Discordant
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This article is about the type of mutant; for the chaos space marine unit, see Lord Discordant. |
A Discordant is a human possessing an astonishingly rare occurrence of mutation (approx. 1 per trillion), that emanates an anti-technological aura. Their mere presence is detrimental to most machinery, especially toxic to human technology, as it is known to silence Machine Spirits to the abject horror of the Adeptus Mechanicus. In any advanced and industrious society, especially the aforementioned Mechanicum, they are shunned away if not considered an immense danger to its function and straight forwardly killed.[1]
The effect of the discordant's presence isn't directly psychic, in fact they cannot possess any psychic skill whatsoever, it is however slightly more conscious than the power of Untouchables, as it is known to express more in times of distress. It is often that besides the most basic of the emanation of the discordance, the individual is not affected by their condition throughout their entire life not until when or if, they are met with an emotional trigger that unleashes their full potential.[1]
Overview
Abilities
In the most basal of the forms of discordance, a person exhibits a trait of disrupting all mechanical devices that attempt to track its position. Auspex, augur arrays and imaging cogitators fail to notice and display the position of a discordant, even in their most nascent form. Depending on a quality of the device, it either shows an empty space where the person should be, or simply fails at its workings and displays static or an area of interference. No machine supported targeting system is able to get a lock on a discordant, and anyone possessing visory augmentation will fail to see them, as well as those with auditory ones will fail to hear them. Medicae cogitators and machine units will not be able to diagnose or treat them, and any attempt at implanting bionics or any other machinery will end in a so-called "Sysop Failure", that can potentially be lethal.[1]
The more disruptive and catastrophic to machinery part of their ability, nicknamed Discordia, is activated by a sudden trauma to a dormant discordant, remaining from this moment on as a constant aura disabling the surrounding machines. Depending on the machine's complexity, they can freeze, break down, alter their functions in surprising fashion, or simply explode. Paradoxically, the more complex machinery the more susceptible is it to this effect, the exceptional ones, like a Land Raider, manufactorum cogitators or advanced battle servitors will be immediately affected in the most destructive fashion, while less complex and more widely available like simple bionics, lasguns or chainswords will be only slightly impaired. The power is said to be silencing the Machine Spirits of the technology, possibly even putting them down indefinitely. While it is known to explode aggressive forms of machinery on a range of few meters, it is only due to a moment of distress to the discordant, and most of the time it barely extends further than beyond the reaching distance, often requiring a direct skin contact. It often ends also affecting implants and technology of the people around them, which is to detriment of their allies[1]
In society
Rumours about the mysterious individuals able to disable machinery on will alone bring out a whole spectrum of reactions from the society. Many oppressed by their drudgery within manufactorums and toiling their way through life dominated by accursed machines see discordants as potential liberators, and although their hopes and dreams are rarely ever heard, the thought brings them some semblance of contentment. No matter how much they desire freedom from the clutches of the machine, the most if not all of the populace is aware that such individuals ultimately are more dangerous than useful to the growth of civilization. [1]
While it is only reasonable to shun them away, at least far enough so they won't disturb the workings of the industry, many are motivated by zeal than reason. Within the Mechanicum their existence is considered a blasphemy if not a tech-heresy, to silence a hallowed Machine Spirit is to be dictated an enemy, an anathema to the light of the Omnissiah. Many forge worlds openly put bounties on any born discordant, killing them in the open. Some considering themselves less brutal in their ways are content when the life of those poor souls ends with an unfortunate "accident".[1]
No matter the controversies, some of the members of the Adeptus Mechanicus seek to gather any and all discordants they can find. While of some interest to rogue Magos Biologis who'd be interested to dissect and diagnose their peculiarity, many do it simply to use them as weapons against their political and social enemies. The use of discordia is also of interest to the Inquisition, who'd love to build a force that could counter the unruly and heretical Mechanicum. It might come as a surprise to the Inquisitor that comes to employ a discordant, that the forces of Adeptus Mechanicus aren't bothered by the position the Inquisition might possess in the Imperium, not in face of the zeal of the Machine God's chosen.[1]
See Also
Sources
- 1: Dark Heresy: The Lathe Worlds, pgs. 54-55
