I’m reminded of a definition of true horror I heard years ago. It’s a seeping feeling that crawls into your subconscious making you feel fear long term. I listened to this before work this morning and that’s exactly what happened.

I spent the day on edge, this close to overwhelming sense of dread infecting every thought.

The pacing and imagery you and the author provide brought this story to life in a way I’ve never experienced. Your both truly masters of your craft .

Imagine if Maximillion's parents conceived or adopted another child and kept Max around.
"You see that servitor?  That's your older brother.  He didn't know how to keep his mouth shut around the Mechanicus.  You don't want to end up like him, do you?"

“we are living nightmares and this is our most prized possession”

“thats pretty cringe”

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Just goes to show that The Adeptus Machanicus are still HUMAN after all. At least when it comes to being spiteful and vengeful.

Calling the heart of the forge an abomination? You better believe that's a paddlin!

Just to remind everyone: this is LOYALIST Mechanicus.

Mechanicus memes: hehe toster
Mechanicus lore: nightmarish horrors beyond comprehension

This had a real Willy Wonka and the Servator Factory vibe to it...A kid and his guardian are visiting the factory and the kid just sort of...falls into the machinery...and an Oompah-Loompah castrates him.
Phenomenal work, here!

"The mechanicus are dangerous and they have their rules: respect the machine"
a few minutes later
"The heart of the machine is an abomination!"

Who could have seen that coming? He may as well have told them that their favorite toaster was not efficient!

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[spoiler spoiler]

"...and Maximilian never thought in words again..."

A perfect culmination of the most horrific piece of literature I have ever consumed.

“You know, the more I learn about these Adeptus guys I’m starting to think….. they’re a bunch of jerks!” Normicus MacDonarian XIII. 39,996.

All he had to do was smile and nod, maybe slip in a “that’s pretty badass” and he fucked it up.

26:00 Ian Watson tribute.  31:00 it is worth noting that, canonically, the lobectomy (removal of the cerebrum) happens first in the servitorization process.  An interesting irregularity atop an 'accident', yes?

Mechanicus is truly sorry for this units error, a clone will be made and provided as compensation. Pray no future errors arise with this one.

The Noble called their machines and abomination, so they decided to turn him into one. Great voice acting

It may have been the weak flesh of the Techpriest's emotions that demanded vengeance for the slight, but it was the cold calculation of the machine that approved it.

Cranky noble: That thing in that forge is an *abomination*!

Tech Priest: AAAAAND we'll write that off as an accidental servitorization *whoops*.

Y'know? Forgeworld stuff.

As someone who's building a mechanicus army I am more than happy to read the depths of their inhumanity. Thank you for making me fear my own favorite faction.

"...and Maximillian never thought in words again."

I can't tell you how fucking chilling that line was. To have something so very basic removed from your person has got to be just beyond dehumanizing. Like, you can't even imagine what it's like to not think in words because since your infancy when you learned your first words to communicate your first thoughts, it's all you've ever had to conceptualize your thoughts. I am horrified. Well done.

It is my great misfortune to have listened to this right before a dental appointment tomorrow.  Oh well, at least Slaanesh shall be pleased with my terror.