Schismaticals of the Deep Infotombs
Schismaticals of the Deep Infotombs, also known as Schismaticals, are a type of tech heresy that engulfs the Adeptus Mechanicus strongolds in the Calixis Sector and is sought as well as exterminated by the Inquisition when they are discovered.
Originating from the deep infotombs on Adeptus Mechanicus worlds in regions that are only largely empty chambers where Tech-Priests only come for invocations or for quests for Archaeotech. However, unknown to many, a great deal of activity occurs within the ancient Cogitator banks of the tombs as their cores contain dark data spirits who are known as schismaticals. These are memory clouds of suppressed ideas which are archives of forbidden data which had not been destroyed. Allowed to remain, these vile plains and whispers take a life of their own and gain volatile urges. By incorporating other data patterns into itself, the schismaticals are capable of corrupting other Machine spirits who serve as corrupted echoes of itself. From there, it waits in ambush in order to attack a Machine spirit that would allow it to reach the surface and consume any supplicants that can take it to the Forge above.
Once it has freed itself from the infotombs, a schismatical works to form an army of corrupt machine spirits in order for them to serve in its cause. By replicating itself, it can create machine covens each of which are populated by individual schismaticals that seeks to continue their mission. Any Vox aware device is capable of being converted by a broadcast whilst others require a data conduit link for the infection to spread so long as it bears a cogitator. Simpler devices can also fall sway under its power from vox-casters to augmetic limbs. Within a Forge, the Tech-Priests are the last of the converts who are either persuaded, threatened or driven mad by the schismaticals control over their cybernetic bodies and thus become unwilling soldiers in its mission. Even a dead tech-adept can contiue to work under the schismaticals control through its fine use over their implants.1
Source
- 1: Dark Heresy: Creatures Anaethema, p. 29
