Greengear

**Greengears** are plant-based robot-like artificial lifeforms created by a combination of darkwriting, clockworks, and plants. Greengears are typically bipedal and human-shaped, but simpler, animal-shaped or more abstract greengears exist as well. Most are designed with their purpose in mind; a greengear designed for manual labor in a dangerous environment will likely be sturdy, sure-footed, and rudimentary, with few openings into the internals and the plant component well-protected. Likewise, a servant greengear to a wealthy household is more likely to be aesthetically pleasing, attractive, and floral, with delicate or even engraved metalwork.

In many cities, greengears must wear an identification tag when not accompanied by their owner. Small communities of wild greengears are thought to exist deep in the jungles of Windward. This theory is supported by occasional thefts of delicate clockworks from ships.

### Categorization

Because of the wide variety of designs and functions of greengears, it is nearly impossible to create simple named categories for them. The standard convention for describing shape and features is as follows:

**I** or **M** - **i**mmobile or **m**obile, designates whether the greengear can ambulate or otherwise traverse distance on its own

**L** or **S** - **l**arger or **s**maller than a typical human, designates roughly how big the greengear is; for greengears that are roughly the same size as a human, L is preferred

**Q** or **V** - **q**uiet or **v**ocal, designates whether the greengear can produce sounds and/or speak

**D** or **N** - **d**exterous or **n**ot dexterous, designates whether the greengear has hands or hand-like tools with which to manipulate, carry, or handle objects

**H** or **F** - **h**eaded or **f**aceless, designates whether the greengear has a definable head or similar focal point, mostly of concern in social situations

**S** or **E** - **s**hielded or **e**xposed, designates whether the plant component is protected or exposed to the elements

For example, a tall humanoid house-servant greengear with legs, hands, a head, and the ability to speak would be designated as an **MLVDHE** greengear.

Additional traits that might be important are displayed after the rest of the designation, with a dash (-) separating them from the main designation. These are typically only used in specific working scenarios.

**C** - electrically conductive

**G** - magnetic

**T** - able to communicate via myconet, requiring a fungus component

**K** - authorized and designed to kill (such as high-security greengears)

### Components

#### Plant Component

Greengears are photosynthesis- and water-powered and entirely autonomous, though each individual's own darkwriting guides their behaviors and personality. Greengears remain functional so long as their plant component, which sources their darkwriting, remains alive. A hardy type of vine is most often used, which is highly resistant to changes in temperature, humidity, light, and can even remain alive for days submerged in seawater, making greengears ideal manual laborers in conditions difficult for humans. Different vine varieties may sport small flowers, which can be visually appealing or a nuisance if they attract insects. In some cases, flowering plants are preferred, for visual appeal or even for beekeeping.

The vines in greengears are just as susceptible to plant diseases, parasites, and being eaten, but it is a best practice among greengear crafters that they be darkwritten to be reactive to these "health" issues and prune their own bad leaves or seek assistance from their owner.

#### Machinery Component

The machinery component in greengears is typically a complex clockwork skeleton. Bronze is a common material for this component. A nonferrous rust-resistant metal is ideal, though obviously extremely uncommon due to the cost and rarity of materials. Due to the softness of silver, it is generally only used by the upper class for servant greengears, rather than heavy lifting jobs. Some greengears are simply galvanized, or plated, with a rust-resistant metal, while others have only key joint components made from rust-resistant materials. Greengears crafted for railroad or electrical work may be deliberately constructed from electrically conductive or magnetic materials. In these cases, the plant component must be protected from damage by housing it within a shielded container of some type.

### Behavior

Greengears are as intelligent and have as much free decision-making power as their darkwriting allows. Due to the nature of darkwriting, greengears will almost always develop a personality and attitude of their own over time, as their writing encounters more and more situations that are unaccounted for in the script. Many are notably sassy and sarcastic, perhaps as a balance for their typically servile nature. A small subset of scholars dedicate themselves to studying the psychology of greengears, including differences caused by different plants, metals, owners, and environments.

All greengears must "recharge" in sunlight and water. Shallow pools and sometimes artificial lights are provided by industrial places that employ greengears.

Greengears speak through darkwritten instruments, often a small flute or ocarina, giving their voices a pleasant, musical quality. Instruments are typically installed in the chest cavity, producing an echoing voice quality in enclosed designs. Those without instruments - either whose instrument is lost or damaged, or who were left deliberately mute - can communicate with sign language or written language.

### Utilization

Greengears are crafted for a variety of purposes. These are often duties that are undesirable, dangerous, or difficult for humans or other purely-organic creatures.