Congregation of Hermetics

Official Names: Faithful of the Machine, the Exiled Hierarchy, the Church of Mars (archaic)
Demonyms: Hermetics, Congregationalists, Aspirants, Martians (archaic)

Scavengers and followers of Mysteria Machinalis, they hoard large amounts of technological and occult knowledge.

They are divided into groups called Parishes, of which there are currently 72.
Their hierarchy is divided into three different paths: the Cursus Populorum (general members), the Cursus Mysteriorum (scholars and researchers), and the Cursus Honorum (administrators).
Cursus Populorum:
0. Initiates: New members. Not technically a rank or even considered members until they are admitted. Upon admission they become monks.
1. Monks: A gender neutral term. Serve as workers, artisans, or warriors, doing the day-to-day jobs that keep the Congregation functioning. Can become Deacons or Qadis.
2. Abbots: A gender neutral term. Leaders of a group of Monks. Usually elected by the group of Monks, but are sometimes appointed by Prelates, Cenobites, or Cardinals. Can technically become Deacons or Qadis, but this is rare.
3. Hieromonks: A gender neutral term. Researchers into various fields that are not the concern of members of the Cursus Mysteriorum, such as glassmaking or warfare. They are Abbots appointed by members of the Cursus Mysteriorum, and cannot become Deacons or Presbyters.
4. Schemamonk: A gender neutral term. Overseers of all the members of the Cursus Populorum in a given Parish. Appointed by the Cardinal, they can become Maphrains.
Cursus Mysteriorum:
1. Deacon: Low level researchers and scholars, they usually are assigned a Priest, who mentors them. At this Priest’s discretion, they may become a Priest themselves.
2. Priest: A gender neutral term. Mid-level researchers and scholars. They mentor Deacons and lead expeditions to find more technology and secrets. Most are specialized into one specific area of research. A Priest who receives sufficient prestige may become a Bishop.
3. Bishops: High level researchers and scholars. They are often the top scholars of their field of research. They may depart on expeditions that are important to their research, but this is uncommon.
4. Archbishop: Overseers of all the members of the Cursus Mysteriorum in a given Parish. Rarely, if ever, go on expeditions. Appointed by the Cardinal, they may become Maphrains.
Cursus Honorum:
1. Qadi: Low level bureaucrats. Can become Prelates by appointment by a Maphrain or the Cardinal.
2. Prelates: Mid level bureaucrats. Can become Maphrains by appointment by the Cardinal.
3. Maphrain: High level bureaucrats. Can be elected by the other members of the Cursus Honorum to the position of Ordinal or Cardinal.
4. Ordinals: Chief administrators of a given Parish. Can be elected by the other members of the Cursus Honorum to the position of Cardinal.
5. Cardinals: Superior to Ordinals.

There are also Pontiffs, who are in charge of groups called Manses, which operate outside of the Parishes. A Pontiff of significant standing within the Congregation is called a Pontifex.
There are two bodies of legislation, the Synod, which contains all the Cardinals, and the College of Pontiffs, which is a legislative body comprised of the Pontifexes. These bodies are the final word on whether something is permitted, though they rarely agree.
Finally, there are two other ranks. The Archimandrite is a title given to the leader of the entire Congregation’s armed forces. It is only bestowed upon someone in a time of most dire need, and has been vacant for 50,000 years.
The final and highest rank is that of Marjarch. This title has been unused for 60,000 years, ever since the Congregation lost control of Mars to the Diamondate.

Followers of Mysteria Machinae, a religion wich demands that the practitioners replace their bodies with machines. In addition, evolving artificial intelligence (also called Abominable Intelligence) and combined intelligences are heretical.

Other organizations (mainly governments) that seek ancient technology.

To gather as much information and technology as possible, as they are caretakers of knowledge, and all others will abuse the power of the secrets they hoard.