Scurns

Entirely mechanical, the small, insectinoid Scurns lurk in dark, cold places. During the warm periods of the day, the small machines seek cover in their nests, but as soon as night falls or winter comes, the robotic locusts emerge from their burrows to scavenge and defend their territory.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The body of a Scurn very much resembles vermin. With four legs, and a sphere for a body, the machines are only a foot tall. Filled with circuitry and electronics that are beyond the understanding of the modern civilizations, the mechanical insects are entirely mechanical, possessing no organic components. Hidden inside its spherical shell, four additional limbs can emerge, ending in sharp two-digit claws.

Genetics and Reproduction

Scurns reproduce by building Hives. An individual will seek a shady area, preferably inside a building or even within a deep enough lake, and will begin to construct a Hive. First, the Scurn will clear out debris to make room for the nest. After making room, the machine will seek out metal. Scrap metal will do, but the machines can detect higher quality metals through an unknown means. It will bring this metal back into the nest and begin fusing most of the metal to its own body. After creating a sphere roughly five feet tall and five feet long/wide, it will use its limbs to begin manufacturing additional Scurn. A Scurn Hive can produce a drone every forty eight hours, provided that the Hive has access to a supply of metal and the environment is cold enough. Each drone is identical to the original drone that became the Hive, and each one is slaved to the Hive. Killing the Hive will cause the drones that're slaved to it to flee. Those Drones can then become Hives, thus spreading the machines further.

Ecology and Habitats

The success of a Scurn colony is entirely dependent on the amount of metal nearby. Scurn Drones will attack organics, if it means acquiring more metal. Normally, however, Scurn colonies will ignore organics and even augmented and biomechanical beings, if there is enough metal nearby to placate them. The only exception to this rule is Pureloy. When Scurn Drones detect Pureloy, they will relentlessly attempt to collect the rare metal, even if it means risking several individuals in the process. During warm periods of the day, Drones will lurk in the nest, to guard the hibernating Hive, becoming territorial and leaving the nest only to gather water or to stockpile more metal.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Drones of a Scurn Colony require very little to survive. Water is all a Drone needs to remain functional, requiring only metal to repair damages done to it. However, Scurn hives also require cold climates to function at max capacity. During unfavorable times, the Hive will enter stasis, hibernating until the environment surrounding it becomes colder.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The spherical body of a Scurn hides a collection of sensory devices. A short range radar allows it to accurately scan its environment up to 10 feet away. In addition, it also possesses a heat sensor that allows it to detect heat sources within 10 feet of it. In addition, Scurn individuals are capable of analyzing the content of nearby metals and are able to determine if the material is of better quality and/or condition.