Constructs

Based on the principles of Embodiment, thaumaturges have created a host of artificial beings that have taken over much of the manual labor of the Empire. These constructs are made of wood, metal, or stone, and animated with elemental spirits bound to obey the commands of human beings. From the Taloi soldiers and Construct Horse, to the factory golems and steel stevedores, no part of life in the Empire has been untouched by construct technology. There are even a small number of constructs made from flesh rather than inanimate materials, but these Abominations are a tiny fraction of the greater whole, and are mostly curiosities rather than the world shaking labor force the majority of constructs represent.

Constructs are not suited to all tasks - at least, not yet. They follow commands literally (and some show a hint of malicious compliance), and lack the initiative or skill for many complex tasks. For example, in the Shambleyard, constructs have taken over slaughtering animals and transporting the carcasses to the butchers, but swiftly and efficiently butchering the carcass remains a human task. While a construct could in theory perform it, there would have to be a human there to oversee and direct each cut - not an efficient model. But anywhere that tasks are repetitive or simple to describe, constructs are moving in and replacing human workers. They may not always do the job quite as well - but they never stop for breaks, never need food, and never form unions to demand better conditions. They are also ideal for certain tasks humans cannot easily perform - such as walking along the bottom of the river to retrieve salvage, or manually pumping water or keeping a treadmill turning for twenty-four hours a day.