Soul Modder

Yeah, we as Soul Modder are basically scientists on steroids. While the others are going on and on about their "understanding of the world around us" bullshit, we here just make your body better in any way possible. And it looks stylish as fuck.

— Soul Modder Apprentice Echo

So... you are a scientist you said?

Nah fuck no. I'm not a fucking bookworm, I'm an artist. I get my Soulmods from one of those fancy Enhancement Guys along with a "How-To" workshop and the same old saying of "If it hurts the person you're modding on, you're doing it wrong". But you know what I have to say to that? Blood, Sweat and Tears yo.

Hah... totally. Okay, and do all Soul Modders have the same... approach you have?

Yeah we're all the same. No obviously not dumbass. My mentors have their own way to operate, I do it cheaper since I only been at it for a few months. The fancy pants up in the Rox have their own personal artists they go to, thinking they are better than us. But I tell ya, they can shove their muscle-numbness cream and nerve-dampening pills up their chromaticly enhanced arse.

Oh, right. So, what, if you don't mind me asking...

Spit it out already man, ain't got all day!

Right right. What do you make a mod?

A mod? Damn, totally differs from size, complexity, buyer. If the guy comes in here all done up and luxury-lookin', best believe I charge the guy more. But no, a mod at my price costs about 60 upwards. Some artists are fucking nuts with their pricing, starting at 300 or something. Tell you what, if I get you down on a date today, I'll give ya 15% off. I get to decide the design though haha.

I think I'm good for now. But what about the designs, can they vary?

You bet! Every artist got their own style to the mods. You look around these parts, you can see lots of different rad mod styles. Really is a way of expressin' yourself, you feel me?

Definitely. Totally. So, if someone wants to become a Modder, how would they go about it?

Makes no sense trying to get into the industry on your own to be honest. I would go with old trusted connections. I hung around this shop for over a year straight, got most my shit done here, and got along well with the owner. Normally, goin' up to a shop and straight up asking if they looking for an apprentice will getcha laughed at. So I'd say get connections first and let that shit come naturally, yknow?

Understood. Well thank you for the time, and I wish you much luck in your endeavours.

Damn, well good endeavours to you too my man. And the offer still on the table. Consider it.

Type

Technology

Soul Modder Jared

When someone comes into your shop, sir Jared, is there any prerequisite to getting their first mod?

Drop the sir, please. People askin' to get they first mod is always an experience. Y'see, pretty much any mod besides sense-enhancements need some sorta info to work. And since the brain is a fucked little bugger, you need the info from a more stable source. the Soul Enhancement Scholars from the Rox so kindly released their mod component, we in the field all the Neural Database, which is basically a mechanical copy of your live brain. Any mods will be plugged into there to get any info they need to work.

A rad fucking gun-hand is only a few gold and a lot of pain away.
Get yours at "Jared's Modhouse"!, Southern Underground District, Vaporio

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And now, onto a special interview with one of the most decorated Artificers of our time, Branchmaster Zylphia Penelope Wallace, Branchmaster and Professor of the Soulweaver's tract and Master Soul Modder. She is contracted under the Rox Guild and has been modding the bodies of many souls over her time here on Ignotas. Hello Ms. Wallace, how are yous today?

Zylphia Penelope Wallace

I am doing fantastic, thank you. It is always a pleasure to talk about my work with the Clockwork Courier.

Glad to hear it Ms. Wallace. So we've talked with a few newer faces in the Soul Modding community, but wanted to get a bit more into detail with the best in the field about how exactly Soul Mods are made. Can you elaborate on that?

Oh sure dear. Soul Mods are basically a fuze between the digital and biological world as you know. So while a mod is mostly operating in a digital world, the in- and outputs of it are generally converted to or from biological information.

Now in order to build such a device, our scholars have made it a point to be as entry-friendly as possible. Modders need to build the components themselves, almost always consisting of circuitry, biomechanical converters and casings, though for every mod-type, there are more special components as well. The programming is also done by the artists, here a lot can be copy-and-pasted from previous mods of the same type, but as we all know, every body is differnt, so adjustments must be made per person.

The build-in process looks different for every artist, since the only thing really needed is for the biomechanical converters to be connected to the nervous system. Everything else, like the level of discreetness, boldness, style, color, etc. is decided between customer and modder.

Fascinating, and I have to ask, what if any risks are there in getting such a mod. Because at the end of the day, it is a direct meddelling with the body.

Right. Well, our world is still only nineteen years old. So lots is still in research. But excessive modding on the body can be a huge strain mentally. If you are not careful, and get your mods done some dirty place in the underground, you could get infected by various diseases. And since the mods have a direct impact in your thinking and acting, you could experience negative symptoms ranging from minor headaches, blurry vision, occasional fainting to even changing of personality, anger issues, or the loss of critical thinking.

That sounds... awful. How can you promise your clients then that they wont be affected by these symptoms?

As I said, if your Soul Modder knows what they are doing, their environment is sanitary and the components are high value, I see no issue in installing them. Just don't overdo it with the amount too quickly. Your mbody needs time adjusting and too much of something good will always turn sour.

Alright. Let's take a step back. You said that the design of the mods can vary. So could it be that people who go for a more discreet look might not even look like they're modded?

Absolutely. you wouldn't believe the amount of people wearing Soul Mods that just don't show it. I estimate that about every one in eight people living in Vaporio are in some way enhanced. Mods have become such a fashion style and a way of expression that you wouldn't believe the number of "Incognito Mods" there are. But let me tell you, even the best can't hide a mod 100%. So next time you're around people, maybe take an extra detailed look at their eyes, or unnatural scars., or fingertips. There could be something mechanical there.

That really is unexpected. Now we're getting to the end of the interview. One last question. Is there a way to become a Soul mod artist under you?

Well not directly, but if you were to decide to join the Rox Academics under either the Soulventure or the artisans tract, you would get the chance to learn the basics directly from my lectures. There you get hands on experience, building mods, programming them, and under my supervision, install them on volunteers.