Homunculus

A homunculus is a being that is artificially created, primarily through Alchemy. Some people compare homunculi to Golems, but there are many differences between the two. The most significant differences are:

• Homunculi are created with Alchemy, rather than Magic.
• Homunculi can be sapient without the presence of a Soul.
• Homunculi are not bound to their creator like Golems sometimes are.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The anatomy of a homunculus varies, but is typically humanoid. Homunculi do not require sleep, although they are capable of sleeping.
Because of their lack of Souls, homunculi cannot use Magic.
Sometimes, minor defects in manufacturing cause a homunculus to look slightly off. Not necessarily enough to look obviously inhuman, but enough for people to notice that something is wrong, even if they can't identify what it is.

Manufacturing

First, the body is created. This is typically a replica of a human body made using the basic components of a human body. After the body is created, it is placed in a large vat filled with an alchemical mixture intended to act as a preservative as well as color the skin if necessary. The body is left in this vat for three weeks. After three weeks, the body is removed from the vat and placed on a table. There, the body is pierced by many small tubes in various places. These tubes are connected to multiple smaller vats containing the mixtures that transmute parts of the interior of the body into internal organs. The specifics of these mixtures are unknown, but it is known that some of the basic ingredients are blood, sperm, ground mandrake root, water, salt, mercury, and sulfur. There are rumors of a crystallized Soul, either ground or liquefied being another ingredient, but these rumors are unconfirmed. These mixtures are pumped through the tubes into the body. If everything was done correctly, the body should then become alive.
When failures occur, they're typically the result of the improper creation of one of the alchemical compounds used to create the homunculus. In cases of failure, it is common for nothing to happen, or for the homunculus to live for only a few moments before dying. However, some failures are more disastrous. Sometimes, failed homunculi will live, but only exhibit a low level of intelligence. These homunculi often have extremely violent tendencies, sometimes killing any living thing they can find for no apparent reason. In the worst cases, the homunculus can become extremely deformed as well, sometimes ending up not even recognizable as something that used to be humanoid.

Genetics and Reproduction

Homunculi cannot reproduce.

Ecology and Habitats

Homunculi can live in almost any environment.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Homunculi are capable of eating, but do not need to.

Additional Information

Average Intelligence

Homunculi are generally sapient, despite lacking a Soul. Feral homunculi occur in some cases of a failed transmutation. Feral homunculi typically have an animal-like level of intelligence, and are often extremely violent.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Homunculi typically have average senses, but these can be enhanced during creation.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Because of their lack of a need to eat, homunculi are typically not desirable hosts for most parasites.

Civilization and Culture

History

According to some historians, homunculi were quite common in Ainand before its destruction. However, many historians dispute this claim, saying that there isn't enough evidence to support it.
The first known homunculi in Zelunica were created by Melchior and Riah, using an artifact from Ainand. However, they were killed by The Inquisition and their research was destroyed. In the time since, many alchemists have attempted to rediscover the secret to creating homunculi, most finding only limited success at best. The few alchemists who have managed to create homunculi have not shared their discovery. Some keep the secret to themselves because they enjoy knowing something nobody else does, some keep it to themselves because they don't trust others to use the knowledge in what they believe is the proper way, and others keep it to themselves out of fear; the creation of homunculi is illegal in many places, and there are rumors of The Inquisition covertly operating outside of their jurisdiction. Because of this, there are very few homunculi in existence, and most of them try to hide their true nature.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

It is not uncommon for people to be afraid of homunculi, partially because of the stories of feral homunculi and partially because many people find their nature to be unsettling. Because of this, there are many misconceptions about homunculi. Some examples of these include:

• Some people believe that homunculi are incapable of feeling or understanding emotions. This has some basis in fact; an improperly made homunculus might have such a limitation. However, homunculi that are made correctly feel and understand emotions normally.
• A few people believe that homunculi sustain themselves by killing people and consuming their souls. This is untrue, and even most people that hate homunculi dismiss this idea.

Homunculi are often unfairly judged by other people. For instance, known homunculi are often blamed for crimes, even if there is no evidence implicating them. People will also sometimes accuse a person who appears to act strangely of being a homunculus.
Homunculi are also occasionally the subject of conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theorists will sometimes claim that influential government officials, nobles, or religious leaders are secretly homunculi, especially immediately after a scandal or controversy.

Lifespan

Indefinite

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Most homunculi are made to look as close to human as possible, but some are created with abnormal skin colors or markings similar to tattoos. Sometimes these markings serve as a sort of signature of the person or organization who created the homunculus.