Ephemeralists
Vessels without a spirit begin their journeys lost. \\The Proverb\\
Ephemeralist is a term used to describe the more spiritualist members of the Magnetic Assembly. While not an official group with a hierarchical structure, the Ephemeralists do often share some common beliefs. This often includes the idea that things can retain a spirit, leading to them seeking out older cybernetics from great individuals to use for themselves.
Organization
Ephemeralists do not technically have a hierarchical organization, mostly forming a loose collective belief structure where adherents are free to choose which tenets they subscribe to on a case by case basis. Because of the every day presence of the Machine Exemplar, however, cults of personality do tend to form around 'Prophet Exemplar'- High-Cyborg individuals who actively court cults of personality based around their own brand of digital rituals and methods of obtaining immortality or cultural change.
'Acolytes' of these prophet exemplar are generally hand selected individuals who willingly learn the creed, acting as both students and servants for their guru. Given that secrets are everywhere in such a highly monitored state, Acolytes may not even know the true identity of the master they are serving, especially if the prophet exemplar speaks of topics too anti-government or xenophobic to publicly disclose.
Thus, more often than not, Ephemeralists are stand alone individuals who follow the teachings of a archaic book or netcast to it's logical conclusion, but often recognize the divine right of highly mechanized individuals to hold sway over others.
Recruitment
Since there is no formal membership process, Ephemeralists are recruited by word of mouth and social ties to existing Ephemeralists.
History
Originating in the aftermath of Yelton Veda's great civil war, some individuals sought to attach religious significance onto the bloodline of heroes that fought within it. An obsession with living efficiently and becoming more technologically adept saw such concepts quashed, but there was always an element of society who took the Magnetic Assembly's intentions to 'create ascended human beings' as something even more lofty and metaphysical.
Thus, for a great many years such superstitions were seen as folly in mainstream culture, and the movement was just barely kept alive by the secret goals of people such as Doris Muller working within SEER.
In recent years, however, growing contact with other human colonies, and an increasing understanding of Aoi Si's supposed magical history in particular, has raised new questions about the strange alien relics that have been dug up on Hawking.
People that suggest spiritual power to be a real thing would likely still get laughed at in public... but the undercurrent that was always there is growing stronger, filling it's ranks with the outcast and downtrodden, a secret society of more idealistic individuals who are searching for just one look behind the veil or reality.
Thus, for a great many years such superstitions were seen as folly in mainstream culture, and the movement was just barely kept alive by the secret goals of people such as Doris Muller working within SEER.
In recent years, however, growing contact with other human colonies, and an increasing understanding of Aoi Si's supposed magical history in particular, has raised new questions about the strange alien relics that have been dug up on Hawking.
People that suggest spiritual power to be a real thing would likely still get laughed at in public... but the undercurrent that was always there is growing stronger, filling it's ranks with the outcast and downtrodden, a secret society of more idealistic individuals who are searching for just one look behind the veil or reality.
Culture
The Ephemeralists take a lot of inspiration from the first colonies of the Neptunian moons, a tightly knit society that used social engineering, cyber-modifications and early cryogenics technology to control it's populace. This results in a distinctively old fashioned 'space nun' or 'space warlock' look for their truly devout individuals, with decade upon decade of added talismanic influences. Icons and symbols that were once mere organization notations have been given spiritual significance, seen as having holy power in and of themselves.Books, old computers and electronics are common features. It helps that data stored on these mediums can only be read by ancient machines that are just as obscure, unintentionally adding to the data security of the religious sect. Conversely they also have a great love of candles, incense and electronic droning chants.