Vatborn and Splicers

Vatborn and splicers are unified, but are not the same. Simply the technology made to birth them is the same. A vatborn is a manufactured person, grown from the ground up for a specialty purpose. How that purpose lets you, or denies you an ability to fit into society varies from vatborn to vatborn. Splicers on the other hand, are normal members of other species with significant biological alterations, whether for cosmetic or specific adaptations and do not fit any specific descriptor. It should be noted neither vatborn nor splicers should be regarded as simple 'clones.' They are not simply vat-born humans or feni, they are wholly manufactured or altered beings. A vat-born human, would just be human.

Physical Description

Vatborn are usually distinct from the normal populace, with distinct manufacturers marks, corporate logos, odd colorings or other distinct 'markings' to differentiate them from a natural sophonts. These may be more distinct in a mass-produced vatborn, but a higher end product may only have distinct corporate licensing marks in their genetics. Most vatborn have difficulty altering their biology or have proprietary genetic controls, often forcing them, even if free, to rely on their manufacturer for medications, serious longterm medical concerns, etc. Biological DRM is entirely real. Splicers usually lack any of these distinct alterations as they are chosen by the end-user to alter their own body, rather than the corporation of government behind a vatborn's manufacture as part of a product line.

Heritages

Vatborn predictably are manufactured in a number of manners for different purposes and vary sometimes dramatically from one another.

• Pleasureborn Often the most well made, designed and least visually distinct vatborn, those made for pleasure can vary from legally dubious sex-slaves for order to high-end companions.
• Warborn The most common vatborns were mass manufactured by the Coalition of Independent Systems and Sovereign Federation for war with the other, massive numbers of rapidly grown soldiers filled the ranks of both forces. They tend to be highly capable expert soldiers with inbred loyalty to their respective nations. Oftentimes, without proprietary genetic fixes, their lifespans are shortened.
• Laborborn Made for labor, work and general servitude. They exist primarily in regions with severe environments that make it difficult for non-custom designed species to easily survive or thrive.
• Companionborn Something of the legal alternative to a pleasureborn, they are not primarily designed for intimacy, but companionship. Whether as teachers, personal escorts, nannies or similar, they tend to lack as strict of biological controls.
• SemiVats An informal name for unique, cheap alternatives to other vatborn, these are manufactured at extreme rapidity and have at least their brain replaced with a synthetic one, massively decreasing cost and growth time. They often blend synthetic and biological features.
• Splicers Not true vatborn, but utilizing the same technology to alter an existing living person, usually for cosmetic, personal or identity reasons, though adaptations for extreme environments exist.

History

While manufactured persons existed for centuries, the development of RRCT or Rapid Reconstructive Cell Therapy in the 2600s by the Ruz'kahni Directorate massively increased their usage, permitting much, much faster, cheaper and easier development. While a limited application technology prior to the War of Ruz'kahni survival (Also known as the Secession War) during the conflict massive numbers of vatborn were manufactured for both labor shortages and for direct war usage.

After the war, they are often discarded, their genetic contracts decaying, and many are feeling their genetic DRM and shortened lifespans looming. For splicers, things are wonderful. RRCT turned what was once expensive exotic genetic alteration packages or homegrown bio-engineering that could often be highly risky into something so simple and safe a massive cosmetic alteration can be safely purchased by the lower rung of society.

Society

Society for vatborns is difficult, while individual brands and varieties often have their own close-knit social system, most are not truly part of society. Their legal status is often on the border of property. Even in the Galactic Coalition which has given them significant post-war rights, they are usually only on paper and not in practice. Many still are more beholden to their manufacturer for continued life than most would like. Today, charities around the galaxy exist to try and buy out contracts, genetically and socially treat vatborns to better integrate, but the majority are left as second class citizens.

Beliefs

Vatborn are, in many cases, prone to one of two broad states, either completely concerned with their work, where their belief system is rarely more complicated than an inbred love of their manufacturer that they may know is something they have much choice in feeling. Or, the other, are those who embrace belief systems of their developing culture, becoming highly religious and orienting their mindsets around the future.

Style Guide

Vatborn or splicers are generally the most diverse slot for a custom character that doesn't properly match an existing species but is not distinctly alien in appearance or doesn't have extensive lore. While vatborn are their own thing, and most are mass-manufacture, low production or 'hobby' vatborn exist in all sorts of varieties and plenty have altered themselves into strange and new forms via splicing. As such, most avatars could fit into vatborn or have the splicer label applied to them.

Another note is many classic 'furry species' fit into vatborn: Protogen due to their significant biological integration would be an example of a semi-vat. While Sergals are likely splicers or vatborn.