Homunculi emerging from a Venus Pot.
(Info below)
Blood, dung and bodily matter are mixed with soil to create a mixture called ‘Humus’, in a giant magically imbued ceramic vessel called a Venus Pot, which acts as an artifical womb. Over the course of 30 or so days, the pot develops a fetus, that is then siphoned blood by the wizard, whether it be their own or that of men and animals, to nourish a homunculus. Homunculi are artificial creatures made by magical means, often for testing, labor, or companionship. They lack souls, are typically simple in mind and body (unless a great deal of resources are used) and have short lifespans of up to fourteen months.
Each homunculi pictured is an example of a different type. Of course, these do not encompass all homunculi, as they are immensely diverse and personalized to each wizards will and making.
From the left:
Bestial homunculi - The altered form of a singular existing animal. They are created by placing the corpse of a natural beast into the Venus pot. Here, a hare has been given the skin of a man thanks to the blood from the ‘parent’ wizard, and its body has wrapped around itself into a bipedal form. Due to the wizard creating it being a worshipper of Diane, the moon God, the customary presence of colloidal silver in the ritual has given the homunculi argyria.
Homullus - A ‘little man’, typically made for testing medicines and alchemical solvents meant for human use. They are small, infantile humanoids with basal brain functions.
Jumentum - Homunculi ‘recipes’ patented by the Magostate (wizard council) for purposes such as labor, warfare or communication. The jumentum homunculi seen here are Tapping-Boys, small spider-like homunculi that relay coded messages through dances, taps and whistles.
Chimera - Two forms fused into one being. Here, the crushed remains of a giant snail’s shell have been added to the Humus alongside the wizard’s DNA to create the desired result.
Lutum - A ‘pure’ homunculus made from the blood of other homunculi, typically to ‘breed’ out animalistic or human traits they have accrued. These homunculi get their name from clay, due to their often featureless, globular bodies. They often suffer and live only a few months due to the incestuous nature of their creation. They are typically made for shows and sports, and they are looked down upon and regulated heavily by the Magostate.
The Magostate regulate the creation of Homunculi heavily, in Gomela and all of its annexed states. Feral homunculi are a danger to the natural and manmade world, as they are invasive and are not constrained by natural instincts (causing issues such as engorgement on plant matter and overhunting). Some also inexplicably adapt and develop traits they wouldn’t otherwise in the presence of high magical concentrations, such as longer lifespans or rudimentary asexual reproduction. There is a black market for patented Jumentum and back-alley ‘breeds’ of Lutum and Chimera.
