Androids

(Stats for Android PCs in Elyrion can be found here)

Androids are an artificially constructed, soul-bearing, intelligent mortal beings originally developed by the Old Empires to serve as soldiers during the Ley Wars. Most androids resemble Humans in appearance, though many are now made in the image of other species. While many androids from the Pre-Silence era have survived the millennia, the overwhelming majority of androids in existence today are of a more modern design, their bodies manufactured by specialized shops and imbued with souls by the Life Giver at the Soulforge. Illicit android construction, often for nefarious purposes, is possible, and supplying such production is a major market for illegal soul-harvesting operations; androids created this way are often bound in chattel servitude.

Biology and Appearance

First perfected by primarily Terran engineers, early androids were built to resemble humans. Most androids imbued at the Soulforge continue to follow this historic design, though protest over the complex legacy of the Android’s origins has led to an increasing number built to mirror other species’ forms - most notable that of the Shirren, with whom androids share a unique relationship thanks to their species’ connections to the Life Giver. Regardless of species, most androids are constructed with materials and design intended to downplay their artificial nature, though nearly all have visibly mechanical elements across their bodies. Though some see this practice as a form of artificial repression, many androids enjoy the easing of societal integration that such concealment allows.

Culture and Language

As a species, androids have little in the way of a unique culture. While it is true that their mechanical nature and unique processing devices give them a unique outlook on the world, their proximity to and integration into society - first the armies of the Old Empires, then worlds isolated by the Silence - has meant that Androids have never drifted too far from the cultures which surround them.

In addition to the common tongue of their native region, the Soulforge ensures that all androids are proficient in Bridge and Ward-4 L spec before their imbuing.

Regions of Prevalence

Androids are especially common in the regions and polities surrounding the Soulforge, including the Hledat Federal Concord and Nova Compact. They tend to cluster around higher-infrastructure regions, and often work in spaceborne roles where their ability to withstand vacuum and lack of oxygen is made use of extensively. While many have made their way corewards, they are relatively rare in the outer rim areas. Systems and polities which refuse to cooperate with the Inquisition of the Life-Giver generally lack androids altogether, with those who are forced to pass through their space keeping a low profile.