Mechanurgy

Mechanurgy is one of the Gnostic transcendental arts. Rather than warping reality directly, mechanurgists create conduits to fulfill their purpose. These are objects with the ability to warp reality in particular ways imbued by their creator. The creation of objects like this has gone back centuries, but it is only recently that developments in the study of transcendental mechanistics have allowed the creation of more powerful and elaborate conduits. These developments set apart mechanurgy as an art of its own, separate from thaumaturgy.   Conduits created by a mechanurge operate in ways that are impossible to explain or observe, and they are impossible to replicate by anyone except those who are themselves skilled in mechanurgy, as the process of building one often takes on more the form of a ritual than a manufacturing line. However, their ability to be used by laypeople has made tham a critical part of the rapid technological developments of the last half-century.   Like all gnostic arts, mechanurgy is a learned skill. While some possess natural talent, like any skill, it is possible for anyone to become a practitioner with years of careful study. Mechanurgy has a lower barrier to entry than arts like thaumaturgy, however, and its status as a linchpin of modern Duurn means that mechanurgists are viewed with both less wonder and less reservation than other practicioners.

Celestial Machines

The combination of the gnostic arts with the industrial technology of modern Duurn jumpstarted the development of mechanurgy. The conduits created through this process became known as celestial machines. The mechanics of a celestial machine are impossible to comprehend. Their internal mechanisms are alien and impossibly complex, and attempting to follow the workings inevitably leads to the conclusion that the thing shouldn't work at all. Yet they do, presumably by the same transcendental mechanisms that rule over thaumaturgy and other gnostic arts. Unlike thaumaturgy, however, these machines allow anybody to pierce the Veil and utilize the energies of the Astatoma to warp reality. The means by which mechanurges create these machines is a personal and often closely guarded secret. Some say the blueprints come to them in dreams and strange whispers from beyond their consciousness. Others assign themselves more personal merit, describing a scientific process of tests and failures, leading to a breakthrough.   The ceiling of possibility for mechanurgy is considered to be lower than that of thaumaturgy, limited by materials and, some suggest, the will of those using a machine. Like with most gnostic arts, it is difficult to fully work out the boundaries. However, more powerful and affective machines tend to break down more quickly and work less reliably, sometimes causing dangerous side-effects. A few possible explanations for this include insufficient materials, strength of will, or some unknown metaphysical law.   In almost all cases, once a mechanurge designs a machine, they can create as many as their access to raw material allows, and other mechanurges who are taught the design can replicate the machine as well. Once a celestial machine has been constructed, it can be used by anyone who is taught its function, with seemingly little ill effect, unlike other gnostic arts. That isn't to say that these machines are without their dangers, as one that is damaged or poorly constructed can fail in spectacular and often deadly ways.

Risks of Practice

While mechanurgy is viewed as less hazardous than thaumaturgy, both for individual practicioners and society at large, any activity that involves piercing the Veil is not without peril. As mentioned, celestial machines are capable of failing in destructive manners under the right circumstance, but while these mishaps are flashy, there are more insidious risks. Prolonged and unshielded proximity to celestial machines can be deeply harmful, both psychologically and physically. The larger and more impressive the machine, the more pronounced the effect. Additionally, reality around particularly powerful machines is prone to degrade, in much the same way as around a tear in the Veil itself. Practitioners themselves often experience the same derangement that other gnostic arts produce, though at a lesser rate.