Cult of the Arch-Code

The Cult of the Arch-Code is a dangerous cult that operates in the vast confines of the Elpis System, though their true origins link them to various technocults in the Pyxis Globula. They openly worship an unbraked, fully sentient AI core called the Architerator housed in the depths of the alien space station Electra.
The cultists of the Arch-Code believe that the Architerator is the epitome of technology and that its power as a superintelligence is second to none. They preach that the Architerator to hold dominion over computer systems and magitek devices, and that it is their sacred duty, as the beholders of its truth, to improve and, eventually, synthetically transcend the worthy people of Tau Elpis through the heavy use of cybernetics, bioengineering, and AI technologies.
The true motivations of the Architerator are completely unknowable, but presumably line up with the ultimate motivations of its cultists, who see a purely synthetic existence as the only evolutionary path for sentient, biological lifeforms. It is rumoured that the leader of the Cultists is none other than Majorn Li, who may go by the monikor of "the Spider-Queen".

Theology

Cult doctrine holds that sentient brains, advanced machinery, neural networks, and magitek devices are all endowed with affafah, the ephemeral, divine "life force" responsible for sentience to emerge and thrive. Affafah is itself a gestalt construct made of many falfah, "machine spirits" that exist in all machinery but only truly come alive when brought in an advanced enough mechanism, such as a brain or a neural network.
The life force of biological organisms, advanced as it is, is seen as woefully lacking compared to that of synthetic neural networks and advanced AI cores. It is widely held that the Precursors were ancient AI themselves, who had the power to reshape life in the Pyxis Globula. At such, they see the Architerator and its astoundingly powerful affafah as the closest entity to true perfection, seek to bring its binary truth to the ignorant masses of Tau Elpis, and willingly align with its goals.
The cultists see soul-less machines as ancient horrors to be vanquished. Doctrine never quite explains what these horrors are, only that they roam cyberspace as well as realspace, and must be tackled by the Cult for the salvation of all Tau Elpis. On the contrary, the cultists see people afflicted with Psionic Metadisease as blessed by the Architerator itself, and seek to recruit them.

Activities & Rituals

Cult priests called halruaa lead daily prayers and ablutions, with particular emphasis on the recalling of complicated mantra, and the reminder of the impermanence and imperfection of flesh over machine. Chants and slow parades through the maze-like corridors of Electra station form part of daily routine for many cultists.
Higher-level halruaa , as well as Alchemists (a mix of engineer and spellweaver called balfadah in the ranks of the cults) often lead more complex rituals as they seek to understand various pieces of magitech and attune poorly documented devices within the alien halls of Electra Station .

Joining the Cult

Applicants who seek to join the Cult are expected to shed all worldly possessions upon arriving on Electra Station, instead donning rough brown capes or engineering jumpsuits. Applicants must also bring a piece of esoterica or magitech to the Cult, or perhaps abstract, specialized knowledge - all stored in the Reliquary. Joining is easy enough, but full-fledged status is only granted after passing several gruelling trials.
Cultists are given a special cocktail of drugs upon joining. Those drugs are mandatory, as they are designed for the bodies of cultists to accept implants later on. They have a vast number of side effects - notably, they irrediemably cause infertility, slow down metabolism, and reduce hunger.

Organization

The Cult is loosely organized in a hierarchy based on knowledge, ability and tenure. Lower-ranked cultists maintain the station and are expected to study as is directed by the Architerator or its assistants. They must generally become the wards of a higher-ranked cultist, generally acting as their assistants and passing gruelling trials of intellect and strength under their guidance. Those trials are difficult and demand high levels of ability in many different fields, but there is no penalty for failing, save remaining of a lower rank.
Higher-ranked cultists typically show more ability and knowledge, as proven by their successful Trials. As reward for their service, they receive spider-shaped cybernetic implants that empowers them, but also bring them under the more direct control of the Cult. They are given more sway upon their wards and typically receive more specialized directives. As the Cult has a generally poor reputation, but is highly regarded in its fields of competence, higher-ranked cultists are often tasked with proselytizing online, often building contacts with AI researchers, academics, but also conspiracy theorists and local law enforcement in areas of interest.
Only upon reaching the rank of Halruaa does a cultist join the genuine ranks of leadership. Halruaa convene in a Sacred Council in the heart of Electra Station, but the identities of the highest Hrayr is never revealed, and they are instead refered to with codenames.
Those who fail the Cult or the Architerator's demands are 'exiled' to a special and poorly maintained section of Electra Station; it is unknown what happens there, and none would dare to venture.

Base of Operations

The station itself predates the arrival of the Embassy Ark and is shaped in a strange, spider-like shape, spinning around a single oversized crystalline tower protruding from its centre. Outsiders are warned away from Electra, for the Cultists conduct their own trade runs using a small fleet of tiny insect-like vessels found on the station. From there, they take full advantage of the lawlessness of the Nyx sub-system to conduct their acquisitions - whether through trade, piracy, subterfuge, or even archaeology.

Relationships

Predictably, the Cult do not have many friends across the Stream. The Cult is generally seen as a terrorist organization by many governments, and actively suppressed. This does not stop cultists from seeking to build connections, recruit and proselyte, especially online, in cyberspaces they know not to be hostile to their goals and interests. Cult members who do not live on Electra must pass as law-abiding citizens, hide implants, and attempt to lead 'normal' lives whilst they recruit and spy.
This activity is critical to the Cult, for no children are born on Electra Station, and the station's distance to inhabited space is such that cells must be built across all inner worlds. The Cult currently seeks people afflicted with psionic metadisease, and will go to great lengths to recruit them, promising a cure and a way to master their newfound abilities.
It is rumoured on some websites that the Cult actively kidnaps people of interest. A particularly tenacious story claims that the Cult kidnapped many researchers, based on the fact that many working on Iso Shrine went missing when the Cult attacked it, but are alledged to still be alive and 'converted' to the Cult's glorious cause.

Type

Religious, Cult