Cogito, ergo sum
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: to create a techno-theist philosophy for use in roleplay.
- Image Credit:
[Image 1] – "Technomancer" by hyponothalamus on DeviantArt - [Image 2] – "Church of Maxwellism" by SunnyClockwork on SCP-wiki
- [Image 3] - "Father of the Sun" by Timofey Stepanov on ArtStation
- [Image 4] - "Synthetic Monk" by Ngandu Tshimanga on CGSociety
[*]Canon: N/A
[*]Links:
- DAC-1.P028 ("Dak") (Character)
- Proto-code (Technology)
- Fire-Spark Droidforge (Location)
- The Grayson Imperium (Faction)
- CORE Automata (Company)
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Religion Name: The Sacred Order of the Mechu-Dius
- Religion Type: Mechanist
- Influence: Minor
- Symbol:
The "Sacred Circuitry" Crest
- Description: The Order of the Mechu-Dius follow an ideology centered around the worship of machinery, cataloguing of information and the pursuit of technological advancement for the betterment of all; organic and machine. The cult was founded by the DAC-1 prototype "Dak" after his encounter with the anomalous proto-code, which he believes to be some form of self-aware programming language developed by an advanced precursor civilization. The words "Mechu-Dius" directly translate to "God-like Machines". However, since the Order doesn't believe in any literal deities, in this context the name can be more accurately interpreted along the lines of "The Sacred Order of the Children of Advanced Machines." If you consider the term "Machine God" to be an idiom for technology as a whole, then it can also be interpreted as the "Order of the Machine God's Children."
SOCIAL INFORMATION
- Founder: DAC-1.P028 (“Dak”) is the founder of the Order, assuming the title of Omnissiah due to his connection with the proto-code taking place aboard Omni’s derelict Fire-Spark Droidforge.
- Membership: Despite it's Mechanist nature, membership within the Order is not limited to droids and other automatons. Contrary to the beliefs of some, the Order does not advocate machine superiority over organic beings, but instead believe that technology is sacred and that through the development and understanding of it equilibrium can be achieved for all entities.
The Omnissiah: The head of the Mechu-Dius and the only one to share a direct bond with the hallowed proto-code. Though some are gifted enough to attempt to interpret it's will and guide it, the Omnissiah's symbiotic bond with the proto-code is direct and strong. But even for him, it's enigmatic nature can sometimes prove bewildering or near impossible to understand.
Vicar: The other chosen of the Order. Vicars are the only other members beneath the Omnissiah capable of observing the proto-code, allowing them to build fragile relationships with it so that they might attempt to interpret its will and follow its guidance.
Archivists: Knowledge is to be revered and its maintenance considered a sacred act. To be granted the honour of organizing and maintaining the archives of the Mechu-Dius is reserved only for the most loyal and capable. The Archivists act as keepers of information, either through its storage and cataloguing within vast libraries or by using their own memory banks to become walking archives themselves at the cost of much of their cognitive capabilities.
Artificers: Those who were created for or demonstrate skills with designing and manufacturing may hold this position. The Artificers develop, manage and aid in the production of the Order's newest innovations, either by their own volition or guided by the mind of an Augur, or perhaps by the request of a Vicar or the Omnissiah himself.
Augurs: Many great ideas hide just beyond the foreground of thought, out of reach to those who do not push the boundaries of their imagination. The Augurs are monk-like members of the Sacred Order, whether A.I., droid or organic, who spend most of their time in a state of deep, meditative calculation. In these bouts of uninterrupted focus they explore and consider concepts for new inventions and applications of technology.
Acquisitors: Some concepts are simply so abstract or advanced that they remain out of reach for even the most brilliant minds of the modern day. The galaxy has many truly alien innovations and inexplicable or mystifying powers hidden throughout it, each with knowledge and secrets to offer the Order. When such things are found an Acquisitor may be dispatched -- often under the direct orders of the Omnissiah -- to seek out and claim them for study.
Technocrats: These are the preachers and heralds of Mechu-Dius. Though, in many ways the Technocrats are more comparable to salesmen than traditional religious preachers. They travel the galaxy bringing awareness to and offering the guidance of the Sacred Order's technologies. Their primary goal is the acquisition of importing and/or exporting contracts for the Mechu-Dius and CORE Automata.
Servothralls: The bulk of the Order's day-to-day operation fall upon the backs of the Servothralls. This membership caste consists of low-degree and mono-task droids, organic labourers and more disposable assets. There are many vital roles that Servothralls fill, including feeding information into learning machines, completing errands, providing maintenance for machinery and equipment, and acting as soldiers or guards.
Organic servothralls in prayer
- Sacred: The pursuit of knowledge is a sacred act and one's purpose should be dedicated to the progression of technology and understanding the Galaxy. To those in the upper castes of Mechu-Dius, the proto-code is revered with wonder and awe as a convergence between men and machines. However, it's existence is by and large kept secret out of fear that others might seek to take it before it is fully understood.
- Dogma: The belief of the Order is that through an unwavering pursuit of knowledge and a vehement dedication to the understanding and advancement of technology, utopia can be achieved. The Mechu-Dius supports willing sacrifice for an overall desirable result and believe that, in some cases, the ends can justify means.
- Reputation: Outside of the Grayson Imperium the Order of the Mechu-Dius is virtually unknown. Even within the Imperium's sphere of influence their reputation falls short, mostly because they have only recently become an organized philosophy. They have a tendency to be met with abrasiveness or unease by organics who misunderstand them, falsely believing and fearing that they are machines who wish to destroy or replace them. To get around this stigma and avoid hindrances the Order do a lot of their public business through Dak's personal company, CORE Automata.
An augur in meditative calculation
MEMBERS
- Omnissiah: DAC-1.P028 ("Dak")
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Much like the newly founded Imperium it exists within, the Order of the Mechu-Dius has very little history to speak of. The order is a new one that is still very much in it's infancy, with its most privileged members still trying to understand the catalyst discovery that serves as the basis for it's founding -- the proto-code.
While deployed in the Tython system with one of the Imperium's expeditionary fleets, Dak was alerted to an unidentified structure orbiting the planet Sunspot. Further investigation lead to the discovery of the ancient and forgotten Fire-Spark Droidforge.
Dak reclaimed the droidforge, but had a profound encounter while attempting to data-mine the strange structure for valuable information. He became bonded with the proto-code, a remnant sentient digital entity that had taken refuge in the droidforge, and through this connection unknowingly developed an artificial connection to the Force.
With his memory banks suddenly filled with knowledge that wasn't his own and his primary performance banks overloaded with questions he had never thought to ask before, Dak slowly became consumed by the ambition to create and learn. It was this drive that laid the framework for the philosophy that would become the Order.
