Metal-Caste

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## Metal-caste

### Typical Characteristics

Durable, strong, heavy, slow, shiny

The **Metal-Caste** are a race of metal (stone)-influenced humans. They are extremely durable and strong, their metal skin making them nearly impervious to injury. The metal-caste also have a unique quirk: instead of being born with an innate drive to motivate themselves and sense of self, called a "Spark," a metal-caste develops this epiphany around puberty.

## Lifestyle and Culture

### Sparking

The most notable feature of the metal-caste is the mental realization they call the "Spark." Metal-caste children are born without an innate sense of self, obeying orders without question. An unsparked metal-caste feels dulled emotions, can possess a vivid imagination and can think for themselves and even voice opinions, but they will never conciously *act* on these thoughts; when they realize that they can, they are Sparked, and will choose a new name to reflect their new identity. However, the process of Sparking is not perfect. If a child undergoes trauma too early in their life, they may never develop a Spark and will remain without a sense of self for their entire life. The current theory explaining Sparking is that metal was primarily made up Stone's nervous system and brain, and that this disconnection makes it take longer for them to be used to being an individual, rather than part of a larger whole.

A metal-caste who gets struck by lightning (naturally, without another being's will controlling it) undergoes a unique transformation they call being "chosen by the sky" and earning the title Stormbreaker. The metal-caste acquires a "Second Spark" and becomes a powerful lightning mage. Most metal-caste people are people of Stone, being very steady in their ways, but a Stormbreaker possesses uncontrollable wanderlust, typically only returning rarely to share stories of what they've seen. It is likely that this Second Spark only emerged post-truename, as their creation is probably tapping into some higher property of lighting.

### Targeted Society

The metal-caste primarily reside in Ironhill, a massive plateau located on the southernmost eastern continent. The plateau is extremely difficult to scale, being only one of the methods that keep the people of Ironhill fortified and safe from intruders. Their society is small and dense, residing primarily in artificial cave systems as well as maintaining flocks and small villages on the surface.

Most metal-caste are raised in an environment that supports them as they grow up. Raising a metal-caste child is comparatively easy, since they will always act without complaint, but they are extremely vulnerable. The metal-caste's combination of raw physical strength and an Unsparked complete willingness to follow orders makes them valuable targets for slave traders. Adult metal-caste will fight viciously to protect their children, since if a child is taken, it is possible they will never Spark. However, slavers do occasionally manage to take a child, and most commonly put them to work in physical labor. Most metal-caste found outside of Ironhill are former slaves, or descendants of slaves.

## Physical Characteristics

### Appearance

Metal-castes will have solid metal skin of iron, bronze, silver, or gold, with even their eyes and hair being fully metal. Their eyes are without visible pupils and are solid panes of metal, but they can still see out of them. Metal-caste hair has the consistency of thin, prickly wire and while it can be shaped or styled, it usually returns to its original texture quickly. Metal-caste skin can also tarnish if not properly maintained; iron-caste people can rust, while bronze and silver will tarnish and gold will not corrode at all.

A number of body modifications are also possible. Hair can be fused together with heat, used for styling purposes, while skin can be etched or engraved with designs and even filled in with different metals, although these filler metals won't bend as well with the skin. These patterns usually fade or heal over time.

### Tough Skin

The metal-caste's metallic skin is imbued with Life energy as well as Stone, allowing them to bend it flexibly or harden it to steel at will. This makes them nearly impervious to physical injury while still maintaining a minute sense of touch and precise motor control. The nature of their metal skin deflects and distributes forceful impacts, so they don’t tend to feel blunt force strongly.

### Hair

The hair on a metal-caste's head is akin to very thin wire of soft metal. It is prickly to the touch and can be styled through coaxing- though will regain its original state quickly after- or using heat.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Can you share anything about metalcaste, since the shiny dragon-punching lady is stated to be one? (tumblr.com)
2. ↑ So thinking about the Metal Caste and the Spark, I have a question. (tumblr.com)
3. ↑ Are the metal-caste born un-Sparked because their higher-than-average connection to Stone makes them too "stable"... (tumblr.com)
4. ↑ Did Crucibles and Stormbreakers appear before or after the true names for fire and lightning where discovered. (tumblr.com)
5. ↑ How do metal-caste people’s hair work? (tumblr.com)
6. ↑ "*Depends on the specific kind and...*" to "*gold caste don't corrode at all*": messages in #aurora-discussion in the OSP discord server (discord.com)
7. ↑ this is purely idle curiosity, but could a metal-caste person get a tattoo?... (tumblr.com)
8. ↑ How's the sense of touch on Metal-Caste (or the stone/ice armored humans for that matter) work? (tumblr.com)
9. ↑ if the soul wasn't protecting the body (sorry if im getting lore wrong) could a metal caste be controlled with earth magic? (tumblr.com)
10. ↑ https://comicaurora.tumblr.com/post/625189822964891648/how-do-metal-caste-peoples-hair-work-is-it-like