Lex Mechanicus
The Lex Mechanicus,[1b][2] also known as the Lore Mechanicus, are the legal codes of the Adeptus Mechanicus.[1a] These are the laws of church and state,[1b] and are enforced by the Collegiate Extremis.[1a] Tech heresy is the greatest crime in their Lore,[1d] and those found guilty are labelled hereteks.[3a]
Overview
All designs of machines are considered gifts of the Machine God, and any alterations to them would be considered an act of hubris and heresy in the eyes of many loyal and uncorrupted Tech-priests. However, what exactly is considered changing a design as opposed to merely repurposing an existing technology is a matter of debate. When doubts arise, Tech-Priests look to the Lex Mechanicus but there can be significant differences in the interpretation of the Omnissiah's laws between different sects and Forge Worlds.[3a]
Very few exceptions are made for those that deviate from the Lex Mechanicus, requiring significant sanction and influence. Those that do are rare and the individual's genius and achievements for the Tech-Priesthood must far outstrip their tech-heresy. One such individual is Belisarius Cawl, who is credited with many great and vital acts to the Machine Cult and Imperium over the millennia, despite leading the Adeptus Mechanicus towards blasphemous innovation, leading some to condemn him as an outright heretek.[3a]
Amongst the highest ranks of Tech-Priests, Lectors are known to be adherent and uncompromising followers of the Lex Mechanicus' strictures.[2] Artisans are also strict adherents to the Lex Mechanicus. Their intimate knowledge of the strictures allow them to create wondrous machines without crossing the line into heretical alteration.[3b] Tech-Priests of the Genetor Order are allowed plentiful methods of genetic modification and bionic alteration approved by the Lex Mechanicus. Creating servitors, servo-skulls, cherubim, and even fearsome Kataphron constructs are just some of the allowed examples of their biological works. However a line is drawn at pursuing mutant strains and splicing xenos DNA, being a damnable tech heresies.[3c]
See also
- Arcuitor
- Astynomia
- Heretek
- Lex Imperialis - The legal code of the Imperium
- Lords Dragon
- Techseer
- Macharia Vectorii - Sect that focusses on enforcing the Lex Mechanicus in the Macharian Sector[3d]
Sources
- 1: Flesh and Steel (Novel):
- 2: Dominion Genesis (Novel), Tolkhan, Chapter 4
- 3: Imperium Maledictum: Adeptus Mechanicus Player's Guide:
