Spirits

There are numerous forms of spirits. Some are bipedal, some quadrupedal, some lack legs or are completely immaterial. This greatly depends on the mana affinity that spawned them, although there are suggestions that the local culture does shape the local spirits, at least the details of those (in other words, some culture have an unconscious preference for humanoid spirits, other prefers them looking like animals etc. - and so such spirits are more common in the area).   Some more established pantheons of the Cults of the Ascended can have a certain 'unique' form of spiritual servants, working in a way that isn't unlike the angels of Christianity - they are messengers and occasional assistance, while being said to populate the afterlife [if it exists] or the gods' realm alongside the dead mortals. Those entities tend to be among the smartest ones of all spirits - they are capable of being a part of a talk, although not of disagreeing with their masters.

The Spirits are internally divided between several categories, although it has to be stated right away that this is a rather improvised taxonomy. There is no clear-cut mechanism behind it, like it is with the servitors.   In rough terms, the taxonomy goes as follows:   Lesser Spirits sometimes referred to as splinter spirits, are the weakest of them all. They typically manifest small (think a slime-like goo ball the size of your hand, something fairy-sized, or perhaps a walking and autonomous tree stump). They are typically the most common source of familiars (especially as they can evolve into more powerful individuals as mage's power grows).   They aren't much more common that their next-in-lines, primarily by being typically too weak to live in the wild on their own. They either gather in clusters (on an instinct) for defense, or suck up to their stronger kin for protection.   Greater Spirits sometimes referred to as shard spirits, tend to be the mainstay form of the spirits. Human-sized (or slightly smaller/bigger), but in a variety of forms. Typically not bipedal humanoids, at least not adult-sized. The better way to imagine them is as large and imposing 'magic wolves', or 'magic bears' - or something of similar size and power level.   They are a threat on their own, and a large threat in groups (which sometimes happen). Troublesome to deal with it, and potentially dangerous when irritated.   High Spirits sometimes referred to as complete spirits are typically the smartest ones of them all. Many tend towards humanoid form or at least ability to shapeshift into one (but are still sentient but not sapient, even if they can hold a conversation). They tend to install themselves as overlords of their affinity spirits in some area when they manifest.   Highly dangerous, thankfully they tend to be more hostile to servitors than to sapients. Still, it's best to not cross them, as even the weakest one is hard to beat.   Divine Spirits are a one of the three most popular types of 'deviant' spirits who do not fit the three categories mentioned above. Divine Spirits are spirits created as loyal servants of some powerful god/pantheon of those. In short, something akin to valkyries or angels - messengers and functionaries of their religion.   They tend to be among the most intelligent spirits, sometimes borderline sapient although still instinctually loyal to their overlords and creators. Their power level varies greatly.   Overgrown Spirits are one of the three most popular types of 'deviant spirits' without relation to three basic types. Overgrown Spirits are spirits who were born way too powerful and, typically, large - the largest ones can be measured in dozens of meters. They are often more akin to a natural disaster (unless slain) simply on accident.   They are also sometimes spawned in reaction to some particularly large servitor outbreak in the area, which might be either due to the servitors messing up local mana or the System deciding to kill them super dead. They are, thankfully, rare.   Errant Spirits are one of the three most popular types of 'deviant spirits' without relation to three basic types. They tend to be the result of servitor-introduced corruption of local mana, and are either influenced by the Dark Lords or simply, irreversibly corrupted. Interestingly enough their tendency to develop out of established boundaries means that it isn't impossible for them to develop sapience.   Errant Spirits are extremely dangerous - although some can be quite benevolent, it's typically the common thing to slay them on sight.

Spirits do not reproduce. Some do exist physically, however they tend to be asexual in the end (humanoid spirit might appear feminine, but that's all, it's just a rough shape). They are born from mana, in a way that is decidedly supernatural.