Yodhrin Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 This has been bugging me for a while, ever since I read the Mechanicum organisational chart in the Heresy books from FW. It has a section off to one side marked "Notable Divisions of Techno-Arcana", a few of which are new and, as someone who's not studied Latin or Classics, I can't figure out what several of them actually mean. As in, what specialism do they indicate? To start, here are the ones which are either obvious or already known; Exporator Genator(geneticist) Alchemys(chemist) Metallurgicus(metallurgist) Logis(logistician) Dominus(Legio Cybernetica) Myrmidex(Myrmidon cultists) Provender(food production? As an aside, I like that they went with a word that refers to animal feed as well as food more generally, really reinforces how the Mechanicum view their Forgeworld populations, heh). Then the ones that confuse me; Hespherstari Vulpaxis Lictanex Cordantor Mhalagra Lachrimallus Cordantor could refer to some kind of munitions expertise, a corruption of Cordite? The best I can do for Hespherstari is maybe botanist; Hespherstari - Hespher- Hesper(alt name for Hesperus) - Hesperides(Greek nymphs, daughters of Hesperus, tended a garden). But those are just total stabs in the dark, and the others I don't even have a guess - anyone with Latin/Classics knowledge know if these are corrupted/misspelled actual words, or just made up gibberish? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307695-deciphering-the-mechanicum-notable-divisions-chart/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilofix Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 From Horus Heresy 3: Malagra are Magos Warlords of the Prefecture Magisterium charged with enforcing the doctrine of the Omnissiah and the execution of the Heretek. (Basically the 'Judge Dredd' of the Mechanicum). Lachrimallus are work masters and overseers of tech thralls. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307695-deciphering-the-mechanicum-notable-divisions-chart/#findComment-4045202 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommodusXIII Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Here are some possible Latin/Greek roots: Vulpaxis - fox Lictanex - languages Cordantor - heart, or rope Lachrimallus - tears Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307695-deciphering-the-mechanicum-notable-divisions-chart/#findComment-4045257 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmaster damion Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 If memory serves Lictanex are linguist and communication experts who also serve as Code Breakers and encrypters Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307695-deciphering-the-mechanicum-notable-divisions-chart/#findComment-4048330 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nehekhare Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 as someone who's not studied Latin or Classics, I can't figure out what several of them actually mean. as someone who has (doctorate degree, although more specialized in ancient greek than latin), I may be able to help... Explorator - lat. "scout" = Explorer Genetor - gr. "creator" in a biological sense "begetter", "father", ancestor. From the same root comes genos (lat. genus), which means family or species. = Geneticist Alchemys - chaemeia is the ancient greek work for egypt (black earth) and also means (black) magic. combined with the arabic article al-, it is the name of a mystical tradition in medieval latin, which (metaphorically) tried to transform lead (the soul) into gold (divinity) by using the philosopher's stone (wisdom). = Chemist Metallurgicus - metallon is greek for mine/quarry. -ourgos (from ergon, "work") means "someone who creates something from [stone]" = Material Scientist Logis - gr. logizomai means "to count, calculate" = Mathematician/Logistician Dominus - lat "Lord, Master" (btw gr. kybernetes is the helmsman of a ship and as a verb means "steering") = (Robotics) Operator Myrmidex - the greek Myrmidons were the tribe that Achilles was king of. It is derived from myrmaex "ant" because of their strength. = Battle Magos (btw magos is the greek word for the persian sorcerer-priests) Provender - lat. proventus is "harvest", a provendor would be a person who makes things grow. = Agricultural Scientist Hespherstari - Hephaistos is the greek god of fire and craftmanship, while hesthaen (from hennymi) means "to clothe, dress" = Armorsmith Vulpaxis - lat. vulpes is a fox (carnivorous/scavenger animal), lat. pax means peace and gr. olpes is is flask of oil used to conserve things = Mortician Lictanex - lat. licitatio is an "auction", combined with lictor (a servant of roman official who dealt with crowd-control) my guess would be = Commerce/Communicational Scientist Cordantor - lat. cor (gr. kardia) is the heart (seat of the intellect), cordatus means sensible, wise; could also be applied to the data-core of a machine-spirit = Philosopher Malagra - lat. malus/gr. malos is evil, ago means "to drive away" = Judicator Lachrimallus - lat. lacrima is the tear of drop of sweat, malleus is the hammer. = Slave-driver Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307695-deciphering-the-mechanicum-notable-divisions-chart/#findComment-4053696 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battybattybats Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 as someone who has (doctorate degree, although more specialized in ancient greek than latin), I may be able to help... Malagra - lat. malus/gr. malos is evil, ago means "to drive away" = Judicator Thankyou for your awesome informative post. As for Malagra rather than Judicator could they be the organisation of Techsorcists (Techsorcists and Techsorcist weapons are mentioned in the FFG RPGs) used to erase corrupt machine spirits, remove daemons from machines and purge scrapcode? Or be involved in Geller Field tech to protect ships traversing the Warp? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307695-deciphering-the-mechanicum-notable-divisions-chart/#findComment-4055000 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reough Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Hasn't malagra been previously mentioned as being the heretek hunters? Maybe for 30k mechanicum? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307695-deciphering-the-mechanicum-notable-divisions-chart/#findComment-4055002 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nehekhare Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 The sinister Malagra are the Magos-warlords of the Prefectur Magisterium, charged with enforcing the doctrine of the Omnissiah and the execution of the Heretek and the transgressor (HH3) Is judicator the wrong english word then? To me, it sounds like the internal affairs division of the mechanicum military police. I could imagine they'd have use for techsorcists. This, however, is not to be confused with warp-technology. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307695-deciphering-the-mechanicum-notable-divisions-chart/#findComment-4055736 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reough Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 No I'd say judicator was right, I think lacrimalleus is a clever one too, as they're the ones who organise the tech thralls. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/307695-deciphering-the-mechanicum-notable-divisions-chart/#findComment-4056025 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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