Colliding Destinies

Golem/Child

This story begins in the Hissing Woodland outside the city of Milmond.

in the year 597 PS, an infant girl was left at the foot of the forest. it isn't known why she was there, and no one cared to check or even take her away from this place until a druid came upon her. She took her into the heart of the forest, and nothing is known of what happened in the next few years. at age 10, the child was like any of the denizens of the forest, preferring to live among the wolves rather than find her way out until she came upon a small village that cropped up. she went to this place and saw people like herself.

when the people saw the animalistic girl they became afraid and shunned her away from the village even going so far as to try and throw rocks and sticks at her.

being pursued by continuing persecution, she ran and was followed to the edge of town. As the people raised more stones to throw, she found herself shielded from the rain and the stones. hearing soft metallic noises above her, she looks into the enormous visage of an automaton looking at her with the inquisitive look that is always on his face along with as much softness as he can muster. In a monotone, but not inhuman, he says, "It is ok. I will not let them hurt you."

he picks her up and instructs her to hold on to his back as he carts her away to find safety.

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In the year 559 PS, the arcane engineer known as Bianca Rockwood has a plan unlike any other. She plans to make a great arcane machine that, she believes, will have many uses. An automaton that can be used as a friend, a butler, a herder, automatic farmer, and with her built-in combat logic system, it can even be used as a bodyguard. all she needs is a source of power for the arcane engine that makes this machine run.

She spends years running herself ragged, trying to find a solution. She uses everything she can think of, goes to great arcane libraries and schools, and even talks with several magistrates of different levels to find anything that may work within the realm of possibility.

It is one night she spends in a stupor of despair that the idea dawns on her. "I've been looking at everything within the realm of possibility. Perhaps it is time to look outside the box of our own reality."

she summons up all her power, pulling at the very weave itself. Plucking a soul from the afterlife, she uses her power to start the great arcane engine. in a moment of elation that turns into terror, she sees before her the horrible visage of Vuris herself before bursting into flame and burning to ash. At the same moment, the Golem springs to life and runs through the wall of the small hut out into the night.

This golem wanders for many years, not knowing who he is beyond his awareness of being an arcane Golem and the internal feeling that he was once something different. His non-understanding fills him with something he can only describe as anger. Only he shouldn't be able to feel anger, right?

His wanderings bring him to the village, where he sees people following a young girl throwing rocks and sticks. This fills him with anger once more, more than anger. It fills him with an indescribable rage.

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He takes her from that place, and she sticks with him and he with her.

over many trials, he teaches her to speak, to read, to fight with the small dagger he gives to her. and he teaches her to shoot a bow.

She grows into a young woman who finds her talents in the bow, tracking, and small amounts of natural magic.

5 years into their wanderings, she turns and surprises him with her speech. "What is your name?"

He kneels to her level and gives her a proud smile that turns confused. His monotone voice speaks, "I do not know. I know deep down that I was something else before this existence, but I do not remember what I was called. I only know what I am now, a Golem."

She smiles at him. "Then...that is your name. Golem."

He looks on, still surprised by her words and how much care she places into choosing them.

He smiles and looks at her. "Then, I suppose, that makes your name Child."

She smiles and gives his metal frame an awkward hug. "I love it."

They use their talents to do mercenary work to survive as they move from place to place.