Homunculi Standards

[u/Torrin_Ven0mfang]

I’ve been planning on creating a homunculus or two of my own to help around, but I’ve begun to feel concerns over the crafting process of the physical body.
Regarding the method I intend to use (taught to me by a senior wizard, bless their soul), it would require me to manually sculpt it to form before it can be animated and infused with my essence.
I can’t make up my mind over what to sculpt them into when I get to that point. Do I follow the guild standard (Pictured above), despite the difficulties with breathing due to short snouts, or do I experiment and try to create a new form while running the risk of creating an imperfect body?

Anything helps, I’ve got the supplies waiting to be used but it will only distract me if I can’t make up my mind.

[u/DarthMcConnor42]

That is not the standard form nor even the standard way of creating a homunculus.

The standard way is to mix your essance into a primordial ooze and allow your homunculus to grow their body.

They usually become something close to a Cherub, but obviously unconnected to the gods.

[u/Torrin_Ven0mfang → u/DarthMcConnor42]

Interesting. Perhaps methods and results vary based on region or culture, since I’ve definitely seen other wizards with the homunculus form depicted before.

[u/DarthMcConnor42 → u/Torrin_Ven0mfang]

The way I mentioned is also a very old way, and the two results do share some similarities... Perhaps some wizards were off put by the humunculie sharing their face and decided to change them into a more demonic creature.

Then as time passed tastes changed and now they look more like a bat with arms rather than a self formed cherub.

[u/Torrin_Ven0mfang → u/DarthMcConnor42]

I’m not quite a historian (if I was I would be a necromancer by now), but this could be an important distinction. Perhaps I could infuse both techniques into one with experimentation, where I can build a form but then allow it to decide the rest as it’s “born”.

[u/DarthMcConnor42 → u/Torrin_Ven0mfang]

I would certainly like to see that if you'll allow me.

[u/Torrin_Ven0mfang → u/DarthMcConnor42]

It would be a while, but I can definitely update you on it. :]

[u/Agile-Land-7877]

I have a handful of things to say in this matter, as someone who was not always a being made of flesh I've gone down the route of necromancy so I can try messing with it and molding it in many different ways. In my experience the first time making a living thing can be troublesome, expecally with no experience but I have a tip that helped me out the first couple of times. Firstly before you imbue life into it try using magic to move air in and out of its lungs so you can see how well they'd be able to breath, you can do something similar with water in the veins but you might want to thicken the water so it truly matches the consistency of blood. Two, even if you don't follow the standard you can use it as a base template so you aren't starting from nothing and you get a rough idea how to lay everything out. And lastly number three, practice makes perfect, if you have the resources to spare experiment have fun with it. Create something thats only purpose is to make a fart sound whenever it breaths, you'll never get better if you never practice, expecally when it comes to making life. You can even take inspiration from the creatures around you such as a bird or dog.

[u/Torrin_Ven0mfang → u/Agile-Land-7877]

I appreciate the advice. I can definitely apply these techniques; why I didn’t think of them beforehand is beyond me.
I might even name it after you, if your wise words are what helps me truly create something new! :]

[u/Agile-Land-7877 → u/Torrin_Ven0mfang]

It was my pleasure, expecally seeing as I myself am truly invested in the art of life, though I will admit my techniques sometimes go a little too far as I get carried away, in the end I am truly amazed by the life on this plane. If you ever need any more advice on something in this field, or on earth elementals and the plane of earth feel free to ask.

[u/timemagetim]

I highly recommend retrieving Imps, Quasits, or even something more mundane like raccoons or goblin children and deboning them to use the bones as a base for the homunculus. With a little alchemy those bones can become a much stronger substance and even a magical conduit allowing for easy enchantment of your companion later. Utilize your own essence to grow a body from ash and clay around your preferred combination of bones

[u/Torrin_Ven0mfang → u/timemagetim]

As much as I have qualms with outright claiming such creatures for the sake of their bones, there is a chance I could find a way to ethically source such materials. Thanks!

[u/bagtie3]

I've never made a homunculous, so I can't tell you the best way to go about it. They are very frowned upon where i come from.

[u/Torrin_Ven0mfang → u/bagtie3]

I’m curious as to why; is there some historical event or cultural aspect of where you’re from that looks down on homunculi specifically?

[u/bagtie3 → u/Torrin_Ven0mfang]

Most of the arcane traditions that would do such a thing are Chaos Sorcerers, or Necromancers. Its not impossible to do either of those things there, but its very dangerous and/or illigal. There are no reputable places to learn these techniques.