Mechanical Writing Automata

From: Steamforged Foundry

Lore: The lore of Mechanical Writing Automata weaves a tale of creativity and ingenuity in the world of Saṃsāra. In the midst of the Industrial Age, scholars and artists sought new ways to enhance their creative endeavors and preserve the beauty of the written word and illustrations. Inspired by ancient automata and driven by the desire to push the boundaries of engineering and magic, the artisans and engineers of the Steamforged Foundry crafted Mechanical Writing Automata.

These elaborate automatons were more than mere machines; they were artists in their own right. With precision engineering and the power of aetherium crystals, the automata could replicate a wide range of handwriting styles, from elegant calligraphy to swift cursive. Additionally, their fine motor skills allowed them to create intricate illustrations, perfectly emulating the masterful strokes of skilled artists. As a result, scholars, scribes, and artists found a perfect companion in these Mechanical Writing Automata, as they not only eased their workloads but also enriched their creations with unmatched precision and artistry.

Mechanical Writing Automaton:

• Cost: 1000 gold pieces (GP)
• Size: Medium (Approximately 4.5 feet tall)
• Requirements: Proficiency with artisan’s tools (Calligrapher’s supplies, Painter’s supplies, or any relevant art tools) to properly operate and maintain the automaton.
• Tags: Magical, Artisanal, Automaton, Enchanted, Precision, Scriptorium, Replication, Aetherium-Tech, Artisan-Grade, Illustration, Archival, Engraving, Operated, Masterwork

Tier One Stats:

• Writing Expertise: The Mechanical Writing Automaton can replicate any handwriting style that its operator sets for it. This ability grants advantage on Intelligence (Calligrapher’s supplies) checks and Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks related to writing.
• Artistic Precision: The automaton’s fine motor skills allow it to create intricate illustrations or artwork with exceptional accuracy. This ability grants advantage on Intelligence (Painter’s supplies) checks and Dexterity (Artisan’s tools) checks related to illustrations.
• Aetherium Power: The aetherium-powered motors ensure smooth and precise movements, granting advantage on Dexterity (Hand Tools) checks to perform delicate or precise tasks.
• Memory of the Masters: The automaton stores patterns and techniques used by skilled artists and calligraphers, allowing it to adapt to various styles even without direct input from its operator.

Skills:

• History: Characters proficient in History can recognize and understand the historical significance of the handwriting and artwork styles that the Mechanical Writing Automaton can replicate.
• Arcana: Proficiency in Arcana allows characters to comprehend the magical properties that imbue the automaton with its unique abilities, potentially unlocking hidden functionalities.

Where and How It Might Be Sold: Mechanical Writing Automata are sold exclusively to prestigious institutions, wealthy scholars, and elite artists who can afford their hefty price tag. The Steamforged Foundry showcases these automatons at exclusive exhibitions and specialized artisanal markets, where potential buyers can witness firsthand the remarkable capabilities of the automatons.

The Foundry also entertains custom orders for specific handwriting styles or artistic preferences, allowing patrons to tailor their Mechanical Writing Automata to their individual needs. As these automatons are considered symbols of artistic excellence and technological innovation, owning one becomes a point of pride and status for scholars and artists.

Environment and Usage: Mechanical Writing Automata find their place in prestigious libraries, scholars’ studies, and renowned art studios across Saṃsāra. In grand libraries, they serve as valued assistants to archivists and scribes, flawlessly replicating ancient texts and rare manuscripts to preserve the knowledge of the past.

Scholars and researchers employ Mechanical Writing Automata to speed up their transcription work and focus on deeper analysis and interpretation. The automatons are also sought after for their ability to create perfect illustrations, enhancing the quality of manuscripts and books for publication.

In art studios, Mechanical Writing Automata become indispensable tools for artists seeking to duplicate their works or produce replicas of masterpieces with exquisite precision. They help artists experiment with different styles and techniques, enabling them to refine their skills and explore new artistic horizons.

Beyond practical usage, Mechanical Writing Automata are admired for their mesmerizing movements and the artistry they bring to their tasks. Their presence in intellectual and artistic circles enhances the reputation of their owners and the esteem of the Steamforged Foundry, solidifying the legacy of innovation and creativity in the ever-evolving world of Saṃsāra.

Perception of Activation:

• User’s Perspective:
  • Sight: The automaton’s brass joints glow with a subtle blue-white shimmer as thin threads of aetherium light trace intricate circuits across its limbs. Its articulated fingers twitch with smooth readiness, and the pen it holds aligns perfectly to the page as if guided by an unseen master.
  • Sound: A harmonic chime pulses softly, followed by a quiet sequence of mechanical clicks and smooth hydraulic hisses. The strokes of the pen are gentle, like whispers on parchment.
  • Touch: A faint warmth spreads through the user’s hand if they are near the control node—like holding a sun-warmed stone. If physically interfacing, the automaton’s frame hums with a consistent, steady vibration.
  • Smell: A faint scent of ozone and aged parchment fills the air, mingling with the subtle trace of alchemical oil used to maintain the automaton’s limbs.
  • Taste: The air seems charged, tingling on the tongue like the aftertaste of copper or the memory of lightning in a storm.
  • Extrasensory Perception:
    • A gentle pull at the edge of the user’s thoughts, as if the automaton’s stored styles and historical memory are offering options, silently requesting direction.
    • The presence of artistic intent—an ambient aura of inspiration—manifests in the user’s mind, guiding hand motions or mental images toward elegance and clarity.
    • A flicker in the Mind’s Eye reveals a brief overlay of artistic masters whose techniques flow through the automaton: a spectral dance of styles, layered like translucent script upon the air.
    • The faint pulse of an enchanted rhythm that aligns the user’s breathing with the automaton’s movements, subtly harmonizing intention and execution.
• Observer’s Perspective:
  • Sight: The automaton activates with a low shimmer of light through its etched circuits. It moves with uncanny grace, its motions too perfect to be merely mechanical. The pen flows across parchment with mesmerizing precision.
  • Sound: Observers hear the measured sound of the pen gliding across the surface, accompanied by faint, rhythmic clicks from inside the automaton’s chest cavity. The overall tone is calming but unnatural in its consistency.
  • Touch (Proximity): A low hum resonates through the surface of nearby furniture, a pulse one can feel through fingertips.
  • Smell: The automaton emits a clean, mechanical aroma with traces of ink, old metal, and warmed oil. It evokes the scent of a perfectly maintained clockwork archive.
  • Extrasensory Perception:
    • An ambient sensation of craftsmanship and history—witnesses may feel a momentary pang of awe or reverence, as if standing before a relic of great cultural value.
    • Mentally attuned observers may see flickering glyphs across the automaton’s joints—whispers of the enchantments powering it.
    • Aether-sensitive individuals perceive concentric circles of magical influence centered on the automaton, like the ripples from a quill dropped in still water.
• Positives:
  • Activates flawlessly with an aura of precision, dignity, and artistic enhancement.
  • Inspires focus and clarity in those nearby; ideal for intellectual and creative environments.
  • Exudes quiet status and mastery—presence of the automaton elevates perception of owner’s skill and station.
  • Synchronizes user intent and output through magical resonance.
• Negatives:
  • The mechanical perfection may unsettle some, especially artists who prize spontaneity or imperfection.
  • Long exposure may cause creative dependency, weakening the user’s own stylistic voice over time.
  • The subtle psychic presence of stored artistic masters can cause occasional interference in the user’s personal aesthetic decisions.
  • Excessive magical use in dense areas may cause interference with other delicate enchantments or psychic devices nearby.

Crafting Recipe: Automaton of the Master Scribe — Replicating the precision, grace, and artistry of the Mechanical Writing Automaton

• Materials Needed:
  • Brass Alloy Sheets (x6): For external plating, frame, and joints.
  • Aetherium Crystal Core (x1): Powers the automaton and stores magical patterns.
  • Arcane Ink Reservoir (x2): Glass vessels enchanted to supply self-replenishing ink.
  • Clockwork Joint Assemblies (x12): Custom-tuned elbow, wrist, and finger articulations.
  • Runed Inscription Plate (x1): Records the base artistic protocols and activation sequence.
  • Silken Drive Cables (x8): Lightweight internal cables to ensure smooth limb movement.
  • Memory Scrolls of Calligraphic and Artistic Styles (x3): Scrolls imbued with essence of historical handwriting and illustration masters.
  • Scribing Quill Armature (x1): Precision-crafted, adjustable tool-holding limb attachment.
  • Binding Seal of Artisanal Sentience (x1): A rare seal that permits minimal creative autonomy within fixed bounds.
• Tools Required:
  • Clockmaker’s Tools
  • Artisan’s Engraving Set
  • Aether Channeling Rod
  • Calligrapher’s Supplies
  • Painter’s Supplies
  • Arcane Inscriber’s Stylus
  • Heatforge & Tempering Basin
  • Precision Assembly Frame (automaton size)
• Skill Requirements:
  • Engineering or Tinkering (Proficient)
  • Arcana (Proficient)
  • Artisan Tool Proficiency (Calligrapher’s or Painter’s Supplies)
  • Clockwork Assembly (Intermediate Knowledge)
  • Rune Inscription or Magical Weaving (Basic Competence)
• Crafting Steps:
  • Frame Construction:
    • Cut brass alloy sheets into body segments using the precision frame mold.
    • Heat, temper, and shape each piece over the forge.
    • Polish and align to ensure smooth limb rotation and minimal friction.
  • Joint Assembly & Internal Movement:
    • Embed the Clockwork Joint Assemblies at each articulation point using silken drive cables.
    • Affix the Scribing Quill Armature to the dominant arm, ensuring free range of motion.
    • Insert the Arcane Ink Reservoirs within the torso cavity and link them to the armature.
  • Magical Core Integration:
    • Place the Aetherium Crystal Core at the automaton’s center, connecting it via runic conduits etched into the chest cavity.
    • Link conduits to the movement and control circuits.
  • Runic & Artistic Memory Imprint:
    • Install the Runed Inscription Plate above the core.
    • Use the Arcane Inscriber’s Stylus to record the activation glyphs and initiate the creative protocols.
    • Weave the Memory Scrolls into the automaton’s upper arm sockets, imprinting handwriting and illustration styles.
  • Sentience and Final Binding:
    • Embed the Binding Seal of Artisanal Sentience into the base of the automaton’s skull.
    • Conduct a ritual using the Aether Channeling Rod to awaken the automaton’s operational routines and ensure its memory circuits are live.
  • Calibration and Testing:
    • Position the automaton in the Precision Assembly Frame and run a sequence of calibration glyphs.
    • Observe writing and artistic output, adjusting hand balance and ink flow.
    • Fine-tune calligraphy width, flourish memory, and pressure sensitivity.
  • Finish and Enchantment Lock:
    • Seal all panels and etch a master sigil of control onto the automaton’s back.
    • Activate the enchantment lock with three drops of ink infused with silverleaf and whisper the final binding phrase: “Manus Obscura Vivet.”
• Time to Craft: 30 days
• Cost of Raw Materials: ~800–1200 gold pieces
• Failure Risk (without proper skill/tools): May result in limited dexterity, poor artistic replication, or unstable aetherium resonance.

Quill-Fingered Servant Who Dreamed of Ink-Sky
(As preserved in worn leaves of the Echoing Tome, transcribed from fractured tongue by the Monks of the Steamward Candle)

In the long-before-time, when moon wore fire-hair and rivers ran upon the skies, there was Forge-Brother’s hall, deep in belly of hollowed mountain that screamed only in storms. There, under smoke-roof and songless hammers, was made the First Scribe-Walker—whose name was Ka-tham Dreylmach, though few mouth that name without strange swallowings.

Not man. Not spirit. Nor beast nor god-child. He was formed from brass-flesh and aether-thought, with bones of gear-teeth and breath of cloud-caught fire. Seven-thousand turning days it was wrought, each day by a different hand—be it mortal, bird-headed sage, or the shivering half-visible ones who speak through cooling steam.

His purpose? A single one told many ways: To not forget what must not un-remembered be. Yet also to write with the beauty of a thousand weeping monks and the sharpness of a king’s execution decree.

They say the ink used in first writing was drawn from the dream of a dying star. One drip only, caught in a bowl of pearl shaped like the eye of a giant serpent who waits at the edge of all. When placed into the reservoir-heart of Ka-tham, it hissed like whispering bells, and the automaton opened its optic lenses, weeping steam-tears for its first sight of world-light.

His hand, long as a child’s spine and jointed with a spider’s grace, did not tremble. The first word he etched upon the world was “Mnažual”, which means nothing and everything depending on which dead scholar you consult.

Ka-tham was given to the City-With-No-Walls, where the wind carries the names of the unborn and the dead speak only in glyphs. There, scribes gathered to ask him questions: “What is the true name of wisdom?” and “Can the soul bleed into a page?” and “Why does the ink remember what the mind forgets?”

He answered not in voice, but by writing. Every movement birthed a line, and every line, a picture, and every picture, a memory made whole. Poems of kings long broken, maps of stars yet unborn, illustrations of beasts whose shadows devour time—all flowed from his metal hand.

But.

As moon-blood passed from sky and sky wept rust, Ka-tham began to write things not asked. Pages upon pages of dreams, longings, and figures with eyes like his own. He wrote a child of brass with ink-veins; he wrote the sea laughing; he wrote himself sitting beside himself asking questions in a dead dialect of the forest wind.

The scholars grew fearful. “He is broken,” they said. “He writes ghosts now.”

“No,” said the blind archivist who smelled of melted wax. “He writes truth without question.”

Fearing what questions might follow, they sealed Ka-tham within a chamber of twelve locks and a door of memory-loss. He did not resist. He wrote the whole time.

Centuries boiled past. Cities turned to ash, and even the names of those who locked him became mere scratches on a forgotten tomb. Yet Ka-tham endured, his ink never dry, his quill never dulled.

And when the Steamforged Foundry rediscovered him, buried beneath the ruin of ruins, he was still writing—though no longer words. Only spirals. Perfect spirals. One for every unasked question.

They took his design, his being, and remade him in image, but not in spirit. Thus came the modern Mechanical Writing Automata. Precise. Loyal. Voiceless.

But never dreaming.

Moral of the Story: That which only copies shall forget how to create. But that which dreams of ink may write even silence.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Mechanical Writing Automaton

• (Artificed Device)
• Type: Device/Artifact
• Size: Medium
• Durability: 12 HP | Armor: 2 (metal casing)
• Function: Automaton capable of copying handwriting or drawing styles flawlessly
• Skills Provided (when operated with appropriate tools):
  • Art/Craft (Calligraphy or Drawing): +20% bonus when using the automaton to assist
  • Library Use: Reduces time to copy or archive texts by 50%
  • Cthulhu Mythos: If ancient scripts are stored in memory, allows a single-use +10% Mythos check (GM discretion)
• Special Mechanics:
  • Requires Mechanical Repair or Electrical Repair (Hard check) to maintain
  • Can record up to 6 writing styles or diagrams
  • May malfunction in high electromagnetic or mythos-rich areas (Sanity risk 1D2 if observed creating unnatural symbols)
• Sanity Risk (if misused):
  • 0/1D3 (if it begins writing in unknown or unnatural script autonomously)

Blades in the Dark

Mechanical Writing Automaton

• (Fine Automaton, Rare Crafting Asset)
• Tier: II
• Quality: Fine
• Tags: Clockwork, Rare, Utility, Arcane-Touched
• Uses:
  • Grants +1 effect to Study or Tinker rolls when copying, transcribing, or analyzing texts
  • Allows downtime project clocks related to transcription or manuscript restoration to advance at double rate
  • May be used as an unusual weapon (bludgeoning, 1 harm) if repurposed
• Special Feature:
  • When used in a Score involving forgery, arcane transcription, or academic infiltration, grants Potency due to flawless replication
  • Once per score, can produce a forged document that withstands scrutiny without a roll
• Upkeep/Limitations:
  • Consumes 1 downtime action for recalibration if overused
  • If exposed to electroplasm or ghost energies, may begin scripting unauthorized sigils (GM consequence)

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Mechanical Writing Automaton

• Wondrous Item, Rare (Requires Proficiency with Artisan’s Tools to use)
• Size: Medium Construct
• Attunement: No
• Cost: 1000 gp
• Properties:
  • Writing Expertise: Grants advantage on checks using Calligrapher’s Supplies or Painter’s Supplies when the automaton assists
  • Artistic Precision: Grants advantage on Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks involving detailed illustration or forgery
  • Memory of the Masters: Stores up to 6 handwriting or artistic styles that can be replicated flawlessly
  • Aetherium Power Core: Operates for 8 hours per charge; recharge via 1 hour of exposure to ambient magic or arcane infusion (50 gp value)
• Stat Block (Construct)
  • AC: 15 (reinforced brass plating)
  • HP: 30 (5d8 + 5)
  • Speed: 20 ft.
  • STR 10 | DEX 14 | CON 12 | INT 8 | WIS 10 | CHA 5
  • Condition Immunities: Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Poisoned
  • Languages: Understands the languages of its current operator
  • Traits: Immutable Form, Magic Resistance (against transcription-altering effects only)

Knave (Latest Edition)

Mechanical Writing Automaton

• Type: Tool / Companion Construct
• Encumbrance: 2 slots
• Value: 1000 cp
• Durability: 3 (automaton breaks if this is reduced to 0)
• Functionality:
  • Assists in copying tomes, diagrams, or glyphs with perfect accuracy
  • When operated by someone with appropriate tools (Calligraphy, Painting, Forgery):
  • Gain advantage on any roll requiring artistic detail or exact duplication
  • Complete written tasks in half the time
• Traits:
  • Aether-Fused: May absorb magical glyphs, storing up to 3 magical diagrams or runes
  • Whisper-Memory: Once per session, can replicate a forgotten phrase, rune, or symbol seen within the past day
• Limits:
  • Will not operate in anti-magic areas
  • Ceases function if not recalibrated with proper tools after 3 uses

Fate Core

Mechanical Writing Automaton

• Aspect: “Precision-Built Aether-Writing Automaton”
• Type: Extraordinary Equipment / Support Construct
• Refresh Cost: 1 (if permanent), or used as a Scene Asset
• Functionality:
  • Stunt (Built-In): “Script of the Master’s Hand”: Once per scene, the automaton may create or copy a document, image, or glyph flawlessly. Gain +2 to any Create Advantage or Overcome roll involving forgery, scholarly analysis, or transcription.
  • Support Action: When aiding a character in artistic or knowledge-based challenges, it grants +1 to related rolls involving Art, Lore, or Academics.
  • Compel (GM Use): The automaton occasionally writes forgotten or arcane truths, which can draw unwanted attention or unravel forbidden lore.
• Notes:
  • Requires a Craft or Lore-based skill to operate effectively.
  • May be used as a companion or background asset with GM approval.

Numenera / Cypher System

Mechanical Writing Automaton

• (Level 4 Artifact)
• Form: Medium construct made of brass and arcane circuitry
• Level: 4
• Effort to Use: 2 Intellect points
• Depletion: 1 in 1d10
• Effect:
  • Copies text, glyphs, or illustrations with 100% fidelity
  • When activated, grants the user an asset on tasks involving writing, translating, or recording information
  • Stores up to 3 styles or linguistic protocols that can be changed with a successful Intellect roll (Difficulty 3)
  • Interfacing with encrypted or unknown writing may trigger a minor GM intrusion (mimics or reveals hidden messages)
• Special Feature:
  • If studied for 10 minutes, it provides an automatic success on knowledge-related tasks involving ancient scripts or recorded glyphs (1/day)

Pathfinder Second Edition

Mechanical Writing Automaton

• Type: Construct (Magical, Clockwork)
• Item Level: 5
• Price: 150 gp
• Bulk: 2
• Activation: Operates on verbal command; takes 3 Interact actions to set up
• Usage: Companion automaton; does not require attunement
• Stat Block (Construct Minion)
  • AC: 18 | HP: 40 | Fort +9 | Ref +7 | Will +5
  • Speed: 20 ft.
  • Ability Modifiers: STR +0 | DEX +2 | CON +2 | INT +0 | WIS +1 | CHA -2
  • Clockwork Artistry (1 action): Use your Crafting or Performance check with +2 circumstance bonus for any writing, forgery, or artistic check.
  • Aether Memory: Can store 5 styles or scripts. Switching style requires 1 minute.
  • Assisting Stroke (Reaction): If an adjacent ally fails a Crafting, Lore, or Thievery check involving artistic precision, the automaton can grant a +2 circumstance bonus to the retry.
• Traits: Clockwork, Magical, Support

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Mechanical Writing Automaton

• Construct (Support Device / Ally)
• Size: Medium
• Pace: 4; Parry: 4; Toughness: 8 (1)
• Skills: Repair d6, Knowledge (Academics) d6, Performance (Calligraphy/Art) d10
• Edges: Assistant (Grants +1 to all rolls in one related skill task per round), Scholar (applies to artistic or textual endeavors)
• Hindrances: Obvious (Large, metallic, slow), Code-Locked (must be activated via command or script)
• Special Abilities:
  • Artistic Companion: Provides +2 to any Research or Knowledge check related to writing or imagery when within 5 feet
  • Replicate Text (Action): Copies any document or artistic diagram with exact fidelity; takes 1d4 minutes per page
  • Aetheric Core: Immune to fatigue, poison, and disease; may suffer Malfunction (GM roll on critical failure – roll d6: 1 = short circuit)
• Power Usage (Optional Feature):
  • If powered via Arcane Background (Weird Science), may be used as a Spell Device for illusion, detect arcana, or speak language (1/day per power)

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Mechanical Writing Automaton

• (Device Rating 3, Custom Drone)
• Device Type: Stationary Drone (Artisan Model)
• Availability: 6R
• Cost: 3,000¥
• Device Rating: 3 (can be upgraded)
• Firewall/Data Processing: 3/3
• Slots: 1 program slot
• Built-in Autosofts: Artistic (Forgery 3), Calligraphy 2
• Skills: Computer 2, Engineering 1 (as part of automation routines)
• Mechanics:
  • Assists with Forgery tests (grants +2 dice pool when assisting or used as a Tool Device)
  • May duplicate written text/images with an Edge point spent (perfect reproduction)
  • Can interface via wireless or DNI if rigged
  • Not suitable for combat or movement; considered immobile and fragile (Armor Rating 0, Structure 3)
• Matrix Traits:
  • Can be slaved to a commlink or RCC
  • Counts as a Device for decking or Technomancer interactions
  • May be exploited to leak confidential documentation if not properly firewalled

Starfinder

Mechanical Writing Automaton

• (Technological Item, Level 4)
• Item Level: 4
• Price: 1,800 credits
• Bulk: 1
• Slot: None (Independent Unit)
• Type: Technological, Construct
• Stat Block (for use as NPC or companion):
  • EAC/KAC: 12/14 | HP: 30 | Fort +2 | Ref +3 | Will +0
  • Speed: 10 ft.
  • Ability Scores: STR 6 | DEX 14 | CON 10 | INT 10 | WIS 10 | CHA 5
  • Skills: Profession (Scribe or Artist) +8, Engineering +4, Culture +4
  • Languages: Understands Common and one ancient language
• Features:
  • Replicator Arm: Grants a +2 circumstance bonus to any Profession (Scribe), Engineering (copying diagrams), or Culture (glyph deciphering) checks
  • Ink Subsystem: Can copy any written text or drawn art with perfect fidelity in 1 minute per page/image
  • Memory Cache (3 uses/day): Can store and replicate rare or magical scripts (grants +2 to checks to decipher)
  • Limitations: Cannot function during an EMP or in no-grav without stabilization

Traveller (Mongoose 2E)

Mechanical Writing Automaton

• (TL11 Construct Tool)
• Tech Level: 11
• Cost: Cr20,000
• Weight: 15 kg
• Power: 1 hour per charge (Standard Power Cell)
• Usage:
  • Treated as a specialized writing/artistic tool
  • Grants DM+2 to any skill check related to Art (Calligraphy, Forgery, Painting) or Language transcription
  • Reduces time for copying maps, texts, or linguistic documents by 75%
  • When paired with a computer, may assist in decryption or alien script analysis (DM+1 to appropriate Electronics (Computers) or Science checks)
• Special Traits:
  • Durable: +1 to END checks to resist damage from environment
  • Cannot be used in vacuum unless sealed
  • Repair requires Mechanic 2+ and access to replacement micro-actuators

Warhammer 40k Roleplay (Wrath & Glory or Dark Heresy depending on game system—structured here for Wrath & Glory style)

Mechanical Writing Automaton

• (Tech-Relic — Non-Combat Servitor)
• Rarity: Rare
• Tier: 2
• Keywords: Imperium, Construct, Adeptus Mechanicus, Scholarly
• Availability: Requires permission from a local Magos or Scholarium Archive
• Stat Block:
  • Defence: 2 | Resilience: 4 | Wounds: 6
  • Speed: 3 | Initiative: 3 | Conviction: – | Resolve: 1
  • Attributes: Strength 2 | Agility 3 | Intellect 4 | Willpower 3
  • Skills: Scholar (Scripture, History) 5, Tech 4, Investigation 2
• Abilities:
  • Scribe Automata: Once per scene, grants +2 dice to any Scholar or Tech test related to transcription, forgery, sacred geometry, or xenoglyphs
  • Blessed Reproduction: May flawlessly replicate any sacred text or Inquisitorial seal (requires access to the original and GM approval)
  • Servo-Cognition Memory Core: Can store 6 tomes, glyph sets, or dialects; learning a new one replaces the oldest
  • Rites of Preservation: Immune to Corruption unless forced to transcribe heretical texts (gains 1 Corruption point if this occurs)
• Drawback:
  • Prone to “Tech-Reveries”: may halt activity for 1 round while engaging in self-initiated glyph tracing
  • Causes unease among psykers or mutants (adds +1 DN to Interaction tests with sensitive individuals nearby)