The Necrontyr attempted to overcome their mortality with scientific means, but realized after thousands of years that their bodies could not be changed to survive on the planet. Instead, they developed spacefaring technology, though of a much slower and more uncertain nature than the methods of the [[Old Ones]]. Where the Old Ones were able to move between the stars in seconds, the Necrontyr had to use slow-moving ships, equipped with [[stasis cryptscrypt]]s, to reach out to the stars. They clad their ships in [[living metal]] to withstand the rigors of space flight.{{Fn|1}} Despite establishing interstellar colonies, the Necrontyr still could not escape their genetic curse and continued to die quickly from tumorous growths.{{Fn|3a3c}}

Like the modern [[Necrons]], the Necrontyr were organized organised into a feudal [[Necron Dynasty|dynastic system]] which all pledged fealty to the [[Triarch]], which was led by the [[Silent King]]. Necrontyr society was defined by a rigid system of honour, oaths, and obedience to ones liege. The society was divided into three social classes: The nobility and [[Cryptek|priests]], the soldiery, and the commoners.{{Fn|5}}, though there was also a subcaste of slaves who were treated harshly.{{Fn|3c}} Necrontyr society was highly ritualistic, and even wars were said to be dominated by formality and procedure.{{Fn|3a3c}} Inter-dynastic conflicts and civil strife were a constant concern for the civilization, as reflected in the [[Wars of Secession]].{{Fn|4}}

Due to their short lives and sickly nature, Necrontyr society was dominated by death. Morturary cults and funeral rituals including embalming and mummification were prominent.{{Fn|3d3a}} Upon waking each morning, Necrontyr had a practice known as the '''Rite of Expiscation''' wherein they would check their bodies for any signs of cancerous growths which heralded their imminent deaths. There was an entire sect of priests dubbed '''Onomancers''' developed to treat their affliction, to no avail.{{Fn|6}}

The Necrontyr put particular emphasis on the astrology, divination, and zodiac constellations visible from their homeworld. Constellations used in their zodiac mysticism included ''Hept''{{Fn|3e3d}}, ''Thot''{{Fn|3g3f}}, ''Vokk''{{Fn|3f3g}}, ''Thuselah'', and ''Kasteph''.{{Fn|3a3c}} These were used in hand symbols by their priests and could also express ideas. Later, [[Cryptek]]s utilized these zodiac hand signs in to channel their techno-arcane abilities.{{Fn|3d}} Before they encountered the C'tan, the Necrontyr had a pantheon of Solar Gods.{{Fn|3e}}

Before the coming of the [[C'tan]] the Necrontyr were a highly advanced civilization capable of establishing an interstellar empire. While not capable of matching the [[Old Ones]], they were nonetheless masters of [[Materium|Material]] technology. Though by the time of first contact with the Old Ones they were still utilizing relatively slow moving [[FTL]] that required the occupants to be stored in stasis crypts for extended voyages. Yet even before the C'tan appeared, the Necrontyr were already utilizing technology such as [[Living Metal]].{{Fn|1}}

Over the course of the long [[War in Heaven (Necrons)|War in Heaven]] and with the aid of the C'tan{{Fn|1}} the technological abilities of the Necrontyr and subsequent Necrons greatly accelerated. By the end of the conflict the Necrontyr, now as mechanical Necrons, were wielding the very energies of the universe and creation, and upon their [[Necron Revolt|revolt against the C'tan]] utilized arcane weaponry that shattered the star gods. Today, most of the technologies wielded by the Necrons are inherited from their [[Infinite Empire|empire]] millions of years ago.{{Fn|5}}  ==See also==*[[List of sentient species]]

*{{Endn|1}}: [[Codex: Necrons (3rd Edition)]] , pgs. 24-25

*{{Endn|3}}: [[The Infinite and the Divine (Novel)]] :**{{Endn|3a}}: Act 2 1 Chapter 13

**{{Endn|3c}}: Act 3 2 Chapter 101**{{Endn|3d}}: Act 1 2 Chapter 3**{{Endn|3e}}: Act 2 Chapter 34**{{Endn|3f}}: Act 3 2 Chapter 85**{{Endn|3g}}: Act 2 3 Chapter 58*{{Endn|4}}: [[Codex: Necrons (5th Edition)]], pgpgs. 6-12*{{Endn|5}}: [[ Codex: Necrons (8th Edition)]], pgs. 9-11*{{Endn|6}}: [[The Twice-Dead King: Ruin (Novel)]] - , Chapter 2