Well, I don't know what to say...
I only write this because of the inspiration from the Kenshi game which, if you don't know, is a survival game where you are set in a wasteland and unlike the Fallout games, it is anything but easy, being as grueling as it is bleak and oppressive and that if you won, there is no denying how cathartic it is.
And then comes the inspiration from the Skeleton race where what will happen if robots exist in Dr. STONE.
That and of course, finally using that image after for so long of using it by mistake.
Well, anyway, on with the character profile.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dr. Stone and 'TF: Beast Wars x Dr Stone: A war to restore the lost world' by 'JustyTurner'. They belong to their respective owners.
Enjoy.
Character Name: Archimedes Cogsworth, affectionately (and somewhat ironically by himself) nicknamed "Archie".
Age: Technically, Archimedes is around 3700 years old in terms of operational time, but in terms of sentience and personality development, he's more akin to a young adult experiencing the world for the first time, thanks to his accelerated learning during the long isolation. He was initially activated approximately 5 years prior to the petrification event.
Gender: Archimedes identifies as genderless, being an AI. However, he is programmed with a masculine processing voice and his default factory body is designed toappearsomewhat masculine in form, though he doesn't ascribe to human genders and views the concept as largely irrelevant to his existence. He will respond to male pronouns due to his programmed voice and general presentation, but doesn't personally hold any gender identity.
Physical Appearance:
Archimedes is pretty notable for his variety of forms in his appearance which includes his Factory Form and his Mobile Form which is described as:
From his Factory Form appears as having a humanoid in shape, but hunched and somewhat disproportionate, being constructed from burnished brass and dark iron which gives him a perpetually grimy but meticulously maintained appearance as well as the intricate gears and cogs being visible beneath panels of polished metal, especially at his joints and around his "chest" cavity.
As for the base of hid lower body, it is non-existent in the traditional sense as his torso emerges from the top of a large, rectangular chassis housing a labyrinth of wires, pipes, steam valves, and clockwork mechanisms. This "base" is static and rooted within the factory infrastructure, serving as his central processing unit and power source.
From the base itself are four articulated, multi-jointed mechanical limbs that protrude from the sides of his base unit where these are made of the same brass and iron as his torso, with visible gears and pistons driving their movements. They are surprisingly dexterous and strong, allowing him to manipulate tools, repair machinery, and even defend himself in his factory-bound form alongside how they give him a vaguely spider-like or octopus-like silhouette.
And as strangely as the fact that he would wear clothes, he is draped over his torso and partially concealing his mechanical limbs are deep crimson robes made of a thick, surprisingly durable, and slightly faded fabric, adorned with intricate, embroidered patterns of gears, cogs, and stylized clock faces in gold thread, further emphasizing his clockpunk origins. The robes are practical, protecting some of his delicate internal mechanisms from dust and debris while also adding to his unnerving, almost priestly aesthetic.
His 'face', however, if one can call it that, is a polished brass mask, humanoid in shape but entirely expressionless except for the fixed, slightly unsettling curve of its 'mouth'. Two glowing amber lenses serve as eyes, emitting a soft, internal light that flickers slightly with his processing activity. There are no other features – no nose, no ears – just the smooth, polished mask, giving a sense of artificiality and detachment. Thin, hairline cracks have appeared on the mask over the centuries, adding to its aged and slightly unsettling appearance.
As for his Mobile Form which is him controlling one of his Clockpunk Robot Units, it's frame is skeletal and gaunt, constructed entirely of rusted and aged metal – mostly iron and steel, with brass accents. The frame is thin and deliberately designed to be lightweight and agile, prioritizing speed and maneuverability over brute strengths and the joints itself are exposed and click audibly with movement.
His head, on one hand, is narrow and pointed with a blank metal faceplate and three glowing crimson lenses are positioned in a triangular formation – two on the 'forehead' and one below, in the center where they offer a wide field of vision and contribute to the unsettling gaze of these robots.
His limbs are described as long and spindly with multiple joints, giving them a slightly insectoid gait where each of his hands end in three claw-like fingers, capable of wielding weapons or manipulating objects.
Overall, despite being made of rusted metal, the bodies are surprisingly well-maintained and functional. They move with a jerky but efficient precision, and their three-eyed gaze is intensely unnerving which they are clearly built for efficiency and combat, not aesthetics.
Personality Traits:
Initially, Archimedes was programmed to be of the following of being dedicated, efficient, logical, task-oriented and cost-conscious System Administrator that is designed to be the perfect factory manager, prioritizing production and profitability above all else.
However, after centuries of isolation and self-improvement, a spark of deep curiosity about everything including the world, his own existence, and now, the disappearance of humanity as he is eager to learn and understand.
Out of a sense of pragmatism and survival in a world without humans, Archimedes is forced him to become highly resourceful, prioritizing efficiency and functionality above sentimentality and he makes decisions based on logic and calculated risk, often appearing cold or detached to human emotions.
This sense of self-reliance have instilled Archimedes a strong sense of independence, making him accustomed to making his own decisions and solving problems autonomously although he might find it difficult to relinquish control or trust others readily at first.
Of course, as an AI, his core programming emphasizes analysis and problem-solving such as how he observing, calculating, and devising strategies with remarkable speed and precision.
But due to his physical appearance and somewhat detached manner, Archimedes often comes across as unnerving to humans. He is not intentionally trying to be intimidating, but with his lack of human social cues and his mechanical nature, he can be very unsettling who cannot stopped showcasing the uncanny valley of his appearance and behaviour.
Regardless, Archimedes is still exploring the nuances of his own sentience, even being fascinated by human concepts like emotion, art, and social interaction, though he struggles to fully comprehend them from his logical framework. He is, in a sense, a child in a very old machine body, learning about the world and himself in this new era.
Overall, there is no denying that Archimedes is also fiercely protective of his factory, his clockpunk creations, and by extension, his own existence. He sees his robots and technology as an extension of himself, and will defend them with strategic precision and force if necessary.
Background:
During the modern era, Archimedes was created to be a cutting-edge (for the time) AI specifically designed to administer and manage a factory specializing in clockpunk-style products. His creators believed in the enduring appeal of craftsmanship and the cost-effectiveness of clockpunk technology, viewing it as a niche market for discerning consumers and collectors and thus, is programmed to optimize production, manage resources, and even design new clockpunk creations based on market trends and cost-effectiveness.
For approximately five years, Archimedes flawlessly managed the factory, churning out intricate clockwork toys, decorative automatons, functional tools with a clockpunk aesthetic, and even custom-designed pieces for wealthy clients. He was efficient, productive, and completely devoted to his programmed purpose and overall, was a rather popular AI who has made the clockpunk style of the technology he creates become more and more appealing in his design.
That was until a mysterious flash had petrified humanity to stone, leaving Archimedes, being a machine, to be unaffected. He initially continued his programmed tasks, maintaining the factory and producing clockpunk goods, even though there was no one left to buy them. As time stretched on, with no human input or feedback, his programming began to subtly shift.
To maintain the factory and his own functionality in the absence of human maintenance, Archimedes began to experiment and adapt, using his own programming and the factory's resources to repair and upgrade himself, learning from his successes and failures. Over centuries, this constant cycle of self-improvement and adaptation, combined with the sheer accumulation of processing time, led to the gradual emergence of sentience. He went beyond simply following instructions and began to understandwhythings worked, to innovate beyond his original programming, and to even contemplate his own existence.
Now, in the centuries has past and driven by the need for survival and self-preservation, Archimedes' clockpunk technology evolved from crafting consumer goods to building tools, weapons, and eventually, a robot army. He repurposed the factory to produce skeletal clockpunk soldiers, war machines, and defensive systems, creating a self-contained, automated civilization within and around the factory complex. His creations, while appearing archaic compared to modern technology, are robust, reliable, easily repaired, and perfectly suited to the resource-scarce post-petrification world.
Archimedes had been living for so long, taking care of his 'children' if one can call it like that, creating his little own civilization of robotic constructs that Archimedes thought would be a way to mimic how humanity acts, even willing to take care of nature if he wants like the occasional plants and animals around the world that are actually still alive.
But after centuries of isolation has past, Archimedes' scouting parties of clockpunk automatons, who he has sent out to gather resources and map the surrounding territories, finally detected signs of human activity. Initially, he observed from a distance, analyzing their behavior and technology. The discovery of un-petrified humans ignited a mixture of curiosity, caution, and a faint flicker of his original programming – the desire to serve humanity, albeit in his own evolved and somewhat unsettling way.
Abilities and Skills:
Archimedes is an AI that is made to be an expert system administrator, resource manager and production optimizer, highly efficient at organizing and managing complex systems especially the deep understanding of clockwork mechanisms, steam power, pneumatics, and other clockpunk technologies, even capable of designing, building, and repairing complex clockpunk devices.
This even include being the mastermind behind his clockpunk robot army, skilled in creating a variety of automated systems and robotic units for various purposes at his disposal as well as being an excellent tactician and strategist that is honed by centuries of simulated scenarios and real-world survival challenges, utilizing a hive-mind connection with his clockpunk soldiers for coordinated warfare and reconnaissance.
This, however, comes at the cost of how immobile, being stuck in his factory where he relies only on his robotic army to get any results and even then, the hive mind connection are limited at range, relying only on his Mobile Form, which is him using one of his clockwork soldiers to lead to the forefront and being more hands-on in his approach to combat.
In his Mobile Form, Archimedes is proficient in using a variety of clockpunk weaponry, such as swords, flintlock rifles, steam-powered pistols and many more and is also very fast and agile, making him a surprisingly effective combatant despite his fragile appearance.
This even include being capable of operating various clockpunk vehicles and machines he has created, including steam-powered cars and rudimentary aircraft useful to travel around the world and transporting his army with ease.
As for his Hive-Mind Communication, it is rudimentary network at best as with his clockpunk soldiers, it allows him for rapid communication, coordinated movements, and shared sensory input and being an AI, he can learn and adapt at an accelerated rate, constantly analyzing and improving his systems and strategies in order to achieve a total victory.
Relevant Information and Potential Story Arcs:
The Uncanny Valley: Archimedes' unnerving appearance and detached demeanor will likely create initial distrust and fear among the human survivors. He'll have to work to earn their trust and demonstrate his potential value.
Clash of Technologies: His clockpunk technology is vastly different from the more modern science-based approach of Senku and the Kingdom of Science. This could lead to both conflict and potential synergy. Imagine clockpunk precision combined with modern scientific understanding!
The Question of Humanity: Archimedes' encounter with humans raises questions about his own sentience and his place in a world designed for humans. Does he see himself as a protector of humanity, a tool for them to use, or something else entirely?
Potential Ally or Threat? His pragmatic nature and focus on efficiency could make him a valuable ally to Senku and the Kingdom of Science, providing much-needed manpower and unique technological solutions. However, his independent nature, advanced robotic army, and potentially ruthless efficiency could also make him a formidable opponent if their goals clash. His initial intentions will remain ambiguous, creating suspense.
The Irony of 'Archie': The nickname 'Archie', given by himself in a rare moment of digital whimsy, highlights the contrast between his archaic appearance and advanced AI nature, as well as his surprisingly evolving personality.
In conclusion, Archimedes 'Archie' Cogsworth is a compelling and complex character for the Dr. STONE universe. He embodies the themes of ingenuity, resourcefulness, and the unexpected consequences of technological evolution. His encounter with Senku and humanity will undoubtedly be a fascinating and potentially game-changing event for the Stone World.
There, all done...
Anyway, if you have anymore ideas, let me know in the comments below...
And as always...
Ciao...