Clockwork Meka

Clockwork Meka are an enemy group. They were made by Fontaine to serve as laborers, but were eventually modified for combat purposes.

Clockwork Meka are imbued with Arkhe energy, either Pneuma or Ousia, allowing them to deal Elemental DMG with their attacks, and will use different abilities depending on Arkhe alignment. The alignment can be determined based on the artificied clockwork — a bright white color indicates Pneuma, while a dark blue color indicates Ousia. If they are hit with the opposite energy of their alignment, they will temporarily lose their Arkhe energy, resulting in them being restricted to Physical attacks or unable to attack entirely for a period of time.

Types

Normal Meks

These Clockwork Meka have relatively low HP and take 1 opposite Arkhe attack to weaken.

• Area Alert Mek
• Arithmetic Enhancer Mek
• Geological Survey Mek
• Nimble Harvester Mek
• Recon Log Mek
• Underwater Patrol Mek
• Underwater Survey Mek

Specialist Meks

These Clockwork Meka have greater HP and stronger attacks, and take 2 opposite Arkhe attacks to weaken.

• Annihilation Specialist Mek
• Assault Specialist Mek
• Deepwater Assault Mek
• Construction Specialist Mek
• Suppression Specialist Mek

Bosses

These Clockwork Meka have even higher HP and more powerful attacks, and take 3 opposite Arkhe attacks to weaken.

• Icewind Suite
• Prototype Cal. Breguet

Drops

Mora

Character EXP

Meshing GearLv. 1+

Mechanical Spur GearLv. 40+

Artificed Dynamic GearLv. 60+

Descriptions

Lore

Around 400-500 years ago, Alain Guillotin and his peers developed a method of generating controlled Pneumousia Annihilation reactions,^[1] turning what was seen as a "latent [environmental] threat" into a powerful — albeit unstable — energy source.^[2] Around this time, Alain also invented artificial Pneumousia Blocks, which he later used to power his clockwork meka.^[3]

At the time, the use of clockwork machinery was already well-established in Fontaine, but "traditional" clockwork meka were powered by elastic potential energy and were seen as mere novelties.^[4] Alain created a new type of clockwork meka that was powered by a "kinetic core," a device that utilized his controlled-Annihilation technology, which produced a significant increase in operational efficacy. His "new-type" meka were also more structurally advanced, as the older models could not withstand the released energy.^[2]

To obtain the pneuma and ousia needed for Annihilation reactions, Alain's clockwork meka use components called "Repeaters" to refine the naturally-occurring pneumousia in Fontaine's environment. This is very convenient for operating within Fontaine, but limits their utility elsewhere. Pneumousia Blocks can be used as a substitute energy source, but only for brief periods.^[5]

Due to the unstable nature of pneumousia energy, Alain's clockwork meka tend to be in either a pneuma-aligned or ousia-aligned state.^[6] Striking a mek with an pneuma or ousia-infused attack of the opposite alignment will overload them and destroy this equilibrium, causing the mek to lose some of its functionality. Combat-oriented meka have a backup power system that they can use to sustain low-end combat actions,^[7] while utility-oriented meka will lose their combat capabilities entirely.^[8] Arithmetic Enhancer Meks have a built-in "Self-Repair" function that allows them to restore normal functioning after some time.^[9]

Over time, Alain's work rendered the field of traditional clockwork machinery essentially obsolete. Consequently, the funding dried up, and researchers were forced to pivot or shut down their labs altogether. It was for this reason that Butor closed his Institute of Clockwork Applications.^[10]

Since Alain's time, clockwork meka researchers have made great advancements in kinematics, but very little in terms of dynamics. As a result, modern meka have a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate innovative design features, such as the biomimesis of the Underwater Survey Mek, but their energy generation is still at the level of Alain's first inventions.^[11][12] The Arithmetic Enhancer Mek, which is capable of funneling energy to other meka, was designed to counter this deficit.^[9]

Today, most of the research and development for clockwork meka is conducted by the Fontaine Research Institute,^[13] and most of the manufacturing is done at the Fortress of Meropide.^[14] However, the construction of clockwork meka has no restrictions outside of patent law, so many private workshops actively research and build meka to their own specifications.^[15]

According to Aeval, the fruitful use of meka in the construction of the Poisson Tunnel inspired a new wave of clockwork technology, and it was sometime after this that clockwork meka were made available to the general public. However, in order to reduce production costs, the public-release meka were manufactured using cheaper materials and less efficient energy sources, making them less effective than the Institute's models.^[16]

Clockwork meka are primarily employed by the Maison Gardiennage, but citizens can also purchase them for personal use. By law, these purchases must be registered and recorded, but people have been known to circumvent this using methods such as filing off the serial numbers.^[3][17] There is a black market for clockwork meka; old military models fetch a high price,^[18] while Geological Survey Meks are particularly popular among Treasure Hoarders, as they can be set to detect specific minerals.^[19] Parts and even whole models have been smuggled out of the country,^[20] but there are also legitimate international sales.^[21][22]

Although modern clockwork meka are very advanced, most are not capable of true artificial intelligence.^[23] The most notable exception is Seymour, a special Recon Log Mek created by Alain himself "as proof of his accomplishments in kinematics and material science."^[24] Seymour possesses a complex artificial neural network that enables rapid learning and adaptation, and is capable of making autonomous decisions. Another exception is "Curve", a humanoid mek created by Mosso Lombroso that developed the ability to make decisions based on emotions instead of logic.^[25] Nonetheless, some Fontainians worry that further advancements in meka technology, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence, will result in the replacement of humans and Melusines in Fontaine.^[26]

The applications of clockwork meka have shifted over time. In the present day, they are highly valued for their combat ability, to the point that models originally designed for non-violent purposes have been modified to favor attacks. This is best seen in the humanoid meka: Annihilation Specialist (designed to commemorate the inventor's lover), Assault Specialist (designed to assist humans), and Icewind Suite (designed as a dynamic art piece). As these meka are primarily used by the Maison Gardiennage, some citizens see this as "[the] state apparatus enforcing the monopoly on violence."^[13]

Gallery

Icons

Area Alert

Arithmetic Enhancer

Geological Survey

Nimble Harvester

Recon Log

Underwater Patrol

Underwater Survey

Annihilation Specialist

Assault Specialist

Deepwater Assault

Construction Specialist

Suppression Specialist

Icewind Suite

Prototype Cal. Breguet

Archive

Area Alert

Arithmetic Enhancer

Geological Survey

Nimble Harvester

Recon Log

Underwater Patrol

Underwater Survey

Annihilation Specialist

Assault Specialist

Deepwater Assault

Construction Specialist

Suppression Specialist

Icewind Suite

Prototype Cal. Breguet

Trivia

• They are the first Automaton enemy group to consist of Common Enemies.
• There are two known Meka types that deal the same damage type regardless of their Arkhe alignment: The Recon Log Mek (Electro) and Underwater Survey Mek (Hydro).
• The Prototype Cal. Breguet is the only known Mek type to not have an alternate Arkhe alignment — it is exclusively Ousia-aligned.
• The first meka created by Alain Guillotin were the Recon Log Mek and Assault Specialist Mek, which were associated with his sister, Mary-Ann Guillotin, and his late friend, Carter Scherbius, respectively.
• Escoffier owns a custom-made meka set, the Experimental Multi-Purpose Gastromek Assembly, which consists of the All-Spectrum Multi-Use Cooking Mek (her floating serving dish) and the Self-Adapting Movement Signal Tracking Support Mek (the tail-like prosthesis on her back). She uses them for both cooking and combat.^[27]
• Jahoda has a stash of clockwork meka that she uses for fighting practice in her free time.^[28] It is unclear whether she obtained these legally.

Other Languages

Change History

References

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