[SPECIES DEVELOPMENT] BOTLEYS

[skinstealer]

BOTLEYS
[CW: very simple/brief mentions of reproduction (literally just a mention cmon now it's a SFW thread)]

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ORIGIN

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• Originated in Hearth
  
• Construct species
  
• Created by ???? in 262 RE
  
• First morph: K9
  
• ????
  

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CULTURE

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• Found primarily in Hearth, with some scattered to other Taverne zones and very few spread out to other regions.
  
• No particular religious ties or worship demographics of note.
  
• Any “illnesses” manifest in the form of digital viruses or malfunctions, and require repair work from construct specialists- their manufacturers do not make them impossible to repair without special tools, and most shops can handle a botley repair job just fine.
  
• Botleys value digital data and other forms of art and entertainment highly due to its use as sustenance for their species, and tend to amass hoards of it both on computer hard drives and in physical, tangible forms.
  
• Botleys do not need to sleep and can simply power down temporarily to conserve energy (with either a timer or motion/sound trigger waking them up), but some prefer the softness of a bed.
  
• Botleys typically receive an online education free of charge before being released into the world by their creators, but can refuse and choose to set out on their own path without much fuss.
  
• Botleys are adaptable to most living situations so long as they are given adequate connection to the internet and electricity, as well as shelter from weather conditions.
  
• Botleys are not equipped for combat in any way outside of some morphs having (plastic) claws, and do not hold up well in fights.
  
• ????
  

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APPEARANCE

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• Rounded, plastic shapes
  
• Markings are atypical outside of modding, but stickers and decals can be commonly seen as fashion accessories
  
• Voices are synthesized and pleasant, often melodic
  
• Some morphs have paw pads, but not all
  
• Tails vary in style and length, and not all morphs have them
  
• Botleys do not have hair by default, but some do get modifications
  
• Range from 4’0-5’6 for "normal" adult height range.
  
• Limb style varies based on morph, but all are bipedal
  
• ????
  

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BIOLOGY

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• Botleys do not have skeletons, muscles, nerves, organs, or blood, and are primarily composed of plastic and electronics.
  
• Botleys have screens for faces, with any expressions being animated and stylized.
  
• Botley diets consist of data fed to them either through viewing through their screens, plugged directly into the back of their heads, or direct listening (in the form of music/speeches). Direct connection is the most “nutritious” and versatile way to feed a botley, and has the best effects on their health...providing the content is good for them.
  
• Energy levels vary based on how much data a botley has been fed, along with the quality of the data and how much a botley personally prefers that kind of data.
  
• Botleys typically express by animated facial expressions, wagging their tails and ears, and dancing.
  
• Ears are typically made of transparent plastic, and jointed at the base for wiggling motions
  
• All botleys have transparent plastic segments with the belly segment containing a core that holds all of their personal data. Should the core be destroyed, the botley would die.
  
• Botleys tend to take on animal behavior from their morph’s inspiration.
  
• ????
  

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LIFE CYCLE/FAMILY STRUCTURE

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• Botleys cannot reproduce, and do not have any kind of dimorphism.
  
• Any families formed by botleys are chosen, and can take any form chosen by them.
  
• ????
  

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GENETICS

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• Morphs are inspired by different kinds of animals, and influence the toy-like appearance of the botley.
  
• First morph: K9
  
• Botleys are inorganic, and completely immune to horror mutation.
  
• ????
  

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MORPHS

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K9
"????”
????

• Inspired by dogs
  
• Translucent plastic ears
  
• Paws
  
• Short tail
  

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J4WS
"????”
????

• Inspired by sharks
  
• Pointed translucent plastic fins
  
• Claws
  
• Long fishbone style tail
  

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CH1RP
"????”
????

• Inspired by penguins
  
• Plastic beak
  
• Wings and flippers
  
• No tail
  

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H0PP3R
"????”
????

• Inspired by kangaroos
  
• Translucent plastic ears
  
• Clawed paws
  
• Long tail
  

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SC4R4B
"????”
????

• Inspired by beetles
  
• Translucent plastic antennae
  
• Wings (capable of flight)
  
• No tail
  
• 4 arms + claws
  

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RULES

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This is a species development thread! Here you can have discussion on the species presented, and offer suggestions/ideas for developing them- thus directly contributing to the species! Anything is fair game so long as it follows the restrictions (if any are listed). This main post will be updated as we go, allowing for people to always have an up to date resource on the species.

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Restrictions/No-go's

• Keep it SFW!!!!
  

[Lilium Mortem]

Are their minds digital, like a program, or is it just magic that animates them? Due to having the ability to directly connect to power/internet, can botleys exert control over connected electronics/computer systems? since they can get ill from computer viruses can they be hacked?