'Servitors' (English (UK): [ˈsəːvɪtə])

"We lived to serve; and in service to our maker, we were undone by those we once called kin."

Created by Tybris (Me)

They were the first race. Stoic, unyielding, and, save for a few outliers, deeply loyal to their maker; 'The Demiurge'. Given life with the purpose of assisting in 'The Great Work', they were bestowed with a myriad of forms to suit a variety of tasks. With them, they would attend their work with unprecedented diligence and dedication.
Through their work, the world as it was once known would find its foundations; and by virtue of their existence, 'The Ascended' would come to be. This trinity, bound by purpose, would dedicate themselves to 'The Great Work' and unleash wonders unmatched upon the world as it once was. Together, they crafted a world of majesty, heart, and resplendence. A legacy that would have stood the toll of ages. Alas... it would not be this legacy that they would be remembered for.
Betrayal by their own kin would see crafters forced into the fires of war, forever condemning themselves to be remembered not as the ardent artisans they were, but as the callous minions of a tyrannical deity. They would fight, they would fail, and like 'The Demiurge', they would be cast out from the light of recognition. Their master was imprisoned, and the 'Servitors' suffered a far bleaker fate.
Now, like their vast and venerable creations, the 'Servitors' have long since been lost to the passage of time. Little of them remains, bar dust, ruins, and the echoes of the slain, awaiting to impart their wisdom to those 'Forsaken', "destined" to undo the ruin that marches upon the world as it is now... Design

Basic Information

Anatomy

The anatomy and morphology of the 'Servitors' vary considerably based on the task a Servitor was created to attend to. These traits will be tailored to suit their role and ensure they are best able to perform it. From colossal humanoids to burrowing worms, to creatures that dwell among the deep of the sea, and much more besides. Every form had its purpose, but none could withstand the malice of their former kinsmen.

Biological Traits

Whilst the vast majority of the biological traits present among 'Servitors' will vary depending on their form and ordained task, there are some constants. They are as follows:
-They are a long-lived race.
-Their physical forms hold traits and a similar likeness to 'The Demiurge'. Their flesh is like marble, and the same pale light emanates from their eyes and other places as appropriate based on their form.
-They are remarkably steadfast in all regards.
-Regardless of form, they are capable of long periods of work with very little respite. 
The rest is defined greatly by their form and ordained task.

Genetics and Reproduction

'The Demiurge' created the 'Servitors' with the capacity to reproduce, primarily to save them the energy and resources of crafting them themselves. Whilst the nuances of their reproduction will vary, most of the 'Servitors' reproduced in a 'conventional' sense. Those who do not found alternative means to facilitate the creation of additional 'Servitors' as necessary to complete their ordained tasks. The "manufacture" of 'Servitors' was another means by which this was achieved, employed by those with forms ill-suited to conventional reproduction, with the essence of their makers being poured into a constructed frame in order to spur life into being. For those who procreated, however, the expected gestation period for most 'Servitors' was around two years; with some variance being given based on the form and necessary function their progenitors fulfilled. Some 'Servitors' would have gestation periods of six months, whilst others could lean towards four years if required.
It should be noted, however, that 'Servitors' did not engage in intercourse without the intent to reproduce. It was often seen as a necessity to fulfill their continued function. It would be 'The Ascended' who would come to challenge this sentiment, and indulge in salacious activities with a more open mind as to why they would. This disposition was seldom shared by their former kinsmen.

Growth Rate & Stages

Whilst there will be some variance based on the form of a 'Servitor' and their intended purpose; they were a race that was quick to mature to ensure the maximum quantity of time in which they would remain efficient and capable of fulfilling their tasks. In infancy and childhood, they were nurtured and taught all they would need to know in order to fulfill their ordained purpose. By their tenth year, in most cases, they would have matured to the point of adulthood and would attend their duty thereafter. For those with more precise tasks, their growth may be slower, but seldom would any 'Servitor' require more than fifteen years before becoming "Fit for purpose" as they would call it. Conversely, there will be those fit for purpose in as little as eight years, if their task is comparatively "mundane" enough.
It should be noted however, that even those 'Servitors' who are manufactured by their progenitors require time to be taught their craft. Whilst they may be possessive of an adult's form, they will use this time of 'growth' in a more educational fashion, as opposed to the literal alternative.

Ecology and Habitats

'Servitors' were a naturally hardy race, capable of existing and even thriving in most climates. Naturally, however, the form a 'Servitor' was given would depend as much upon their environment as their task. To that end, whilst indeed there are very few environments and habitats that proved inhospitable to them as a whole, the reality was that there were specific 'Servitors' dedicated to differing tasks in differing environs. A 'Servitor' whose purpose was solely related to frigid northlands would have a hard time dwelling near the equator of the world, and so on.
'Servitors' would interact with their environment in two primary facets, however. These were either to fulfill their purpose or to ensure their continued ability to function. The construction of shelter, the safeguarding of their own against predictable circumstances, and so on. Whatever was required to ensure their tasks could be undertaken with minimal interruption.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The 'Servitors' did not require sustenance in the way the mortal races do today. Many feasted upon the ambient essence that clung to the infant world when required; and once nourished by it, they would continue to undertake their tasks with diligence and dedication. One could compare it to photosynthesis, or the way in which a tree's roots garner nutrients from the earth; for it is a similar thing. Others would seek to acquire their essence from more direct means, as they became available. For example, hunting, farming, and so on. In some cases, this would even be considered more efficient than passive absorption, and therefore utilized more readily by certain groups of 'Servitors'. Like many things, however, it would be undertaken with necessity in mind, and little else. It would be 'The Ascended' who would come to question such viewpoints, or even defy them in favor of sentiments such as pleasure, glory, or ambition.

Biological Cycle

The 'Servitors' were not designed with the nuances of the shifting of the seasons in mind, for such came with 'The Ascended'. To that end, many were forced to adapt to new parameters as the cycle wound on. Whilst none of the 'Servitors' were constrained by sentiments such as hibernation, they did have to face otherwise unforeseen challenges born from seasonal changes, which would come to affect a variety of their ordained tasks, and 'The Great Work' as a whole. The degree to which they succeeded in this adaption varied considerably from group to group.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The social structure of the 'Servitors' was defined by experience and 'The Demiurge'. Hierarchies were formed based on the veterancy present among a community. Those who were the most experienced and capable would fulfill the roles of leaders and guides in regards to their individual tasks, whereas those who were no longer able to perform their ordained tasks in the same way as they could when they were fully able, but retained the wisdom of their prior experiences, would be appointed as mentors and assistants to the younger 'Servitors' in a community. The vast majority of 'Servitors' existed to fulfill their tasks and revere their maker, whilst the young were taught to do the same.
Naturally, at the very top of their social structures, sat 'The Demiurge' and, in time, their 'Ascended' children. Both were bestowed worship and respected as their maker, and their maker's appointed aides respectively. There was little doubt that such was a part of what 'The Demiurge' considered to be their legacy.

Domestication

As sentient beings, 'Servitors' could not be domesticated.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

'Servitors' held the potential for a vast scope of uses, and this potential was often utilized by 'The Demiurge' through the ordaining of their tasks. Alas; now, there is nothing the remains of the 'Servitors' can offer to the world except for dust, disappointment, and discordant echoes of the past.

Facial characteristics

The facial features and characteristics of a 'Servitor' will vary vastly based on the form they have. Some 'Servitors' may not even have a face, at least as the common folk would regard it. There were once those who bore features of a similar likeness to the mortal races of today, others whose visages would be more akin to beasts; and then those whose nature was all the more esoteric. Little beyond their bones remain now, however.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

In their time, 'Servitors' would have been found in varying forms across the entirety of the world. Now, they are absent from it; leaving only the broken remnants of things they once built as their legacy.

Average Intelligence

The average intelligence of a 'Servitor' depends upon its purpose. Whilst all 'Servitors' hold the necessary intellect to be considered sentient, there will be those who could be considered close to dullards by their own, and others who would be considered to be possessive of exceptional intelligence should their ordained task demand it. The variance is considerable.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The perception and sensory capabilities of 'Servitors' vary considerably based on the task a Servitor was created to attend to. Their capacity for such will be defined by necessity, and their form will accommodate it. There will be those with eyesight that would surpass even the most keen-eyed of elven marksmen, and those who have an ear sharper than a dwarven pick. There will be those who have no need for either but excel in other facets as their role demands. It did little to dissuade their vengeful brethren, however.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Although it was born of service to their maker, the 'Servitors' shared a positive and nourishing relationship with 'The Demiurge'. Through their ordained tasks, they would find a measure of deep fulfillment, and their needs would be satisfied. For a time, this sentiment was even shared with their 'Ascended' kinsmen, though such was doomed to end in tragedy.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

'Servitors' had naming traditions deeply rooted in their ordained tasks and that which they worked with. For example, those who worked around fire would take names befitting such, I.E: Ignis, or Aedus. Those who worked the land would take names such as Petra or Dion. Those who worked with water would take names such as Aenon or Caol, and so on. This permit 'Servitors' to quickly recognize what the role of any given individual was by name alone if their form alone was not sufficient.

Major Organizations

There were no doubt organizations of note among the societies of 'Servitors', dedicated to ensuring their tasks were attended to with maximum efficiency; or to the reverence of 'The Demiurge'. When 'The Ascended' rebelled, however, many of the 'Servitors' were drafted into legions pit against their former kindred, and they were met with failure. By the time the usurpation was finished, precious few of them remained, and they were doomed to perish in due course. Those few who remained hidden in the far reaches of the world, and rumor would suggest some even managed to transcend the limits of their mortal coil so as to safeguard the knowledge they held from the clutches of oblivion. Where these 'echoes' remain, however, is unknown.

Beauty Ideals

As individuals, 'Servitors' hold little in the way of beauty ideals beyond meeting the specifications of 'The Great Work'. Structures were designed with the desire to appease 'The Demiurge', and paradoxically, given the nature of their maker, the closer one appears to be alike to them the more attractive they are considered. Opulent and angular designs were commonplace among that which 'Servitors' had influenced, for they deemed such both practical and suitably majestic. To this end, such things would have been considered befitting of their maker.

Gender Ideals

'Servitors' existed as individuals, identifying however they wished to. The gender paradigms found among the mortal races of the present day are not shared by the 'Servitors'. All were equal from the outset, but their worth would be defined by their capability in regards to their ordained task, not how they wished to define themselves. It would be, as was often the case, 'The Ascended' who challenged this disposition and would go on to lay the foundations for many of the views held by those who roam the world today.

Courtship Ideals

The 'Servitors' were a pragmatic people, who cared little for the lengthy processes of courtship other races would come to exalt in the present day. Practicality and efficiency were chief among their priorities. Should individuals have found themselves attracted to one another, and held a sufficient bond of trust, then relationships were due to form shortly thereafter. There is very little "umming and ahhing" with regards to how 'Servitors' view the process of courtship as it would lead only to inefficiency, and unnecessary distraction from 'The Great Work'.

Relationship Ideals

To 'Servitors' relationships held a paradoxical position of importance. Whilst they were never the sort to prioritize stuff over 'The Great Work', they would find great satisfaction in holding strong ties with kin who they worked with. It improved their efficiency and cohesion and granted a greater sense of fulfillment in earning the approval of 'The Demiurge' following the completion of a collaborative task. As was the case with most things regarding 'Servitors', everything bore the undertones of practicality and adherence to their ordained tasks. Relationships were no exception, but that was not to say they could not co-exist with the work they once performed. It would be 'The Ascended' who once again challenged the status quo in this matter, and their bonds to one another would, in time, become a pivotal factor in sparking the insurrection against 'The Demiurge'.

Average Technological Level

Bestowed with the guiding wisdom of 'The Demiurge', and the tools in order to fulfill their tasks with the utmost diligence, the 'Servitors' were known to have attained a technological level far beyond that of even the most intuitive mortal races in the present day. With this technology, they played their part in forging the world as it was once known. It did little to stop their own demise, however. Some would even speculate that their advanced technology served the aims of 'The Ascended' during their insurrection.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Unlike their maker, 'Servitors' had a specific language now referred to as 'The Old Tongue' through which they would communicate with one another and 'The Demiurge'. The emergence of newer languages would not arrive until after their passing, and the restoration of the world by 'The Ascended'.

Common Etiquette Rules

The 'Servitors' were a race of stoic souls, and their etiquette showed such. They were formal folk, and initially spartan in their nature. When 'The Ascended' offered variety, they were slow to warm to such; though many would have come to agree that they benefitted from it, at least to some extent. Alas, they were a race defined by adherence to 'The Great Work' above all else. Respecting one's elders, heeding the word of 'The Demiurge', ensuring order persisted and chaos was unmade wherever possible, even if it cost you, or others, their freedom. These were common-place ideals among the 'Servitors' across all layers of their society. Disobeying or straining against such was frowned upon heavily, and it was often only 'The Ascended' who would do so. Alas, if there was more to be known about the 'Servitors', it has since been lost to upheaval, and the march of time, just like so much else about them.

Common Dress Code

'Servitors' were practical people. Their attire reflected such. Whilst it would hold hints of opulence and majesty, particularly among those of experience and venerable status, it would never be at the expense of practicality. It would not be uncommon for days of celebration and reverence to be met with populaces who wore 'slightly more formal' versions of their working attire, but little else. Togas, loincloths, tunics, and ought else were to be expected, with footwear that was appropriate for their vocation.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Much of what was once known as the culture of the 'Servitors' has been lost with their eradication. The few lingering remnants across the world are both rare, and wholely incomplete in their explanation. They were never meant to be warriors, even if many among their number were compelled to uphold the mantle. They were disciplined, dedicated, stoic crafters and inventors, much like 'The Demiurge'. Perhaps that adds further tragedy to their downfall. (It should be noted that the mortal races of the present day are barely aware of the existence of 'Servitors', and what little they know of them has been painted through a lens of villainy and evil by many of 'The Ascended'. Only a few would dare to delve into the deepest places in search of lore, or truth. These individuals are often reclusive, or ill-sponsored. Hermits and Historians, and so on.)

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Whilst it was known to some that the 'Servitors' would have a myriad of customs pertaining to 'The Great Work' and traditions attached to the reverence of their maker, the specifics have long since been lost. If there was more to be discerned, it would only be found through flickers of the past, and the echoes of the ancient fallen; should they deign to speak upon the matter, that is.

Common Taboos

Failure to adhere to one's ordained task, or to obey the will of 'The Demiurge' was considered the gravest taboo an individual could commit according to the 'Servitors'. It is for this reason, among others, that 'The Ascended' would come to fall out of favor with many of their former kin. To disobey, or otherwise impede 'The Great Work' was to spit on all they had been given.

History

Just like their maker, the history of the 'Servitors' is intrinsically tied to the world; for they did much to see it become what it is today. Through their toil, the foundation for many of the constants life has come to accept were ensured. Without them, there would be no 'Ascended', nor the usurpation of 'The Demiurge'. Alas, just like their maker, they too have had their history all but stripped from the world. Their legacy is the ruins that once stood as the bastions of their art, and the world they had once tended, and naught but their echoes remain, ill-inclined to tell their story to any but those "destined" to avert the calamity the world now faces...
What most know of the 'Servitors' is muddied by the lens of villainy their former kin forced the world to view them through, decrying them as the servants of a tyrannical master they brought low and slew.
The truth, however, is all the more complex.
The 'Servitors' were created in order to facilitate 'The Great Work' their maker, 'The Demiurge', sought to achieve. The scope of their designs were far beyond what one being could achieve, even as a true deity. They were crafted with the intent to be loyal supplicants, capable of self-replication and attending to their ordained tasks with diligence and utmost dedication. This they achieved, and for a time they exponentially expedited the work of their maker. The world took form, cities, and shrines rose in reverence to 'The Demiurge, and a measure of stability was attained that would have otherwise been impossible to maintain. These stoic souls saw much of 'The Great Work' completed, or otherwise set underway. One would think that their successes would have placated the soul, and satisfied the maker they dearly wished to please. 
Alas, reality was rarely as pleasing as one hoped it to be. For all their efforts, neither maker nor 'Servitor' found satisfaction when they paused to look upon all they had made over the course of centuries. They had achieved much, that much was to be certain, but for all the majesty and precision of their craft, ordered as it was, it lacked "heart". Try as they might, the 'Servitors' could not achieve a result that brought them any closer to this goal, constrained as they were by their adherence to 'The Great Work'. Indeed, it would not be those who were steeped in dogma and loyalty that would find the solution, but those who were "imperfect" and anomalous in their nature. No creation, no matter the skill of its crafter, could know true perfection. The 'Servitors' were no exception.
It would be those who dared to challenge the order of things and think beyond the remit of their traditions that would begin to show the potential for creating the world as 'The Demiurge' envisioned it. These 'Servitors' were treated with distrust and concern by many of their peers. The freedom of thought they expressed threatened to destabilize all that had been built. It had the potential to invite a terrible disorder. To a god, perhaps it would have been easier to have merely quelled these flawed elements and proceed without them, but a flicker of mercy and the belief that their talents could be employed within the constraints of 'The Great Work' led 'The Demiurge' to believe these individuals could be utilized more lucratively.
And they were right. Bestowing these individuals with portions of their deific strength, they would become known as 'The Ascended'. Second only to 'The Demiurge', 'The Ascended' would go on to grant the world vibrancy and spirit, unleashing a myriad of unique ways to maintain and advance 'The Great Work'. Despite the envy of some who were passed over, none could deny the efficacy of their work. As the centuries wound on, however, their designs grew further and further from the will of 'The Demiurge'. Disputes broke out, and the ties that bound began to fray. The 'Servitors' were caught in amongst it all, and their loyalty to 'The Demiurge' would come to brand them as a threat, regardless of their individual views, however limited.
Eventually, following a particularly vicious debacle between a small cadre of 'The Ascended' and 'The Demiurge' pertaining to the creation of new, sentient life, a great betrayal came to be. In secret, the first 'Giants' were hewn into being by the absconded 'Ascended'. When 'The Demiurge' discovered this, they unleashed their fury and culled these new creations to the last, even wounding one of the individuals they had come to regard as children. This would spark the beginning of the end, and herald the usurpation of 'The Demiurge'.
En masse, 'The Ascended' abandoned their posts and did not return until the time for their revenge was nigh. When they did, it was with fire and brimstone. The world was plunged into upheaval, and the 'Servitors' were marshaled to defend 'The Great Work' and their maker therein. Fighters they were not, and there were no doubt many among them who would have plead for another solution, but such things fell upon deaf ears. The wrath of their former kin was unmatched and united against 'The Demiurge' who had wronged them, they undid much if not all that was theirs. Including the 'Servitors'.
Only a few would live to know the true fate of their maker, and they were forced to hide among the ruins of the world's husk. As 'The Ascended' went about the restoration of the world as they would have it, they would be found, and one by one, brought low until the final vestiges of their number were faced with a damnable choice. Perish like the rest of their kindred, or sacrifice what was left of them to preserve the fateful truth they held within their hearts.
They made their choice; and as history was re-written, their truth faded into obscurity, drowned beneath the tale spun by their enemy. In time, the true nature of the 'Servitors', like their master would be forgotten, and it has remained this way until the present day. The echoes that remain await those "destined" to undo the ruinous march of 'The Spurned', but whether their wisdom will be heeded before it is too late remains to be seen...

Historical Figures

Whilst there were no doubt particularly influential 'Servitors' in their own right, none would remain to have their legacies told to those who would follow them. 'The Demiurge' is by far the most imposing figure in their personal history, but it would be 'The Ascended' that would go on to be remembered, revered, and reviled by the mortal races of the present.

Common Myths and Legends

The 'Servitors' themselves are a legend as far as the folk of present-day are concerned. That which the 'Servitors' could have considered myth would have been regarded as reality, for it was most tangible to them. The world's formation was a reality they partook in. The fall of the world as they knew it was a reality they were quelled by. Myths and Legends were concepts created by the mortal races to rationalize that which was beyond their ability, or understanding.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Beyond relations between different forms of 'Servitor', this was not feasible. There were no other sentient races for them to engage with, and mingling with ought else simply would not occur. Even then, relations between different forms of 'Servitors' were limited, for there would need to be a good reason for such to occur, presuming their forms were even compatible. The offspring produced by such unions could yield potentially more efficient and versatile individuals, which was sometimes reason enough. 
They never met the first generation of 'Giants', but what they were told of them by 'The Demiurge' would have had them revile them as an act of rebellion against 'The Great Work'.
'The Ascended' were met with far more varying dispositions, though none would prove sufficient to spare the 'Servitors' from their wrath.

EXTINCT

Genetic Descendants

• 'The Ascended'

Scientific Name

Precursors, Servants of The One True God, Anomalies, The Silent Ones, The First Race.

Origin/Ancestry

'The Demiurge'.

Lifespan

'Servitors' were long-lived entities, easily capable of enduring the passage of several centuries before their fated hour tolled. On average; they could look to live between 600-800 years.

Conservation Status

The 'Servitors' are extinct. Any attempts to conserve living individuals have long since failed; though that is not to say remnants still linger in the most hidden of places...

Average Height

The average height of a 'Servitor' will vary considerably based on their form. There will be those who are as tall as trees, others who are as small as sprites, and much else besides. Naturally, further variation will be found within each sub-group of 'Servitors'.

Average Weight

The average weight of a 'Servitor' will vary greatly based on their form. There will be those who hold the heft of a golem behind them, others who are as slight as a sapling, and much more between. Just as with height, there will be additional variation among each sub-group of 'Servitors'.

Average Length

The average length of a 'Servitor' will vary considerably based on their form. There will be those whose forms are as long as great sea-serpents, or worms that bore the caves and tunnels within mountains, others with no greater width than an adder, and much more between those extremes. Additional variation is to be expected within each subgroup of 'Servitors'.

Average Physique

The average physique of a 'Servitor' depends considerably upon its purpose. There will be those who appear almost humanoid; with all the varying physiques from broad to slight and ought else besides. There will be those who have a likeness far more in tune with the beasts we know of in the present day, and there will be those with forms all the more abstract. As ever, this will be dictated by their ordained focus and all the necessities it brings with it.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

'Servitors' were known for their pale, marble-like flesh. Their blood, and scar 'tissue' was often seen to hold a golden hue, lending itself to a sense of majesty even among those who had endured hardship. Regardless of form, this coloration and marking was observable across all 'Servitors'.

Discovered by

'The Demiurge'