Mechanical Dome

*This article or section may contain **spoilers**. You might want to avoid reading further if you don't want to spoil the surprise for yourself!*

# Description

The Mechannical Dome is a type of Civilization that is found at the end of the Mechanical Abyss. Reborn Ones populate the Mechanical Dome and, rarely, you will be able to recruit an Mechanical Runt.

It is a gigantic, towering structure with a large, broken glass dome on top of it. Inside, an enormous factory continuously and methodically runs, repurposing organic materials and "rebirthing" the dead in a new, biomechanical form, remodeled into otherworldly creatures, barely resembling what they once were.

The following are the NPCs found in the Mechanical Dome.

# Lore

The Mechanical Dome was once a mighty egyptian dome, protecting the last remnants of the ancient egyptian civilization from the horrors that lie below. However, eventually the dome started to crack, and all inside were caught in a great struggle for survival, leading them to develop increasingly advanced technology, aided by some unknown force. Their technology, however, soon began to grow beyond their control and comprehension, and they found themselves faced with a difficult choice: surrender their humanity and be remodeled into things they couldn't comprehend, or face certain death as the glass done began to shatter. With no other option, they accepted the mechanical beings' eldritch bargain, and as the water began to pour in, their bodies were recycled and transformed into horrendous amalgamtions of flesh and metal. Their dome was rebuilt in the vision of the Great Machine, transformed into an enormous factory from whence the expansion of their mechanical influence could continue. Soon, the entire biome had succumbed to this corrupting force, and all that once lived had been turned into cold mechanical creatures, twisted and deformed, slaves to the will of the Great Machine.

# Reborn Ones

* Female

The Reborn Ones are the citizens of the Mechanical Dome.

## Description

The Reborn Ones were once prosperous Egyptians, but after the Dome cracked, they eventually succumbed, dying in the same place they once deemed holy and impenetrable. Even then, however, their corpses couldn't rest for long, as when the Robotic corruption began transforming the Mechanical Abyss, their organic materials were recycled and they were reconstructed, interwoven with metal and machinery, until they sprung to life once more... But they were no longer their old selves - after their rebirth, they retained few of their human characterisitcs and were now nearly identical to each other, as anything that was deemed unecessary was removed or repurposed, and they were recreated with no care for their individuality, as it no longer served a purpose - only their noses remaining unchanged, serving as a subtle hint to what they once were, and a way to identify their long gone sexes.

## Behavior

They will stand in their positions and if a player interacts with them, they will talk with the player using their new language, which can be translated by the Translation Book. If they are attacked or robbed, they will chase the players and attack with their swords, and may invade the submarine if you try to escape. They are capable of destroying doors, meaning even your own ship will not be safe if you decide to attack them.

## Tactics

The Dynamite is the best item to use if you want to kill the Reborn Ones and steal their goods. If no dynamite is available, large crews with healing items may be able to tank their damage and kill them. These enemies can NOT swim, if you trick them down the ladder leading up to the dome, you can kill them at the bottom.

## Dialogue

* Primitive organics
* Unwanted presence
* Flesh is not enough
* You misunderstand
* It must be replaced
* The ambrosia
* Obsolete flesh
* Metaphors
* Faith is foolish
* Use for the flesh
* Don't be left behind
* The artistry
* What a pity
* It is futile
* You have been warned
* Battle shouts

* What primitive organics you inhabit.
* One crack and a few swallows dooms you.
* We’ll be breathing freely, meanwhile.

- Your presence here is unwanted.

- Your organics act as obstructions in our great machine.

- Leave now, or else forfeit your flesh to our cause.

- The ones below have shown us that flesh is not enough.

- The future holds nothing but despair...

- ...for those unwilling to adapt their flesh...

- ... into something greater.

- An infection? I think you severely misunderstand.

- The boils upon my face are not symptoms, but history.

- Historic artifacts showing the weakness of our past selves.

- A reminder to keep moving forward.

- Eyes? Those organic relics?

- Far too delicate to keep.

- Our great machine sees to it that such waste is replaced.

- So that each new batch should become stronger.

- Take a deep breath. Can you feel it?

- That thick ambrosia flowing.

- Every vein and lung filled with it.

- Glory to our great machine.

- You reek of obsolescence.

- Surely our great machine can smell you as well.

- I only hope it will put your matter to use soon.

- Or perhaps you’d rather volunteer?

- The old religions defined rebirth as metaphor.

- But metaphors can’t save a species.

- Our ancestors learned that.

- You’ll learn it as well.

- Did you know this place used to be a mighty dome?

- It was said to be created by a god.

- But what sort of godly creation succumbs to a crack?

- Faith is foolish. The faithless take life into their own hands.

- You! Organics!

- Have you been birthed prematurely?

- Surely your bodies wither without aid?

- Do you require medical attention?

- Our great machine may see to it your flesh finds use.

- Precious few witness our genius.

- Should you leave here, I ask one thing of you:

- Let your organic culture know there is a better way.

- Should the ones below awaken, only the strong can join them.

- Don’t be left behind.

- My head? Why no, this is not decor.

- Our minds have expanded past the scope of bone.

- But organics and artistry inspire our advancements.

- Perhaps it’s the artistry you admire.

- Surprised to see your kind here.

- The eyes should have detected your presence.

- They usually ensure no flesh goes wasted.

- What a pity.

- It is truly futile to go any further.

- We have established a mechanism...

- To catch any organics passing through…

- ...and recycle them.

- We feel compelled to tell you…

- As soon as you leave this place…

- You will be met with a great machine.

- It is designed to inject recycling agents into stray vessels.

- You have been warned.

- Feed the machine!

- You will be reborn!

- Surrender your flesh!

- Recycle the organics!

- You are unworthy!

- Your flesh is forfeit!

- Harvest them!

# Repaired One

 **Health(int.)** | 320

The Repaired One is the Doctor of the Mechanical Dome.

## Description

The Repaired One, similarly to the Mechanical Runt, was once the mummified remains of a long deceased egyptian, which unwillingly underwent the process of rebirth, which was unsuccessful due to its state of decomposition and deterioration. Unlike the runt, however, it has been successfully repaired after its failed rebirth, and it now acts as the Mechanical Dome's surgeon, having the duty of mantaining the Great Machine and the Mechanical Creatures in good, working condition, and possibly even being in charge of helping with the rebirthing process. It, however, is not sentient like the Reborn Ones, possibly a result of its unsuccessful rebirth, and is nothing more than a mindless machine, forever a slave of its own programming.

## Behavior

It will stand in its positions and if a player interacts with it, it will talk with the player using its new language, which can be translated by the Translation Book. If it or its brethren are attacked or robbed, they will chase the players and attack with their swords, and may invade the submarine if you try to escape. They are capable of destroying doors, meaning even your own ship will not be safe if you decide to attack them.

## Tactics

The Dynamite is the best item to use if you want to kill the Egyptians and steal their goods. If no dynamite is available, large crews with healing items may be able to tank their damage and kill them. These enemies can NOT swim, if you trick them down the ladder leading up to the dome, you can kill them at the bottom.

## Dialogue

* In need of repair
* Damage detected
* Physical injuries
* Battle shouts

* You-u l-l-look-k in need of r-rrepair.
* O-o-oiling v-veins.

- D-Damage det-tected.

- In-initializing main-tenance p-procedures.

- Y-you have suf-fered ph-physical injuries.

- M-medicine shall be emp-loyed ac-cordingly.

- T-threat det-tected

- C-combat s-subroutines initi-ated.

- Eli-minate t-the ag-g-ressor.

- Com-mensing D-defense prot-ocols.

# Mechanical Runt

 **Health(int.)** | 15

The Mechanical Runt is a recruitable NPC rarely found in the Mechanical Dome.

## Description

The Mechanical Runt was once an Egyptian Mummy, but when the dome cracked, it was too, converted into a biomechanical creature. However, due to its state of decomposition and deterioration, the rebirth process was unsuccessful, and the resulting creature was weak and frail; and being unsactisfatory for the Great Machine and their purposes, the Mechanical Runt was no longer wanted. Thus, the Reborn Ones have no quails with selling it, even to those who could pose a threat to themselves or their twisted cause.

## Behavior

Once recruited, they will join the crew with a pipe wrench and will be able to do many tasks, such as repairing breaches, attacking invading enemies or enemies inside caves or using the Submarine's Turret.
Similarly to Crew Bots, they can be instructed through the use of the Command Wheel to order them to do specific tasks.

# Trivia

* The Mechanical Dome is the only civilization whose dwellers do not have unique names. Instead, they are simply called "Reborn Ones" or "Repaired One", in the case of their unthinking doctor. This further highlights the society's disdain for individuality or autonomous behavior.

 Obstacles