Dwemer Animunculi (also known as Dwemer Constructs, Dwarven Automatons, Dwemer Centurions and Dwarven Robots) are mechanical golems created by the Dwemer. Made out of Dwarven metal, animunculi were used as war machines and guards. Many of them continue to protect the underground ruins of Dwemer cities long after the disappearance of their creators in 1E 700. They are commonly encountered by scholars and adventurers who venture into the ruins; the animunculi perceive them as invaders, and even worker constructs will attack trespassers on sight.
Power
Animunculi function on steam power and magic, and usually require a soul. For the constructs in Morrowind, this simply required tapping into the power of the Heart of Lorkhan. Animunculi taken from Morrowind will be unable to function in other parts of Tamriel. Even after the destruction of the Heart's physical shell in 3E 427, they continued to work. Constructs in other parts of Tamriel, such as in Skyrim and on the island of Solstheim, are equipped with individual soul gems or dynamo cores. It is unknown how the constructs on the island of Stros M'Kai obtain power.
Varieties
There are many types of animunculi found in Dwemer ruins all over Tamriel.
Spiders
Dwarven Spiders (also known as Centurion Spiders) are small, arachnid-like animunculi, and are very common in Dwemer ruins. They will often be found working on rocks or other objects. They can attack intruders using blasts of lightning, or by emitting poisonous gases from a bag.
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Spheres
Dwarven Spheres (also known as Robots or Centurion Spheres) are a common form of Dwemer Animunculi that have proven to be agile fighters, and are much stronger than the smaller Dwarven Spider. Dwarven Spheres patrol ruins in a spherical form until they encounter an opponent. At this point, they will erect into their semi-humanoid form and attack. There are different kinds of Centurion Spheres. Some are armed with an extendable sword and a shield, while others have a crossbow mounted on their off-hand arm instead.
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Archers
Centurion Archers are a rare type of construct found only in Bamz-Amschend, an ancient Dwemer city located beneath Mournhold. They are similar to Centurion Spheres, but are equipped only with crossbows.
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Sentries
Dwarven Sentries are spherical animunculi found in the Wrothgar region of High Rock. Roughly half the size of their Dwarven Sphere counterparts, Sentries patrol ruins in a similar fashion, extending their necks to emit shocks in order to incapacitate intruders.
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Ballistae
Dwarven Ballistae are animunculi commonly found in Skyrim and Solstheim. They are squat, four-legged constructs and can shoot bolts at enemies for significant, armor-penetrating damage.
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Centurions
Dwarven Centurions (also known as Dwarven Robots or Steam Centurions) are heavily armored constructs with either an extendable mace on one arm or a hammer on one arm and a spring-loaded spike in the other. Some are even able to emit a scalding blast of steam. They are not as common in Dwarven ruins as the lesser Dwarven automatons. The book Ruins of Kemel-Ze implies that the constructs have a weakness to frost and magic attacks, due to the water/steam that drives them, although they are highly resistant against fire, frost and shock. They are sometimes found attached to a charging gantry when not in use. A giant centurion was once located on Stros M'Kai, but was defeated by Cyrus in 2E 864 when he attacked its heel, its only weak spot.
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Numidium
Numidium, or Anumidum, also known as the Brass God, the Brass Tower, and Walk-Brass, was a gigantic golem of Dwemer origin. Constructed by Tonal Architect Lord Kagrenac, Numidium was directly related to the disappearance of the Dwemer, and since then has been resurrected several times.
By the end of the Second Era, the Morrowind Tribunal had possession of Numidium. As a part of the Armistice with the Empire, the Tribunal gave Tiber Septim the golem. Numidium was first reactivated by Tiber based on Zurin Arctus' Dwemer research. Reactivating Numidium required a replacement heart, for which the Mantella was used, a soul gem that mimicked the properties of Lorkhan's Heart when filled with the soul of a Shezarrine. The golem was controlled by a Totem that can only be wielded by those of royal blood or great power.
Akulakhan was based on Numidium's design.
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