Golemoids

Golemoids (Forma Mineralis) are a species that have diverged from Golemni, and are native to Rathnir. Golemoids look quite similar to Golemni due to their common ancestry. Unlike Golemni however, Golemoids are able to create more of themselves throughout their growth stages. It is unknown if they were created or if they evolved naturally. We do know that they originate from the caves of Rathnir, and are comprised of different ores and gemstones.

Biology
Golemoids are inorganic and do not have any organic functions, and are thought to primarily have sentience and sapience through the magical essence contained within them instead of any sort of brain. It is understood that Golemoids may come in many different shapes and sizes, as well as color and tone. No one Golemoid is the same as another, and many sometimes may confuse different Golemoid groups as separate from the Golemoid species. It is also well understood that Golemoids cannot originate from regular stones or non-ore or gemstone minerals. It is still being hypothesized as to why this is. Due to the nature of Golemoids, it is assumed that they are immortal, as they do not physically age like other species. The only real signs of 'age' on a Golemoid are their size and amount of magical essence within a Golemoid.

Anatomy
Golemoids are composed of the material ore or gemstone that they originate from. These bodies are more so vessels to contain the magical essence that composes the interior of a Golemoid. This magical essence can grow over time, and through this growth, a Golemoid is able to add more and more material to itself. It is proposed that if given enough minerals and time, a Golemoid can become as large as a mountain, if not larger, however there have been no documented cases of this, and many Golemoids are about 7-18 feet (2.5-5.5 meters) tall on average. Golemoids can add other minerals to their bodies other than the one the ore or gemstone that they originated from, but it is more so for a decorative purpose than for a functional one. Interestingly, Golemoids can choose to alter and shape their bodies based on personal preference. There are no defined genders, but it is not uncommon for Golemoids to choose a gender and shape their bodies in a way that might be masculine or feminine. It is also just as common that Golemoids do not take a gender at all.

Growth Cycle
Golemoids reproduce primarily asexually, and it is not uncommon for Golemoids to not know who their parent was. This is due to that during the growth cycle of Golemoids, some essence may be shed to add more minerals to themselves, and this essence can go on to create another Golemoid without the knowledge of the Parent Golemoid. This only occurs if a Golemoid is near an ore or gemstone, and it may often not be known if an ore or gemstone has become a Golemoid until an Oreling breaks free of the stone around it. Golemoids typically reach 'maturity' around 30-40 years of growth, however there can be variation as Golemoids may gain more or less mass in different amounts of time depending on abundancy or scarcity of a material.

Orelings
Orelings are the first stage of growth, and they are often small, and without much essence within them. These small constructs of ore or gemstone are about 1-3 feet in height, and spend most of their period as an Oreling in caves, adding more mass to them from surround ores or gemstones that match themselves. It is very rare to see Orelings, as they often avoid larger things than themselves, and are very skittish by nature. They often find themselves in groups of 3-6 for safety, and often this is how Golemoids develop their social groups. Once a certain critical mass is reached, Golemoids will transform into Golemites, the second growth stage of Golemoids.

Golemites
Golemites are the second stage of growth for a Golemoid, and many Golemoids remain a Golemite for their entire lives if they cannot get any more minerals to expand with. They are about the size of an average human, and have much more essence within them compared to an Oreling. Many Golemites may act as a leader or protector of Orelings that are apart of their social group, as they have grown much stronger than an Oreling. Golemites, just like Orelings, spend most of their time looking for material to add to their body. Golemites are often much less skittish than Orelings and will often interact with other races. While some do emerge from the caverns in which they originate, this is rare, and is not a common occurrence among Golemoids. Once Golemites gather enough material, they will go into a hibernation period and become Golems.

Golems
Golems are the final stage of growth for a Golemoid, and from this point forward growth is not a priority, and many Golemoids may stop gathering minerals and growing in size here. These Golemoids are much taller than Golemites, and are often the height of small trees. Many Golems are centuries old, and may lead a community of Golemites and Orelings. Due to their size, Golems tend to be quite powerful, but are known for their tender nature towards those smaller to them. It is rare to see Golems, as many live underground, and those who live above ground tend to be reserved and often may not emerge from an isolated space unless needed. While theoretically, Golems may grow as large as small hills or mountains, many do not choose to grow any more once they become a Golem, and will give any minerals they find to smaller Orelings and Golemites.

Culture
Unfortunately, not a lot of Golemoid culture has been documented, as Golemoids tend to be more reserved and private about their culture when it comes to other races, however we currently do know of their hierarchical structures and how they decide leaders thanks to a few Golemoids who felt it necessary to document their race.

Hierarchy
From what can be discerned, Hierarchy is decided in any given Golemoid community is based on three primary factors, however this is not always the case and some communities may have different structures based on local practices. The generally agreed upon factors however are:


 * 1) Size
 * 2) Stage of Growth Cycle
 * 3) Amount of Magical Essence

Size is often the key factor for deciding a leader in any Golemoid community. This is due to the fact that the larger a Golemoid is, the more likely it is that they will move on to the next growth cycle, or that they are strong. This is a priority for Golemoids, as strength allows for a Golemoid Leader to efficiently lead and defend a community of Golemoids.

The next determining factor, and what often correlates with size, is the stage that a Golemoid is in. Leaders are most often the oldest in Golemoid communities due to their size, strength, wisdom, and power. Many Golemoids will automatically follow the oldest in any given social group, but this may be overridden if a larger Golemoid enters a community.

Finally, Magical Essence, or the 'Spirit', is the currently thought source of a Golemoids sentience and ability to move, is another factor when deciding a leader. While most Golemoids cannot utilize the Magical Essence within them due to the danger it poses to use too much of it, those who are able to are often looked on with respect and are considered powerful. Golemoids with the ability to harness this Magical Essence are able to perform feats of sorcery and imbuing. Most commonly, Lapis Lazuli Golems can harness their Magic Essence due to the magical properties of Lapis Lazuli.

Until more is found out about the culture and race of Golemoids, this page will remain incomplete.