Punkmortis
Punkmortis is a sub-genre that was designed to fit within a steampunk background. The name comes from ones who have lost limbs, parts of limbs, or other visible body parts due to accidents or disease. The bones of the affected area are surgically cleaned, drilled, wired for aether energy, & coated with compounds to prevent decay. After surgery, the limb can be used to do some of its original basic movements with time & practice. Arms & hands have more wires that are attached like ligaments & muscles & take more time to learn skills like how to hold a tankard of Mead. This kind of movement takes longer to master.
Some cons are associated with this type of body augmentation. I.e. a simple aether-wired leg can be used to walk or jog, but the motion is not smooth. Depending on how much time you have had the limb could mean the difference in a light or heavy pronounced limp versus a shambling or dragging movement.
Consider falling while working and plunging your arm into a vat of acid that eats off the skin and muscle leaving the bone. To continue working at your job, would require both arms, so you undergo surgery to wire it up & save what's left of your arm and your job. Some replacements can be more unique such as a lower jaw.
Sometimes an individual will search out & join a group of people (usually privateers) who have similar issues.
The Short story 'Pirates of the Open Skies', coins the term & makes use of the Punkmortis as a main antagonist throughout the story.
Some cons are associated with this type of body augmentation. I.e. a simple aether-wired leg can be used to walk or jog, but the motion is not smooth. Depending on how much time you have had the limb could mean the difference in a light or heavy pronounced limp versus a shambling or dragging movement.
Consider falling while working and plunging your arm into a vat of acid that eats off the skin and muscle leaving the bone. To continue working at your job, would require both arms, so you undergo surgery to wire it up & save what's left of your arm and your job. Some replacements can be more unique such as a lower jaw.
Sometimes an individual will search out & join a group of people (usually privateers) who have similar issues.
The Short story 'Pirates of the Open Skies', coins the term & makes use of the Punkmortis as a main antagonist throughout the story.
In the night's heavy cloud cover, several small skipper ships suddenly became visible. With alarming speed and precision, they connected quickly to the side of their ship with grappling hooks, throwing them around the railings and anything else stable. Boarding planks dropped down with heavy spikes that embedded into the Black Dragons' wooden deck securely. Before the invaders had time to cross the space between the two ships, Chau'ki shouted from his position above. "'Dey Punkmortis!"
"Malum!," Talon cursed and gritted his teeth. We don't have time for this! He leaped up and quickly crossed the short distance to the helmsman. Well, if they were going to try to take his ship he was going to make sure the cost would be high...exceptionally high.
"Andrix, " he said quickly as he slid up next to the large man, " On my signal, bare the bottom."
Andrix grinned.
"Oh ho! We are going to a fun night tonight!", the helmsman laughed.
"Malum!," Talon cursed and gritted his teeth. We don't have time for this! He leaped up and quickly crossed the short distance to the helmsman. Well, if they were going to try to take his ship he was going to make sure the cost would be high...exceptionally high.
"Andrix, " he said quickly as he slid up next to the large man, " On my signal, bare the bottom."
Andrix grinned.
"Oh ho! We are going to a fun night tonight!", the helmsman laughed.
Punkmortis by anonymous August 7, 2024