Nasod
"Nasods? Yeah, I've heard of 'em. Apparently they've been around long before humanity. I'll tell you what; not many people see them as humans down East. Lots of discrimination. Guess that's because places near the Empire are very fey-like, you know? No respect for constructs or artificial life."
— Karias, tiefling bard and Adventurer
The constructed race known as Nasod were created during the birth of the First World as a way to control the rise and spread of carbon-based lifeforms by Primus. The goal was to slow the encroachment of the Old Deities, who sought to expand their influence into the Material Plane by bastardizing life and creating humanoid monstrosities called the Human Dark.
Uniquely connected to life despite being artificial in their construction, the Nasodic race quickly began to plant their flag on the newly-created Aphrokagrea. A race whose lack of magical innovation led soon to the construction of impossibly-advanced technology.
Physical Appearance
There is no outright identifier that a creature is a Nasod as opposed to a human. The vast majority of Nasods who are created as part of the Foundry's ministrations are born similarly to that of humans; an artificial recreation intercourse powered by the Neoteric Star.
Due in large part to this recreation of common birth, the living constructs known as Nasods were free to reproduce as the natural races could, leading the gene pool to favor human characteristics overtime. Certain Nasods possess "leylines", a term used to describe lines of fiber that run across the skin similarly to a birthmark. These lines glimmer slightly, and can even change color depending on the Nasod's mood.
Another outright difference is the integrated armor some Nasod possess, allowing their naked forms to maintain the appearance wearing clothes or other garments. This integrated armor is generally rarer in the lower castes of Zyraitix society, with only the nobleblood circulating this now rare gene.
Combat Nasods, however, are a different story entirely. Nasods created not from reproduction but from the Foundry itself are created for military purposes, and as such possess an integrated armor core that, outwardly, appears to be a futuristic mechanical chassis.
Society
It is common knowledge that nearly all Nasods originate from Zyraitix, commonly referred to as the Civitatem Machina in old texts and scripts from before the Collapse. Due to their lack of aptitude for magic and inclination toward hard sciences, Zyraitix erupted quickly into a mass-technological state reminiscent of cyberpunk themes.
Most Nasods are accepting of their surveillance state, seeing the widespread destruction of privacy as a necessary evil to maintain an order-filled society. It is also well-known that Nasods themselves possess a great destructive power, and being so technologically-advanced compared to other civilizations, they feel they have a duty to prevent their intellectual might from sending the world asunder.
That isn't to say all Nasods are receiving of the dystopian society they've found themselves in—even now, several political factions exist to turn the tide of the Republic into one more representative of the individual, rather than the collective. However, the vast majority of Nasods are in disagreeance with this opinion, believing their collective ideologies to be what allowed Zyraitix to flourish so long ago, in a world where the Human Dark failed.
To allow their society to function more aptly, Zyraitix invented the modern day direct democracy. There is no representative system in Zyraitix. Instead, each citizen votes using an online poll or, if they're a Nasod, connecting to the Autonomous Database through a microchip implanted in the hippocampus.
Every matter is voted on in unison, with all citizens being given the choice to speak their opinion on all matters of state. Because of their technological aptitude, it is not uncommon for the common Nasod to be informed in all matter of politics, as media consumption in Zyraitix is rather high, and due in large part to their heavy policing the Internet (known as the "Star System"), reputable news journals and web-to-streaming videos are given priority as determined by the automated system.
Combat Nasods, often called soldier units, have similar rights to that of civilians, except they are required to serve several terms in the Zyrian military during a certain age bracket (determined by the position they were created to serve). Some soldier units require several years post-creation to master their craft, while others are forged with the knowledge of their position installed directly into their mind from birth. After their terms are served, Combat Nasods are free to retire and register as proper citizens, but most continue to serve as a matter of personal belief.
Noblebloods are unique in Zyraitix, being both the moniker for a special group of Nasods and also the name of the gene pool which they draw from. Noble units are commonly found working under the Queen of Zyraitix directly, and are commanded by the king (who more often changes seats in comparison to the queen). Their order/unit is referred to as the "Noble Ops", and manage Zyraitix's political and militaristic infrastructure from the shadows. Being a member of the Noble Ops implies great proficiency and skill, and isn't a title any ordinary Nasod could hold.
Relations
Nasods are inherently xeno-friendly with the races that make up Kagreth, and generally have no problems both getting along and integrating into other societies, despite their reliance on technological marvels that Zyraitix have developed. The main reason for this is their adaptation gene, which was molded naturally over the course of thousands of generations, and was one of the key hallmarks which led to their victory over the Human Dark millennium ago.
However, this xenophilia comes to an abrupt close when talking of the nations who reside on the continent of Ascistan. Due in large part to feuds born over the centuries and the Empire's general dislike of constructs with the ability to self-replicate, a feudal discrimination has been birthed. In particular, many species and tribes in Yonia generally despise Nasods as a fundamental rule, seeing their artificial reproductiveness as a inherent bastardization of biological order.
Despite all of this, Zyraitix has an even relationship with nearly even nation outside its borders, as they are the primary exporter of technological marvels such as refrigerators, televisions, and electrical power. Even if geo-political relations are shaky, trade relations will always be healthy.
Religion
Nasods were forged by Primus, and as such, adopted his worldview in light of their upbringing. The vast majority of Nasods are atheistic, which on this planet of deities, gods, and demons simply represents their lack of affinity to any major deity.
While they certainly have an appreciation for the divine, rarely will you see a Nasod profess any religious aptitude such as the clergy, and even rarer is it to hear a prayer slip from a Nasod's lips. In short, Zyraitix was a nation predicated on the strength of the collective, and the heart of the individual. A Nasod should be able to complete a job on their own merit, and not on the wiles of a metaphysical force.
Names
Nasodic names don't generally follow any sort of origin, and rather have set a precedent all on their own. They derive their meaning from the original King of Nasods (notably, the King of Nasods was never a King of Zyraitix), Adam.
In addition, since Nasod society places little emphasis on the individual nor the middle collective, familial structures are all but ceremonial, and have no surname to go along with them. Zyraitix is only focused on the grander collective; all of Nasod society put together.
Common female names are: Ael, Elly, Ava, Kasi, Valriya, Amiya, Ciel, Nali, Halyca, Rei.
Common male names are: Cypher, Ash, Vash, Nero, Lan, Zere, Winst, Lancer, Kei, Parned.
Production
Production Nasods in the modern era are rarely built. Instead, citizen Nasods will elect to receive modification in order to increase their proficiency at certain tasks, generally at jobs revolving around mechanical lines.
Soldier
Soldier units, unlike Production units, are created by the Foundry for the express purposes of engaging in combat. It is virtually unheard of for a citizen Nasod to become a soldier unit by choice, and even if they were to wish it, the technology to reform a Nasod so completely has been outlawed long since the dawn of Zyraitix's creation, in order to prevent the creation of aristocracy precedented on the idea of birthright and design superiority.
Undercity Operative
One of a handful of unique designation for a Nasod to be given. Undercity Operatives are usually created as part of the soldier program in order to investigate the abyssal ocean depths underneath Zyraitix, and prune it of creatures that could seek to stabilize the foundation upon which Zyraitix sits.