Creature Constructs

What are Creature Constructs?

Machines or equipment that are powered and guided by the mind and spirit of animals or other creatures are known as creature constructs. They work in a number of agricultural activities, including field tilling, crop harvesting, and cargo transportation. The goal behind creature constructions is to use animals' natural abilities and instincts to execute jobs that people or traditional machinery would find difficult or impossible.

Creature constructions take many shapes, based on the sort of animal or creature used and the specific task. A crop-harvesting creature construct, for example, may be formed like a huge beetle, with keen mandibles for cutting through plants and a powerful body for hauling cargo.

Ultimately, the key objective of creature constructions is to boost agricultural efficiency and output while lowering the need for human labor and the environmental effect of farming. It is thought that by harnessing animals' inherent capabilities in this way, creature creations will contribute to the development of a more sustainable and efficient agricultural system in the future.

Where Did Creature Constructs Come From?

In the world of Asterland, the use of creature constructs has been present for centuries, but it was in the country of Alexander that they first became a prominent feature of agriculture.

Alexander is a kingdom located in the heart of Asterland, known for its fertile lands and advanced agricultural practices. At one time, the kingdom was just a small agricultural community, but as its population grew, so did its need for more efficient farming methods. The solution came in the form of creature constructs - machines powered by the spirits of deceased animals that were able to work tirelessly and efficiently in the fields.

The first creature constructs in Alexander were rudimentary and required significant human supervision, but as technology advanced, they became more sophisticated and independent. Soon, creature constructs were being used for a variety of tasks beyond just farming, including transportation and construction.

While the use of creature constructs has brought great benefits to the people of Alexander, it has also sparked controversy and debate both within the kingdom and throughout Asterland. Some argue that the practice of using the spirits of animals in machines is unethical and disrespectful to the dead, while others view it as a necessary tool for the advancement of society.

Despite the controversy, the use of creature constructs continues to be a significant part of agriculture and industry in Alexander and Asterland as a whole, with ongoing research and development to improve their efficiency and capabilities.

Types of Creature Constructs

Several different types of creature constructs serve a variety of needs. Here are some of the most common types:

• Agricultural These are constructs used in farming and agriculture to increase productivity and efficiency. These are used extensively in agriculture for tasks such as plowing fields, planting crops, and harvesting. They can also be used to transport goods from the fields to markets or processing facilities.
• Transport These are used for transportation of goods and people. They can take many forms, from small delivery bots to large cargo carriers. Transport constructs are typically designed with safety and efficiency in mind, with features such as advanced navigation systems, obstacle avoidance sensors, and self-driving capabilities.
• Medical These are constructs used in the medical field, such as surgical creatures or diagnostic creatures.
• Hazardous environments Creature constructs are designed to work in hazardous environments such as deep sea, space exploration, or nuclear radiation.
• Search and rescue In emergency situations, such as natural disasters or accidents, creature constructs can be used to search for and rescue people who are trapped or injured. Creature constructs can be used for search and rescue operations in disaster zones where it may be difficult for humans to enter.

• Industrial These are used in factories and other industrial settings to aid in the manufacturing and production of goods.
• Military These are used for military purposes, such as combat or reconnaissance. Military constructs are typically heavily armed and armored, and are designed to operate in hostile environments. They often have advanced sensory systems and tactical capabilities, and can be deployed in a variety of missions. They often remove the wounded from the battlefield so they can receive medical attention.
• Security and Defense These patrol areas, detect intruders, and assist in law enforcement activities.
• Exploration These are used for exploration purposes, particularly in areas that are difficult for humans to access, such as deep sea or space exploration.
• Mining Constructs These are designed for mining and excavation work, and are often built with rugged frames, powerful drills and excavators. Mining constructs are often larger than other types of constructs and have enhanced strength and durability to withstand the rigors of mining work.
• Construction Some creature constructs are designed specifically for use in construction, such as digging or lifting heavy materials.
• Mining Creature constructs can be used in mining operations to extract valuable resources from the earth.

• Personal companionship Constructs can be designed to provide companionship to individuals, particularly those who may be isolated or lonely. These constructs can interact with humans in sophisticated ways, providing emotional support and social interaction.
• Education Creature constructs can also be used for educational purposes such as teaching children about animals, biology, or robotics.
• Domestic These are constructs used in homes and households to assist with daily tasks, such as cleaning or cooking.
• Entertainment Creature Constructs These are used for entertainment purposes, such as amusement park rides or animatronics. Entertainment constructs are often designed to mimic the movements and behavior of animals or humans, and are built to provide an immersive experience for the user.
• Waste management Creature constructs can be used to clean up waste and garbage in cities and towns, helping to keep streets and public areas clean.
• Landscaping In some cases, creature constructs are used to maintain and shape landscapes. For example, constructs with vine-like appendages can be used to train and guide the growth of plants, while constructs with heavy-duty digging or cutting attachments can be used for earth-moving and tree-clearing tasks.

Ethical Challenges

There are several moral considerations surrounding creature creations, which include:

• Animal Welfare Some assert that utilizing living beings to power machinery is innately cruel and violates animals' inherent freedoms. They consider that abusing creatures in such a way constitutes cruelty and causes unnecessary suffering.
• Employee dehumanization Many fear that the use of creature constructions could contribute to worker marginalization, since employers could grow accustomed to considering living beings merely tools.
• Environmental Impact There is a the potential that the use of creature creations will harm the environment, for example if enormous numbers of creatures are brought in from their natural habitats.
• Safety Risks Some people worry that the use of creature constructs could be dangerous for workers and consumers, for example, if the creatures are not properly cared for and become diseased or aggressive.
• Respect for the Sanctity of Life There is a moral concern about using living beings as a source of energy and power, rather than respecting the sanctity of life.
• Social and Economic Justice There's fear that the use of creature constructs will exacerbate existing inequities, as technologies will only be available to those who can afford it, putting others at a disadvantage.

Overall, the ethical challenges concerning creature constructs are complex and numerous and there is ongoing debate about whether the advantages exceed potential dangers and harms.

Future Construct Advancements

• Sporting Events A growing industry in Asterland has sprung up in which fighting or racing robots compete against other constructs or against people. These events are often brutal and violent, with limited rules that protect the constructs who compete. Many in Asterland see these games as savage an inhuman. They fear that these sports desensitize their fans to acts of violence outside of the games.
• Space and Planar Exploration Constructs will push the limits of exploration in environments where travel time could be prohibitive or where environments are too harsh for mankind to survive without magical protection. They are being used to mine ore-rich asteroids that contain veins of gold and mithril, as well as those used as spell components.
• Increased Automation As technology advances, it is inevitable that more work currently performed by people will be mechanized and automated. While this boosts efficiency and production, it may also result in job losses for people and ethical issues about the treatment of constructs.
• Increased Intelligence Through extensive development, the mental abilities of constructs grows exponentially, greatly expanding the tasks that they can perform. They are playing an ever-increasing role in research, including potentially dangerous magical and chemical research.
• Magic Item Production The most advanced constructs are capable of casting spells. They are being increasingly used in factories where magic items, devices, and vehicles are manufactured. A traditional mage can only cast so many spells per day, which limits their use in magic production facilities. Construct mages can be purchased in large numbers, making magic more accessible to the common man as their abundance forces prices down.
• New creature types As research expands, it is reasonable that new forms of creatures that have never been seen before will be created. These creatures could possess special talents and be employed for a wide variety of purposes. However, there are potential moral concerns concerning the creation of new species and their potential impact on society.
• Miniaturization Miniature creature constructs could be used for a variety of tasks, including medical procedures and environmental monitoring. These small creatures could be equipped with sensors and other technologies for increased precision and effectiveness.
• Energy Generation Creature constructions may be developed to generate energy from their motions. This will result in more self-sufficient and sustainable systems, minimizing dependency on external power sources.
• Biomimicry Designing creatures based on the structures and mechanisms found in nature could lead to highly efficient and adaptable creature constructs. For example, creatures that mimic the way a bird flies could lead to more efficient and maneuverable flying constructs.
• Augmentation Augmenting existing creatures with technological enhancements could lead to increased strength, agility, and other abilities. For example, a horse construct could be fitted with robotic legs for increased speed and agility, or with enhanced sensors for improved navigation.

Overview of Creature Constructs

In addition to the research done into plant life, the mages of Alexander work to customize animal life forms to better fit the needs of man. One of the more famous is a creature that sleeps most of the year, but wakes from hibernation at planting and harvest time to help a farmer. It is an animal whose very structure is an insectoid with digging arms every two feet, three per side, which are ideal for planting fields or harvesting same. A farmer rides the beast, keeping it on course, but newer strains have built into their very instincts the ability to plant or harvest a field unaided by a human rider. These have allowed farmers to take care of huge tracts of land thought impossible for a single man to cultivate only a few years ago.

Another of the mages' successes is the "go-all", a beast the size of a stagecoach that actually has a hollow place within it where up to four men can ride. It can run for an entire day without tiring, though it eats quite a bit of plant life. The very newest actually can derive nourishment through roots that burrow into the ground and feed it as it sleeps.

They are easy to train to go from point to point, such that a person can command one to "go to town," for example, and it will head unaided to its destination, upon which it can return home while its master sleeps. If there are any signs of danger, it will emit a loud whining noise, waking its master. There are some whose design is with a large flat place on its back for loading cargo. For many still clinging to the old superstitions of technology being evil, the go-all is the next best thing to motocarts or motomagical vehicles of other sorts. As there are those that object to magitech, still others complain that the altered beasts are an affront to nature, and that we have no right to tinker with what nature has created on its own, citing the growing suspicion that the "monsters" are mutations of natural creatures, altered by the tinkering of mankind. How correct they are they have no idea of.

With the advent of magimotive factories, the traditional role of a watchdog is more important than ever to guard warehouses from thieves. The attack dogs of the past are no match for the creatures that now are used to guard both personal residences as well as commercial installations.

The weakness that most of the beings used as guardians was all too often susceptibility to magic and fairly low intelligence, making them easy to outsmart or outgun. The specially designed Tantra has neither weakness. The mages that designed the creature will not say what creatures went into its making, though many have speculated that it is some sort of cross between a dwarf bulette and an imp of some sort. The result is a very well armored creature that moves like lightning is very intelligent (to the extent that it will follow fairly elaborate commands), and has a resistance to magic of 50%. In addition, it is a loyal pet and affectionate. For home protection, a model was created without the scaly hide, instead bearing silky long fur. The creatures have large razor sharp teeth and claws. They only measure three feet in height, where its larger cousin stands four to five feet high. They make good pets as long as care it taken to clearly define who is a friend and who is the creature's next meal. They eat a fair amount, but in the region of Alexander, meat is cheap, meat byproducts next to free.

These are just a few examples of the custom creatures created by the mages in Alexander. They belong to the Lifecrafter's Guild, which correctly sees magitech as its primary competitor. Things magitech often have an almost exact equivalent in animal form. Both approaches appeal to different people, but none can argue the usefulness of things produced from either school of thought. Even things as unusual as dishwashers and heaters can have an organic equivalent.

The downsides to organic creations are feeding, waste disposal, they often think independently, can have nasty temperaments, high upkeep costs, and they sometimes try to run away. Advantages would be less dehumanization that is often felt with magitech, they can be made to be friendly and multi-purposed, do not need technical support (greasing gears, etc.) and there is not the negative religious/social aspects that are connected with things technological.