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Courtyard > Enemies > The Builder's Children |
The Builder's Children
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Classification: Mechanical Location(s): Mechanist facilities or supported areas Variations: Scout, Guardian, Spider Known Weaknesses: water arrows, fire arrows, mines, explosive charges |
Description:
A common sight during the reign of the Mechanists (a time we refer to as the Metal Age), these mechanical monstrosities can move about and detect intruders as a man is able, yet are invulnerable to swords, blackjacks, or arrows. Extremely popular among the city's wealthy and affluent, the Children could be found in many mansions and city buildings during the Metal Age.
The Children were seen primarily in two variations - the Scout and the Guardian. The differences between the two are composed of size, color, and offense capabilities. Here we will discuss these two variations as well as the third variation - the Spider.
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Variation: Scout The most common of the Children during their popularity, the Scout was a defensive mechanism only. These small blue and gold versions of the Children are able to patrol a location by following a predetermined route. If an intruder is detected either by visual or audible means, the Child is then commanded to alert the nearest guard or another Child that possesses attack capability. The one seen here has been deactivated and is kept here as a reminder of the Metal Age. |
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Variation: Guardian The Guardian is the largest of the Children. A deep blue and silver, the Guardian stands taller than a man and also follows a predetermined patrol path. Upon detection of an intruder, the Guardian can deviate from this path to investigate. Due to its large size, the Guardian is also equipped with a cannon and supply of cannon balls - producing a powerful attack that can even reach around corners. |
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Variation: Spider The Spider is the rarest of Children, found only in Mechanist facilities, and this is perhaps most fortunate. The name Spider is derived from the device's appearance, as it moves about on four spindly legs. Despite its small size, the Spider is the most deadly of Children. Not only can this variation move faster than a man, but it is also equipped with a razor disc thrower - thus allowing it to release a most savage attack upon its foes. |
Weaknesses:
As with all mechanical foes, the Children are susceptible to explosive force, rendering them vulnerable to fire arrows and mines as well as the more powerful explosive charge. However, there is a far less intrusive method for dealing with the Builder's Children - the water arrow. Our agents have found research information within Mechanist facilities that indicates a fatal flaw within the design of the Children, one that can be easily exploited in the field.
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On each Child's back is a boiler, one is which is easily noticed as it glows red within the metal frame. If enough moisture is introduced to this boiler, the Child will grind to a halt and deactivate. This can be done quietly and inconspicuously by shooting the boiler with a simple water arrow. Trials in the field indicate that the Guardian requires two such volleys, while the smaller variations require only a single arrow. When maintaining stealth, this is the recommended method for dealing with the Children. Care must be taken, however - a missed shot would most likely alert the Child to the presence of an intruder. |
Threat Assessment:
Since the fall of the Mechanists nearly three years ago, all variations of the Children have become a negligible threat. Without the Mechanists to maintain and produce the devices, they are hardly to be found anywhere in the City now. Although some former Mechanists support themselves by maintaining Mechanist devices, the Children in general tend to be very expensive to maintain. This, along with the unpopularity of the Order in recent times, has rendered all variations of the Child nearly extinct. Thus their current threat assessment is very low despite being very high during the Metal Age.
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