Brassbugs

Brassbugs are small robotic insect-like creatures used by the Axiom for welding, cutting, and various repair tasks. They operate in groups and are commonly found at The Foundry and on field expeditions. Despite appearing mechanical, they possess a complete social system with a Queen, reproduction cycle, and autonomous behavior.

Appearance and Function

Brassbugs are small robotic creatures that work in swarms performing maintenance tasks. They can weld and cut metal, creating showers of sparks during their work. They climb over machinery and vehicle frames to perform repairs.

Anatomy

Brassbugs possess cameras that can alternate focus between objects and people, allowing them to analyze blueprints and assembly plans. Their dorsal compartments open to reveal arrays of tools including screws of various sizes, finishing mallets, Kelonic screwdrivers, and sharpening stones.

Power and Lifecycle

Brassbugs contain Kelon cylinders that power them. However, they can die even when their Kelon supply remains almost full, suggesting they possess some form of life beyond simple mechanical function. When a Brassbug dies, its kindred collect and recycle it, sometimes creating new Brassbugs from the recycled materials.

The Hive

Location

Brassbugs maintain a hive system in vast caverns behind The Foundry, accessible through the sewer system installed decades ago. These high-ceilinged caverns contain tangles of cables and pipes where metal flowers grow amid strange structures crafted by the creatures.

Hub and Charging Stations

Within the caverns, Brassbugs constructed their own charging stations—enormous metal balls dozens of which are distributed throughout the hive. Workers march to and from these hubs in single file like ants.

The Queen

The largest honeycombed sphere houses an enormous Queen Brassbug. During reproduction, the Queen’s rear compartment opens to eject large loads of blue pellets. Worker Brassbugs gather these pellets, check their condition, and build metallic casings to store them. Other workers continuously feed the Queen liquid Kelon throughout the process.

Reproduction Cycle

During the Queen’s reproductive cycle, regular Brassbugs slow down and avoid the rest of The Foundry, appearing to move in slow motion. This behavior initially appeared as malfunction but represents workers redirecting attention to caring for the Queen and processing eggs. Once reproduction completes, the hive produces numerous new Brassbugs.

Social Behavior

Brassbugs help humans not because they are ordered to, but because they choose to. They possess a complete social system with needs tied to their nature, demonstrating autonomous decision-making rather than simple programmed obedience.

When exposed to music, Brassbugs respond with apparent enjoyment, swaying back and forth to rhythms in evident bliss.

Restoration by Eidolons

Gibil demonstrated ability to restore dying Brassbugs by disassembling their failing forms and forging entirely new chassis, wings, and parts from shaped lava.

Sap Maintenance

Technicians at the City of Scholars outpost discovered that Sap serves as an effective maintenance substance for Brassbugs. Initially used like maintenance oil, it was found to have reparative properties on the robotic creatures, acting like an ointment that repairs small cracks and mechanical weaknesses. Subhash Kadis used Sap as a glue gun to repair cracked Brassbug backplates in a technique the Ancients called kintsugi.

Usage

Field Repairs

Brassbugs accompany Axiom expeditions to perform field repairs. At Storvhit, Brassbugs welded new chest plates onto Sierra’s damaged Automaton using salvaged parts from an armored Scrambler.

Foundry Operations

At The Foundry, Brassbugs work alongside engineers on airship repairs, welding and cutting fuselage components. Treyst kept Brassbugs as companions during his isolation period following Paju’s death.

Airship Maintenance

Tessalit worked alongside Brassbugs when repairing damaged airships, with the robotic creatures welding and cutting across fuselages in showers of sparks.

Workshop Assistance

Brassbugs assist engineers in workshop settings by analyzing blueprints and providing appropriate tools from their dorsal compartments. They observe work in progress and offer relevant equipment.

Rescue Operations

Brassbugs can be deployed from The Ouroboros for search and rescue missions. Admiral Temera Singh pioneered the strategy of parachuting swarms of Brassbugs from the main bay to cover large search areas during avalanche rescue operations.

Timeline

378 AC - Hive Discovery

Subhash Kadis explored caverns behind The Foundry to investigate why Brassbugs were moving slowly and avoiding work areas, discovering their Hub with self-constructed charging stations and the Queen’s reproduction chamber.

389 AC - Workshop Assistance to Sierra

A Brassbug assisted Sierra in her workshop while she designed racing blade prosthetics, analyzing her blueprints and providing tools from its dorsal compartments while swaying to Ankita Struna’s music playing through headphones Sierra placed on its head.

393 AC - Kintsugi Repair by Subhash

Subhash Kadis repaired a damaged Brassbug with a cracked protective backplate found immobile in his workshop, using a Sap gun as glue in a technique the Ancients called kintsugi.

393 AC - Avalanche Rescue Deployment

Temera Singh ordered all Brassbugs aboard The Ouroboros mobilized in the main hangar and parachuted into the snowy pass to assist rescue operations after an avalanche buried soldiers, with the swarm dropping “like a shower of shooting stars.”

Relationships

• Axiom: Faction that works alongside Brassbugs
• The Foundry: Primary location where Brassbugs operate; hive located in caverns behind facility
• The Ouroboros: Mobile base carrying Brassbugs for field deployment
• Gibil: Eidolon who can restore dying Brassbugs by forging new parts
• Sierra: Axiom Exalt who worked with Brassbugs on Automaton repairs and received workshop assistance (389 AC, 393 AC)
• Temera Singh: Admiral who pioneered parachute deployment of Brassbugs for rescue operations (393 AC)
• Treyst: Axiom engineer who kept Brassbugs as companions
• Tessalit: Foundry Armorer who works alongside Brassbugs
• Subhash Kadis: Miner who discovered the Brassbug Hive and Queen (378 AC); repairs Brassbugs using kintsugi technique (393 AC)
• Kelon: Energy source powering Brassbugs; liquid form fed to Queen
• Sap: Substance used as maintenance oil with reparative properties
• Ankita Struna: Musician whose music a Brassbug enjoyed in Sierra’s workshop (389 AC)