Precursor Architect

Lore & Background

The Architects are an alien precursor race that built bases on planet 4546B for research on the Kharaa bacterium. One Architect, Al-An, was a lead scientist researching a cure for the Kharaa. It disobeyed orders by trying to hatch Sea Dragon leviathan eggs, which led to the research facility being destroyed by Sea Dragons and the Kharaa being released onto the planet. Al-An's consciousness was preserved in a digitized form within an alien sanctuary in Sector Zero. When Robin Ayou discovered the sanctuary, Al-An downloaded itself into her brain, explaining it did not try to contact Alterra for help because it believed Alterra's motivations did not align with its own and did not want to risk them finding a way to its homeworld. Al-An later revealed it was involved with the outbreak of Kharaa. After Robin helped fabricate a new body, Al-An transferred into it and decided to return to its homeworld to see what had happened to the other Architects and to atone for its past mistakes.

In Their Own Story

Shortly after landing on 4546B, Robin Ayou picks up a distress signal and investigates, discovering an alien sanctuary containing the digitized consciousness of a living Architect. Desperate for a new storage medium as the sanctuary's power runs out, and after an apparent misunderstanding, the Architect downloads itself into Robin's brain. Angry at the intrusion, Robin initially tries to ignore it but soon agrees to help it, now introduced as Al-An, construct a new body. Robin combs Sector Zero for alien installations and artifacts to find necessary components and materials. During their search, Al-An hints that it was involved with the outbreak of Kharaa. Eventually, Robin recovers all components and fabricates a new body at an alien facility. After transferring, Al-An reveals it was one of the lead scientists researching a cure for the Kharaa; it disobeyed orders by trying to hatch Sea Dragon leviathan eggs, resulting in the research facility being destroyed and the Kharaa being released. Al-An activates an Architect phasegate, and Robin agrees to leave 4546B with it, uncertain of what they will find.

Reader's Guide

The Precursor Architect Al-An is a key non-player character in Subnautica: Below Zero. As a digitized consciousness, Al-An communicates directly with Robin Ayou after downloading itself into her brain. The player must help Al-An by searching Sector Zero for alien installations and artifacts to gather components and materials needed to fabricate a new body. Al-An provides guidance and lore throughout the game, revealing its role in the Kharaa outbreak. The player must also investigate the circumstances of Robin's sister Sam's death, which involves discovering Alterra's research on a frozen Kharaa-infected leviathan and Sam's sabotage of the project. Al-An's story culminates when the player fabricates its new body at an alien facility, after which Al-An activates a phasegate to return to its homeworld. The player can choose to leave 4546B with Al-An.

Did You Know?

• Al-An was one of the lead scientists researching a cure for the Kharaa bacterium.
• Al-An disobeyed orders by trying to hatch Sea Dragon leviathan eggs, which led to the Kharaa being released onto 4546B.
• Al-An's consciousness was digitized and stored in an alien sanctuary in Sector Zero.
• Al-An downloaded itself into Robin Ayou's brain after the sanctuary's power began running out.
• Al-An activated an Architect phasegate to return to its homeworld, and Robin agreed to leave 4546B with it.