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Just don't drop him, he'll crack like a glowstick

#tinker tech #the bad batch #tbb tech #fairy tech #hes a night light

Solinium

Solinium is a unique artificial element invented by alchemist-physicists in the Lower Elements, serving as a key component of the underground Fairy nation's energy production sector and a number of other uses in other fields.

Most artificial elements are, by nature, unstable, being highly radioactive and often having half-life periods so short that very little of these materials can exist at any one time. Solinium would be no different, were it not for the careful application of magi-tech. Thanks to the fusion of ancient alchemy techniques and modern particle physics, Solinium is a relatively stable, albeit still radioactive, element.

With the proper equipment, the energy output of Solinium can be adjusted, modifying its effective half-life on the fly without requiring the massive and complex reactor systems that typical fissile elements are used in. This makes it an ideal fuel for compact reactors and hardened batteries, able to be shut down into a reasonably harmless state if the casing is compromised. LEP vehicles and equipment are frequently powered by Solinium, with their mini-reactors and battery systems emitting a distinct blue glow in operation.

The uniquely flexible half-life of Solinium provides it with another, altogether less harmless, use. One isotope, Solinium-2, can be excited into an extremely unstable state with a half-life measured in seconds, releasing a deadly radiation burst that can kill any form of life in its radius. This isotope is used in the LEP's rarest and most deadly weapon, the Bio-Bomb. Used in only the most dire emergency situations under direct Security Council authorisation, the weapon creates an energy field around itself directly before detonation, which contains the radiation burst inside an area that can be programmed down to the centimetre. This prevents harm outside of the target zone and hides the burst from any prying eyes, such as Human radiation monitoring systems. Typically, it is used in concert with Time Stop fields, which further contain the effects should any stray flares breach the primary containment field. The burst, colloquially known as a 'blue-rinse' in LEP parlance, shines a bright blue as the radiation impacts the energy field, before rapidly fading. Before long, the released particles degrade into harmless and undetectable forms, and the area once again becomes safe for habitation. The weapon's casing is designed to be disintegrated entirely in the blast, leaving no trace for anyone to find. Still, LEP operatives will conduct a full sweep of the area to ascertain the weapon's efficacy and clean up any stray flares that might somehow still be going, as well as the bodies of the target entities.

The deadly radiation of Solinium-2 also has an ironic usage in saving lives, as it is an unparalleled sterilising agent, making it perfect for decontaminating medical tools. Not even viruses, which aren't technically alive as we understand it, can survive the procedure, as their RNA is torn asunder.

#artemis fowl #codex canon #Hey remember when we did this worldbuilding stuff #Fairy tech

Hill of Tara

The Hill of Tara, an overgrown hillock of the sort purported in Irish folklore to be a 'Fairy Fort', has a very real Fairy presence, though not in the way the old tales could have ever predicted. Under the surface, hidden by all the manner of technological and magical countermeasures that confound everything from X-rays to ground-penetrating radar, the largest surface outpost of the Lower Elements constantly thrums with activity. It is primarily a travel port, sitting at the head of the massive volcanic tunnel designated as E-1, which leads directly to Haven itself. Much of the inter-city traffic to and from Atlantis transits through the Tara port as a result of this proximity.

The port is expansive, stretching out over multiple layers that reach well beyond the Hill itself. It is equipped to house and maintain a large amount of aircraft at any given time, and has received recent upgrades for dual-use that ensures consistent access for LEP operations. It includes a specialised Ascent Pod retrieval system, using tractor beams to capture and safely guide in the ungainly pods after their volcanically-assisted journey has been completed. The pod bay opens directly into the LEP station, off-limits to civilian personnel, with almost immediate access to the armoury and aircraft hangar to minimise response times. The launch bay, which takes up most of the Hill, has a massive surface hatch that can safely fit all but the largest Fairy aircraft.

Much like any decent-sized Human airport, the Tara port features shopping opportunities for civilian travellers, typically dealing in travel necessities, souvenirs, and so on, all at a significant mark-up. Recent expansions have resulted in the creation of what amounts to a full-scale shopping centre, and a hotel owned by the port authority keeps overnighters in comfortable beds. A major freight-handling facility is also in place, extending across a significant area and able to transfer containers between shuttles and storage within mere minutes.

The primary interest in Tara for Fairy travellers doesn't extend too far outside the port itself. As the most accessible and secured location in the surface world, it has become a holy location to the pious and a favoured site for performing the Ritual, which allows Fairies to restore their magical charges. Old-growth oak trees near the site facilitate the Ritual's completion, having been planted over the centuries by the endless Fairy visitations.

As this is by far the largest gathering site for Fairies in the surface world, there are stringent procedures in place to minimise risks. All ceremonial and magical matters are supervised by Warlocks from the Department of Magical Affairs, while dedicated squads of combat-trained LEP personnel hold the perimeter and patrol the site to make sure the civilians don't start acting out, 'moon-drunk' as the classic term goes. For many Fairies, visiting the Tara site may be something they can only indulge in once in centuries, and their presence there can cause certain psychological effects if they don't keep a lid on their emotions. To ensure that nobody does a runner and exposes themselves to the Human world, all civilians are tagged with tracking beacons and can be swiftly chased down and apprehended by the LEP guards posted in the area. Warlocks also throw up a temporary ward that contains sound within the area, ensuring that the typical chatter doesn't leak out to the world beyond. Naturally, procedures are in place to rapidly pack things up and herd everybody present back to the port facility, should any Humans come nosing around, but they haven't had to be used in quite some time.

The sheer amount of Fairies present on full moons, hidden by the optical illusionary power known as 'Shielding', can cause quite a lot of shimmering in the air at Tara. During 'King Moon' events, where the full moon is closest to Earth and visibly larger in the sky, this activity peaks, and it has been remarked that the area ends up looking like it's underwater due to the sheer amount of illusion shimmers.

The Hill of Tara's general area is owned and administered by Humans, but long-standing superstition and the odd implanted suggestion ensures that they keep the area private and clear, especially during nights. In exchange for their keeping of tradition, the custodians are rewarded with what would appear to outside observers to be unusually good luck. Even during the Irish Famine, the farm was untouched by the Blight, and the British occupation did not ask too much from its cattle herd, which itself has always remained hearty and healthy no matter the weather.

The port's external access hatches use panels that are covered in real grass and soil, which upon retraction are seamlessly replaced by a holographic projection that can be walked through. An additional security measure, and a very old one at that, is a magical ward placed around these hatches that gives unauthorised humans the feeling that they'd much rather be anywhere else at that moment. Once, these wards had covered a wider area, but ever since Humans started doing away with superstition, the security Warlocks have had to focus down the area of effect to keep the power up.

#artemis fowl #Codex canon #fairy tech

Omnitools

An indispensable part of any self-respecting Fairy's toolkit, the Omnitool is, at first glance, a simple cylinder. On one end is an interface screen, and on the other is what appears to be an empty socket of some sort.

The real trick is inside this unassuming little tube. It contains a reservoir of ferromagnetic liquid metal, a silvery substance that is the base component of the tool's function. When activated, a powerful and tightly-focussed magnetic field is projected from the tool, and the liquid metal is injected into this shaped field. Once a desired shape, selected from the rear interface, is achieved, a charge is pulsed through the liquid, forcing it to solidify into a toolhead. This head will remain solid for as long as required, and the tool can even be turned off entirely without losing it. Once its use is complete, the metal can be liquefied and returned into the reservoir.

In effect, the Omnitool lives up to its name. A basic model can create simple screwdrivers, spanners, and so on without difficulty, while more expensive, and often larger, models have even greater and more complex abilities. One particular use that LEP-issue Omnitools come pre-loaded with is on-the-fly key smithing. Human locks are typically primitive and lack additional complexities or security measures, which allows these tools to scan the interiors of locks and then create a perfectly fitting key. Certainly a far cry from old-school lockpicking, a technique that is still nonetheless taught to LEP Surface Ops personnel in case their technology fails them. LEP personnel are allowed to utilise their own personalised Omnitools if they adhere to standard security and capability protocols.

Some Omnitool programs are restricted by law. It is feasible for even a basic device to create simple blades or bludgeons, for instance, if given the right data. Another type of program, and an altogether more complex one, is 'Digi-picking'. Some Omnitools are outfitted with more powerful computer units, and this power can be leveraged to automatically bypass basic electronic security measures, and can even create special toolheads to plug into interface ports if necessary. This technology, while undeniably useful, is tightly restricted and is only authorised for LEP use, and even then it isn't loaded into their standard-issue tools, only being made available to specific personnel with prior authorisation.

It should be noted that 'Digi-pick'-compatible Omnitools are not the preferred method for on-site computer breaching, instead being seen as an accessible backup tool for fooling electronic locks and the like. For missions that are known to require hacking into systems, 'Datajacks' are provided instead, which use Omnitool-style interface forging techniques to plug into systems, and then create a bridge to the LEP's own computer sciences team so that they can take over with their massive bank of astonishingly powerful servers.

#artemis fowl #codex canon #fairy tech

Don’t ask. I have art block.

Translation

The Fairy peoples have a universal access to the magical Gift of Tongues, allowing them to understand and speak any audible language that they encounter. This ability is so efficient that even people stripped of their magic in punishment of heinous crimes can use it, requiring only a single spark to operate. However, the Gift of Tongues has an occasional flaw. Certain users may encounter headaches when listening to and speaking other languages, which is understandably a bit annoying. In response to this obstacle, a new method has arisen.

The merging of magic and technology is an old technique, falling out of use as tech levels increase to the point of not requiring magic for effective operation. However, it still maintains a presence in the LEP Time Stop generators and certain other devices. One of these devices is the humble Translator. Real-time translation is an art that Human scientists and engineers are still grappling with, with mistranslations, impersonal computer voices, and other factors getting in the way. Fairy tech, naturally, has managed to blast past these problems. A Fairy Translator comes with four major components: a small onboard computer, an audio pickup, an audio output, and a singular spark of implanted magic. Together, they can seamlessly translate any language at such a speed that there is effectively no delay. On top of this, the magic’s effect means that the translation audio has the same voice patterns as the speaker being translated, giving them a much more personal voice than your average VI’s simplistic drone.

Visual translation software can be found equipped as stock on all visors and eyepieces. These ones don’t require magic to operate, and so must be physically programmed with a database of known languages and fonts. They are quite helpful for surface operatives working in Human territory.

Translators come standard with all LEP helmets, and are also sold commercially in a variety of sizes, shapes, and cosmetic appearances. The most popular variant is a simple earbud, which can come in a number of colours and external materials, such as chrome, gold, and even, on occasion, embedded gemstones.

Modern models of Translators can work with multiple speakers at once, even when they are all using different languages. To put it simply, the Translator can completely mimic the Gift of Tongues. In time, it may even be put to use with alien languages. It truly is an under-appreciated miracle of technology and magic.

#Artemis Fowl #codex canon #article #Translators #Fairy tech #worldbuilding