Techsorcist

"When uttering the incantation, mark well that the rod is upon and not within the intake. The second incantation should not be uttered until all the fumes have come forth, then the way shall be clear for the sacred words to penetrate unto the heart of the engine. If the mounting be hot say the third rune, if it be cold the fourth rune is more appropriate. For if the wrong rune is used, the wrath of the engine will be aroused..."
–From the "Book of Five Runes"
A little-understood sect that acquires only a handful of recruits every
few years, the Techsorcists occupy an unusual role amongst the
Calixian Mechanicus. Techsorcists possess a deep understanding
of the effects of the Warp upon technology and machine-spirits.
They also have a particular interest in the tech-heresy of the
Empyric Device, and are often involved in investigations of
suspected technology that channels Warp energy.
Some Forge world Tech-Priests develop an interest in
analyzing corrupted machine spirits. Unusually
for Tech-Priests, Techsorcists are capable of
intuitive thinking, speculation, and improvisation,
and are famous for their lateral and
often unorthodox process when
strict logic and standard procedures
fail. This is an invaluable tool for an
Inquisitor trying to understand his
foe’s weaknesses. In the service of the
Inquisition, a Techsorcist performs all
the typical tasks of a Tech-Priest, but
has a deeper understanding of how
Chaos mutates and adapts technology.
Magos Eremor created the Techsorcists in 824.M36. The
Magos had directed his Explorator fleet to pass through a region
of space then known as the Calyx Expanse. A chance meeting
with Rogue Trader Solomon Haarlock led the two forces to
jointly explore a newly emerged space hulk, named Fatum Posterus.
The expedition ended with deep misgivings in the Magos’ heart
regarding the role of technology and the corruptive nature of
the Warp. From that moment, the Magos dedicated his research
to the task, and began teaching his Tech-Adepts in methods to
identify and cast out unclean machine-spirits. Eremor believed
that once the true code of a corrupt machine-spirit is known, it
can be recorded in a sealed data-vault, so that it may forevermore
be banished from the pure machine.
The Techsorcists have long been on the front
lines whenever heretical technology has been
found. The success of this branch within the
Calixis Sector has caused their ranks to swell
as the demand for trained Daemon-hunting
Tech-Priests has grown. In fact a quiet, but
popular, joke within the Ordos Calixian is
that there are four Ordos of the Inquisition:
Xenos, Hereticus, Malleus, and Mechanicus.
This is a view which the Adeptus Mechanicus
is more than happy to foster, as it allows their
representatives to be the first to deal with any
strange technological discoveries found during
the course of an investigation.
Many Techsorcists are lost or mind-cleansed in the line of
duty, and their association with the Inquisition---specifically,
the Ordo Malleus---renders the sect highly unpopular with
Arch-Magos Ralwure the Golden and the more orthodox
members of the Lathe-Covenant Council.
Techsorcists are trained in the use of special electro-grammatic
wards and meme-chants to clear their minds of corruption.
However, as a precaution, all Techsorcists are forbidden from
uploading their knowledge to the Machine Altar without
extensive trials and neuro-cleansing.
A trained Techsorcist, if not several, are in the
employ of nearly every Ordo Malleus Inquisitor in
the sector. On the tidally-locked world of Barsapine
the Adeptus Mechanicus has over a dozen highly
trained Techsorcists poring over the logs and
remains of several technological devices of dubious
origin. The Ecclesiarchy keeps a close eye on their
research after the Macharian Incident. The call for
additional assistance is strong, and many Inquisitors
investigating the remains of the devices found there
have petitioned for the Tech-Priests in their employ
to be trained as Techsorcists.
==Alternate Career Rank==
Becoming a Techsorcist is a simple affair for members of the
Mechanicus. First, a petition of transfer must be filed with
their superiors, countersigned by the Inquisitor whom they
are assigned to. Then, a special mechadendrite is installed
that includes hexagrammic data-gates. Finally, the potential
is given three hours to access selected records regarding
corrupted machine spirits, then three more hours to complete
a 7,000-question test. Assuming he passes, the Tech-Priest
is now officially recognized as a Techsorcist and is given
clearance to request additional texts from the Ordo Malleus.
Required Career: Tech-Priest
Alternate Rank: Rank 6 or higher (5,000 XP)