Convergence of Cyriss

The Convergence is a new faction to the Warmachine setting of Privateer Press, announced during the middle of 2013. They are a good example of how to foreshadow in a setting, as information about Cyriss and rumours of her priesthood have been circulating in the fluff for years before the faction came to be.

Who are they?

The convergence is a bunch of rampant technophiles who are most likely the forerunners for the Apple store employees of today. They are also heavily religious, rivalling the Protectorate of Menoth in devotion to their own deity, Cyriss, the Maiden of Gears.

Like many religions, Cryiss made a prophecy that she would appear in person, in this case if something called ‘the perfect machine’ is constructed at certain points on the planet. Naturally being all into tech the Convergence are wanting some of that fine cyber-goddess ass so they have been amassing their forces in preparation for the day they will move forward to construct this perfect machine, whatever it looks like.

Naturally they decided the ideal time was when the entire world is currently aflame, rival nations and powers have mobilised their armies to maximum strength and everything is going to pot. Truly the leadership of the Convergence is a sight to behold!

Forces

The convergence is the principle of a tech-heavy army in a machine fantasy setting. Worshipping the goddess of technology they have pushed the boundaries of technology to become the most advanced scientific society in the setting. They don’t rely so much on magic as the other factions; their science more then compensates.

The core of their forces is legions of techno-soldiers armed with various advanced weaponry beyond that of the rank and file warriors of the other powers. With them is power warjacks called vectors who contain the souls of the worthy worshippers of Cyriss; their tech has advanced to the point where they can transfer souls into machines. As the fluff says ‘A worthy soul can live a thousand lifetimes on the face of Caen in service to the maiden of fears.

So yes basically this is what you could expect if the robots from the Matrix decided to head off to a fantasy world to conquer it.

Differences and similarities with the Adeptus Mechanicus

As you can expect there is evitable going to be comparisons with the other well known priestly order devoted to machines in another setting, the Adeptus Mechanicus of the Imperium of Warhammer 40k.

Even at a glance there is obvious similarities and differences the two have with each other. In common there is:

• Both of the orders venerate machine deities

• Both consider machines holy and avatars of their deities

• Both have machines which contains living souls instead of Artificial Intelligences

• Both have dedicated priesthoods whose duty it is to administer to machines in their care

• They seek to refine themselves by becoming more like the machine

But while they might be able to create each other on friendly terms at first, after a getting-to-know-you-cup-of-hot-oil, both orders would find the other heretical to their teachings. The Adeptus would see the Convergence's constant inventing and tinkering with machines as an effront as well a lack of sufficent chanting and incense. Meanwhile the Convergence could see the Adeptus' stubborn refusal to evolve as bull headedness at best and an insult to Cyriss at worst. They would be flabbergasted at how the Adeptus would put it’s head into the sand over issues and disbelieving the Mechanicus would prefer to lock up tech in a museum rather then use it.

Also the Convergence despite it’s plans is no way as grimdark as the techpriests.