Rite of Clear Thought
"Some say they ‘know no fear’, but really, they mean that they have mastered their fear, conquered it, and fought on. I was like that once. Now, I truly know no fear. It is alien to me; as alien as doubt, rage, or mercy."
The Rite of Clear Thought,[1] also known as the unction of clear thought[3] or Rite of Pure Thought,[2][4][5] is a ritual conducted by the Adeptus Mechanicus where part of the right hemisphere of the brain is excised and replaced with superior augmetic components, such as memo chips, ingrams, and electrografts. This greatly increases mental capacity and capability to learn and create hypotheses.[1] The excised hemisphere is replaced with a cogitator that serves as an expansion of the remaining left hemisphere of the brain. melding into a single, logical system.[5]
Overview
Considered an extreme measure even among some Techpriests, the rite of pure thought has become accepted practice over the millennia.[2] The Rite of Clear Thought is used by those who advance to the rank of Magos. It is linked so deeply with the religious dogma of the Tech-Priests that the symbol of the Mechanicus is based on it - namely the image of a skull with the right side replaced by cybernetic parts.[1] Undergoing this ritual is a common surgical practice among lexmechanics.[3]
The aim of the Rite of Clear Thought is to excise the weakness of emotions, empathy and care. Instead, more logical drives are enhanced in order to further the Tech-Priests' skills. It symbolises the Cult Mechanicus's doctrine of replacing inferior, organic-based parts with superior machine components. Thus, the limitations of Man are overcome and these individuals begin the steps to evolve to the next level of existence. This is achieved through the Biologis Adepts' in-depth knowledge of the arts of neuromancy.[1]
The creative, emotional, illogical right hemisphere of the brain is replaced with a cogitator linked directly to the left hemisphere. This gives the devotee pure thought clear of distraction from emotions or any annoying sense of self-preservation. The Rite gives a devotee pure thought and clarity, thus freeing them from the distraction of emotions or any sense of self-preservation.[2]
This ritual is conducted by the highest and most skilled of Biologis Adepts and involves the replacement of the entire right hemisphere of the brain with machine augments. In addition, the left hemisphere is further enhanced in order to further its logic and analysis. These parts of the brain are kept functional through the use of anti-agapic elixirs that keep the grey matter alive as well as functional. The effects of the rite are evident as the Tech-Priest becomes more single-minded and focused on the benefits of logic and clarity, whilst emotions recede to the point that they are almost non-existent. Further benefits include the ability to both analyse and learn at an exponential rate. The formation of new synaptic thought patterns allows its user to think more like a machine and thus be closer to the Omnissiah. Those non-augmented in such a way often feel that these individuals are divorced from reality and even mad.[1]
See also
Sources
- 1: Dark Heresy: Ascension, pg. 40
- 2: Fanatic Magazine Issue 5, pg. 41 - Explorator Warbands
- 3: Deus Ex Mechanicus (Short Story) - Let the Galaxy Burn (Anthology)
- 4: Nightfall on Stygies (Short Story)
- 5: Imperium Maledictum: Adeptus Mechanicus Player's Guide, pg. 100
