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Elorathall
 
PostPosted: Mon, Dec 29 2014, 23:07 PM 

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Scions of Mechanus: Hierarchy, Authority and Purpose

by Aurelius of Amaunator


As there are fiends and celestials, there are a variety of outsiders that may be considered manifestations of order. Foremost of these are those dominant races of Mechanus. For while other manifestations are influenced by other forces, these cosmic exemplars are purest in their being.

While an in-depth study of their individual identities and societies lies outside the scope of this introduction, the following provides an overview of their racial identities and seeks to draw therefrom insight into the nature of order itself.

The Modron

The modron are a race of mechanical creatures that maintains and controls many of the component gears that make up the landscape of Mechanus. Modrons exist in a multitude of forms, with each form synonymous to a certain rank within the race's rigid but efficient hierarchy. Should one examine this hierarchy, one would find that the lowest forms of modron are simple in ability and form yet of great multitude, while higher forms of modron are of increasing complexity but of fewer number. As such, the modron hierarchy is inherently pyramidal in nature. The base modrons include (in order of ascendance) the monodrone, the duodrone, the tridrone, the quadrone and the pentadrone, and may be considered a worker and soldier caste. The hierarch modrons include (in order of ascendance) the decaton, the nonaton, the octon, the septon, the hexton, the quinton, the quarton, the tertian and the secundus, and may be considered as governors and overseers. While non have ever been witness to this entity, at the apex of the modron hierarchy is said to stand Primus - a godlike entity.

Each modron receives commands from its direct superiors, which are followed immediately and without pause until told otherwise, and each modron commands its direct inferiors. Indeed, recorded dealings with the modron have noted that modrons seem only aware of modrons of the same rank and of those one rank removed, considering all other modrons to be unfathomable entities. Though one may question the meaning of such, the modron are known to possess a vast and intricate bureaucracy that often frustrates outsiders yet appears to operate with exceptional efficiency for the modron themselves. Though it ever takes time for commands to move down trough the ranks, once set in motion the modron possess a relentless, machine-like quality fitting their appearance. Furthermore, should a modron be destroyed, a modron of lower rank is immediately promoted to higher rank and will assume the appropriate new form. A modron of lower rank still is then promoted to fill the resulting void in the hierarchy, and so down the hierarchy to the monodrones. The monodrones themselves are speculated to be birthed from a source at the center of the modron domain, yet the modron have permitted non so deeply within their realm thus far.

It is fortunate the modron are not warlike, save for against the expansionist formians. A single modron commander need but give his subordinates two commands, being "slay the formians" and "relay this command to all modrons of lower rank" to set in motion an ever growing avalanche of mechanical warriors. To illustrate, the lowly monodrones are individually weak, yet they are relentless, utterly fearless and coordinate with other monodrones to near supernatural degree. In truth, any general would be supremely blessed to command a force of modrons - relentless, fearless and regenerating - though he would likely find his ability to effectively direct such a force wanting.

The Formians

The formians are an insectile race who bear a resemblance to centaur-like ants. And indeed, should one compare the nature and dynamics of the ants of the material planes with that of the formians one would find many parallels. The formians are organised into hives containing untold thousands of formians. Each formian belongs to a certain caste fitting the individual form of the formian in question. These castes are the workers, the warriors, the myrmarchs (also known as the queen's guard), and the queen herself. It is rumored that there is a further formian empress who directs the countless billions of her race via the queens. As a race, the formians are aggressively expansionist, ever seeking new resources and territory, enslaving and incorporating non-formians into their hive. As such, dealing with formians is inevitably a dangerous undertaking, resulting in much of the formian society remaining unknown.

Most notable is that the authority of the queen is absolute across her hive. The castes are functional but appear not to hold any superior or inferior rank towards one another. Rather they collaborate to their strengths as the queen directs. The exact means by which this is done remain poorly understood, but scholars have described such as a "hive mind" that links each formian into a gestalt entity under control of the queen. This control is not one of threat or coercion as those of the material realms may understand authority, but it is genuinely absolute - and it is debatable whether individual formians are sentient at all. Evidently, one might think a formian queen to be the ultimate tyrant. However, such implies an egotistical agenda. The queen and all formians in the hive are simply dedicated to the security and expansion of the hive, outside notions of good or evil.

Evidently, should the formians turn focused attention to the prime material they would pose a considerable threat. For when the formians war they are a tide of thousands upon thousands of chitinous warriors moving and acting as a single organism, capable of traversing up walls to overwhelm even the strongest of bastions or creatures. To the formian, the individual is nothing and the queen's will is all. Fortunately, those formians encountered on the prime material thus far appear to merely have been part of small outposts for the purpose of resource gathering. It is furthermore believed that the ongoing war between formians and modrons occupies both sides as much as the infamous Blood War occupies the baatezu and tana'ri. Considering the inclinations of both races, one may expect the war in Mechanus to endure for some time yet.

The Inevitables

Of the native races of Mechanus, the inevitables are those most likely to be encountered on the prime material plane. As the modrons, they carry a mechanical appearance. Indeed, there exists speculation that the inevitables and modrons share a common heritage. While one might argue that all creatures born of Mechanus bear machine-traits, fitting the gear-plane itself, such implies that the formians are not native to Mechanus. The truth of the matter remains to be confirmed.

The inevitables themselves take a number of forms, each embodying the certainty of certain concepts of order, and are charged with seeking out transgressions against that particular cosmic imperative. The winged Zelekhut embody the surety of justice, and hunt those who seek to escape rightful punishment by law. The black Kolyarut embody the certainty of contracts, spoken and unspoken, and hunt oathbreakers. The Marut embody the finality of death, and hunt those who seek to extend their lives through undeath and other profane means. The Varakhut represent the surety of divine power, and hunt those who threaten divinity itself. The Quarut embody the stability and surety of time, and hunt those who threaten the integrity of time.

Though inevitables are forged and directed by their council in Mechanus, they are more capable of learning and adapting to the circumstances of their given objective than the modron and formian, and they are more likely to develop a distinct personality. As such, one might more easily treat with an inevitable than with a modron or formian. Do not mistake such for pliability, for an inevitable is utterly dedicated to its assigned task and will pursue it endlessly. To be hunted by an inevitable is a harrowing experience for even the strongest of quarry, for inevitables are not only relentless, powerful, intelligent and adaptive, they are customized during creation with traits that allow them to take the most advantage of their target’s weaknesses. Even in the unlikely event that a quarry is able to destroy the inevitable that hunts it - the only means by which one might be eluded - another inevitable is dispatched to continue the hunt, who has been altered to ensure the previous defeat cannot be repeated.

The Trinity of Order

Though the scions of Mechanus are three distinctly different races, one might view each as the embodiment of a certain aspect of order. The modron are the embodiment of Hierarchy, the careful arrangement of objects or entities within a layered system. The formians (or perhaps more accurately the formian queen) are the embodiment of Authority, for they are utterly under the command of a higher entity. The inevitables are the embodiment of Purpose, for each exists for the fulfillment of one task, for which it is specifically created and without which its existence holds no meaning.

These three aspects of Order cannot be separated. The modron hierarchy is their greatest quality, yet it would fail without strict adherence of each modron to the authority of those of higher rank, and utter dedication to the orders - the purpose - bestowed upon them. The formian queen holds absolute authority over all her subjects, directing the hive towards the purpose she establishes, yet even this authority derives from a binary hierarchy that places the queen on a higher rank than all others. The inevitables are utterly dedicated to a single purpose in all things, yet their power derives from their authority to act as executioner of cosmic imperatives, and they themselves stand within a more abstract hierarchy of service.

Drawing on this observations, one may note that any system created by mortal undertaking, whether it be a community of individuals, a military force or even a cogwork machine, must take into account the principles of Hierarchy, Authority and Purpose or be doomed to failure. Every element of the system must have a defined purpose or be redundant, and a defined purpose allows each element to focus on the fulfillment of that purpose. In other words, to optimize efficiency trough specialization. Every element must receive direction from one on a higher tier, and must have a defined place within the greater hierarchy to allow for coordination between all elements across all tiers. Finally, each element charged with command and oversight must be granted the authority to do so, in order to prevent contradictory commands and allow for optimal direction of those whose perspective is narrow and specialized by those whose perspective is broad and general.

While this treatise deals with abstraction and does not discuss practical application in greater detail, nor is adaptation and innovation discussed, such may be subject to future examination.

_________________
Aernoud Van Brabant: Heir of the House. Proprietor of the Beer Wagon.
"Go to the Mayfields, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over."

Aurelius: Sunmaster of Amaunator. Contemplative. Aspirant to Transcendance.
"Sol Invictus"


 
      
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