The Biological Blueprint of Becoming
Reproduction within ATET is not a simple binary, but a modular, systemic feature of the Vessel. It is the biological and mechanical process through which new life is created, and it is entirely decoupled from the social and psychological constructs of gender and identity. Biological sex, in this framework, is an emergent property of the specific reproductive Components and their Functional Tags an Incarnation possesses.
This system is designed to provide a robust and flexible foundation for a vast diversity of life, from the familiar patterns of organic life to the esoteric creation rites of sentient machines.
The Language of Creation: Functional Tags
The core of this system is a library of Functional Tags. These tags describe a specific reproductive capability. An Incarnation’s biological sex and reproductive role are defined by the combination of these tags, which are granted by the Components slotted into its Vessel.
Primary Reproductive Tags
| Tag Category | Example Functional Tags | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Gamete Production | [gamete_producer_A], [gamete_producer_B], [spore_producer], [pollen_caster] | Defines the type of genetic material the vessel produces for reproduction. The A/B designation is a neutral abstraction for dimorphic species. |
| Fertilization Method | [internal_fertilization_capable], [external_fertilization_capable], [self_fertilization_capable] | Defines the method by which genetic material is combined. |
| Gestation & Incubation | [gestation_capable], [egg_layer], [pouch_carrier], [external_incubation_required] | Defines how a fertilized zygote is nurtured until birth or hatching. A component granting [gestation_capable] would likely provide a [Womb] sub-slot. |
| Inorganic Creation | [techno_artisan_reproduction], [eidetic_resonance_creation], [cloning_vat_compatible] | Tags for non-biological forms of reproduction, common to Constructs and other synthetic life. Defines the ability to participate in the creation of a new Artisan or to be replicated. |
| Asexual & Parthenogenetic | [asexual_budding], [parthenogenesis_capable] | Defines methods of reproduction that do not require a partner’s genetic material. |
Emergent Roles & Diversity
This modular system allows for the creation of an infinite spectrum of reproductive realities, moving far beyond a simple male/female binary.
- A “Traditional” Human Female: Would possess components granting
[gamete_producer_B],[internal_fertilization_capable], and[gestation_capable]. - A Hermaphroditic Slug-Creature: Might possess both
[gamete_producer_A]and[gamete_producer_B], as well as[self_fertilization_capable]. - An Artisan “Parent”: Would possess the
[techno_artisan_reproduction]tag, allowing it to contribute its Eidos to the forging of a new Motive Core. - A Sterile Vessel: Would simply lack any components that grant reproductive functional tags.
By treating reproduction as a set of functional capabilities granted by swappable components, the system creates a foundation where an Incarnation’s biology is a matter of design and evolution, not a fixed destiny. It is the physical reality upon which the much more complex stories of gender, identity, and family are built.