great wizard experimenting with reanimating human bodies. Flesh golems are easier to make than any other sort because they are made of organic material that once lived. Later, the process was generalized to suit certain earthen materials, which produce much stronger golems.

Most golems are made from elemental material. The exceptions, such as the flesh golem, use organic materials as components. The animating force of the golem is an elemental spirit from the Elemental Plane of Earth. Since the spirit is not a natural part of the body, it is not affected by most spells or even by most weapons (see individual descriptions). The process of creating the golem binds the unwilling spirit to the artificial body, and enslaves it to the will of the golem's creator.

Note: Golems originally appeared in this form in the 2nd Edition Monstrous Manual for the AD&D game from TSR. Their use here is for the purposes of providing context for the campaign only.