UNIVER.SYS/Techne

In a far-flung age after humanity's glory and downfall, UNIVER.SYS' landscape became home to the Techne—anthropomorphic, mechanical lifeforms.

Though most of their origins were lost to history, scholars have worked to piece together their past. The prevailing theory suggests that Techne evolved from the Monads, UNIVER.SYS' primordial beings born from the world's datastreams. Yet the true nature of the Monads and their transformation into Techne remains mostly a mystery.

Techne Physiology

Despite their humanoid form and behavior, Techne are purely mechanical beings without biological functions. Their bodies consist of amorphous, metallic material. Instead of traditional metabolism, they process energy in its purest form.

While Techne can live for centuries without aging, they are not immortal. Their bodies can be destroyed and rebuilt, they die if their Kernel—the core data of their being—is destroyed or severely corrupted.

Techne Society

In UNIVER.SYS, a Techne's value stems from their contributions to society and problem-solving abilities, rather than their pedigree or combat prowess. The common classes of Techne are defined by their skillsets and occupations rather than bloodlines. While most Techne develop multiple skillsets, some choose to specialize in just one.

Mathematicians

Also known as the Calculators, they form the backbone of Techne society and trace their lineage to UNIVER.SYS' early history, when their Monad ancestors used their abilities to chart and navigate the universe's landscape. Techne with this skillset work in fields requiring mathematical expertise, such as accounting, banking, data science, and navigation.

Researchers

Branching from the Mathematicians, Researchers expanded beyond numbers into other fields of knowledge, including philosophy, physics, and history. These Techne have made immense contributions to both technological advancement and the discovery of UNIVER.SYS' hidden regions that eluded the Mathematicians.

Engineers

The architects of UNIVER.SYS' hardware and software, Engineers possess deep knowledge of both programs and machinery, making them essential in every sector. While some specialize in programming and software architecture, others focus on industrial design and development.

Wordsmiths

When numbers and scientific facts aren't enough, Wordsmiths step in. Their mastery of language makes them excellent authors and marketers, crafting words that deeply connect with their audience. Wordsmith Techne also excel in archiving and bookkeeping.

Speakers

The voices of Techne society, Speakers excel in verbal communication and diplomacy. Many hold positions in public relations, tourism, advocacy, and leadership. This powerful skillset carries great responsibility, as it can be misused for misinformation and deception.

Artisans

While Engineers focus on function and substance, Artisans bring style and form to their creations. They cater to the whimsical and seemingly illogical needs that prove just as important. Though primarily working in crafts and visual arts, they often expand into architecture or use their skills for storytelling.

Performers

Once dismissed as trivial and unpredictable by the more cerebral classes of Techne, Performers have risen to prominence in recent decades of UNIVER.SYS. Beyond mere entertainment, they inspire their fellow Techne to dream bigger, think outside of the box, and push beyond the boundaries of rationality.

Harmonizers

Encompassing bureaucrats, guardians, and public workers, Harmonizers keep UNIVER.SYS running smoothly amid the often-eccentric endeavors of other Techne classes. Once dominant, Harmonizers are now unfortunately viewed as a "necessary evil" by several Techne circles, and some even look down on them for their restraint and preference for familiarity. Despite this stigma, many Harmonizers have proven themselves to be much more than their labels.

Trivia

• Techne is derived from the Ancient Greek term tékhnē, literally meaning ”art, skill, craft”. The English word technology comes from the prefix techne and the suffix -ology; both words are of Greek origin combined to mean "the practical application of knowledge".
  • Their Monad ancestors are derived from the philosophical term of the same name, particularly the Phytagorean definition of Monad.
• In previous iterations of UNIVER.SYS, Techne used to be called TANs (Technological Anthropomorphs), which is a reference to the OS-tans. As UNIVER.SYS began to drift further from its OS-tan influence, the term TAN was changed to Techne to avoid direct references.