Homunculus

Homunculus (ホムンクルス, homunkurusu^?) is a term for a creature given birth through an alchemical formula to create life without the use of a womb, instead developed using methods to produce sperm and other elements into a fully functional being.

Characteristics

The concept of "age" is meaningless for them, as they receive from nature all necessary knowledge and reasoning at the moment of birth. The maturing of their bodies into adult stage does not take years like humans, nor do they grow any older from that point on. As an example, despite their mature appearance and personalities, Leysritt and Sella have lived for little more than two years.

A perfect homunculus is pretty much a man-made artificial extension of nature that, external factors aside, will not die for as long the planet is healthy and has mana left. However, the price of being given life through such artificial means is that the homunculus will invariably have some sort of physical defect (small stature, short lifespan, lower intellect or lack of reproductive capabilities are just a few examples). Even with their potential longevity, they are below humans when it comes down to their strength as life-forms.

Despite having the same form and life than humans, homunculi are ultimately different type of existences for possessing powerful Magic Circuit. Regardless how much of a fragile life-forms they are, their Magic Circuits makes possible for the homunculus to achieve powers that are beyond humans. Fundamentally different than the magi that are humans with Magic Circuits, homunculi are better defined as “Magic Circuits with a human form”. Not “something made to be a magus”, but rather “something made to be a Magic Circuit”.

The homunculi created by the Einzbern, even those regarded as failures, have enough magical power to pose a threat to the Enforcers of the Association. Also, their knowledge of Magecraft comes from being branded with a standardized reverse-type magic crest. The models based on Justeaze, such as Irisviel and Illya, share the memories and personality of the original. In a way, they're the same being. Illya herself is a very special case and her very existence can be considered a miracle in itself. She was “birthed” through conventional means by her mother, Irisviel, although she was put through several magical treatments while still in the womb. Said treatments made her body become even more unlike that of a human being than other homunculi and are supposedly the reason why her growth halted in pre-pubescent stage and why of her very limited lifespan.

Variations

It takes special means to create homunculi, so even a talented magus like Rin Tohsaka cannot create one as needed.

Einzbern homunculi

The homunculi of the Einzbern are created from the knowledge passed down by Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern, known as the "Master of Northern Alchemy", and Kiritsugu Emiya claims that none can match her descendants in the process of creating artificial humans. Created through cultivation tanks, they are of a high quality,

Frankenstein

Frankenstein's Monster was a homunculus made after the basis of the "ideal human." Although she wishes for a mate of the same kind as her, she sees herself as being fundamentally different from other homunculi.

Yggdmillennia homunculi

• Male combat homunculus

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Yggdmillennia creates homunculi using techniques stolen from the Einzberns and other great alchemical houses, but their level of expertise is menial compared to that of an expert. They consider that sufficient enough for creating soldiers, servants for their castle, and living magical energy batteries for Servants.

Those created as soldiers are built to be able to wield large halberds and use powerful magecraft potent enough to easily match an average magus. Created as disposable soldiers meant to overwhelm in numbers, their lifespans amount to only two months due to being born with various defects.

Known homunculi

• Frankenstein's Monster
• Illyasviel von Einzbern
• Irisviel von Einzbern
• Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern
• Leysritt
• Mordred
• Rani VIII
• Sella
• Sieg
• Toole
• Alzir

Doll

The Ainsworth family creates beings called Dolls (ドールズ^?) that appear to be similar to homunculi.