Cognoscynths

The Cognoscynths are an ancient order of Psykers that once lived on Terra thousands of years ago in a devastating period of Human history known as the Psi-Wars.^[1]

History

A considerable rise in the number of cognoscynths came in the time of Old Earth that marked an event so singular that it demanded the naming of its own epoch. This is the period that marked the psi-wars with it not being well taught in later years as none wanted to remember a time when Psychic Powers nearly destroyed the world. The unique powers of the cognoscynths meant that they became addicted to power and their own ambitions as they believed that they alone were capable of controlling the destiny of the Human race. They held the power to invade the dreams of sleepers and alter their mindscapes. At some point many thousands of years ago, the ancient cognoscynths raised the City of Sight with their knowledge of psychically-attuned architecture being unrivalled and hard-won after a long-forgotten age of devastating psi-wars.^[1]

Eventually, it came to pass that the great states learnt that they were simply pawns to powerful beings who set nation against nation as part of some savage amusing game. According to legend, a great warrior emerged with golden eyes who was the only one strong enough to resist the influence of the cognoscynths whereupon he rallied the armies of the few remaining kingdoms whilst training a cadre of warriors unlike any seen before. Together, they stormed the citadels of the cognoscynths whilst on the back of great silver flying machines with none of the cognoscynths being able to dominate the golden-eyed warrior. Everytime one of these powerful psykers were killed, their hold over the enslaved armies fell and the freed warriors escaped their bondage where they willingly joined forces with their saviour. It took thirty years before they managed to bring down the last of the cognoscynths who was slain thousands of years ago thus freeing the planet from their tyranny.^[1]

On the fate of the great warrior, some legends claimed that he died in battle with the final cognoscynth whilst others said he tried to claim power for himself but was killed by his men. According to some legends, it is said that the saviour still lived amongst mankind and awaited the day when the power of the cognoscynths would return. With the last known cognoscynth slain, their discipline and arts became extinct alongside the skill of crafting psychically resonant structures had followed them. The dark history surrounding their kind led to numerous rumours and legends on their powers with some believing that they are exaggerated. During the time of the Great Crusade, it was believed that the power of a cognoscynth could not be used without a single operative of the City of Sight becoming aware of their existence.^[1]

Overview

Psykers are an uncommon mutation, approximately one in a million humans are born with latent power. Out of these, only a tenth have power actually worth harnessing. The gene-code that produces a cognoscynth is two orders of magnitude rarer than that. Legend says that unlike normal psykers, they are nearly immune to the denizens of the immaterium, and every time they reach into the warp, they feel the same intoxicating rush of power that most psykers only feel their very first time and spend the rest of their life trying to reach again. This results in addiction to the power of the warp.

Their power allowed them to control the minds of people, altering perception, personality, memory, and beliefs to suit their will. They could suppress their innate senses of right and wrong, of self-preservation. This allowed them to compel people to do their bidding, turning them into a puppet serving the cognoscynth. Some legends spoke of the cognoscynths even having the power to open gateways in space and time.^[1]

Sources

• 1: The Outcast Dead (Novel), Prologue, Chapter Six, Chapter Seven