Main Menu

News:

If you are having problems registering, please e-mail theconclaveforum at gmail.com

Is there an Ordo Mechanicus?

Started by Lazarus Caladine, December 28, 2009, 04:56:06 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Lazarus Caladine

Hello people!
I want to start teaching some gamers at my local club to start playing Inquisitor, and since I already have an AdMech warband I thought it would be easiest to do something regarding an Inquisitor and some followers investigating an incident with the AdMech.
So my question to you is this: is there a division of the Inquisition that deals mostly with the Mechanicus? Or would a problem with the techies be something for whichever Inquisitor was in the area at the time?

Thanks.
Laz.

MarcoSkoll

If there IS an Ordo Mechanicus, it would have to be VERY secretive.

The Adeptus Mechanicus don't appreciate outside interference, and if they found out about an Ordo Mechanicus, the uproar that would result could be absolutely devastating for the Imperium.

For the most part, I imagine that any Inquisitor with sense, even if they find the AdMech suspicious, would have nothing to do with an Ordo Mechanicus, and would probably renounce/destroy one if they found it - better that than suffer the consequences should the AdMech find it.

Most Inquisitors with a suspicion about the AdMech would likely be part of the Hereticus - it's an appropriate enough place, but without the issues that would arise from a targeted specialisation on the AdMech.

Of course, you might well find an Inquisitor foolish enough to set up an Ordo Mechanicus, but I imagine it would be very small, very well hidden, and likely very short lived.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

DapperAnarchist

Most of the issues with the Mechanicus seem to be covered by other parts - Alien Technology is covered by the Ordo Xenos, Warpcraft by the Ordo Malleus, and other heresy by the Ordo Hereticus. If you say that the Xenos, Malleus, and Hereticus don't have the right to interfere, because of some boundary distinction, then the Inquisition can't interfere. The question there is if the Mechanicus is either 1) part of the Imperium or 2) a loyal but sovereign ally. The third option for the Inquisition is enemy, as it happens.
Questions are a burden to others, answers a burden to oneself.

The Keltani Subsector  My P&M Thread - Most recent, INQ28!

Molotov

As Marco says, such investigations would likely fall under the remit of the Ordo Hereticus. It's entirely possible that there might be Inquisitors that are highly suspicious of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and it's entirely possible that some of them might be able to contact each other and share their views. Outright oversight of the AdMech is almost impossible, and reliant upon the good will of the Mechanicus itself. (The AdMech would likely prefer to solve most of their interior disputes without outside intervention, lest it seem as divided as it perhaps is.)

It's really something that's situational, though. It's possible that an Inquisitor might run across a heretical tech-priest in the course of his investigations; of course "heretical" is, as ever, highly subjective.
INQ28 Thread | INQ28 Blog
INQ28, done properly, is at least the equal of its big brother - and Mol is one of the expert proponents of "done properly".
- precinctomega

MarcoSkoll

Quote from: Molotov on December 28, 2009, 05:29:13 PMIt's entirely possible that there might be Inquisitors that are highly suspicious of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and it's entirely possible that some of them might be able to contact each other and share their views.
A completely fair point.

Just like you might find unofficial collections of Inquisitors with something against whatever, there are probably small cabals of Inquisitors against the AdMech*, who will pool their individual resources at times, but I doubt you'd find anything "on the books".

* I recall someone's suggestion about a radical Inquisitor attempting to spark techno-revivalist cults, so that the Imperium could survive without the AdMech. Sorry, I don't recall whose it was.

The thing about the AdMech, as was recently discussed, is that while all the different "Imperial" institutions are essential to the Imperium, and the loss of any one could be catastrophic, the AdMech is pretty much alone in believing that it could be independent - and thus the only institution that hangs the threat of such over the head of the Imperium.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

Tullio

Most sensible Inquisitors would adopt a hands-off approach to the Mechanicum, mostly for the reasons states, but also because the Mechanicum has it's own division for rooting out hereteks which if anything is often more lethally ruthless than the Inquisition. Besides which, an Inquisitor would be hard pressed to make any charges stick - any force he can appeal to by the authority of the Seal can cheerfully be matched by the Mechanicum's own political and martial clout

Tullio

Molotov

Quote from: Tullio on December 28, 2009, 06:59:40 PM
The Mechanicum has it's own division for rooting out hereteks which if anything is often more lethally ruthless than the Inquisition.

Interesting. Do you have any more information about this division? Any canon sources I can check to read up on it?
INQ28 Thread | INQ28 Blog
INQ28, done properly, is at least the equal of its big brother - and Mol is one of the expert proponents of "done properly".
- precinctomega

Tullio

#7
I wish I had more myself, frankly. The information I've got is from the Inquisitors Handbook, the gist of which boils down to this - it's apparently referred to as the Auxilia, with members holding the same ranks as the other militant Tech-Priests - Secuters, Myrmidons and so forth. They are organised into small bands of heavily augmented individuals that hunt out the enemies of the Mechanicum, held in awe by other members of the Machine Cult. Unfortunately that's all I can ascribe a canon source to - I wish I had some more information on thier remit and operations, but since the Handbook is concerned with the Inquisition that information isn't included.

Tullio

EDIT - I forgot to mention that the Divine Light of Sollex sub-cult in Calixis turns up every now and again in the Dark Heresy background - they seem to take it upon themselves to hunt down hereteks and do so unrelentingly. I suspect they've got something to do with the Auxilia, or at the least demonstrate how far the Mechanicum is willing to go to hunt down it's enemies

Molotov

Interesting; I have the handbook, but I haven't seen that section. (Unsurprising, given how jam-packed the book is!) Do you have a page reference for easy browsing?

Also, to the original poster, this PDF might provide you with some inspiration as to just why your scenarios take place... a Tech-Priest need not be "bad" to draw the attention of an Inquisitor... a Tech-Priest of an opposing faction (or a jealous Tech-Priest of the same faction) might implicate another Tech-Priest for some crime to get him out of the way/get access to his work/fill in the blanks here.

Equally, if the Inquisitor is radical, there could be no ends as to just why the two might oppose each other - those endless grey areas are the meat and bones of Inquisitor. Perhaps a radical Daemonhunter wants a partically well-grown vat clone in which to create a particually powerful Daemonhost?

INQ28 Thread | INQ28 Blog
INQ28, done properly, is at least the equal of its big brother - and Mol is one of the expert proponents of "done properly".
- precinctomega

Tullio

You can find the Secutor on page 68 and the Sollexi on page 37. Incidentally, Lazarus, if you like reading the background then the Dark Heresy material is packed with stuff that can be easily jury-rigged to fit Inquisitor

Tullio

Inquisitor Sargoth

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on December 28, 2009, 05:43:46 PM
I recall someone's suggestion about a radical Inquisitor attempting to spark techno-revivalist cults, so that the Imperium could survive without the AdMech. Sorry, I don't recall whose it was.

Half me, half someone else after I argued that the AdMech are what's killing the Imperium off.

A fresh point on this debate - we have former Guard/Navy/Ministorum/Enforcer/Arbitrator Inquisitors... so why not former AdMechs? Such men and women would stil feel some kinship to the AdMech, but would be equipped with a far, far greater udnerstanding of it, more respect from it as tech-adepts and would be the ideal Inquisitors to investigate the AdMech in secret or even openly. Also, they'd be much better at spotting hereteks and evil technologies than 'normal' Inquisitors.

(I've always wanted to have a former AdMech Inquisitor, but never found the story nor the time for one)
One More Hit - A tale of addiction.

Myriad

I don't really see the admech eliminating an 'ordo mechanicus' - much of their muscle is internal rather than external, but it seems likely that any inestigations into the admech would simply find themselves obstructed.  Similar to the astartes, the admech are largely autonomous and fall under inquisitorial remit more in theory than in practice.  Rogue admechs probably fall generally under the remit of the ordo hereticus, although any ordos could get involved.  Certainly their habit, documented in alot of fluff, of investigating and stirring up necron tombs, might draw the attention of the ordo xenos.

There isn't alot of source material on people leaving the admech, but a certain schooling in the ways of the machine god would no doubt give an inquisitorial candidate a certain edge, and I can see one being recruited under the right circumstances.  How the admech might feel about it gves you an interesting backstory  :).
I had better point out, that some of the clubs I represent are of a military bent.

You know what you are?  A plywood shark!

Lazarus Caladine

I just want to quickly tell you about the scenario I had planned:
The mission involves the AdMech warband (part of what I like to call the Mechanicus Investigative Liaison, what I thought the AdMech would have to keep nosey Inquisitors out of where they shouldn't be, and as a slightly less fanatic 'Auxilia') an Inquisitorial warband, most likely Hereticus now, and a gang made up of a gun servitor, a pair of arco-flagellants, and a man who was going to be made into a servitor who had escaped a mechanicus facility. The MIL want to recapture the escapees, but the Inquisitor wants them executed, possibly along with the MIL warband.
Thanks for all of your thoughts and ideas. I will have to look into the Dark Heresy background as soon as possible, and fully read all of the Mechanicus fluff from the old SG website.
Laz.

DapperAnarchist

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on December 28, 2009, 05:43:46 PM
* I recall someone's suggestion about a radical Inquisitor attempting to spark techno-revivalist cults, so that the Imperium could survive without the AdMech. Sorry, I don't recall whose it was.

That may also have been me, I had a character who followed the "Theraponite" faction (her own idea for the name, named for a former tutor of hers) who think the AdMech are irretrievably tainted with Xenos influence from the C'Tan. Therapon was a real radical, calling for a complete destruction of technology and a start from scratch attitude (along with executing every single blunt and Pariah), while the actual character, Belhinos, was more a "it needs a thorough purging, but not obliteration" type.

As for the Scenario - WHY does the Inquisitor want the escapees executed? Have the seen something they shouldn't? Are they true heretics? Is he suspicious of the MIL's motives in seeking them out - the escapee might have certain heretical technological upgrades?
Questions are a burden to others, answers a burden to oneself.

The Keltani Subsector  My P&M Thread - Most recent, INQ28!

Lazarus Caladine

The arco-flagellants were guardsmen under the command of the Ecclesiarcy who deserted their posts during 'peacetime' on a planet that I haven't thought of a name for yet. The servitor and the other escapee were found to be hacking various machine spirits to find a buyer for some tainted xenotech they came across (still working on that). The Inquisitor was present at the arco-flagellations and knew of the hackers/profiteers, and believes the MIL allowed them to escape for their private and heretical intentions.
Please forgive my terrible fluff-writing abilites. I'm hoping that the Inquisitor being of the Monodominant philosophy will help patch some of the nebulous possibilities that the MIL could be accused of.