The Chronicles of Magos Casus: A Journey Through an Alien Vessel
In our ongoing series, we dive into the adventures of Magos Casus – a chronicler of the Adeptus Mechanicus. As he walked through the ever-changing corridors of a spacecraft that had departed from a devastated Imperial world, the vessel had begun growing bizarre structures on its exterior and developed a strange, parasitic techno-life within.
Casus found himself mapping the ship’s decks, a task that proved challenging as he encountered a dense jungle of aggressive mechanical vines. Armed with a variety of L emitters, he had to burn his way through the metallic undergrowth. His journey led him to a hall of mysteries, the purpose of which remained unclear.
The hall bore the scars of a long-forgotten battle. Dust-covered barricades were scorched on the floor and walls, and web-covered bones silently spoke tales of ancient warfare. But what caught his attention was a fresco on one wall – a strict block diagram. These diagrams often depicted hierarchical structures, illustrating the preeminence of a particular object or organization. Wiping off the thick layer of dust, he recoiled in astonishment at the inscription in High Gothic – ‘Adeptus Mechanicus.’
The name threw his mind back to the distant years of the Great Crusade when the Mechanicum, or simply the Martian Technocracy, held an absolute monopoly on tech discovery in the Imperium. The Adept Tech-Priests of Mars were responsible for producing the most powerful weapons and equipment for the Emperor’s Army.
The Forge Worlds of Mars, akin to vital organs, produced indispensable components, sending them through transport arteries to various regions of the realm of mankind. Yet, the Adeptus Mechanicus was only formally part of the Imperium. They wielded unprecedented combat power, developed separately, and professed a faith in the Omnia, often contradicting the Imperial truths.
Casus reflected on the troubling notions of secession from the Imperium that often arose among the Tech-Priests. The Martian Schism that occurred during the Horus Heresy was a prime example of this division. Fabricator General Kelal had sided with Horus, while Fabricator Zagas Cain remained loyal to the Emperor. This event split the Mechanicum into two, leading to the creation of the Adeptus Mechanicus, incorporating all loyal Tech-Priests.
As Casus examined the fresco, he realized it depicted the organization’s hierarchical structure. The artist, most likely an unknown Tech-Priest, had meticulously documented the entire hierarchy. His gaze fell on the inscription, ‘Fabricator General,’ bringing forth images of Kelal – the first and true Fabricator who rejected the Emperor’s prohibitions and adopted the new faith, yet remained a Mechanic.
The Fabricator General position constitutes the highest structure of the Adeptus Mechanicus, overseeing their Forge World. The most powerful among them is the Fabricator General of Mars, invariably a member of the High Lords of Terra, and often the ruler of the Olympus Mons Forge on Mars.
The Martian Tech-Priests were once subordinate to the Parliament of Mars, with the Fabricator General acting as the ambassador to Terra. Over time, this position evolved to become the ruler of Mars, and the sole leader of the Mechanicum.
As Casus continued his exploration, he was reminded of the complex political and technological history of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Join us next time as we delve deeper into the chronicles of Magos Casus and the secrets of the Mechanicum.
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