Massalia

This page details people, events, and organisations from the /tg/ Heresy, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the /tg/ Heresy Timeline and Galaxy pages for more information on the Alternate Universe.

Massalia
Segmentum	Ultima
Population	peaked at 6,000,000,000, now largely deserted

The history of Massalia revealed an important truth: it is not enough to be pure in oneself. True faith requires a commitment to fighting laxity and corruption wherever it dwells.

- Inquisitor Mikops Duvarl, Observations on the history of the Machine Cult.

Massalia was an outpost of the Mechanicum located in the Ultima Segmentum. The humble adepts of this world styled themselves as the Children of the Machine and sought to keep themselves free from the corrupting influences of the flesh world. Their guardians followed a much more relaxed code and investigated all manner of technology (human and xenos alike), a habit which made them well-suited to a pact with the Eternal Zealots. During the Heresy, Aubrey The Grey corrupted the guardians of Massalia and slaughtered the Children of the Machine as an example of the impotence of other deities in the face of the Chaos Gods.

History

Among the many Forge Worlds founded in the Age of Strife, Massalia's history is perhaps most remarkable for its placidity. The adepts who guided its forge-fanes did not find themselves beset by marauding Xenos or witch-led uprisings. Their few contacts with off-worlders before the coming of the Imperium were with Komra from the League of Dawi, and such meetings were peaceful and beneficial to both sides. These favourable conditions were as much a spur to evolution of the Machine Cult as the deprivations found on other worlds, and the leaders of Massalia became obsessed with their own spiritual purity. Though the majority of the "Children of the Machine" lived in limited contact with the lay population, many of the adepts chose to separate themselves from the corruptions of the flesh altogether and dwelt as technohermits deep in the bowels of the Forge World's manufactoriums. Despite this general trend, there were those who chose the life of the guardian. The princeps of Legio Cauteris rarely had the opportunity to take their god machines to battle, but they stood ever-vigilant lest raiders disturb the tranquility of Massalia.

Centuries of peace were disrupted once and for all in 933.M30, with the coming of the Imperium. Rogue Traders under the guidance of Aubrey The Grey's own Expedition Fleet detected Massalia. The Primarch was glad to receive word of a Forge World in the reaches of the Ultima Segmentum that could help supply his endeavours and decided to honour the new discover with his person. Aubrey's reception was unusually muted, however, as the Children of the Machine were unwilling to meet with him. They did not oppose union with the Imperium and ancient Mars, but their spiritual oaths forbade association with a man outside the faith entirely. Instead of being met by the world's nominal rulers, Aubrey was received by the Princeps of Legio Cauteris, who extended him every courtesy. Though the meeting was largely a formality, with Massalia's de jure compliance to be settled with the envoys of the Mechanicum, this early high-level contact between the Eternal Zealots and Legio Catueris helped to establish a bond that would be forged strong through the battles of the Great Crusade.