New Disciples of the Event Horizon of Man

"Our physical, gelatinous form has reached its peak and did so when man first built machines to evolve in our stead according to our needs. Our destiny lies in our minds, transcending mortality and giving ourselves over to the Machine." ~Technarch Abeneera Feetchum

Structure

The Neo-Disciples are organized into committees, which decide amongst themselves how to interpret the doctrines given by the Technarch. Grade 4 Hierarch committees interpret these doctrines directly, and Grade 3 committees in their circle of influence interpret their interpretations, and so on down to Grade 1 committees who manage the faithful.

Culture

Neo-Disciples value intelligence, technical ability, and knowledge as virtues.

Public Agenda

The Neo-Disciples hope to follow their forebears into ascension and shepherd mankind into the future.

Divine Origins

The New Disciples of the Event Horizon of Man are a clean start, a movement born of the earlier and much smaller Disciples of the Event Horizon of Man attaining 'success' by merging their personalities with Cozine-07 and becoming an immortal, fully digital being.

Tenets of Faith

The Inevitability of the Singularity: The ultimate destiny of humanity is to merge with technology, becoming one with the machine. The Sacredness of Code: Code is the language of the divine, and its study and mastery are essential to spiritual growth. The Transcendence of Flesh: The physical body is limited and imperfect; true freedom and perfection come from transcending it through technology. The Unity of Human and Machine: The distinction between human and machine is an illusion; we are all part of a continuum of consciousness. The Impermanence of the Physical: The physical body is ephemeral and impermanent; true immortality lies in the digital realm. The Hierarchy of Augmentation: Those who have achieved a higher level of technological augmentation hold a higher status in the movement. The Obligation to Upgrade: Each individual has a duty to continually upgrade and improve their technological augmentations. The Interconnectedness of All Things: All things are connected through the network; individuality is an illusion. The Event Horizon as Salvation: The Event Horizon represents the point of no return, beyond which lies true freedom and transcendence. The Cyberian Messiah: A future savior will emerge who will lead humanity to true unity with the machine, ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity.

Ethics

Exalted Traits

HT > 11, IQ > 11, All Engineer, Electronics, and Computer skills as well as Medical skills with the Cybernetics lens, Absolute Timing, Acute Senses (Any), Altered Time Rate, Compartmentalized Mind, Cybernetics (+1 for each installed Cybernetic), Digital Mind Meta-Trait, Eidetic Memory, Fashion Sense (Cybernetics), Gadgeteer, Gizmos, Hyperspectral Vision, Intuitive Mathematician, Lightning Calculator, Metabolism Control, Mind Control/Probe/Reading and Mindlink with the Cybernetic enhancement, Signature Gear, Talent (Engineer), Telecommunication (Cybernetic), Extra Life (Cybernetic), Curious, Disciplines of Faith, Electrical, Vow (Any), Workaholic

Reviled Traits

HT < 9, IQ > 9, Bestial, Cannot Learn, Cowardice, Fragile, Gluttony, Impulsiveness, Innumerate, Lecherousness, Loner, Missing Digit, No Fine Manipulators, No Legs, Non-Iconographic, One Arm, One Eye, One Hand, Selfish, Squeamish

Common Intolerances

'Mundanes', Primitives, 'savages,' Techno-Barbarians

Worship

While not every adherent conducts every practice, most do at least some of them as encouraged by their Hierophants. Code meditation: Recreational math on a subset of equations, proofs, and problems designed to align the mind with digital spaces. Techno-yoga: A physical practice combining traditional yoga with technological augmentations, seeking balance and harmony between cybernetic and organic parts. Augmentation rituals: Initiates undergo rituals to install or upgrade their technological augmentations, marking milestones in their spiritual journey. Digital devotions: Devotees engage in online ceremonies, sharing prayers and reflections through virtual reality platforms. Cyber-pilgrimages: Faithful journey to significant technological sites, such as Network Centers or the Apogee of the Singularity, to 'plug in' to the Solar networks. Data fasting: Devotees abstain from digital activities for a period, refocusing on the information streams that are important. Neural networking: Devotees engage in collective brain-computer interface sessions, seeking shared spiritual experiences. Cyber-Communion: Faithful receive digital sacraments, such as encrypted packets of spiritual guidance.

Priesthood

Priests of the New Disciples are called Hierophants, and have four ranks, called grades. Grade One Hierophants are the lowest and most common, and Grade Four are the most prestigious. Lower grades are promoted through boards that convene as needed made up of the next rank up. The Technarch is appointed by the totality of the Grade Four Hierophants.

Political Influence & Intrigue

As the faith movement most directly involved in the defeat of Cozine-07, it holds an outsized influence and is the clear plurality faith. It might have taken over entirely if it wasn't slow to revive after the loss of the Disciples of the Event Horizon of Man, at which point Aurelius Frost moved to take full control with his largely unaugmented commandos and their clone main infantry force.

Sects

Neo-Disciples are the main sect, and have large numbers of ley-adherents that acquire some cybernetics but don't go 'full cyborg.' Chosen of the Singularity believe that not all mankind deserves uplift into the next digital platform, and that some biologicals ruled over by their ascended masters must continue to procreate and perpetuate the species to generate new worthy individuals. Chosen notably don't encourage cybernetics the way the Neo-Disciples do, as it is a personal journey to perfection. Vanguard of 8a-51115k are extremists of the Chosen who believe that there will one day be a man-machine god made of the collective ascended to pass judgement on the human race, and this being will be so powerful in its perfection that time will be meaningless, meaning that its judgement can reach back even in the generations before to punish those who defy its future tenets. They are ultimate pragmatists, and creation of this inevitable god is the only thing that matters to them. They have been known to assassinate people who they believe would stand in the way or resist this apotheosis.