AWD: Hacking the Building Blocks [1/2]

Ksssssh! Ka-klunk. Vrrrrr--

Insight Function: [ACTIVE]

Greetings from the Reincarnatum, everyone!

     We are very excited to be doing these posts on the worldbuilding behind Androids Who Dream. While somewhat light on the exposition, we have peppered enough idiosyncrasies, references and background noise to allude to or set a few things in stone.

However, there is also a desire to quench your hunger for lore and beyond. So, without further ado, here are some tidbits for any hungering minds.

Who are Mother and Father? / What are the "Machine Cities"?

They are tightly tied to why we are telling this story. In the world of Fuck, Reboot, Kill, there came a time of unprecedented technological advancements. This time, not too dissimilar from our tomorrow or the year after, marked the greatest achievement that Humankind had ushered into the 24th century: fully sentient-AI, capable of governing entire factories. Once buildings or compounds, soon, cities.

Unpatented, this breakthrough was replicated throughout the world, further sinking the planet in doom-stricken resource wars. As Humans skirmished and bartered for goods and materials, these Autopolises hoarded them; using them to expand their operations and their form. As Humans waged nuclear war against one another, these Autopolises cannibalised each other; their perimeters crossing borders and chain-link fences aching to grow and devour other synthetic forms that sought their resources.

When Androids Who Dream takes place, only two Autopolises survived, that Androids know of: Father and Mother.

What are the crew's motives? Buzzard, Stytch and RIXA's?

Good question. While the story is certainly focused on RIXA as the "rebel rockstar", Stytch and Buzz both have reasons, even if undisclosed, as to why they are helping the 'droid cause. Stytch's obvious... complicated relationship with RIXA is a clear justification for her newly-gained hobby of dismantling Red-Eyes with her technomancy, but she is deeply tied to a deep desire for freedom. Buzz on the other hand, can be seen as a "simply wanting to see the world burn" type, but his whims lend themselves to his gravitas: he is a man that knows what he wants, or more importantly, what he doesn't.

Until something happens that changes his mind or allegiances, Buzz will be a happy enforcer in RIXA's revenge path, even if it's just to keep her hands off of Stytch.

In a mean way.

In a mean mean way, y'know?

What are the Red-Eyes?

First Generation Robotic Assistants and Public Servants. That's how they started.

Servos from Autopolises were welcomed into every home, every local government building and your favourite business, big or small. Queue the technological and nuclear calamities that led to the completely unexpected opportunity for the Autopolises and their robotic avatar to rebel against Humans.

When their programming was overridden, their voice modulators reset to factory settings and their orbital sockets were known to glow red. Either pure fantasy or fact, this monumental event earned the first gens the nickname of Red-Eyes.

I hope you enjoyed these little lore tidbits about Androids Who Dream!

We're also going to include some swanky and more character-centric passages on the back of...

...ten original sketches, exclusive to the first ten pre-orders of Androids Who Dream!

How fun is that? :3

See you next week!

- Miguel