The Mechanicus Priesthood of Ferraeus

Five Things To Know About the Cult Mechanicus They Revere Machines. The Cult Mechanicus believes that every piece of machinery is inhabited by a Machine-Spirit, and that only through placation – with litanies, rituals and sacred anointing – can the machine be induced to work correctly. They Look Back, Not Forward. Despite their vast expertise, the Mechanicus are neophobes. Technological innovation in the Imperium is founded on the rediscovery of historical blueprints and templates, including the priceless and rare “Standard Template Constructs” which hold records of hyper-advanced technology once used by humanity in fathomless pre-Imperial history. They Advocate Augmentation. Adeptus Mechanicus often replace organic body parts and systems with technological alternatives, sometimes to the point of near-total augmentation. They are not Robots. While some may replace almost all their organic components with mechanical alternatives, the idea of artificial, created sentience is anathema to the beliefs of the Mechanicus and they will destroy it wherever they find it. They are a Cult. Despite their love of technology and knowledge, they are not rational scientists; between their ceremonial red robes, sincere techno-animist beliefs, ritual and religious hierarchy, they are as mystical and secretive a mystery cult as any found in the wider Imperium.

Hierarchy and Organisation of the Adeptus Within the Adeptus Mechanicus there are hugely complex machinations of politics, rank and status that determine where individual Tech-Priests fall within the hierarchy of a Forge World. The political divisions of the Mechanicus are as much religious as they are territorial. Though most Forge Worlds will, broadly speaking, align with a single sect of the Machine Cult, there may be further sub-sects still who divide up the surface of a Forge World and its colonies into their own private enclaves. Above these minor groups, individual Archmagoi will act as regional governors of a particular sector of Mechanicus territory, answering to the Fabricator-General of their Forgeworld.

Within the Priesthood of the Machine Cult, Priests are divided into rough areas of specialisation, the ‘Collegia’ (sometimes translated from the binaric script of the Cult as ‘Ordo’) define both practical specialisation and religious role. A Mechanicus specialised in biological technology, for example, would be part of the Collegia Biologis; a Mechanicus specialised in data and information would be a part of the Collegia Logis; and a Mechanicus specialised in construction of void ships would be a part of the Collegia Exstructio Astra. Each Collegia has its own complex web of ranks and subsections, adding to the further complexity of rank and politics within the Machine Cult.

As should already be apparent, the Cult boasts a vast and often confusing array of religious ranks, titles and offices. All above the Lay-Mechanicus or menials are referred to as “Tech-Priests” or “Adepts”, though may also hold additional titles. Some examples include:

A Fabricator-General or Arch-Magos and their deputy Fabricator-Locum have charge of a full Forge-World, including temporal authority equivalent to that of a Planetary Governor in addition to their religious duties. A Magos is a high-ranking priest with some authority to act independently, and may be referred to by specialisation (for example Magos Biologos or Magos Genetor). A Logis is an analyst, statistician and diviner, relied upon for prophecy gleaned through ritual probability analysis. A Secutor is a warrior-priest, entrusted with leading the armies of the Mechanicum into battle against its foes. A Genetor is responsible for genetics, which might include the study of xenogenetics, the maintenance of womb-vats, and biological enhancement of humans and abhumans. An Enginseer is responsible for the maintenance and spiritual welfare of the Machine-Spirits under their command, and often found attached to Guard units and Naval ships, where they may be called a “Pastor”, with the spirits of the Enginarium considered their “flock”. A Transmechanic specialises in communications technology. A Lexmechanic specialises in data collation and analytics, and works closely with cogitator systems. An Explorator is a senior Tech-Priest who quests across the dark spaces of the Galaxy to uncover priceless Archaeotech, often found in the company of Rogue Traders, Crusade fleets and others who quest the boundless depths of space.

The Arch-Magos of Ferraeus is often a regular visitor at the Sector Senatorum, and considered to be a strong ally of the Sector Governor.

The Adeptus Mechanicus has a long and storied history, both as a part of the Prosperitas Crusade and in the wider Prosperitas Sector. The three major domains of the Mechanicus are their smog-shrouded Forge Worlds, Ferraeus, Castellum and Naximus Prime, where forge-fires are ever-hot and the entire planetary population is committed to ceaseless production lines, feeding the Prosperitas Crusade and the Sector as a whole. Outside these there are many ‘lesser’ domains, such as the manufactorums on Korimesta ruled by their Tech-Priest Overseers, and colonies tithed to the Mechanicus such as Olethros Secunda; and Tech-Adepts are found scattered across the Sector’s worlds, attending to various ancient machines.

However, one of the biggest draws of the Adeptus Mechanicus to the Sector, aside from its abundant resources, is an abundance of Archaeotech and ancient ruins. Vast fleets of Explorator Ships compete with rakish Rogue Traders as they blaze passages into the Untamed Worlds on the Rimward edge of the Sector, eager to find treasures of the Golden Age on human colonies untouched by the Imperium in thousands of years.

The three Forge Worlds of the Sector are all varied and unique in their nature, each one possessing its own complex political relationship with the Imperium. Because of the complex issues regarding the independent nature of these worlds from Imperial governance, one of these Forge Worlds predates M.41, having remained largely independent from the Traitor Regent of the Prosperitas Sector during the ten thousand years the Sector was governed by the Regency Government.

Ferraeus was the first of the Forge Worlds to be brought into compliance by the Prosperitas Crusade, the second primary objective after the conquest of Duroverum. It was taken from its original rulers and granted to the Mechanicum allies of Warmaster Durovera. Its rulers owe their domain to the Imperium, and they know this well; the Legio Ferraeus, the sole Titan Legion stationed in the Sector, has almost constantly been at war since its formation from Engines captured from the former rulers of Ferraeus. The Arch-Magos of Ferraeus is often a regular visitor at the Sector Senatorum, and considered to be a strong ally of the Sector Governor.