I have an automaton that is the size of a small dog. I need a power source for it. I don't want to use a winding mechanism or something that would have to be actuated on a regular basis to keep the thing "alive." Options I'm considering thus far are:
1) ancient technology (which exists in this world, though it isn't understood) that provides a "lifetime" of power to the creature; or
2) some more complicated system that requires the creature to eat (not sure what this would look like yet; might involve principles seen in this world as alchemy).
Tech level of the world is odd--think maybe 15th or 16th century as the closest earth equivalent, on the whole, but with the odd bit of more advanced technology left over from a now-defunct civilization.
If you guys were going to power such an automaton in a way that didn't require it to be wound, but enabled it essentially to be self-sustaining, what would you use?
1) ancient technology (which exists in this world, though it isn't understood) that provides a "lifetime" of power to the creature; or
2) some more complicated system that requires the creature to eat (not sure what this would look like yet; might involve principles seen in this world as alchemy).
Tech level of the world is odd--think maybe 15th or 16th century as the closest earth equivalent, on the whole, but with the odd bit of more advanced technology left over from a now-defunct civilization.
If you guys were going to power such an automaton in a way that didn't require it to be wound, but enabled it essentially to be self-sustaining, what would you use?