Clocksouls
A new staple in Clockwork Technology
General
Clocksouls are built to resemble humans as much as physically possible, but the reason why is not only for aesthetics but also for practicality: the souls of both Vampires and Humans is what powers them. Contrary to both those races, the Clocksouls' limbs are a lot more flexible and have greater reach; a few have even been equipped with weapons, such as sword blades built into their forearms.
General Physical Condition
Clocksouls are about twice as strong as a vampire in their best physical condition, and can easily handle about a hundred kilograms. As for speed, it has been observed and documented that Clocksouls are able to outrun racehorses in full gallop. In extension, they have supernaturally quick reflexes and can react faster than both humans and vampires, with several milliseconds to spare.
Perception and Sensory capabilities
Despite appearing to have both a fully functional mouth and eyes, Clocksouls do not have need of them. They are more for the aesthetics than anything else; to put their masters at ease. And neither do they have the other four senses.
Instead, they utilize something called Wraith Sight; a still poorly understood condition they share with both Undead and Goëtes. Another supernatural sense that have replaced their hearing and sense of touch is something called Soul Aura; but this is more theory than fact for most academics and scholars.
Hearing and Touch
Using their Soul Aura, Clocksouls can perceive objects around them. It makes them aware when they touch something or when they themselves are being touched, even through thick clothing and plate armor. Their sensitive Aura can also detect the smallest vibrations in the air and the Clocksouls are somehow able to discern what is speech and music or other kinds of sound:: even a slow breathing, though they can't really appreciate these sounds like they once did in life
Sight
When it is about sight, then Clocksouls can use their Wraith Sight to sense living beings — and other Undead — through solid matter, such as stone walls. The living appears to be made from shining light that are covered in intricate symbols, while the Undead appears to be made from a more damp light and is said to give of some sort of smoke from their limbs; the same goes for Clocksouls themselves, though their skeletons appears to be stark white.
Speech
Since all Clocksouls are mute, they instead use alternative means to participate in a conversation. The most common one used is sign language or other types of body language. Writing is also a possible workaround, but due to their inability to see color or natural light, it is difficult for them to get the message across without the right knowledge or materials.
Abilities
Wraith Sight
Wraith Sight is an ability very similar to Plane Sight, which is used by both the Bokor and Ilyons to see into the Twilight Realm. It is a method of seeing through the Third Eye of the Soul, and Clocksouls uses this constantly.
The world itself
To them, the world is a misty and fog-bound realm that is bathed in a white-blue hue. Constructs and objects created from inorganic materials, such as stone or metal, take on a translucent pitch-black hue, while dead organic matter, such as wood- or animal fibers, has a much more pale grey coloring.
The Living & the Dead
Clocksouls are also able to see the souls of the living, as well as the dead. They appear to be created by a clear white light, which is itself marked by brilliant silver-white symbols in complicated patterns that go by the name Soul Sigils.
The spirits of the dead have a much more muted white hue to them and look more like smoke than anything else, with vague features.
Red alert
They are also able to single out special targets within a crowd and thus easily follow them from a distance, as well as being able to see if anyone wishes to harm them, as those individuals take on a more muted red hue.
Wraith Sight Shortcomings
Unfortunately Wraith Sight comes with its shortcomings. Clocksouls are completely colorblind; only able to differentiate organic materials from inorganic ones. They are also unable to see natural light; from their point of view, the world is bathed in an ever-constant bluish light.
Their creator, Tarik Elzenaar, found a workaround for several of these problems:
Reading and Writing.
He created a new unique writing system that took the appearance of small dots, to allow the Clocksouls to read, as their sense of touch works well thanks to their Soul Aura.
This writing system has also proven to be a good workaround for the blind, though only less than a handful of visually impaired have begun using it.
Another workaround for their colorblindness is to utilize the Clocksouls' ability to see inorganic and organic materials differently. By arranging either one or the other to appear like written text, they are able to faintly read it, but they would only be able to understand it if the message is written in a language they had learned before they died. Text written in blood on stone or metal has shown to be remarkably easy to read.
Telling day from night
Since they are unable to see natural light, they have in theory a troublesome time telling day from night. Those Clocksouls who move stealthily through the night, instead read the signs society gives off when night dawns on them.
Reading the clock is the easiest workaround, but additional ways are to see how many people move, and how they move, about in a city block or house and if they appear to be sleeping. Another way is to sense the temperature outside with their Soul Aura; days are usually warmer than nights.
Utility
They are primarily used as bodyguards, which was the primary reason for their creation. They are seen as the most capable bodyguards in a very long time, though this is a claim that is strongly opposed by traditionalists, purists, and even treasurers. One reason why they are seen as such good bodyguards is that they are oblivious to physical pain and are also able to take a lot more damage before they are incapacitated.
Rarity
A few thousand
Due to their high price, as well as the maintenance cost, Clocksouls are rare in number. Only a few thousand have been created since the first prototype and nearly every one of them acts as bodyguards for high nobility or rulers of kingdoms and empires. A few extraordinary rich merchants have also bought one. A handful has also been given as gifts to people who have brought a lot to society, yours included.
The Price
The price for a single Clocksoul is high. Very high indeed. It is equal to that of a large high-modern mansion with accompanying veteran guards and experienced servants, as well as a high price assassination contract, meant to target those who are themselves heavily guarded and highly influential.
Friend or Foe
Free will
Contrary to popular belief, Clocksouls are not bounded by either oath or something more supernatural, to their owner. They very much still have their free will intact and if they ever felt like it, they could turn against their masters with brutal efficiency. Some are therefore skeptical about the fact of having former criminals or the unjust act as their protectors.
Rarely insubordinate
However, for some reason that is yet to be understood, they rarely act in defiance towards those who order them around; some believe that this is due to their fear of being killed of permanently, and others that they feel a great pain within them when they act against orders — a few believe that both theories are true. But nobody really knows the truth.
Right or Wrong?
A fate worse than death?
Many see the Clocksouls a fate worse than death that has been bestowed upon criminals and the unjust and dishonored, while others see it as an acceptable alternative to the death penalty. Some consider them to be nothing more then expansive useful tools, while others are still determined to see the humanity within them.
Abomination & Fear for Future
And then there are those who consider them nothing more than abominations that must be purged from Mésvéstell. They fear what might happen if the technology regarding Clocksouls is left to continue to expand.
Would Clocksouls no longer be seen as a punishment, but as a reward for good service? Could it be considered a way to immortality? These are the question some people ask, and most are ignored or just receive a hand-waving promise that such a thing won't happen.
History
An impossible feat
Invented by the genius new-age inventor Tarik Elzenaar by order of High King Cornél Dorztalh, Clocksouls is the newest staple in Soul Golem technology — a feat that for decades had been considered impossible to achieve. And it nearly was. Tarik worked for two decades on trying to make it all work.
Assistance
Tarik even went so far as to ask for assistance from other great inventors, such as Dominic Martines and Oto Paterio. None of them officially helped him in the creation of Clocksouls though, partially due to not being well-liked by the High King and partially because they saw it as futile, and most importantly because Tarik was not much of a people person. But the very idea of succeeding — no matter how small it may be — intrigued them enough to at least correspond via coded messages where they gave ideas and proposals.
The breakthrough
The breakthrough came from several discoveries. One was that the material Tarik needed for the soul to stay attached to the construct was Silfgrim steel that had been processed by a Nekron of the Tenth Elevation. Another was that soul could not just be any soul; he needed the soul of an Ilyon — specifically of the Seventh Elevation for a reason no one has understood. And finally, he also needed the Soulheart from a Troll that was approximately 200 years old: it would be the very heart of the Clocksoul.
Would Clocksouls no longer be seen as a punishment, but as a reward for good service? Could it be considered a way to immortality? These are the question some people ask, and most are ignored or just receive a hand-waving promise that such a thing won't happen.
"They are not humans any longer, Tarik. They are clockwork machines and nothing else. They don't deserve to be human anymore.
Alternate Universe
Clocksouls don't exist within Mésvéstell Prime but in an alternate version of Mésvéstell called Mésvéstell Jothame - Or Mésvéstell 1716-High 0422-Low if you want to be more academical.
Clocksoul Vindlens.
Scientific Name
Clocksoul Automaton.
Origin/Ancestry
Human.
Lifespan
Essentially immortal.
Average Height
60 centimeters
Average Weight
98 kilograms.
The Twilight Realm
The Twilight Realm is much the same as a wall or barrier that separates Mésvéstell and Eärann. But the Land of Twilight is not a physical barrier that one can touch, but rather, it is a Plane of Existence in its own right. It was created by ethereal vibrations that were themselves created — and always are — when Mésvéstell and Eärann scratch against each other. Like the fault lines deep within the earth. In regards to its landscape, it is covered in a more concentrated version of Nilhmaere, and coat the Barrier Realm in a bluish light.
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