Anacite Laborer

Anacite Laborer CR 7

XP 3,200
LN Medium construct
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +9

DEFENSE

AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural)
hp 78 (9d10+29)
Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +3
Immune construct traits
Weaknesses sunlight dependency

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.
Melee plasma cutter +13 (4d8 fire)
Ranged electrical burst +13 (4d6 electricity)

TACTICS

During Combat The anacite laborer is equally at home attacking with its plasma cutter and its electrical burst.

Morale If reduced to fewer than 8 hit points, the anacite laborer flees.

STATISTICS

Str 16, Dex 17, Con —, Int 11, Wis 11, Cha 10
Base Atk +9; CMB +12; CMD 26
Feats Dodge, Skill Focus (Knowledge [engineering]), Toughness, Weapon Focus (electrical burst, plasma cutter)
Skills Knowledge (engineering) +15, Perception +9
Languages Common; shortwave (100 ft.)
SQ laborer protocol, reconfigure

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Electrical Burst (Ex)

An anacite laborer’s electrical burst has a range increment of 30 feet.

Laborer Protocol (Ex)

Knowledge (engineering) is a class skill for an anacite laborer.

Reconfigure (Ex)

An anacite laborer is capable of adapting and improving its designs. The anacite has a number of built-in abilities equal to its CR divided by 3 (minimum 1), chosen from the list below. An anacite laborer can change these abilities by spending 1 uninterrupted hour for each ability it wants to change. The anacite must also have access to an appropriate workspace for the duration. An ability can be gained only once unless stated otherwise. In addition, modifications other than those listed here might exist.

• Advanced treads that increase its base speed to 60 feet.
• A sensor that grants tremoresense 120 feet.
• Elongated arms that extend its reach by 5 feet.
• A modified chassis that grants a burrow, climb, or swim speed equal to its base speed. This ability can be taken multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time it is taken, it applies to a new movement type.
• Reinforced systems granting resistance 10 against a single energy type (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic). This ability can be taken multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time it is taken, it applies to a new energy type.
• Specialized plating that increases its AC by 2.

Shortwave (Ex)

An anacite can communicate telepathically, but only with other anacites or with creatures that have shortwave communication.

Sunlight Dependency (Ex)

An anacite laborer is a solar-powered construct, but it can function at reduced capacity away from light. In areas of darkness, the anacite gains the sickened condition.

ABOUT

A race of machines left behind by eons-departed masters, these constructs developed the capacity for evolution and self-improvement, creating an entire mechanical ecosystem. Anacites have varied general designs, but some have been engineered for specialized tasks. Two such specialists are the ambassador and the predator drone. While “anacite” officially refers only to the sentient varieties many off-worlders use it as a catchall term for the world’s mechanical life. Depending on their role, however, an anacite might be anything from a bulldozer-sized mining specialist to a floating electronic brain designed for advanced problem-solving, and even those anacites who fit the stereotypical metal-insect design usually have a modification or two, and almost all anacites can reconfigure parts of themselves to adapt to their circumstances.

In the uncounted millennia since the departure of the so-called “First Ones,” anacites have not been idle. The two primary factions of anacites, Those Who Wait and Those Who Become, have very different ideas of their purpose in life, yet the two are more alike than different.

While they variously wait for the First Ones to return or work toward taking on their progenitors’ mantle, anacites endlessly strive to acquire wealth and influence in preparation for their great goal’s fulfillment.

Anacite ambassadors travel to foster diplomatic relations.

Most often, anacite ambassadors serve on seedships as emissaries. Anacite ambassadors can easily learn languages. Further, although they are not warriors, ambassadors can protect themselves with built-in lasers.

To avoid tension during diplomacy, ambassadors keep this weapon retracted until it’s needed, though they usually notify their hosts about the laser unless there’s a good reason to keep it a secret.

The most common design for anacites is a basic arthropodan form of silvery metal, with multiple legs for efficient travel and claws or manipulators for accomplishing their assigned tasks.