Dreadnought

The invention of ironclad ships changed naval warfare forever, allowing for the creation of seagoing vessel that could match the fury of many a deep sea menace and which could tear a wooden ship to bits just by sailing through it. It was a larger investment of ressources, but it was considered well worth it. Soon, generals and lords alike dreamt of bringing such awesome power to bear on land.
Initial forays into such experiments were less than successful. Initial designers tried to scale up the recently invented automobile and borrow the mechanisms of the locomotive. But it quickly became clear that the machinery and power necessary for even a smell vehicle, let alone the titan desired, simply wasn't feasible with mechanical power alone. Fusing magic and technology provided more of an answer, allowing for the first dreadnought's body to be constructed. However, the issue of control was the next hurdle. Something had to be in charge of the magical components. In many constructs, a more or less sophisticated artificially wrought mind is in charge. But given the dreadnought's power, handing it over to the untested loyalties of an artificial mind seemed risky.
The solution was to ask a person to donate their soul, to become the core of the new construct. Their spirit was ritually ripped from their body and inserted into the core, to control the hulking machine. And thus the first dreadnought was created.
Many have been created since. The core soul can come from many sources. Some are selected for their skills, asked to sacrifice them selves for the cause. Others are old veterans given a chance at an extended life, if not as a mortal being then as a dreadnought. Whatever the case, they assume full control, the dreadnought shell becoming their body. Dozens of people usually assist them, but if necessary the dreadnought is more than capable of running all systems on their own. They make for rare if terrifyingly effective military weapons, capable of destroying armies on their own if necessary. Dreadnought's are usually equipped with dozens of heavy cannons, artillery pieces and automatic rapide-fire guns.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Dreadnoughts are enormous hulking machines, more akin to moving buildings than anything else. Large plates of metal protect it and massive threads gives it mobility. Being artificial beings, they do not suffer many organic frailties, requiring neither sleep nor air to breathe. On the other hand, their bodies cannot repair themselves and for that they often require some amount of external help.

Genetics and Reproduction

Dreadnaughts are built and have no capacity to reproduce. Construction time is generally about a year.

Ecology and Habitats

Wherever they are deployed, dreadnaughts leave their mark, their massive frames grinding down and flattening the terrain. In places where they have been destroyed, their rusting shells can be a permanent fixture of decades.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Dreadnaughts requires loads of fuel. Even with them being halfway assisted by magic, they still require a lot more energy. Older dreadnaughts typically use loads of coal, though massive steam engines have become more popular and other alternatives, such as combustion based energy, is being explored.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Dreadnaughts are created to serve military interests and are therefore usually found within its hierarchy.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Dreadnaughts are limited to lands that has the infrastructure and ressources necessary to build them, limiting them to those areas that has seen some degree of industrialization.

Average Intelligence

The soul embedded in the dreadnaught is usually selected from accomplished military personel and in general this means they are highly intelligent, experienced and skilled at battlefield analysis, capacities boosted by their mechanical form.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Lenses of glass grants the metal giant the ability to see. These artificial oculi can adjust for variances in light, allowing the dreadnaught to register its environs in pitch blackness or while being bombarded with bright flares of light.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Dreadnaughts names are carried over from their mortal form, though they may also be given a secondary title or designation.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Speaks whatever languages they did as a mortal

Scientific Name

Magna Machina

Lifespan

Does not age

Average Height

12 - 15 meters

Average Weight

100000 - 120000 kilo

Average Length

16 - 18 meters