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Sacristans will sometimes pilot Knights for short distances to fulfill their maintenance duties. They do so with the manual controls of a Knight, not entirely dissimilar from piloting a [[Sentinel]]. It isn't necessary to take on the [[Ritual of Becoming]] or neurally connect with the respective [[Helm Mechanicum]] or [[Throne Mechanicum]] in order to pilot the suite to perform these simple tasks.{{Fn|3c}}
The local artificers that maintained the Knight armour during the [[Age of Strife ]] had already established themselves as a vitally important part of each knightly house, and the training they have received from the [[Adeptus Mechanicus ]] has only served to increase their status. From their first foundation, the Sacristans quickly styled themselves as a priesthood for the half-forgotten mysteries of the technology that they knew, and as their power grew, the relationship between them and the knightly houses shifted and changed. Where in the past, the technicians were seen as mere subjects or vassals, the Sacristans soon began to speak with one voice, and by threatening to remove their services from any house that would not heed their advice, they soon became almost as influential in knightly society as the Nobles themselves.{{Fn|1}}
In general, this has benefited the knightly houses, for the Sacristans act as something of a counterpoint to the natural arrogance and warlike tendencies of the Knights, and have often been able to arbitrate between different houses to ensure they do not wipe one another out in bitter feuds. However, this political might is also an important tool for the Adeptus Mechanicus, which the Tech-Priests use to try and bend the Knight worlds to their will. More often than not, however, the Knights’ ingrained sense of honour and duty often drives them to follow a course of action that the Adeptus Mechanicus would far rather they ignore.{{Fn|1}}
Some legends claim that sacristans invented Knight tournaments. The goal being for Knight pilots to enjoy the pleasure of violent dominance without destroying their machine lords and attain glory without actually murdering each other.{{Fn|3e}}
The appearance, organization and customs of Sacristans' vary from [[Knight World]] to Knight World. This can also be true of Sacristans, who serve different Houses that share the same world as well. Some Sacristans even develop sub-sects called Orders, whose members specialize in certain subjects. These can include aspects of a [[Knight]] suit's mechanisms, maintaining a [[Knight House]]'s genealogical lore, crafting exquisite heraldries or they excel at being artisan-historitors. The sub-sects can also develop into rival cliques, which will cause a House to strive to ensure all of its needs are met.{{Fn|4a}}
===Known Sacristan Orders===
*[[Scarlet Guild of Hran'cha]] - [[House Taranis]]{{Fn|4b}}
*[[Order of the Sacred Traction Core]] - [[House Krast]]{{Fn|4c}}
*[[Order of the Twelve]] - House Krast{{Fn|4c}}
*[[Sybellan-Kastrex Order]] - House Krast{{Fn|4c}}
*[[Trans-Order Council of High Sacristans]] - House Krast{{Fn|4c}}
===Known Sacristans===
*[[Dorthiya Tessell]] - Arch-Maintnenancer of [[Dominion (Knight World)|Dominion]].{{Fn|3d}}
*[[Lucius Irynblud]] - Formerly in service to [[House Drakkus]] until their destruction at the hands of a large [[Khorne]] warband. Shortly afterwards he would go into service of the last remaining member of the House, now turned [[Freeblade]], [[Vortigan]].
*[[Tannah Gwynne]] - Sacristan to the Knight Armiger ''[[Jester]]''.{{Fn|3a}}
*[[Krystos Sonnex]] - Sacristan Senioris to [[House Krast]]'s [[Exalted_Court#Questor_Mechanicus|Exalted Court]].{{Fn|4c}}
===Known Ranks===
**{{Endn|3d}}: Chapter 26
**{{Endn|3e}}: Chapter 27
*4: [[Codex: Imperial Knights (10th Edition)]]
**{{Endn|4a}}: pg. 17 - ''Sacristan Orders''
**{{Endn|4b}}: pg. 18
**{{Endn|4c}}: pg. 27 - ''House Krast''
[[Category:Adeptus Mechanicus]]
[[Category:Titles and Ranks]]
