Most Bio Constructs were developed originally from heavily modified naturally occurring creatures using very high level Intrinsic Bio Circuitry, then re-designed using very advanced knowledge and the Scan and Personality Designer programs so the creature is the device, and are then reproduced using a suitable Android Mould, see Life Tree Products. All are "tame", rather than wild, and will very rarely start combat. Note that all those with Message Laser send/receive have Coders for (de)compression. Also note that no precise details of power/information storage or power usage are given as these are assumed to be sufficient, or even HD or combat abilities. The device levels shown are effectively the level of Intrinsic Bio Circuitry -2.
The body and personality patterns from which Bio Constructs are produced may not be widely known, and are often jealously guarded, they are rarely sold in any case to those who are not Good. No longer will people be able to say that technology doesn't grow on trees...
Mind Bird L=7 Scanner Cat L=7 Nutrient Snake L=7 Life Dog L=7 Life Bush L=7 Medi Leach L=8 Camouflaged Medi Leach L=8 Fixed Medi Snake L=8 Muck Pig L=8 Archive Bush L=8 Life Tree L=8 Life Tree Products L=- Reality Bear L=9 Medi Snake L=9 Ressurection Tree L=9 Fixed Repair Tree L=9 Sleeper Tree L=9
Explanation of Bio Constructs
Mind Bird: is a combined Personality Recorder and Android Programmer both of -2L implemented using biological technology in the form of a large black bird. Can sit indefinitely within and be nourished by a Life Tree. Has a massive exact and precise memory which is enough for almost any complete personality, but there is no external access to this without something like a Mind Probe/Programmer, except via its photo sensors from, for example, a Message Laser. Can also feed normally on a wide variety of foods and is fond of sitting on people's heads and being fed. Can be controlled by stroking special combinations of pressure points, or by verbal command. Sexless and normally reproduces via a Life Tree of +2L, normally imprinting a copy of its own mind in the offspring. About as intelligent as a smart bird and is capable of simple speech, and is quite protective of androids the mind of which it is programming. Gets on quite well with Scanner Cats and Medi Snakes, and is capable of acting as a voice for them. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 20gp.
Level: 7th.
Scanner Cat: is a combined Body Scanner and Personality Recorder both of -2L implemented using biological technology in the form of a large black cat. Has an exact and precise memory and is capable of acting as the equivalent of 300MC of Macro Storage indefinitely, i.e. enough for any body pattern and most personalities. Can rapidly feed stored information via a built-in Message Laser function, also includes photo sensors for receiving Message Lasers, and acts as a Solar Panel to assist its power requirements. Also capable of extracting information from the various other Bio Constructs that they have acquired via a scanning function or have memorised, including Archive Bushes. Feeds normally on a wide variety of foods and is fond of rubbing up against people, and sitting on their shoulders. Can be controlled by stroking special combinations of pressure points, or by verbal command. Sexless and normally reproduces via a Life Tree of +2L. About as intelligent as a smart cat and can understand speech; takes likes and dislikes to people and tends to despise Life Dogs. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 100gp.
Level: 7th.
Nutrient Snake: is a specialist Medi Snake which can only synthesise nutrient for a Life Tree. Otherwise as a rather smaller Medi Snake of +2L, though not quite so intelligent, and without the scanning functions. Sexless and normally reproduces via a Life Tree of +2L. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 1000gp.
Level: 7th.
Life Dog: is a Life Mover Remote of -2L implemented using biological technology in the form of a black dog. This is a dog that will literally die to save its owner's life when required. Contains all the power storage needed to power the transfer (this would probably fry it if nothing else), and the power to maintain tuning. Can be controlled by stroking special combinations of pressure points, or by verbal command. Sexless and normally produced via a Ressurection Tree of +2L. About as intelligent as a normal dog and can understand speech, and is very loyal. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 100gp.
Level: 7th.
Life Bush: is a Life Tree which functions as a Lesser Android Mould of -2L. Considered as unethical by many technologists. Lesser Androids grow in cysts outside its trunk. Must be supplied with undifferentiated Culture and with the nutrients required for the growing lesser android, usually by a Medi Snake. It is controlled by touching special combinations of pressure points on its trunk and has no scanning function. Can remember exactly the pattern of the lesser android it is growing, and can only obtain this via its photo sensors from, for example, a Message Laser, or over an Archive Bush "grapevine". Sexless, and cannot reproduce Mind Birds, but can nourish them. Completely unintelligent. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 150gp.
Level: 7th.
Medi Leach: is a Medi Kit implemented using biological technology in the form of a large, flat, black leach. It is attached to some part of the body of the creature it works for, preferably close to a major blood supply, and draws the very minor sustenance it requires from the person it is attached to. It does not include the short-range transporter function, and places drugs directly into the blood stream, and does not have any ranged scanning ability. Palliatives are stored within it as a standard Medi Kit by allowing it to suck them up, and secreted when required. Fine control is possible by touching special combinations of pressure points on the leach, and its medical diagnosis can be obtained by study of changes in patterns of colouration on its surface. Sexless and is normally produced via a Life Tree of +2L. Completely unintelligent. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 20gp.
Level: 8th.
Camouflaged Medi Leach: is a version of Medi Leach which changes its colouration, and even surface texture, to match the part of the body of the creature it is attached to. The diagnostic patterns only appear on its surface when a specific pressure point combination is touched, and will automatically fade away again when no longer needed. The only problem with it compared to the standard version is that it requires somewhat more sustenance, which may become noticeable if the creature it is attached to is on short rations. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 20gp.
Level: 8th.
Fixed Medi Snake: is a specialist Medi Snake which can only synthesise nutrient for a Life Tree and one particular Palliative or Culture fixed in "construction". Otherwise as a smaller Medi Snake of +1L, though not quite so intelligent, and with the scanning functions. Sexless and normally reproduces via a Life Tree of +2L. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 5000gp.
Level: 8th.
Muck Pig: is an Organic Synthesiser of -2L implemented using biological technology in the form of a black pig. Consumes just about anything organic, including gases, poisons and sewage, and produces good quality organic materials, also extracting any food required for itself. Does not do complex production and produces its output in the form of multiple small dark brown eggs. Can be controlled by pressing special combinations of pressure points. Sexless and normally reproduces via a Life Tree of +2L. About as intelligent as a stupid pig with no understanding of speech, and its main interest in life is more "food". Uses: none. Weight: 1000gp.
Level: 8th.
Archive Bush: is Macro Storage of -2L implemented using biological technology in the form of a black-barked perennial bush. As a normal bush requires sunlight, water and suitable soil, and has a massive information storage capacity. Grows out linking roots underground to any other Archive Bushes around, and to any Life (or Ressurection) Trees, enabling exchange of information; this network is sometimes called the "grapevine". It is controlled by touching special combinations of pressure points on its trunk and information about the transfer and location of information can be obtained by study of changes in patterns of colouration on its surface. Sexless and normally reproduces via a Life Tree of +2L. Completely unintelligent. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 1000gp.
Level: 8th.
Life Tree: is an Android Mould of -2L implemented using biological technology in the form of a thick black-trunked deciduous tree. As a normal tree requires sunlight, water and suitable soil, and rests during the winter months though it can maintain an android part-grown by then in safe, suspended animation. Androids grow within its trunk. Breeds its own undifferentiated Culture as required, but must be supplied with the nutrients required for the growing android, usually by a Medi Snake. It is controlled by touching special combinations of pressure points on its trunk and information from its scanning function can be obtained by study of changes in patterns of colouration on its surface. Can remember exactly the pattern of the android it is growing, and obtains this by "taste", via its photo sensors from, for example, a Message Laser, or over an Archive Bush "grapevine". A Life Tree III is also capable of acting as an Auto Doc I (sometimes called a "Repair Tree"), preferably with the assistance of a Medi Snake. Note that this and all the other trees and bushes are proof against all but the hottest fire, and will re-grow lost foliage. Sexless, but can produce seeds as described in Life Tree Products, which are typically carried and planted by Mind Birds. Co-operates with and feeds Mind Birds. Completely unintelligent. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 10,000gp.
Level: 8th.
Life Tree Products: herein are listed some standard Bio Constructs that can be produced by Life Trees, typically these are limited to -2L. At +1L can produce Mind Birds, Nutrient Snakes, and Scanner Cats, at +2L (Camouflaged) Medi Leaches, Fixed Medi Snakes, and Muck Pigs, and at +3L Reality Bears and Medi Snakes. Two sorts of seed for the various bushes and trees can be produced, "instant" and "maturing". Instant seeds grow into the full adult form of the appropriate plant (of at most -2L on the Life Tree) in two years, and then do not grow further. Maturing seeds grown into a functioning form of the appropriate plant of effectively -2L on the Life Tree in ten years, to effectively -1L in a further twenty years, and to equal L in a further forty years, and then do not grow further. If -2L or -1L is below the minimum L of the plant grown it will not function until it reaches that minimum L, for example a Life Tree I (L=8) produces an Archive Bush (L=8) seed, after ten years L=6, another twenty years L=7, another forty years L=8 so the bush starts functioning, if a Life Tree II (L=9) was used then after 30yrs you would have a functioning Archive Bush I, and after 70yrs an Archive Bush II. Another example might be a Life Tree III producing a seed which became a Life Tree I after 10yrs, a Fixed Repair Tree: Mind Birds after 30yrs, and a Life Tree III/Repair Tree after 70yrs. Given the difficulties of producing Medi Snakes DMs might allow a "maturing" one produced by a Life Tree II to function as a Nutrient Snake after 10yrs growth, a Fixed Medi Snake after 30yrs, and a Medi Snake I after 70yrs, with no further growth. Typically an Android Mould I can produce things a Life Tree I can, etc.
Level: -.
Reality Bear: is a Matter Scanner of -2L implemented using biological technology in the form of a black bear. Has an incredibly massive exact and precise memory which is enough for almost any matter pattern, and is capable of analysing these to extract body patterns and, at +1L, personalities, with enough capability to store several of even the most complex of these. Can rapidly feed stored information via a built-in Message Laser function, also includes photo sensors for receiving Message Lasers, and acts as a Solar Panel to assist its power requirements. Also capable of extracting information from the various other Bio Constructs that they have acquired via a scanning function or have memorised, including Archive Bushes, by analysis of their matter patterns. Can go into indefinite safe suspended animation, which also effects things in its pouch. Feeds normally on a wide variety of foods and is fond of rubbing up against people, and begging for food. Has retractable claws, and its dexterity with its paws approaches human hands. Can be controlled by stroking special combinations of pressure points, or by verbal command. Sexless, but has a pouch where it can carry seeds or nourish small creatures with milk, and normally reproduces via a Life Tree of +2L. About as intelligent as an animal can be without human intelligence, and can understand and obey spoken commands. Has an interest in new things and people and will investigate them, enjoys gardening. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 1000gp.
Level: 9th.
Medi Snake: is a Medical Synthesiser of -2L implemented using biological technology in the form of a very large and rather fat black snake. Must be fed good quality simple organic materials from which it synthesises Palliatives and Culture, and extracts any food required for itself. It is also capable of consuming normal food with extreme efficiency, i.e. it needs to excrete very little waste. The materials it produces are excreted through its formidable fangs, or regurgitated from various specialist stomachs, note it is not capable of heating or cooling them. It is controlled by touching special combinations of pressure points on its head and information from its scanning function can be obtained by study of changes in patterns of colouration on its surface. It has a very good memory for the patterns of the things it is capable of synthesising, which it typically obtains by tasting or consuming a sample, or via its photo sensors from, for example, a Message Laser, and is easily capable of accurately recalling several thousand. Capable of putting itself into the equivalent of indefinite safe sus an when it is not working. Sexless and normally reproduces via a Life Tree of +2L. About as intelligent as a smart dog as it needs to understand something of what it is doing, and can understand and obey spoken commands; often grows loyal to whoever normally feeds it. Has an interest in new "tastes", and some have been known to acquire a sense of humour and some basic diagnostic abilities. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 10,000gp.
Level: 9th.
Ressurection Tree: is a combined Android Mould and Life Mover both of -2L implemented using biological technology in the form of a thick black-trunked deciduous tree. This is as a Life Tree of equal L except it also includes a specialised Portal Generator (also of -2L) focused on a Life Dog, acting as a Life Mover Remote, and is pre-programmed to be able to produce tuned Life Dogs. A Mind Bird containing the scanned personality of the person to be moved must be available. Takes several days to build up enough stored power for a transfer. Completely unintelligent. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 10,000gp.
Level: 9th.
Fixed Repair Tree: is a Personal Auto Doc of -2L implemented using biological technology in the form of a thick black-trunked deciduous tree. This is as a Life Tree of equal L except it is also capable of functioning as an Auto Doc of -1L for one specific creature chosen in "construction". If all the Mind Birds etc are identical this creature could be "Mind Birds" or "Medi Snakes", etc. Completely unintelligent. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 10,000gp.
Level: 9th.
Sleeper Tree: is a Life Suspension Generator of -2L implemented using biological technology in the form of a thick black-trunked deciduous tree. Provides indefinite safe suspended animation for up to 662lbs of living material (x8/extra L), and can shape the sus an field to include or exclude various areas within its trunk. It is controlled by touching special combinations of pressure points on its trunk. Sexless and is normally produced via a Life Tree of +2L. Completely unintelligent. Lives indefinitely. Uses: none. Weight: 10,000gp.
Level: 9th.