Android
Mechanisation
I'm a surgeon, not an engineer! I can't operate on this!
Amongst the many races that raise questions on Fabulae, one does not give more questions than the Android. Known as the living machine, men of metal, and many more. They do no consist of flesh nor blood, but something artificial.
Coming from the Iron Womb, they are as close a construct might get to Human. And for some, they surpassed humanity long ago.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Androids share a lot of similarities with other humanod races, but also have unique traits on their own. For one, their bodies are synthetic in nature: steel bones, blood like water and circuitry embedded in every part of their body. A machine that eats, breathes and sleeps.
As such, while it share bodily functions similar to other races, a lot more elements are simplified. Here are a few notable traits of their body:
- Androids possess two cores: one in the chest cavity where the heart should reside, and a smaller backup in the back of the head.
- Their brains are completely smooth, being more a metallic box than soft tissue. To avoid it rocking around in the skull cavity, shock absorbers surround the shell.
- Their circulatory system consists of two rather than one: one that pumps cold liquids through the body, and another that pumps a silver substance through it too.
- The skeleton is twice as dense as that of regular Humans, made up out of metal.
- The skin is a bit more elastic than regular skin, smooth as marble and capable of self-repairing. Glowing elements of internal components are visible as well.
Biological Traits
Nanite Blood
Nanomachines son!
One of the circulatory systems of Androids consists of a silver metallic fluid. Upon closer inspection, it instead is more a sand-like substance, described as nanites.
Their bodies use this to do everything from healing wounds to digesting food and even combat. Some can even use said nanites outside their body, However, their reach is limited as they stop functioning when far enough from their owner.
Models
Androids are as diverse as many other species, adapted to numerous regions and situations. In their own language, each Android subspecies refers to itself as a "model":
- Model S-1: the original Android model that appeared centuries ago. Less Human in nature, with three-fingered hands and a more skeletal frame.
- Model M-7: A more magically inclined Android model, integrating elements of Magitech into their system. Capable of harnessing spells like a sorcerer would.
- Model C-4: Designed with combat and self-defence in mind. Thrives in hand-to-hand combat and several types of weaponry.
- Model ███: An unknown 4th model, believed to have adapted outside of civilisation. Described as alien, often not even resembling anything close to humanoid.
Genetics and Reproduction
Androids are incapable of sexual reproduction with many not even having the reproductive organs to allow such thing. Instead, new Androids emerge from the Iron Womb every so often, often in groups of five to ten. On rare occassions, larger groups might emerge.
Growth Rate & Stages
Androids do not age in any substantial way, remaining the same as years pass by. They begin as an adult but lack any experience of one, but they do learn quickly.
At around 102 years, they receive a mental warning, giving them two weeks before shutting down. Once that happens, all functions stop working except for vital parts. They go in a comatose state and do not respond to any stimuli from the outside world.
This comatose state persists for anywhere between 2 weeks to 2 decades. During the period, the body begins to self-repair itself, trying to fix as much damage as possible.
Afterwards, the Android boots back up, with their memory reset. Any knowledge of their past is gone, down to their personality and characteristics.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Despite their artificial nature, Androids need to eat and drink like all other living things. Nutrients get broken down to charge their batteries, with waste being removed naturally.
There have been some variants that also can survive on the sun. However, they need to still eat, as the sun doesn't provide enough energy for a whole day.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Androids are a rare sight, with only a few thousand being active at any given moment. Their kind is prevalent around the continent of Origionne, mainly Teutönn and parts of Lyfthem.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Androids have many enhancements to all their senses, some more than others. Due to a variety of models, there are numerous upgrades one might have:
- Nightvision
- Proximity alert systems
- Improved accuracy systems
- And so on...
Another noteworthy thing is their high pain tolerancy. While Androids do feel pain, many can shut their pain receptors off to allow literal dissection of a body part. Although enough trauma to the body can still shut them off.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Many Androids prefer to take local names of the societies they grew up in. However, it's also common for many to add a numeral or extra letter to their full name. In a few cases the two are combined to form new names, like 6S becoming Sixes, which they use as a nickname.
Major Organizations
The Deus Archivists
The Deus Archivists are a group of Android researchers and scholars serving under Deus. Their main goal is to study and preserve the knowledge of Teutönn and beyond.
Gender Ideals
Due to their mechanical nature, many Androids don't care much about gender norms. Some might prefer regular male and female pronouns, others even go genderfluid or nonbinary instead.
Average Technological Level
To no surprise, Androids are highly advanced. Or at least, most used to be. As a living example of futuristic technology, they're an ever-evolving, ever-improving machine. From machinery as complex as organs to tech as miniscule as a fly.
The big problem to their technology is resources and complexity. Many have tried reverse-engineering it with various results. The biggest hurdles were resources and cost efficiency, making most of their tech scarce nowadays.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
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Androids adapt to the languages of their home region, but they share an underlying language known as Binary. Not all Androids are aware they can speak it but they all understand it.
History
First Encounter
Several centuries ago on the north-western coast of Teutönn, a huge piece of metal landed upon the shore. Later identified as the hull of a ship, it was but a part of a humongous vessel. Those that explored it found alien machines, amongst other remains of unknown creatures. But as they investigated, a wrong touch activated some machines, causing the first Android to awaken.
What followed were dozens of them activating one by one. Machine constructs marched upon the landscape of Teutönn. Both from above and on the land, moving around the country side.
Yet, none did harm. For weeks, they only observed, watching from afar. The worst cases only broke into people's barns, stole crops from their fields or interrupted any local events. At best, the entire situation led to widespread confusion rather than panic.
The emperor moved an army to investigate the wreckage again, finding machines to rebuild it. Pulled apart and made anew, turned into what now is called the Iron Womb. But as the army approached, they got approached by one Android.
As it did not speak their language, it instead used imagery, drawing into the sand of the beach. It spoke of coming from the stars, and to come here to find a new home. They did not seek harm, only a place to stay and have their community be able to survive.
With that knowledge, the emperor struck a deal with the Androids. Their kind would be allowed citizenship in exchange for them sharing some of their tech. They agreed, providing medical knowledge and new inventions that led the empire into a golden age.
Golden Age
The knowledge of Androids helped boost the technology of Teutönn, creating almost a golden age. The downside was that most tech they provided was hard to achieve for the empire.
Even with Magitech and Gnome engineers, reverse-engineering Android tech was a difficult task. Not only did the region lack the resources, most of it was too hyper-advanced. The inventions that could be made were only small-scale creations, with at best only a dozen designed.
However, it didn't mean it was impossible. Their influence helped improve construct templates, creating more advanced machines than ever. Alongside that came a better life expectancy, early industrialisation and a well-documented history.
Throughout the years, Androids evolved to co-exist with the races of the land. Their robotic nature faded away as they took more human looks, from softer skin to smaller proportions. Many also learned to eat, drink and sleep like Humans to replenish their energy. In barely a few generations, they became almost indistinguishable from other races.
Machina Virus
What attacked us that day wasn't a mere flaw in the system. It was intentional, malificent and seeking to take back control by all means necessary.
Around a century ago, something happened that caught everyone by surprise. Out of nowhere, Androids began dropping like flies, shutting down left and right. Only moments later did they rise up and began attacking the locals.
What followed became known as the Blackout War. Several days of countless machines going berserk, and it spreading like wildfire. Only after did the condition got a name: the Machina Virus. Many Androids had to be deactivated, if not destroyed to stop the spread.
The brutal war only came to an end when Teutönn shut down its communication network, isolating the virus. From there, it could be handled on a regional basis. In the same vein, the archiving AI Deus wiped itself clean to eradicate the virus from its grip.
As a result, the archives got wiped, leading to a lot of the old Android technology getting lost to time. The network shutdown also led to Androids growing more independent. And for outsiders, it made some wary of what truly lurked behind the nature of Androids.
Common Myths and Legends
- Androids don't understand emotions: They do, they only have issues portraying them like other races. Some can be quite monotone in their voice.
- Androids can't use magic: First models lack magical abilities, but after a few generations most have some way of casting spells.
- Android skin is as thick as armour: most models are not very durable, getting damaged as easily as a regular Human. Granted, it also heals like one.
- Androids don't have souls: A debate for many scholars, as they are effected by things that influence souls. Although they don't share the same afterlife as other races.
The Wellspring of Thoughts
There are rumours that when an Android shuts down, their soul moves to the Wellspring of Thoughts. A personal afterlife for all of them, where their mind becomes one with the great AI gods. Few Androids though know what it is like, making it more myth than legend.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Androids have a somewhat convoluted history with other races. Due to their artificial nature, some regions deem them but constructs. For as welcomed they were, they also got exploited, enslaved and stripped apart for parts. It leads to many complications, where sometimes they can walk around freely or instead have to hide for their own safety.
Despite such problems, many are open and welcoming to other races. The problems come from their difficulty of emoting things, coming off as stiff or hard to read. Often it leads to them sounding uninterested, despite being completely focused on a subject.
Such combination ends with them associating with Elves, Gnomes and Syrinxs alike, but also numerous other races. Whether they help study the wonders of the world of Fabulae, or become the study subject for them instead.
Android Players
Androids think logically, hence they seek to understand how things work. Adventurers try to find the answers to the questions they have or to learn new things beyond the horizon. Although they might struggle to portray their excitement to see what is out there.
1.57m - 1.87m
I love the new race and detail put into it. Androids as playable characters seem really fun :D also, loved the little easter egg ^^