Machine Cults of Avachrus

The Adeptus Mechanicus oversees all aspects of technology in the Imperium. Its church, the Cult Mechanicus, worships the Emperor as the Omnissiah as its adherents chant binaric prayers with each forging and implantation of blessed cybernetics. Though it may appear a unified order on the outside, in reality it is a conglomeration of sects, each of which has its own view of the Ominissah’s nature, the quest for knowledge, and other matters of technological divinity.
This is especially true in Gilead, where the irrational Warpstorm has provoked holy schisms that may irreparably fracture the Mechanicum. The Mechanicum arrived first at Gilead and has been a fundamental part of it ever since. Once the Eternal Engines were uncovered it claimed dominion of Avachrus and transformed the planet into a powerful Forge World. Now it must supply and maintain all technology for the entire system with no external aid, even as their ordered existence is failing to meet demands.
Tech-heresy and unsanctioned research flourishes like scrap code in unshielded cogitators, no matter how many Tempering Litanies are engrammically inscribed into new Tech-adepts. Explorator Lev reports of asteroids in the Reach filled with xenostech and possibly the remains of a deliberately shattered world. Buried in the Avachrus sands is evidence of an earlier Martian presence, one that employed unholy numerics and profane logic.
Try as they might, the Magi cannot suppress such data much longer.

Training

As can be imagined, the Adeptus Mechanicus revolves around technology; the blessed rites involved for repairing, operating, and venerating (but not inventing) machinery are a fundamental part of its existence. Knowledge of such matters, along with the ways of the flesh and even xenos devices, is similarly essential for many. Despite their scholarly veneer, almost all members of the Cult Mechanicus are able to defend themselves, as failure to do so would be a waste of a servant of the Machine God’s. Thus, many Tech-Priests are skilled in the use of powerful sidearms of unusual (but sanctioned) designs not suited for mass production.

Politics

The Cult Mechanicus has few drives, but they dictate all its actions within Gilead. Preserving Avachrus is foremost through fulfilling its sacred duty to fabricate arms, but detecting and eradicating tech-heresy is a close second. With the loss of support from other Forge Worlds, spreading the Word of the Machine God has become vital. This has caused much friction with the Adeptus Ministorum, as both seek out new adherents. Even efforts to acquire more subjects for servitor creation are stymied, as most are sent to penal legions.
The power of the Adeptus Mechanicus, however, is enormous. It controls technology and manufacture in Gilead. That it also determines which Factions are granted access to its technologies is an unspoken and rarely needed threat, even in times when it can barely meet ordinary replenishment demands for material. It has its own powerful fighting forces to defend the Forges against piratical raiders and unofficial Imperial ‘requisitions’ alike.

Relationships

The Adeptus Mechanicus works most closely with the Astra Militarum and Administratum to provide weaponry and other necessities, as per agreements as old as the Gilead System itself. It views both, though, as extremely wasteful of both flesh and metal. The Absolvers, on the other hand, are held as exemplars of efficiency. While the Adeptus Mechanicus deals with various Rogue Traders, chiefly Varonius, it is of necessity as their ships are effective in guarding against pirate attacks made against Explorators and research stations.
Interactions with other Gileadian agencies are much worse. For millennia the Ecclesiarchy of Enoch have begrudgingly accepted the religious differences between the Imperial Cult and the worshipers of the Omnissiah, viewing the arcane creations of the mystical Magos with a mixture of fear, awe, and suspicion. In the wake of the Great Rift, the Adeptus Mechanicus’ failure to meet constantly increasing production needs has led to the Ecclesiarchy viewing them as barely sanctioned heresy. The Cult Mechanicus have a similar (but more logically expressed) opinion of the Adeptus Ministorum in return.
There are also sects within the Cult Mechanicus that withhold vital data or assert falsehood, all to lessen their rivals and making unified action sometimes impossible. Despite this, almost all reserve their greatest binaric hate for those who knowingly subvert the Omnissiah’s Will. These might include Apostate Tech-Priests who lead proscribed rites to glorify xenos technology, Hereteks who conduct prohibited experiments, and worse Magi who seek knowledge from the Gods of Illogic that live in the Warp.

Type

Political, Faction / Party

Leader

Archdomina Aexekra Vakuul

Leader Title

Archdominus

Parent Organization

Heartworld Sovereigns

Location

Avachrus

Important Writings

The Universal Laws of the Cult Mechanicus;
Litanies of Eternity, containing the daily rites of the Suspire;
Compilex Heretekonus, a collation of all data concerning archeotech and xenos tech found on Avachrus and beyond (and only available to certain Arch-Magi and Inquisitors)

Symbols

Mechanicus Cog, Avachrus Icon (a cog on starburst with two moons below), palm on forehead then extended out (‘I offer my reason to you’)

Heroes

Explorator Kappo Lev, known for their unending search for remnants of the pre-Imperial archaeotech;
Magos Jynn Rho, tireless hunter of Hereteks and their horrid creations;
Revered Tech-Priest Obsolom, who has assisted in training the Techmarines of the Absolvers Chapter for over 400 years;
Skitarii Vanguard Commander Metril of the 87th Gilead Cohort

Duties and Strictures

• The Forges Must Pour. All else is secondary.
• Obey the Universal Laws, for without them all is disorder.
• Suppress unsanctified technology and unholy alien mechanisms... except if directed to research or even use them to try and pierce the Night Wall.
• Search for lost technology and archaeotech; a functioning Standard Construct Template, or even a fragment of one, could save the Avachrus (and Gilead).
• Pity the Ministorum, for they know not how to worship.
• Revere the Omnissiah, for He knows all and comprehends all.
• Abhor the Heretek, for their works stain the Will of Machine God.
• To break with ritual is to break with faith.
• The flesh is weak. The machine is strong.
• Placate the Machine Spirit in every device.
• Venerate, Not Innovate.