Illustration of an extremely complex, steampunk-style mechanical horse. The machine parts are showing on the side of the horse’s body, but pieces of carved wood with an attached mane and tail cover the their rump, neck, and face. This illustration is altered from a digital artwork by nokono.
Sapient Pronunciation: SAY-pee-uhnt
Overview: A Sapient Construct is an object built by a person that has gained a magical form of animation and sapience, meaning that they are capable of human-like thought.
Physical Description: Any object shaped or constructed by a person can become a Sapient Construct. Because objects shaped like living beings, such as statues, become sapient more easily than other kinds of objects, the majority of sapient constructs are shaped like humanoids and animals. Sapient sculptures, clockwork automatons, and stuffed animals are all particularly common. In most cases, the magic that animates the Sapient Construct is the same magic that makes it sapient.
Awakening: Each Sapient Construct gains sapience in a unique magical event. This event is called the Sapient Construct’s awakening. Because each awakening is unique, so are its magical effects. Some awakenings are intentional, while others are accidental. For example, an animated suit of armor used to defend a town might become sapient when a spell designed to enhance it goes awry. Or an explorer’s tool chest could be awakened by the unpredictable magic of the Warped Magic Zone they are exploring. Another example is a Sapient Construct parent that procreates by intentionally creating a Sapient Construct child.
Gender: Gender is extremely varied among Sapient Constructs, with each individual’s unique history having a big impact on their gender identity. Non-binary genders are common, and many Sapient Constructs are agender.
Senses: The senses of a Sapient Construct depend on their physical and magical construction. Many have senses that are about as keen as an average human.
Diet: While Sapient Constructs don’t eat food, they do need to regularly replenish their energy source. For example, a steam-powered machine might need fuel for their furnace, a clockwork automaton might need their spring wound, and a magically-animated object might need to drain raw magic from magic storage orbs. The exact details depend on the nature and history of each Sapient Construct, but they all need something.
Common Mental Characteristics: Each Sapient Construct has unique mental characteristics that come out of the specific circumstances of their awakening.
Magical Affinities:
Common Species Traits:
Common Vulnerabilities:
- Permanent Glow
- Noisy Form
- Heat Sensitivity
- Cold Sensitivity
- Specific Damage Vulnerability
- Limited Body Part
- Limited Object Manipulation
- Sharp Exterior
- Water Absorbent Body
History: While Sapient Constructs don’t have a group history, they each have an important personal history of how they were made and where their consciousness came from.
Prominent Cultures: Each Sapient construct has a unique cultural history and position based on their unique origins.
Respectful Portrayal Notes: With characters that are mentally non-human, there is a risk of accidentally acting out stereotypes of neurodivergent people, such as the stereotype that adults with developmental disabilities are innocent and child-like. Even when these stereotypes are applied to non-human characters, acting them out reinforces them. However, when people are aware of the risk and some care is put in, there is plenty of room to use mentally non-human characters to respectfully explore both real and fictional neurodivergence.
If you are exploring a type of neurodivergence that you don’t have, I recommend starting by getting clear what it is that you want to explore, then looking up myths and stereotypes about any disabilities that people might associate with that thing.
Another important thing to know is that the term “golem,” a term frequently used for animated constructs within the fantasy genre, originated in Jewish culture and has deep cultural meaning. Some Jewish people feel that using “golem” outside of its Jewish cultural context is culturally appropriative, striping the word of important associations and meaning. In respect to these concerns, I’m avoiding using the term “golem” for Sapient Constructs and recommend that other non-Jewish people do as well.
Sapient Constructs are part of the Crossroads Setting for the tabletop role-playing game, Magic Goes Awry. Click here to go to the list of vibrant and unique magical people from the Land of Crossroads.
