According to [[Criol Fowst]], the Cognitae, or some version of it, had existed within the [[Imperium]] for millennia, as far back as before the [[Great Crusade]].{{Fn|2}} Before the [[Horus Heresy]] a secret society known as the Cognitae was known to [[Kasper Hawser]].{{Fn|5}} A vision by [[Ollanius Persson]] puts the Cognitate Cognitae as far older than even this, showing a predecessor of the Cult active in [[Terra|Terra's]]'s ancient past before recorded history. Here, the Cognitae attempted to erect a Chaos-channeling tower etched in [[Enuncia]] but were foiled by the [[Emperor]] and his armies , led by Ollanius.{{Fn|8}}

The Cognitae also spawned several offshoots and imitators, some of which tried to recruit Fowst. He found some ideals in common with them, but ultimately rejected them in favor favour of his "true" calling, as a [[Brotherhood of the Knife|cultist]] in service to the [[Word Bearers]].{{Fn|2}}

The goal of the Cognitae is to "liberate" Humanity humanity from what it sees as the dogmatic oppression of the Imperium, using the powers of [[Chaos]] to achieve this. According to [[Inquisitor]] [[Gideon Ravenor]], the Cognitae's aim was to develop, "by means [[psyker|psychic]], eugenic and noetic," a generation of individuals who would work to further the aims of [[Chaos]] in the [[Scarus Sector]].{{Fn|1}} The Cognitae operates a network of "academies" which engage in psychic training, eugenics, cloning, and forbidden sciences.{{Fn|3a}}

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