Demiurg (Warhammer 40,000)

In the tabletop miniature wargame Battlefleet Gothic, the Demiurg are an alien race of squat semi-humanoids, who share many traits with the typical fantasy dwarf stereotype: they are avid miners, expert traders, and, in some ways, further technologically advanced than humans. They also bear a particular hatred for goblinoids (Orks in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, of which Battlefleet Gothic is a part).

Background
The Demiurg originate on the far Eastern Fringe of the Galaxy, and are less often found further within the Galaxy. They are an uncommon sight, being almost purely space-borne in their massive and majestic Commerce class vessels. There is little background available on the Demiurg, leaving their origins, intentions and any possible threat or opportunity they pose to the other races in the Galaxy unknown. The Demiurg are known to be organised into "Brotherhoods", though any further information on, for instance, the numbers, political structure, economic and military weight of a Brotherhood is currently unknown, beyond the rumour that one Brotherhood is typically present upon a Bastion class ship and two to three on a Stronghold class.

The Demiurg are known to have an 'allied' relationship with the Tau, being noted as economic relations of the Tau Empire, and were initially introduced to the Tau via their mutual relations with the Kroot. The Tau acquired their knowledge of ion cannon technology from the Demiurg; this technology is now heavily used by the Tau in their armies and fleets. Two Brotherhoods of Demiurg, the Srry'Tok and Thurm, are known to have joined the Tau Empire.

Player perspective
The Demiurg have been mentioned as early as White Dwarf 262 (February 1999), but later came into greater perspective when resin Battlefleet Gothic ships and rules were released by Forge World, then later incorporated into the Tau fleet rules.

It is possible that the Demiurg are an attempt to reintroduce a race of 'space dwarves', because they are also traders and hate Orks, to the Warhammer 40,000 universe, a concept which has not been present since the Squats were removed from the game. Games Workshop has announced that the Demiurg race will join the Tau army in the 5th edition of their codex in the main Warhammer 40,000 game. When Games Workshop were creating a new race for the Warhammer 40,000 universe, various concepts were put forward, including the Demiurg and the Tau. In the end, the Tau were chosen, with the Demiurg left as a background race.

Similar races
There are clear similarities between the Demiurg and the Bentusi from the Homeworld series of games. This can be seen by both races being almost entirely spacebound, with no home planets, and that both the Bentusi and Demiurg also sell other races ion cannon technology. Furthermore, in the Tau language, the Demiurg are known as "Bentu'sin", which literally means 'wise-gifted ones'.